Getting Started

[bemberg2]

I am a student (fixed budget) and have a 97 stock civic. Looking to get into festivas. I love their size, handling and how easy it seems to work on them. BUT I had some questions before I get started. 1) Should I sell my Civic and use those funds to get/repair a festiva (around 3k) or just keep the civic and get a festiva too? 2) Should I get a carbed or fuel injected festiva, i heard the later fuel injected models are better for engine swaps. 3) Should I do a swap right away and whats the most common swap and where do most of you get your parts? Thanks a Ton and I really appreciate any help you guys can give. Also if anyone in the St. Louis, MO area is interested in a 97 Civic drop me a line.

[getnpsi]

If it was me doing things all over again I would keep the honda and buy a festiva basket case. Once its running and doesn't need to be taken off the road to be modified/worked on then the honda goes up for sale. If you CAN go carless then you have more options I suppose.

For 3k you can purchase a near perfect festiva, probably with an engine swap. Yucky running cars are in the $500-1500 range. Don't count out perfect bodies with dead engines, less than $500. In the long run they very well may cost less than restoring a daily driver that is rough. (These are california prices, I'm jealous of all the $250 threads ive seen over the last 2 years)

[batstiva]

I am a student (fixed budget) and have a 97 stock civic. Looking to get into festivas. I love their size, handling and how easy it seems to work on them. BUT I had some questions before I get started. 1) Should I sell my Civic and use those funds to get/repair a festiva (around 3k) or just keep the civic and get a festiva too? 2) Should I get a carbed or fuel injected festiva, i heard the later fuel injected models are better for engine swaps. 3) Should I do a swap right away and whats the most common swap and where do most of you get your parts? Thanks a Ton and I really appreciate any help you guys can give. Also if anyone in the St. Louis, MO area is interested in a 97 Civic drop me a line.

IMHO, you should get away from the Civic as quickly as possible, lest some one here decides to sacrifice you to the Festiva Gods.
Seriously tho, as far as what Festiva to get, if you are thinking of doing any kind of a swap, I would skip the carbed models and go for the newer ones with FI. Whether you sell the Civic and use the funds on a Festiva kind of depends on your situation. Is the Honda your only car? Do you need it for work/school? If you can lay hands on a good running, daily driver Festiva, then I would say sell the Honda, buy the Festiva. If all you can find are project/need work Festivas, then you may want to hang onto the Civic until the Festiva is up and running. But, by all means, at the end of the day, you really should get away from the Honda.
The Festiva Gods are pretty unforgiving.

[KingFish]

Keep the Civic till the mechanical work is done. I'v tryed and failed many times to have a daily driver project car. Seems like it never works. If you have big plans, keep the daily driver and put the Fester up on stands and do it right. Just my opinion.

[Fez]

Whichever route you choose check the Festiva for rust before you buy it. Look hard around where the rear axle bolts to the body and where the engine cross-member bolts to the radiator support. Both are common rust areas. Just don't ask me how I know this! ops: Sell the Honda and buy two Festivas - one to drive every day and one to modify!

[Pu241]

I can't really add too much to the above, good advice!
Except perhaps to ask that you go back into your profile and let us know where your located, school and/or home:
UserCP/Control Panel(left screen)/Edit your details/scroll to the bottom of the page and add your location.

This just helps us help you!
Knowing were your at means some one could drop by to lend a hand or give you a tip on a available festiva.
Your choice, no obligation, and salesmen will call.

[bemberg2]

Thanks a lot for everyone's advice. I updated my profile so you can see where i reside and i've noticed there are a lot of midwesterners on this site so im in good company. I'll see what i can find and post my progress on the site. If anyone wants to sell a festiva/parts/whatever let me know. Thanks again.

[TominMO]

I'm in U City, near I-170 and Delmar. If you want to talk, send me a PM w/your phone #. Check my sig to see what I have.

[ejp2fast]

with only 3 posts and a member since 07, you need to get on here more often! welcome. you won't regret getting a festiva...
if you have time, start watching and get a festiva CHEAP! ones that are parked are probably your best bet for cheap... (like....say.....$100 all i needed was a head gasket and valves...
good luck with the search!

[Fez]

I found both my Festys and the Aspire on Craigslist. My '88 was $300, The '90 parts car was $100 and the running Aspire was $100. I am mechanically inclined so I'm willing to buy cars with "issues" but you can find something nice for just a few dollars more. Check this link out:

http://craigslist.thingweb.com/

It's a search engine that will allow you to search ALL of Craigslist at once. Saves a huge amount of time!

[mrgrimm]

I found both my Festys and the Aspire on Craigslist. My '88 was $300, The '90 parts car was $100 and the running Aspire was $100. I am mechanically inclined so I'm willing to buy cars with "issues" but you can find something nice for just a few dollars more. Check this link out:

http://craigslist.thingweb.com/

It's a search engine that will allow you to search ALL of Craigslist at once. Saves a huge amount of time!

Nice link!

[JPT]

When it comes to modifying cars, having a back up ride (so you don't have to rush a job just to get to work the next day) is almost as essential as the proper tools.

Keep the Honda (may the Festiva Gods forgive me for even mentioning that kind of car) and buy the best Festiva you can afford (or find. They're hard to get where I am). Then take your time building it.

This is what I'm doing (I have a Buick for my main car) and it's nice to not have to rush when working on it. Less chance of screwing something up.

[festivaWES]

Keep the Civic till the mechanical work is done. I'v tryed and failed many times to have a daily driver project car. Seems like it never works. If you have big plans, keep the daily driver and put the Fester up on stands and do it right. Just my opinion.

**Listen to this guy for he has went through many festiva parts and car projects throughout his time here**

Keep the civic, purchase a festiva for no more than 300-400 in running condition, 150-225 in non running minor repair condition. Make the festiva road worthy, don't skimp on anything!!!

I'll have 6 festiva here in the next month. Two are almost road worthy, two sit in the garage, and two are soon to be had. I drive a s-10 everyday as a daily.....

BTW Joplin.... I"m only a couple hours away, and have been wanting to JY up in STL. Maybe we can meet up sometime!

[Lil-Red]

I picked up my 88 LX from Craigslist for free. The guy wanted it gone, only needed a timing belt to get running. I have since then done more than needed....only for vanity. Great cars!!

[batstiva]

I picked up my 88 LX from Craigslist for free. The guy wanted it gone, only needed a timing belt to get running. I have since then done more than needed....only for vanity. Great cars!!

Course, once you start tinkering and adding, you are never really ever going to be done. :thumbleft: