Your Thoughts On The Two Festivas I'm Looking At.

[batstiva]

Okay, here's the deal. I am currently looking seriously at two different Festivas. Both are fairly local to me, and both are priced roughly the same. The mileage on them is pretty much the same, and they are both black(:headbang::headbang

The first one is a 1989 L, 220K miles, 4 speed, rear defog, comes with a set of steelies, and a set of aluminums, and good tires on both sets. I like this one because it's only 5 miles from my house, and in very good shape cosmetically. Only one small spot of surface rust in front of the left rear tire. Have not driven it yet, am meeting the owner in the morning to take her for a spin. (None of my three keys would work in it ) It is carbed, which is a bit of a turnoff to me because of all the problems I had trying to get the Batstiva to run properly, but I am withholding judgement on that until I see how it starts up and runs. Asking price- $500.00

The second one is a 1993 (driverlarry's car) 223K miles, 5 speed. I believe it is this one, but never got clarification on that, and lost the emails from driverlarry as to the particulars.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18231

He's meeting me in the middle with the car, so I'm guessing the radiator problem is either fixed, or not too bad. It's FI, which I like, has a really sexy set of wheels, a small dent in the front left side fender, but looks from the pics he sent me to have very little rust. My biggest drawback to this one is I hate those auto seatbelts with a passion, but I think I could learn to live with it. Obviously, this choice may become really easy once I look them both over closely, and drive them both. I will also add pics to this thread when I get good pics of both cars. Had my camera with me when I looked at the 89, but it was raining about as hard as it can, so I figured I'd wait til tomorrow. Asking price, I believe was $450.00, but that info was contained in one of the emails that is now lost forever.

So, basically looking for your thoughts on which one you would buy, if you had to choose, and why. Thanks in advance for any input.

[Festiva_Fred]

I'd go for the 2nd one because it's FI and 5 spd.

[V8Festiva]

My yellow 90 had the auto seat belts. I took them out. Put in the seats and belts from a early Festiva. Takes a little work due to the body change where belt device mounts.

May change some more of my cars to the early belts later.

Would go with fuel injection for fast start up and power.





Dean
Raleigh, NC

[JPT]

FI/5speed.

The auto seat belts aren't bad at all once you get used to them. I used to hate them, but now they're part of the whole "Getting-Into-the-Festy" experience.

[thered56]

What's to decide? Buy 'em both!

Okay, I'd go with the first one personally. Because it sounds like the paint it good and for me personally I wouldn't be looking for a dd. Is that what you want it for? Just for me I'm gonna be rebuilding a FI engine for the next Festiva I buy and I've got all the FI lines already too. But I'm sure your plans are different. Oh, and ya, automatic seatbelt are a big turn off for me too, but they can be changed.

[ejp2fast]

What's to decide? Buy 'em both!

.

yeppers!!

[batstiva]

Basically, I want a Festiva to drive while I'm rebuilding Batstiva. Cause I miss driving the little things. And I do have the funds to buy them both, but for the wife's sake, I think I need to add them one at a time.

Not actually dead set on either of these, they are just the ones I'll be looking at today. Still giving serious consideration to heading out to Warren OH, and picking up one of the 30. I'll have a better handle on that after I talk to smcawc later today. The one I'm looking at there is an 89 auto. Best of both worlds, I guess. FI, but no damn (thanks for the clarification Geneva) automatic seatbelts.

[batstiva]

Okay, let's try this again. I'm getting the 89. Should be in my driveway within the next couple of hours. :headbang: :headbang:

Short version of a long story. Went back today to look at it again. No one home. Tried Batstivas key again. Unlocked the door. Figured what the heck. Into the ignition, turned the key. Battery too low to start. Pulled my car next to my 'new' car. Popped the hoods. Festiva does not have stock carb. All emissions stuff is gone. No canister, no spiderweb of vac. lines, no line of sensors on the firewall. Hooked the cars together, hit the key, she fired right up and purred like a kitten. Resisted the urge to test drive her because no one was home, and the neighbors were starting to look at me funny. Left a note, the people called back. Left me a message. The owner will be home 6:30ish, to sign the title, and they wanted to know how I knew the battery was low. :mrgreen: Will post up pics when she's home. Apparently, all I have to do to make it rain is try and take pics of that car. Needs the steering wheel replaced, and a good cleaning, but other than that, she's good to go!

