Aspire or Festiva???

[scotty0607]

Hello, This is my first post on this forum, i hear its the best too so thought i would ask you pros some Q's. I'm in bit of a pickle right now, I have a 97aspire 141,000 miles with barely any rust on it. I just install a new clutch to end up finding out that the problem wasnt it and just found the problem is I need a new output shaft bearing in the tranny which is a 12$ fix but a pain in rear job. Now i believe someone who suggested to this forum might be interested in trading my aspire for a festiva with 200,000 miles with no rust on the body and its runnin, and im really interested in getting it! So my question is, is it worth fixing my aspire or trading for the festiva? I've heard that festivas run much longer than aspires and get better MPG. I also do alot of traveling on highways.

[eurotiva]

Welcome. Add your location. That way noone will keep asking you where your from. As far as the aspire/festiva If you travel alot on the interstate an aspire has a few more creature comforts. Nerd Racing (member here) just listed an aspire 5 speed tranny for $125+ shipping. It's gonna be the easiest to replace the tranny. Although that bearing is not too hard to do. hope this helps.

[TheresGabe]

How in the world would a Festiva get better mileage or run longer? I'm just asking the logic. (I have actually owned 3 of each Festiva's/aspires). 5-speed aspire vs. 5-speed Festiva = identical mpg's. The aspire is just a little "nicer" on the inside. a little more refined. It has Airbags, stuff like that. The festiva is more of a purist car. It goes and goes, and there isn't much too it (I actually miss the freezing metal where you put your arm when the windows down.

I have combined probably put about 200,000 miles between 3 festivas and 3 aspires, and honestly while I love my Aspire I'm driving mostly now, I miss my festivas. But then again I get in a festiva, and I miss my aspire.

I wish more people around here would give the egg a try, before thinking they are only good for a brake swap!

To answer your questions, itd be silly to trade a 140,000 mile Aspire for a 200,000 mile festiva.

[scotty0607]

Thanks for your replies. Okay but which one is going to last longer?
or are known to last longer?

[getnpsi]

At lower speeds the aspire transmission should help city mileage. At highway speeds the festiva trans has slightly longer legs. I imagine in the real world the better electronics and emissions of the aspire make up for the cars heavier weight. Since there isnt much to these cars and they share so much drivetrain i think they'd last the same. Rust would kill a festiva earlier i imagine as they are older cars and have been in more winters.

I have had 2 running aspires and a festiva I turned before i put another engine in it. The festiva just is a better looking car, and just appears like it can take corners a little better.

I would trade a lower miles aspire for a high miles festiva that had a clean body. I'm after a car that doesn't even have an engine in my area

[MONSOON]

Im going to have to disagree with your saying the Aspire and Festiva get identical gas mileage. And offer the following as proof.

http://fueleconomydb.com/specs/1989/FORD/FESTIVA

http://fueleconomydb.com/specs/1997/FORD/ASPIRE

Your points are correct as to the Aspire being more refined. But that refinement carried with it additional weight that the 63 Hp B3 had to move along.
As well your point is correct about the Festiva being more of a "purist" car. It lacks the refinement the Aspire has for sure.

I think it all comes down to choice. I like the boxy appearance of the Festiva more than the Egg look of the Aspire. I think the simplicity of the Festiva is more of an appeal to some as well.
But I wouldnt turn down an Aspire if the price was right and not just for the brake swap. But thats just me.

As to which one would last longer. I think with proper maintenance there would be no discernable difference.

[Nerd Racing]

Well... I have also owned both and to me I would go with the Aspire. The airbags are nice to have, as are the manual seat belts. The festiva has slightly more interior room and yes its much simpler. But the aspire has heat from its dash vents and a little more creature comfort.

I have also noticed that in my neck of the woods its a lot easier to find aspires in the junkyards than festivas. It could be because they are newer, and it differs with location.

I owned 1 festiva and 4 aspires, so i'm a little biassed, but in a pinch I'd take either, go for the lower miles. Also being OBDII you can get a nice plug in device that plugs in the OBDII port that will tell you your current fuel mileage like the newer cars have.

[JPT]

I like both. I want an Aspire.

As for which lasts longer. They're both mechanically the same, so they should last equally as long (I've seen a few Aspires pushing 300K miles).

If I were you, I'd fix the egg. Sell it later if you want.

[TominMO]

I like both. I want an Aspire.

As for which lasts longer. They're both mechanically the same, so they should last equally as long (I've seen a few Aspires pushing 300K miles).

If I were you, I'd fix the egg. Sell it later if you want.

+1. Keep what you got; you know its issues. Any car you trade it for, might have issues that make it a money pit. And the Aspire is nicer for long drives.

I have run gas-mileage tests at 60 MPH on both cars, both 5-speeds in excellent running condition. The Aspire got 45, the Festy got 52. The right foot is the most important determinant in mileage. Even with the mileage difference, I still say keep what you got.

[scotty0607]

Thanks for all your replies! I decided i'm keeping her..just tore out the engine today and broke the tranny in half but i gotta get a gear puller to take the output shaft bearing off. Whats the torque set at to put the tail back onto the bell housing? and does the tranny take 2.6qts of fluid?..also I noticed the pilot bearing is giving out so I'm gonna replace it, does anyone have any ideas/tricks to getting it out without me having to rent/buy a bearing puller?..Thanks again!