Criteria for Festiva purchase

[bastille10]

Looking to replace my totaled Festiva. Had a '91 L plain jane, faded red 5spd,208,0000 miles. Anything to avoid (carburated vs. FI, 4spd. vs. 5spd ect.)?
Any year to avoid? Are no oil drips too much to expect? Is it possible that $2000.00+ is too much,even for a unadulterated low mileage example? I would want one that not a project (I can deal with tires, tune-ups ect.)and kept mostly stock Thanks!

[Charlie1717]

I'd say go for 91-93 Festiva so it will be FI. Which would mean they will 99% of the time be 5 speeds (if it's not an auto).
No oil drips isn't too much to expect but if it does don't rule it out. Could be something cheap and simple like valve cover gasket or something.

I don't know where you are from but 2,000 for a festy is definitely in the high range but do often go for that much. Most festivas in my area have been listed at around 1,000.

I got my 91 with 91,000 miles for 700. But depends on what kind of work you want to do.

[wybnrml]

I'd say go for 91-93 Festiva so it will be FI.

Don't forget 1990, they are also FI.


I think you could find a good one for <$1000. But here lately I have seen them for about $1500. Finding one that doesn't leak any fluids shouldn't be to hard to find either. If you don't plan on any future engine swaps I would also look at '88-89. But most of those are going to be 4 speeds unless you find a LX model.

[Ephet]

i got my 1990 FI in good shape for 500 bucks, theres goods deals out there you just gotta find them

[TominMO]

i got my 1990 FI in good shape for 500 bucks, theres goods deals out there you just gotta find them

I got my 90 5-speed Festiva for $600. Very little rust, basically in good shape. Yeah you gotta look. Wait for the right car if you have the time.

Fix critical safety issues first; steering (LCAs, tie rod ends), brakes and bald tires. Anything else is less important.

[eurotiva]

I bought mine '90lx for $750.

Look at control arms, steering rack, and a general once over. For that $$ everything should be almost perfect IMO.

[stevewl1164]

I got my 88 LX in 1997 for $900 but it had 192K then.

[bastille10]

Here in Seattle and the Puget Sound area Festy's are not common - on the street or for sale. I bought my '91L for $750.00, put $450.00 into it within a few days (valve cover gasket,rear seal,headlight,and various parts from the pull-a-part yard). Crash! 2 days and 1 moron later, Allstate tells me they'll give me $500.00. Saw an '88 4 spd L on craigslist 45 minutes from here for $750.00. Maybe I'll check it out..... Thanks for the advise.

[Charlie1717]

Here in Seattle and the Puget Sound area Festy's are not common - on the street or for sale. I bought my '91L for $750.00, put $450.00 into it within a few days (valve cover gasket,rear seal,headlight,and various parts from the pull-a-part yard). Crash! 2 days and 1 moron later, Allstate tells me they'll give me $500.00. Saw an '88 4 spd L on craigslist 45 minutes from here for $750.00. Maybe I'll check it out..... Thanks for the advise.

Man that sucks, can you get any of the parts you put into it?

Give us some info on the 88 your looking at, and pics to if you can! Definitely make sure to look for rust too.

[DriverOne]

The transmissions are swapable so even if it is a 4-speed, you can always upgrade later.

[Aaronbrook37]

The transmissions are swapable so even if it is a 4-speed, you can always upgrade later.

If only a Carb to FI swap were that easy, I'd give 88 and 89 cars as much consideration as I do 90-93.

[JasonZ]

I got my 91 for $350 with 107,700. Body is in good shape but later found out that my valves are out or whack down low rpms under load warmed up it pops/sputters but no problems up high rpm.I'm going with the BP swap anyways.

[deathegg]

People are saying look for a 5-speed, (or swap a 5-speed into a 4-speed car), but as the owner of an '88 4-speed, I gotta say it's great! Yes, the revs are high at highway speeds, but I still get really high mpg's, either in town or on the highway. On my trip across country in Oct, I got mpg's into the 45 range, and that was going 65-70 mph and with the car loaded up with everything I had in CA. (high mpg for my car was 57!)

[bhazard]

Depends on where youre from. Up here all the sub-$1000 festivas tend to have plenty of rust. Go down a couple states and you can find $500 cars with mint bodies.

People around here are ridiculous. Ive seen *okay* festivas on CL for upwards of $2000. You gotta get lucky basically. Or find one that was already from the south.

[Charlie1717]

People are saying look for a 5-speed, (or swap a 5-speed into a 4-speed car), but as the owner of an '88 4-speed, I gotta say it's great! Yes, the revs are high at highway speeds, but I still get really high mpg's, either in town or on the highway. On my trip across country in Oct, I got mpg's into the 45 range, and that was going 65-70 mph and with the car loaded up with everything I had in CA. (high mpg for my car was 57!)

Same here. I actually got a 91 where at some point a 4 speed was put in. Anyway I still average 40 MPG (ignore my fuelly, I had a few weeks of crap MPG from multiple issues) and that's with about even city and highway miles. So don't kill yourself to find a 5 speed.


EDIT: OH and you ought to put your location in your profile maybe someone is in your area and knows of a festy or maybe even go check one out with you or whatever.