Aspire's Salvage Potential

[Movin]

As I understand it, the Aspire exhaust manifold is different because it may provide a bit more low end torque.

As for the 1st gen airbags, they were designed with more power than necessary for those who wore seatbelts because the extra power made those who didn't buckle up a bit safer.

Just like the auto seatbelts were made for those who didn't buckle up. Those who did got shortchanged with moving, less safe seatbelts.

Not Ford's fault, but mainly the NHTSA's, trying to go against "Darwin's plan" for getting rid of those who don't think anything bad could ever happen. There are "good choices" and "bad choices" for safety and health. I try to make the best choices but can't claim I always do, especially in regards to chocolate, sugar and other tasty things.

Ranger, I've thought about, but never actually tried, the Aspire manual belts in a Festiva. They may work, since the cars are so similar. Heck, the same could be true for early Rios as well. Just has to be tried out for fit and operation.

What I do with manual belts is to use the old originals and get them rewebbed and checked for operation. I'd prefer not to use seatbelts much over ten years old when possible.

Karl

If the mounts are not the same I wouldn't try to re-engineer stockers
Get some race belts and follow the instructions, If the bolt holes are
there it should be okay. Never use super strong bolts, always use OEM bolts. I don't want to be no crash test dummy!!!

[neanderpaul]

You can retrofit a 90-93 festiva with the passive restraints with the manual belts from the 88-89 festivas.

[Christ]

Yeh, the holes are in the chassis for the manual belts. I plan on using harnesses in Steve.

[Movin]

Passive... doesn't describe me or the festiva !!
I need to sew a seat belt on my shoulder before
I switch, no belt=ticket here. Need it to hang back
like the hair in those Trojan adds

[rockin86ranger]

You can retrofit a 90-93 festiva with the passive restraints with the manual belts from the 88-89 festivas.

problem is i can't find any 88-89s, the only Festiva i have found looked like it had been hit in the back by a truck at about 45 mph and rolled about 5 times, it also had auto belts. And kia rios are non-existant too, we had some clips for the coils on a rio break and i looked through 6or7 yards and nobody kept rios.

Also age isn't a huge factor for me, the newest car i own is a 95 taurus with original seat belts and my 86 ranger has originals too.

[neanderpaul]

place a WTB here. I bet someone will step up.

[zoom zoom]

problem is i can't find any 88-89s, the only Festiva i have found looked like it had been hit in the back by a truck at about 45 mph and rolled about 5 times, it also had auto belts. And kia rios are non-existant too, we had some clips for the coils on a rio break and i looked through 6or7 yards and nobody kept rios.

Also age isn't a huge factor for me, the newest car i own is a 95 taurus with original seat belts and my 86 ranger has originals too.

if you know anything about a 2002 kia rio and needed seatbelts from one, I could oblige. There's a local yard with an 02, should have the seatbelts, but I've never looked at them so I don't know for sure if they would work or not..so if you know, or want to take a chance, let me know..


As far as a discussion about second gen engineering, it's like playing call of duty on playstation, then playing COD2 on ps2....it's just not the same.. genetically superior in every imaginable way. Altho I will agree some 2nd's are just not as good, your second love? who was she anyway?...your second cigarette in the morning?...pirates of the carribean 1v2.... but, just like in the case of 1st gen airbags, and hangover1 v hangover 2, aspires are just genetically superior.

[neanderpaul]

Heavier, slower, less interior room, less durable, worse gas mileage. And the aspire is superior how?

[Damkid]

Heavier, slower, less interior room, less durable, worse gas mileage. And the aspire is superior how?

Just the brakes

Although the shape of the back of an aspire is amazing for loading/unloading engines with a cherry picker, I give them huge credit for that

[zoom zoom]

Has anyone went head to head festiva v aspire? I would like to see the proof of this "slower" your are referring to sir. There's nothing wrong with a little junk in the trunk, and who's complaining about a 40 mpg car?!

[Safety Guy]

I googled "pink Aspire" and found this. It's actually kind of humorous:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/07/capsule-review-1995-ford-aspire/

Just to make sure the record is straight, I do like Aspires and may someday own one to drive instead of "harvest." I would buy one of the pink ones, too!

Karl

[JoDan]

I've never really driven a aspire so I'm not going to get up in that, but they are pretty ugly lookin and how many people see more festivas driving around in their town than aspires?

p.s. I had a buddy from high school that had an aspire and we raced them once, even with my slipping clutch I had him be at least a car length(which isn't much compared to a festiva/aspire lol).... but his 60-0 time was way better than mine lol

[zoom zoom]

I real alot of blahs, and more blahs, then some blahs.. finally I read this..

"the Festiva was a horrid piece of poo when compared to it’s predecessor, the Fiesta!"

LOLLLOOOLolOLolOOoool

THAT'S SUCH A COOL STORY BRO! NICE LINK!!!

[neanderpaul]

The people complaining about a 40 mpg car would be festiva owners who can get 53. And I've driven both. A healthy 5 speed festiva is quick! I've outrun a 16 valve 1.6 five speed corolla. The 92 and a 96. Outrun a civic, 2.3 mustang 5 speed, etc. I ran an integra with the second best engine. It had to work hard to beat me.

[zoom zoom]

In a festiva?! dude the turtle on the side of the road was probably looking back telling you "that's right, slow and steady wins the race"