Festiva vs Aspire

[Eaglefreek]

I really like my Festiva but it's a little beat up and smokes a little. I'm a Craigslist stalker and notice some good deals on Aspires pop up once and a while. Apparently the Aspires have better brakes. How else do they compare? Same amount of interior space? I was surprised at the amount room in a Festiva. A 5 speed would be my only choice. Similar MPG?

[htchbck]

Similar yes, but the aspire is heavier. It is a nice option though being able to get them in four door if you routinely need to carry more than one passenger. That would be about my only reason for choosing an Aspire over a festiva though.

[TominMO]

A more modern car. Bigger trunk, airbags. More likely to come with A/C. A better car overall for most people, I'd say.

[easywind]

I've owned one of each, the festiva is seriously more fun, the aspire is overweight and that translates to a much quieter ride. Both 5 speeds, both had air conditioning. If I were to choose between them again I would go for the festiva.

[FeistyFesti]

We have a four door Aspire with AC and an automatic, man its slow as hell starting out, but once its moving, its pretty peppy. A B6 or B8 would do wonders for drivability in an Aspire. It does make life easy when putting my son in his car seat, so easy. The hatch is pretty spacious too and overall, I like it a lot. My wife doesn't like it too much.

[Eaglefreek]

Thanks, I'll have to check one out the next time one comes up for sale. I prefer the look of the Festiva and mine is quick enough for I want to do with it, but just don't want to throw a bunch of money at it. It would be cheaper and easier to sell it and find a car in better shape.

[ericsmith32]

We have a four door Aspire with AC and an automatic, man its slow as hell starting out, but once its moving, its pretty peppy. A B6 or B8 would do wonders for drivability in an Aspire. It does make life easy when putting my son in his car seat, so easy. The hatch is pretty spacious too and overall, I like it a lot. My wife doesn't like it too much.

Up your timing a few degrees you'll wonder why you haven't sooner.

We have both a Festiva and Aspire right now both automatics. But I have 5spds in both the Aspire and Festiva at the same time in past. Festiva is better for the city and Aspire is better for the highway on the automatics 5spd it seems to be the opposite. I averaged 40mpg in a 95 Aspire 5spd.. 43mpg in a 91 Festiva. I just did a 200 mile trip in my 97 Aspire the first long trip. I tell ya no more long trips in the Festiva man that Aspire is like driving our Escape. I was surprised but then again the 97's have different gearing.. I think. Brake wise the Aspire does win even though it's heavier.

[kellen302]

Later Aspires had the lock up converter on the autos, hence the better auto mileage