How bad is TOO bad?

[TheresGabe]

OK... Here is where I am at:

There are exactly ZERO Festivas around me for sale, or in Junkyards. About once a month one will pop up locally and they will either want $700 for one that is destroyed, or $1500+ for one that is pretty OK.

This guy has been trying to sell this one for a few months. He can get $260 from pick'n'pull as it sits. The car received new CV axles, new lower control arms, and a new clutch within 5,000 miles of the wreck. He says the frame appears to be fine, it will tow straight, and the interior is in great shape with ZERO tears. He wants $300 for it. I can't figure out what I should do.

1. Is it fixable? I'd have to assume I'm looking at major cutting and grafting from a junkyard Festiva. However the engine, trans, etc are all good.

2. My biggest thought would be get the carand pull what I need off of it for mine. Then pull the parts that I might need in the future (CV's, control arms, seats, engine, trans) and put them in my shed. Then pull the lights and anything else that anyone on here might want from it, and sell them cheap of course, before having Pick'n'pull come take the shell away.

What do you guys think?

[Festevil3]

Can it be driven the way it sits?

[TheresGabe]

Can it be driven the way it sits?

He says that it needs the middle fusible link and it will start/run as it is.

[Bert]

Most of us are cheapskates as either you already know or will soon discover. However goodies like headlights and tail lights are always good for $25-50 apiece and they don't take up too much space. Distributors have value because they're worth a fortune new or rebuilt. And if this thing is an 89 carb model it will unique stuff on it for similar-minded folks. If you have the room and the time to strip the car right to the ground you will be able to fit everything in a garden shed easily. I don't know whether you're in the rust belt or not but rad shrouds are all gone around here as are the exhaust manifolds and the fragile little metal tube that snakes from the water pump outlet all the way around to the back of the engine over the clutch. Thermostat housings are another hot item that folks routinely seem to crack. $300 ain't a huge risk if you can move along a bunch of parts (maybe even wheels) right off the bat. For all you know it has a new gas tank and pump in it which is already a big plus financially for you.

[iceracerdude]

I think your plan is reasonable. I also think you be surprised at how easy and how far that would pull out with just a sledge hammer and a little rope, just sayin.

[ratorrey]

I just did LCA's and axles and parts were just about 200.00.. I say buy it, if it cannot be fixed take what you want and part/scrap it out.. I see more than 300 in parts..

[Movin]

The value of the good parts easily exceeds the price. Sell the scrap metal and a few
parts, do what you want or need with the rest.

If you are body man trained that can be fixed but don't
count your labor

[Aaronbrook37]

The value of the good parts easily exceeds the price. Sell the scrap metal and a few
parts, do what you want or need with the rest.

If you are body man trained that can be fixed but don't
count your labor

Agreed here. Use the chassis as practice for body and paint skills before you scrap it. Dead cars are a great asset and utility for learning and discovering new things.

[TheresGabe]

The guy is saying that if I'm going to part it, that there is a couple of things he wants off of it for his red one. (Come on guys! I thought for sure someone would mention it in the pictures). If I can talk him down to $200-$250, I'll go get it today. If he holds strong to $300, I might have to think about it. It just reminds me of the good old days when I could get a Festiva that would last me YEARS for $200. You must also remember that the daily driver I'm driving now (given this was before a lot of work I've done, and that it belonged to my brother-in-law) only cost me $300!

[georgeb]

In light of the scarcity issue it's worth $300. But only if you have a place to hide it!

[Festevil3]

Drive it the way it is! Go for the beater award

[FestYboy]

hate to say it, but that right "B" pillar is FUBAR as is the lower sill. that area that is most badly damaged is 4 layers of stamped and spotwelded steel. it WILL be a PITA to repair with straight parts cut out of a donar let alone trying to pull it out as is.

[Damkid]

How bad is TOO bad?

In light of the scarcity issue it's worth $300. But only if you have a place to hide it!

Agreed, worst case it a parts car since there's none in a junkyard near you

[Bert]

The guy is saying that if I'm going to part it, that there is a couple of things he wants off of it for his red one. (Come on guys! I thought for sure someone would mention it in the pictures). If I can talk him down to $200-$250, I'll go get it today. If he holds strong to $300, I might have to think about it. It just reminds me of the good old days when I could get a Festiva that would last me YEARS for $200. You must also remember that the daily driver I'm driving now (given this was before a lot of work I've done, and that it belonged to my brother-in-law) only cost me $300!

"there are a couple of things he wants off it" is a classic and famous line. You just 'shot it and you just bought it' and suddenly the engine, wheels, dizzy and lamps are not part of the package. Be very careful before you go any further.

[mudder]

Looks better than the one I drive.