First U.S. Festiva owner...

[bills]

First attempt at a thread, hope I'm doing it right. I was overseas in the Navy in 87 when I first saw the Ford Festiva and purchased one through an U.S. overseas Ford sales rep. to be delivered to an Orlando Florida Ford dealership when shipped from the port of entry. I returned stateside in February of 88 and picked up my brand new 88 Festiva. A white 4 spd L with a build date I think in March of 87. I drove the faithful Festiva for 14 years and 240k miles before I retired the car to my garage. Even after 14 years the car was in near showroom condition without even a scatch or dent and a perfect interior and all original. Because I was commuting from Jacksonville FL to Norfolk Va every week for two years I was getting nervous driving a car with so many miles, so I bought a new Kia Rio Cinco which was basically a grandchild of the Festiva...anyway out of sheer impulse I placed a forsale sign on the Festiva one weekend during a garage sale and the first person to show up gave me 750.00 cash without even driving it. That was in 2002. Seller's remorse still haunts me. Flash forward to present day and searching for the perfect tow vehicle (toad) for my Pace Arrow RV I began a new search for an old friend the Ford Festiva. I found a red 90 L Plus with 202k at Blue Ridge Ford (I'm sure many of you saw this on cartrader.online). They wanted 1k, so I drove 7 hours and snagged it up. Not a bad car, well maintained. Checked the fluids and air pressure and off I went. The car ran great and only needs a few minor things to get her back at 100 percent. I forgot how much I missed driving the Festiva and it's good to have one back in the barn. My wife thinks I'm nuts now for trying to start a Festiva Recue Mission or something since I just purchased another red 88 that was left for dead in 04 in a rural area field here in Jacksonville. The car had settled to the hubs in sand and weeds. I gave 50 bucks for the car, put air in the tires and placed it on my car dolly. When I got home I checked the fluids, charged the battery, poured gas down the carb. To my amazement the car started right up and purr'd like a kitten...everything worked too! Interior was dirty but intact, fortunately all the windows were up during it's 5 years of hibernation. Paints faded, but she runs great. Not sure what I'm going to do with this one yet...I'm getting attached to the 5 spd. Anyway enjoying this Festiva forum. I will attempt to post some pix of my orignal Festiva and two that I currently have next thread.

[cubstiva1]

Awesome story, welcome to the site, and welcome back to festiva ownership.

[skimsucka]

great story cant wait for pics and no other car drives like a festiva

[25Horseplay]

Welcome to Fordfestiva.com! Thats a great story, we have a few members here as you'll come to find out tht rescue Festiva also. There is even a member in NC that is starting a "Festiva Rescue" already! We have alot of members here that have multiple Festiva's. I myself have 4 right now. They truely are a great little car!

[V8Festiva]

Welcome Bill

Bill that was a great story

Let me know what you need to get that car complete.

Would be happy to help you.

Call 919-271-5190 or e-mail deanraleighnc@cs.com

I am located in Raleigh, NC

Sure you have passed by this way a few times.

If you are still in Florida there is a great group of Festiva owners there.

Hope they will get a meet set for March 2010 so some us from NC can convoy down.

Check out the Festiva Madness 2009 meet pictures.

Seven Florida Festiva owners did a convoy up.


Florida convoy Madness eve link below.

http://s1019.photobucket.com/albums/af316/festivameets/?action=view&current=FLConvoy.flv

Seven car Florida group at Madness.













Dean
Raleigh, NC

https://www.FestivaRescue.com

[sam.1956]

Wow! How cool is that story! Welcome back and enjoy the site & your new cars!

Check out FestivaRescue.com...

[marinepolice03]

awesome story and welcome back!