[thered56]

Sweet deal bro. Gonna be nice to be drivin a Festiva again ain't it? What are the chances though? Imagine if you test drove it and the owner came home to an empty driveway! Oooops.....lol

[batstiva]

^^ I have done that before. Left mine in the driveway, drove one that was for sale, and left the guy a note saying it drives well, but feels like it pulls to the right a bit. :mrgreen:

[thered56]

^^ I have done that before. Left mine in the driveway, drove one that was for sale, and left the guy a note saying it drives well, but feels like it pulls to the right a bit. :mrgreen:

lmao! Ya, it felt like it was pulling to the right, so I realized the front passenger tire was low, now it has 70 psi like it's supposed to...

[dzip105z]

Okay, here's the deal. I am currently looking seriously at two different Festivas. Both are fairly local to me, and both are priced roughly the same. The mileage on them is pretty much the same, and they are both black(:headbang::headbang

The first one is a 1989 L, 220K miles, 4 speed, rear defog, comes with a set of steelies, and a set of aluminums, and good tires on both sets. I like this one because it's only 5 miles from my house, and in very good shape cosmetically. Only one small spot of surface rust in front of the left rear tire. Have not driven it yet, am meeting the owner in the morning to take her for a spin. (None of my three keys would work in it ) It is carbed, which is a bit of a turnoff to me because of all the problems I had trying to get the Batstiva to run properly, but I am withholding judgement on that until I see how it starts up and runs. Asking price- $500.00

The second one is a 1993 (driverlarry's car) 223K miles, 5 speed. I believe it is this one, but never got clarification on that, and lost the emails from driverlarry as to the particulars.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18231

He's meeting me in the middle with the car, so I'm guessing the radiator problem is either fixed, or not too bad. It's FI, which I like, has a really sexy set of wheels, a small dent in the front left side fender, but looks from the pics he sent me to have very little rust. My biggest drawback to this one is I hate those auto seatbelts with a passion, but I think I could learn to live with it. Obviously, this choice may become really easy once I look them both over closely, and drive them both. I will also add pics to this thread when I get good pics of both cars. Had my camera with me when I looked at the 89, but it was raining about as hard as it can, so I figured I'd wait til tomorrow. Asking price, I believe was $450.00, but that info was contained in one of the emails that is now lost forever.

So, basically looking for your thoughts on which one you would buy, if you had to choose, and why. Thanks in advance for any input.

Sounds like you're about to buy the Fuelie, that would be my chose but as you know you have a lot more knowledge about the Tivas that I.

Worked on the Tiva somewhat today. got the dome light fixed, took off the right mirror to see how it is attached and I know now that a new right one won;t require any drilling or such just pop it on.
Detailing the door frames even the inside of the gas door.
Need to check out the brakes tomorrow, the lady I bought it from says, "Midas says it needs brakes" and as we all know if an old lady comes in and asks for them to check the brakes?? Duh!! And if indeed they pulled the wheels, they pounded the hell out of the lug nuts with the air gun and they have been a bitch to loosen, but they are off now and tomorrow I'll check 'em out good.

I have been asking around about dressing up the bumpers and haven't heard any good ideas yet, what have you used?????

Take care!!

Dave

[batstiva]

No, actually I'm buying the carbed one. It's closer, for starters, and there are reasons I don't want to go into yet about why I like it better. It'll be explained when I post up some pictures later.

And, at least for me, Midas is a four letter word. Won't go back into that again either. But I know what you mean about their love of the impact wrench.:banghead::banghead:

Glad to hear the mirror will work out well for you. As far as the bumpers go, on Batstiva, I just used duplicolor spray paint, but I'm thinking of trying something a little different when I put her back together. Won't go into that too much until I figure out how well it works.