Newbie To the Festiva world

[Charlie1717]

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to the site (hence the 0 posts) and I just purchased my first Festiva ever last night! It's a 1991 L model with a 4 speed stick. It only has 91,000 miles on it (looking forward to bringing it to 300,000!) I picked her up for $700 I don't know if that is a good deal or not but it was good enough for me!

I have always wanted a Geo Metro.... Until I saw a festiva. It's been one of my dream cars for a long time. It takes a special person but who doesn't want unbelievable reliability and great MPG!

I drove 3 hours to pick her up (I'm in southern Indiana, the festiva was in Ohio). I was worried about it being an uncomfortable ride for three hours and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised! Just put on the radio and cruised on home. I went at about 75 the whole way home. Now I'm unsure of how good that is for the car? being a 4 speed is it alright to go 75 for long periods of time?

Also I have not seen any other 4 speed manuals around they all tend to be 5 speed. Anyone know the deal with that?

So being new to all this what do you all recommend I do for the festy!
Here is a bit more info on her.
-Everything is stock (even tire size/rims)
-radio works- speakers are all blown (missing rear speakers)
-Upholstery, seats are dirty/torn.. I've got a crap seat cover on the seats right now but am hoping to either find good replacement seats or better seat covers.
-exhaust rattles just needs some hangers no big deal
-Paint is faded on the roof and there is some bubbling on the rest of the car.

Yep that's about it. I want to fix it up so bad but I'm very tight on cash. I am a college student sooooo that pretty much takes my funds. So I'm hoping to learn some cheap ways to fix her up and make her mine!

I'll hopefully get some pics up here soon but unfortunately I had to leave her at home while I just got back to my school. But she will be here soon! After insurance and plates she will be ready to hit the road.

So if anyone wants to enlighten me on anything I should know about owning a festiva or cool facts about this site or just anything random you want to tell me. Go for it! I've already learned a great deal just from roaming this site!
So Thanks Everyone!
sorry for the long post!

[Levitan]

Welcome!

Sure that's not a 5 speed?

[collegeboi]

Whats up man. I also wanted a Metro until I seen the Festiva. Post pictures when you can. You will find anything and everything there is to be known about our cars on this site.

[Charlie1717]

Levitan-
Well I'm am fairly certain the guy who I bought it from said it was a four speed and I checked where the fifth gear would normally be, thinking maybe overdrive or something. But yeah nothing there. I've never seen a 4 speed maybe it has a different tranny? I haven't really gotten to inspect it to much yet.

[Sparky]

There's a great seat swap thread here....did it too with Tracer seats and it's way better than the stock seats!

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5736&highlight=escort+GT

[festivaWES]

Well at least we know the trans is not stock. That 91 L should of been a 5 speed.

[Charlie1717]

That's what I figured. Hmmm I'll have to look deeper into it. It ran Great though! But I'll probably end up putting a 5 speed in her again.

[Arnie]

Or its not a '91.

welcome to the forum! best upgrade off the bat will be tires or wheels and tires. I wish it was still 1991. The first thing we did to our Festiva was put on Yokohama A008's (175-70-13s). Just an awesome tire. Not so good in the winter though. :lol:

but basically, i'd change all fluids if they haven't been yet. check the repair/maintenance forum for all the tips and details. keep car as is and replace stuff with better parts as they wear. then its justifiable maintenance and not upgrading/tuning! Much easier to justify to parents/pocket book.

find good deals on used speakers and headunits on craigslist.org in your local area. gotta have some tunes. Some decent 4"ers up front and a bazooka tube in the back make for an awesome basic system.

[TominMO]

Welcome to a great forum!

I owned a Festiva back in the mid 90s and my wife at the time owned a Metro. The Metro was OK but I liked the Festy better.

Some good, cheap, quick and easy upgrades from the JY:
1. Aspire seats, about $20 each. Better quality and comfort. There is a how-to here: http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...at+swap+aspire
2. Geo/Chevy Metro 13" wheels from about 1996 up. The wheels fit on the Festivas like they were made for them, and this gives you a far better selection of tires. The Metro wheels will give you slightly higher overall gearing too, with 155/80x13 tires.
3. Interior parts: late 90s Escort center console and shift knob. Different styles of consoles work; shift knob feels much better and screws right on.

[rallytiva71]

Welcome Charlie,You'll Love Your New Tiva as We All Do here!

[CHills]

Welcome!
Don't worry about making it "yours", it'll happen before you know it.
Just don't find out what all the upgrades are right away and taunt yourself.

[MONSOON]

Welcome aboard. Id agree with what everyone has already said, especially the tires. Up there at least. Going to a 13" tire is going to give you alot bigger selection, especially for tires that do better in snow.
And always remember the Search function is your friend! :thumbleft:

[Charlie1717]

Thanks everyone for the great tips! I'll definately be throwing some 13" wheels on and the aspire seats will definitely help out!

[ejp2fast]

welcome to the wonder world of festivas!

[Charlie1717]

I have one more question if anyone knows the answer...

Is it ok to drive at 70-75mph for long periods of time with a 1.3L 4 speed? I wish I had a fifth gear to go to but I don't so is it ok to go that speed?

Thanks!