[92festiva]

First attempt at a thread, hope I'm doing it right. I was overseas in the Navy in 87 when I first saw the Ford Festiva and purchased one through an U.S. overseas Ford sales rep. to be delivered to an Orlando Florida Ford dealership when shipped from the port of entry. I returned stateside in February of 88 and picked up my brand new 88 Festiva. A white 4 spd L with a build date I think in March of 87. I drove the faithful Festiva for 14 years and 240k miles before I retired the car to my garage. Even after 14 years the car was in near showroom condition without even a scatch or dent and a perfect interior and all original. Because I was commuting from Jacksonville FL to Norfolk Va every week for two years I was getting nervous driving a car with so many miles, so I bought a new Kia Rio Cinco which was basically a grandchild of the Festiva...anyway out of sheer impulse I placed a forsale sign on the Festiva one weekend during a garage sale and the first person to show up gave me 750.00 cash without even driving it. That was in 2002. Seller's remorse still haunts me. Flash forward to present day and searching for the perfect tow vehicle (toad) for my Pace Arrow RV I began a new search for an old friend the Ford Festiva. I found a red 90 L Plus with 202k at Blue Ridge Ford (I'm sure many of you saw this on cartrader.online). They wanted 1k, so I drove 7 hours and snagged it up. Not a bad car, well maintained. Checked the fluids and air pressure and off I went. The car ran great and only needs a few minor things to get her back at 100 percent. I forgot how much I missed driving the Festiva and it's good to have one back in the barn. My wife thinks I'm nuts now for trying to start a Festiva Recue Mission or something since I just purchased another red 88 that was left for dead in 04 in a rural area field here in Jacksonville. The car had settled to the hubs in sand and weeds. I gave 50 bucks for the car, put air in the tires and placed it on my car dolly. When I got home I checked the fluids, charged the battery, poured gas down the carb. To my amazement the car started right up and purr'd like a kitten...everything worked too! Interior was dirty but intact, fortunately all the windows were up during it's 5 years of hibernation. Paints faded, but she runs great. Not sure what I'm going to do with this one yet...I'm getting attached to the 5 spd. Anyway enjoying this Festiva forum. I will attempt to post some pix of my orignal Festiva and two that I currently have next thread.

Thats crazy story.......I live in blue ridge and drove that car about three months ago. They said they wanted 1700 and no lower so I drove to jacksonville, fl to pick up my 93 L with 61,000 miles for $1100. Plus mine is a manual and the one here was auto. I really like manual better. Just really crazy you drove up here 7 hours to get one and I drove 7 hours south to get one.

[freshtiva]

Excellent !!! Welcome back !!!

[GenevaDirt]

Great story and testimony as to the effect these cars have on most that have owned one or still does.

[rallytiva71]

Welcome To The Site, & Enjoy Your Festiva Again!

[Biglay5150]

Festivas can be addicting thats for sure. Welcome !!!!

[MJD]

Yes, another neat story. I know that feeling of wanting to save one, especially when the interior is mint. It is just the pride of saving it and
getting it roadworthy once again and the fun of driving the little gems !

[DriverOne]

Hello! Glad to see another happy owner. My favorite thing about these cars? They're totally worth the money you put into 'em, they're MAJORLY upgradable (Friggin' V6 swap the other day on here!) you can park two of them in a single parking space, and if you've got a $20, you've got a full tank!

[bills]

That's so funny...I must admit I was getting a little nervous trying to find Blue Ridge GA. Thoughts of the movie "Deliverance" were entering my mind as I left civilization heading for the northern hills of GA, but when I finally got there what a awesome little town and beautiful area. I tried to purchase the car over the phone or even give a credit card down payment...they wouldn't...said there were too many hits on the car from all over the Country and said first come first serve basically...so I jumped in my car at 2:00AM and off I went. The Ford dealership tried to play a few games with me about the price...I told them I would just turn around and go back to FL...so after a few back and forths they agreed to their posted price. Sounds like you snagged a great deal here in Jacksonville. I guess it's all about timing...I spotted a few cream puffs still driving around town...will have to kept my eyes peeled for sales.