$2K for a 1993 too much to pay?

[vampire smoochie]

Hi Everybody,

First time poster of course, since I haven't bought the car yet. Here's a link to the Craigslist ad...

https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/d/1993-ford-festiva/6392568940.html

It sounds like a sweet car: low miles, only two owners (first one always garaged it, which is why the red paint is still actually shiny)...

Assuming the ad is honest, is the price too high? KBB says anywhere from $1200 to $1800 for excellent condition. Edmunds says $1500.

I'm soooo tempted. This one looks like a turnkey to me. I've had a soft spot for these cars since forever. Simple, durable, fun to drive...I think of them as an American (manufactured in South Korea, of course) Mini Cooper. Maybe it's the 12 inch wheels....

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

BTW, good forum you have here.

[Team Lightning]

Welcome! The car looks great. I’d offer less (1500 or so) and see what response you get. 110k miles is getting hard to find. It does look clean.

[ryanprins13]

Interesting. Hard to say from the photos if its worth that. The pessamistic side of me wants to say that the passenger side is all dented up.
I paid $1500cad for a festiva with 110k miles, minor rock chips, lots of small to medium dents but almost no rust. Have a look for rust when you see it. $2000usd is on the higher side for a stock festiva but one in completely perfect shape could sell for probably $4000 to the right buyer.
here is a youtube video that shows you a few things to check for when buying a festiva.

https://youtu.be/c-1sdoQY0IE

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[radi8u]

Welcome to the forum!
Like lightning said, offer them less. Is the car worth 2K?? Not on paper, but it might be to you. I gave 2K for my '91 with 93K on it and would again, it's saved me a ton of money.

[93FestyEh]

I'd pay $2K for sure, that thing is minty.

[Rick the Quick]

It's certainly NOT overpriced. Don't forget you will probably lose 2 x $2,000 on any new car you drive off the lot. If I was to look at it I wouldn't offer less without cash in fist. From a seller's standpoint there is nothing worse than dropping the price $500 only to find the buyer needs to borrow the money from his mother, etc. If you are wanting to buy a nice Festiva I don't think you could do much better, you could certainly do worse. Another way of looking at it is if you think it is too much, don't look at it. When I sell a car and a prospective buyer tells me it's too much that usually ends the presentation. As for the Blue Book, throw it in the garbage. When I bought my '88 in 2004 or 5 the Blue Book showed wholesale value @ zero. Just my 2 cents worth.

[theastronaut]

Looks like a really clean car! I'd offer $1500, if they take that then spend the money you saved on the "Advanced Suspension Mods" setup.

For reference, I just paid $1400 for this one, an '89 L with a four speed and A/C, and 150k miles. From pictures the one you're looking at is a bit nicer.

[Rick the Quick]

61 Impala bubble top! Is that beauty yours?

[theastronaut]

61 Impala bubble top! Is that beauty yours?

No, it's in the shop for all new glass and interior. I can only afford Festivas... :lol:

[Rick the Quick]

Your restoration skills and automotive tastes belie your age!

[vampire smoochie]

Hi Everybody,
Thanks SO much for the feedback. I'll offer less for the car, but probably not $1500. I don't want to insult him and I'm terrible at haggling. After my Miata, my number two car is a 91 Accord with over 300K. Purrs like a kitten, but, you know, 300,000 miles.

I'm thinking seriously about a cross country trip, Oregon to Florida Keys and back. May not be the most comfortable for that long a journey, but it looks like it wouldn't have any trouble along the way. Also, I can pack more in it than the Miata.

I'm going to search the forum for the "Advanced Suspension" mods. I saw something about that in here somewhere.

Assuming it's not sold, I'm going to check it out Wednesday and will file an update.

One last thing: I keep hearing about 40-50 mpg in these things. Is that your experience, or is someone blowing smoke?

Again, thanks.

[Studebaker]

You should get 45 mpg with a properly tuned engine at 55 mph.

[Rick the Quick]

I have seen 44 -45 mpg with my '88 5 speed with carb. That's at a steady 65 mph on 2 lane state highways. BTW that is at 5,000 feet elevation. At sea level that will be better. They say the fuel injected will beat that. I don't know for sure. My fuel injected cars either had worn engines or broken speedometers making mileage impossible to check. $1,500 is not an insult as long as you present it in a nice way and have cash in fist. Right way to present your offer : It's a nice car, but it will need............ fill in the blanks, tires, windshield or........... would you take $1,500 cash? or it's a beauty but it's a little more then I can afford. Would you take $1,500 cash right now?. Wrong way to present your offer : I'll give you $1,500 'cause that's all it's worth. If I was the seller the presentation just ended. If you want it I would go look at it today because come Wednesday it may be gone. Festivas are a very good way to transverse the country. Good luck!

[F3BZ]

i'd snap it for 2K. a little while back a member paid 6K for a 1000 mile 93 GL! only drawback is this being an L with no options but that can be part of the fun. adding those missing extras is pretty easy and cheap.

[ryanprins13]

Hi Everybody,
Thanks SO much for the feedback. I'll offer less for the car, but probably not $1500. I don't want to insult him and I'm terrible at haggling. After my Miata, my number two car is a 91 Accord with over 300K. Purrs like a kitten, but, you know, 300,000 miles.

I'm thinking seriously about a cross country trip, Oregon to Florida Keys and back. May not be the most comfortable for that long a journey, but it looks like it wouldn't have any trouble along the way. Also, I can pack more in it than the Miata.

I'm going to search the forum for the "Advanced Suspension" mods. I saw something about that in here somewhere.

Assuming it's not sold, I'm going to check it out Wednesday and will file an update.

One last thing: I keep hearing about 40-50 mpg in these things. Is that your experience, or is someone blowing smoke?

Again, thanks.

Im never comfortable offering less either wish i was.
Festivas are amazing for long trips! Many of us do long journeys in them quite comefortably. Out of any car my wife and i, my parents or her parents have ever owned i woukd take a festiva on a cross country trip.
Can you see the photos in this thread or no? https://fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60058
Im planning to do a 20k mile cross-canada trip in mine with my wife and 2 kids next summer. Ian on the forum here drove from alberta canada to north carolina for a festiva meet with his wife and 3 kids! They really are great for road trips.
My wife and i did a road trip honeymoon in my festiva. It was pretty great.
Milage- best i ever got was 22.2 km/L, average is 19.5
Ill find you the link to the thread you want a sec in case you havent found it yet.
*edit* here: https://fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57936
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