How Reliable?

[poot]

So I have been surfing this site for a couple months now and have actually started saving for a Festiva. That being said I am in college and the saving process will take some time, seeing as my loans are enough every year to buy a couple Festivas...My main question is to all you guys that have owned Festivas for a while. How reliable are they really, for someone that is in college and doesn't really know much about auto repair? For those that are not mechanically inclined is it safer to wait until the funds are available to repair the vehicle with a third party?

Thanks for any input and I will keep surfing for now

[htchbck]

Extremely reliable, and even when there are problems (which there will be with any car, whether its 20 years old or not) they are very easy to repair even for someone not mechanically inclined especially with the help from this forum. Many folk on here who didn't do more than change their own oil when they showed up here end up doing motor swaps to something bigger and more fun within a year. These cars a blast to own, drive, and wrench on! I'm sure others will chime in as well, and we do have a few IA members too, don't know how close they are but they might come in handy to have around lol

[jamesmc]

They are definitely reliable. Not the best in the world, mainly because they have begun to show their age. Since I've owned mine for ~2 years, all that needed was replacing was the driver's side front hub/spindle/whatever it is. Routine maintenance such as an oil change shouldn't be ignored. If you take care of it, and don't abuse it like I do, it should be loyal to you. (Due to my abuse, I've worn a clutch down, shattered a clutch, broken a Vane Air Flow Meter, and abused the suspension so the Tie Rod Ends are in dire need of attention.)

[htchbck]

broken a Vane Air Flow Meter,

That sounds like an interesting story...

[IdealSociety]

That sounds like an interesting story...

I had to hit one of mine once with a hammer to get it to unstick, but in its defense it had been sitting out in the open in a dirty garage for 4-5 years.

To the thread creator.... VERY.

I've logged over 500k miles across a couple different festivas ive owned and never once had a major mechanical failure (i drove 100 miles with a non-working water pump once, it aircooled itself above 65mph, i still have and drive the car to this day!).

[htchbck]

Yep they are very hard to kill! BTW I just made an offer on a set of 13s that look just like the 15s in your sig lol.

[poot]

That is good to hear. I have actually watched two come and go around my area. I was thinking of trying to save up say $1000?

[JoDan]

You can find em cheaper then that, just gotta look. And if you ever need help wit anything, I'm only 30 miles away.

[200KGPGTP]

Stupid reliable!!! Only breakdown that left me stranded was a faulty alternator(that was new) that messed everything up.

[IdealSociety]

you may want to edit that before the mods get to it

[Festiva_Fred]

Too late now!

[Charlie1717]

I've been using my Festivas for College for the past 3 years, I'm a senior now. It has been a great college car. The space with the seat folded forward (or laid flat) is plenty of room for all my stuff. It's nice to fill up for $25 and not fill up for a month. Plus when you do drive home you get 40+ mpgs. I've never had a reliability issue. I've only done the essentials (oil change, etc.).

I say go for it! Cheap/reliable/mpg/spacious/unique just a few reasons

[poot]

Well I am not in desperate need of milage since i go to college 10 miles from home, but I think the Festiva is just unique and the milage is a great perk.

[Charlie1717]

Well I am not in desperate need of milage since i go to college 10 miles from home, but I think the Festiva is just unique and the milage is a great perk.

Then you will enjoy filling up once a month :p

[JoDan]

Then you will enjoy filling up once a month :p

Exactly lol, biggest benefit imo when you put in $15 and you end up forgetting the last time you put gas in when you get low.