Opinion: High mileage Festiva

[Tim]

One of my friends is looking into buying a black '88 LX with 224,000 miles on the clock. It seems to have been well taken care of, as the engine compartment is spotless and there are no signs of oil leaks. The body is in great shape, and the interior has a few scuffs and rips but other than that the car is fine.

I have never seen a running Festiva with this high of mileage; therefore I am kind of uneasy about recommending it since I'd feel really bad if the engine blew as she drove it off the lot.

Any opinions?


Regards,

Tim

[mattswabb]

If the price is right I would get it. I would then keep my eye open for a replacement engine. Just have one there ready to install if the 224,000 mile engine starts to go.

matt

[Gro Harlem]

My 93' GL Had 221,000 when I bought it, and loook at it now.....80+k miles later and its fine, running every day

[darkdan]

Buy it and throw some auto-rx in it.

I'm sure it's fine.

[Perle]

My original motor went 253k before it went.
The previous owners did ABSOLUTELY nothing to maintain the car.
They drove this thing like it was the Mini General Lee.
Then I got it at 242k and did a major service and tune up.
Put some new tires on the front and then ran it another year.
Most of my driving was a weekly 300 mile freeway commute fully loaded with me and a buddy and all of our gear.
Oil consumption was getting up to about a quart of oil per 150 mile trip.
Fuel mileage stayed good at about 43 mpg tho.
Then finally one day, it spun a bearing, instantly pumped all the oil anywhere but inside the engine and about 30 seconds later, the motor went BANG!
I did a B6 sohc install, the motor had 75k on it.
My odometer says 257k now.
Oil consumpion is nil, and average gas milage is at 40 mpg. The motor has a sweet spot around 70-75 mph.....nice cruising speed.
My driving is the typical mix of freeway and city.

[aithanmier]

it's hard to tell if it was taken care of, a spotless engine bay doesn't mean anything except that the dealer had it steam cleaned. take it to a garage and have the compression checked. i wouldn't have a problem buying a festy with milage that high though...as long as you had enough left for a low milage aspire block in case it decides to go.