Also shopping for a (NICE) Festiva ...

[Lannis]

Well, I've had my Festiva for two years now and am getting fond of it. It was a $700 salvage-title car, it has junkyard fenders, hood, dash and windshield on, upholstery is shot, one wiper mount is dodgy, and a few little things don't work on it.

But it has no rust, I've put new front and rear wheel bearings on it and it continues to turn in 43-44 MPG and carries me wherever I want to go, so that's all I ask out of a car.

I've now lent it to a car-less friend who needs a way back and forth to work, and it may or may not survive that interval (I don't know how long he'll need it), so I'm looking for my next Festiva.

This time I want one that's in the top 5% of nice originals in the country. No rust, good original paint, or stock-looking repaint, nice interior or one that I could easily have upholstered if the price allowed, everything works, not interstellar miles on it (<100,000 would be nice), 4 or 5speed and A/C.

I see that Kelley and NADA price these at $1600 or so, but I'd be willing to go way over that for a nice car in the middle Atlantic states that I didn't have to chase over the Mississippi or to Florida.

There's what looks like to be one meeting these specs in Hendersonville NC but it's an automatic and I'd rather try for a manual. I've considered fixing up the one I have but no way could I do it for the money - too much body and interior work to do.

Cash waiting. Anyone know of a good one? Keep your eyes open ... I'll be looking for a few months before I go on to something else.

Thanks!

Lannis

[Pu241]

If the one in NC meets all your specs, except being an ATX, consider a ATX to manual swap.
Relatively cheap in comparison to chasing down a mint condition Festiva within your drive range.

[Safety Guy]

Drive it as an auto until spring. In the meantime, collect your parts, shop manual(s) and read up on the procedure. Maybe do a B6 and Aspire swap while you're at it! Could be a good plan.

Karl

[Evil D]

If i don't buy a Crown Vic or a Wrangler (i have an odd selection of car prospects don't i?) i'll be looking for a super clean and maybe modded Festiva.

[Lannis]

If the one in NC meets all your specs, except being an ATX, consider a ATX to manual swap.
Relatively cheap in comparison to chasing down a mint condition Festiva within your drive range.

I've got a shop overflowing with projects now, I'd never get around to a transmission swap on a Festiva ... or maybe I'm just getting to be an old man and not as much energy as the average lister?

Any rate, I've got time, maybe one will turn up!

Lannis

[Lannis]

Well, coming up on a month, with no leads yet.

I'll give it another month and then ... I don't know, a Neon? an old VW Beetle? Don't know what would be the second choice, never thought about it really ....

Lannis

[freshtiva]

Good festivas (esp top 5%) are hard to find. Most people treated them as disposable cars.The people who know what they are capable of and took care of them wont part with them . Ill go out on a limb too and say that $1600 wont touch an original top 5% festy.

[Charlie1717]

Good festivas (esp top 5%) are hard to find. Most people treated them as disposable cars.The people who know what they are capable of and took care of them wont part with them . Ill go out on a limb too and say that $1600 wont touch an original top 5% festy.

He did say he would be willing to go "way over that" $1600, that was just KBB or something.
But trying to find a top 5% festy will be difficult. You'd be better off building it. Finding a really nice one then just building it yourself. My blue festy was a wreck when I bought it. But with just a little work it looks much better.
That may be an easier route

[freshtiva]

He did say he would be willing to go "way over that" $1600, that was just KBB or something.

My argument was with the "Kelley and NADA price", not Landis.

[Safety Guy]

Instead of a Neon, etc., maybe get a cheap Aspire so when you pick up your Festiva you'll have suspension/brake swaps on tap. With a two door Aspire, you can also salvage the fuel tank and save for later: 2 door Aspire tanks are the same as Festivas had. Look for an Aspire that looks kinda nasty (bad interior, fender damage, bad paint, etc.) but has good parts and runs well so you can get some use out of it in the meantime. It'll also give you spare engine parts and a spare transaxle.

If you plan on a B8 swap, same-same with a '91 to '94 Protege DX. Just make sure the engine has low mileage sweetness.

Karl