Worth it?

[poot]

Hello all, I have been visiting this site almost every day looking at the Festivas for sale.

The question I pose is about a Festiva that popped up on my radar today. It is a 1991 automatic with 83k, aqua in color. Can't tell if it is an L or a GL from the one picture he sent.

I have not gone to see it yet but it looks decent. He is asking $600.

The catch is that he says it needs an entirely new exhaust and possibly a battery. Also says the alternator is new.

I am a college student and therefore don't have money to really fix it now (barely enough to buy it if I so chose).

So do I buy it and store it until I have the money, do I wait until something else comes up? (When I graduate) Just asking the guys that know just about everything there is to know about a car that I think I'll love.

[Ford Fester]

I would buy it! You can drive without exhaust for a while and batteries are cheap at salvage yards. Usually like 20-30 bucks.

[25Horseplay]

Here's one out your way that is a little more money but seems like a good deal.

http://quadcities.craigslist.org/bar/3451096537.html

[TorqueEffect]

Hello all, I have been visiting this site almost every day looking at the Festivas for sale.

The question I pose is about a Festiva that popped up on my radar today. It is a 1991 automatic with 83k, aqua in color. Can't tell if it is an L or a GL from the one picture he sent.

I have not gone to see it yet but it looks decent. He is asking $600.

The catch is that he says it needs an entirely new exhaust and possibly a battery. Also says the alternator is new.

I am a college student and therefore don't have money to really fix it now (barely enough to buy it if I so chose).

So do I buy it and store it until I have the money, do I wait until something else comes up? (When I graduate) Just asking the guys that know just about everything there is to know about a car that I think I'll love.

See if he will take $500, then use the hundred you didn't spend on a battery.
exhaust is not crucial unless you have noise ordinance laws or emission inspection. b3 is a quiet motor without a muffler compared to hondas and the like.

[Prafeston]

600 is a pretty good deal for a car that sounds like it is road worthy...though needing some fixes. Like torqueeffect said try to find other things wrong with the car when you take a look at it so you can talk him down a little. Leaky valve cover, rust, rough interior, "bad" tires, etc. I know some people on the forum have picked up a very small lawn mower battery that is much cheaper and works just as good. I'd have to do some digging to find it. The mileage being so low on this car is a very good thing. You would hope the engine is at least in good shape. Exhausts would be no big deal to fix at a local muffler shop.

[sc72]

If you have the six bills, go check out the car, walk around the car a couple times, make some comments about the rust, look under the car where the rear axle bolts to the chassis if it looks solid your probably ok, if it looks like swis cheese hop up, say thanks for your time and walk away, dont forget the floor boards. Now if it looks kinda road worthy do an inspection, lights, turn signals, HEATER, water level, oil, etc if it still looks ok, take it for a ride make sure the trans does what it is supposed to do. Visit awhile, pull $400 out of your right picket and see what he says, keep working him, if he balks take $ 100 out of your left pocket and say thats all i have. Good luck and we will need pic's

[TorqueEffect]

look under the car where the rear axle bolts to the chassis if it looks solid your probably ok, if it looks like swis cheese hop up, say thanks for your time and walk away

Damn, I have rust getting very close to that location, more specifically the lower bolts on both sides of the car. not sure if I can stop it.

Guess it is time to save up for another Festy. *sigh*

[Twistiva]

......a 1991 automatic with 83k.....looks decent (in the pix)......asking $600.

Those miles?!?!?!?

That price?!?!?!?!

On a car that has been proven on this forum to practically last forever with careful driving and routine maintenance?

Heck yeah, I'd buy it! :thumbs_up:

[Safety Guy]

Check the ball joints first!!

Also check corrosion on the brake lines you can see. Test drive it and make sure everything works.

Good luck!!

Karl

[Pu241]

Just need the address and/or phone number I'll check it out for you!

I have a feeling I better get it, it might be too much trouble for you.

[poot]

Feel free to pick this one up, being in college I simply just don't have a compelling enough reason to buy it. I have a 97 Kia Sportage 5 speed that I am driving now (still paying off as well). I will be outta college in 2 more years and will almost assuredly be buying a Festiva.

Here is the information that I have at this time for you Pu241!

Email: jd7hw-3474989041@sale.craigslist.org
They will most likely email you back using their personal email but I don't feel comfortable just throwing that out into the internet
If for some reason they won't give you pictures, PM me and I will forward them via email to you.
This goes for anyone else interested!

Hopefully I will have this much luck when I start to search again for a Festiva, one like this would be absolutely perfect, save the Auto trans of course. Love to drive stick!

[Pu241]

Autos can be swapped out for a 5spd!