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Author Topic: Ford Festiva?  (Read 1286 times)

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Offline Cryptinox

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Ford Festiva?
« on: February 21, 2022, 07:51:09 PM »
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    • I was wondering if anyone here has had experience with a Ford Festiva (NOT Fiesta) from 1995-2002. I am curious because it seems like a good alternative to the Geo Metro if I could find one or parts to maintain it with. Another car I am interested in is the older Ford Aspires.
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    Offline SimpleMan

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #1 on: February 21, 2022, 08:42:24 PM »
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    • ANYTHING is a good alternative to the Geo Metro.

    I can’t say enough good about my 2021 Toyota Camry LE.  Got it in June and just turned over 10K miles.  $29K and change.  You cannot go wrong with that car.  Up to 40mpg with 93 octane fuel.  Actually in short bursts you can bump up against 42-43 mpg.
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    Offline Cryptinox

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #2 on: February 21, 2022, 08:43:52 PM »
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    • Quote from: SimpleMan on February 21, 2022, 08:42:24 PM
    ANYTHING is a good alternative to the Geo Metro.

    I can’t say enough good about my 2021 Toyota Camry LE.  Got it in June and just turned over 10K miles.  $29K and change.  You cannot go wrong with that car.  Up to 40mpg with 93 octane fuel.
    It depends on what you want. A pickup truck is certainly an awful alternative if you want good mpg. I am also planning on getting a car 5k or less, preferably under 3k. The older civics and the tercel are good options too.
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    Offline DigitalLogos

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #3 on: February 21, 2022, 09:20:39 PM »
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    • Geo Metro is GM, so I would be very wary of it unless it were a 90s Silverado or something. :laugh1:
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    Offline SimpleMan

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #4 on: February 21, 2022, 09:34:11 PM »
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    • Quote from: Cryptinox on February 21, 2022, 08:43:52 PM
    It depends on what you want. A pickup truck is certainly an awful alternative if you want good mpg. I am also planning on getting a car 5k or less, preferably under 3k. The older civics and the tercel are good options too.
    These days, if you're trying for a car at that kind of price, I've just got to tell you, it's going to be basic transportation, probably won't be in terribly good cosmetic shape, but the prime consideration, in fact, really the only consideration, will be "does it run, and is it reliable?".

    The Geo Metro was a car full of good intentions, and as long as it's reliable, it's better than nothing.  I rented one 31 years ago for a training seminar in Jacksonville, Florida, and somehow, I managed to drive it 300 miles in one day.  Jacksonville is a big place geographically, and I'd also gone on down to St Augustine and up to Georgia that day, so that probably would add up to 300 miles.

    I'd find a trustworthy dealer, preferably someone you know, and go from there.  Best of luck to you.
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    Offline Cryptinox

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #5 on: February 21, 2022, 09:46:46 PM »
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    • Quote from: DigitalLogos on February 21, 2022, 09:20:39 PM
    Geo Metro is GM, so I would be very wary of it unless it were a 90s Silverado or something. :laugh1:
    It is actually a rebadged Suzuki Swift. All of Geo's cars were just rebadged asian cars. The Geo/Chevy Prizm is just a rebadged Corolla.
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    Offline Cryptinox

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #6 on: February 21, 2022, 09:48:49 PM »
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    • Quote from: SimpleMan on February 21, 2022, 09:34:11 PM
    These days, if you're trying for a car at that kind of price, I've just got to tell you, it's going to be basic transportation, probably won't be in terribly good cosmetic shape, but the prime consideration, in fact, really the only consideration, will be "does it run, and is it reliable?".

    The Geo Metro was a car full of good intentions, and as long as it's reliable, it's better than nothing.  I rented one 31 years ago for a training seminar in Jacksonville, Florida, and somehow, I managed to drive it 300 miles in one day.  Jacksonville is a big place geographically, and I'd also gone on down to St Augustine and up to Georgia that day, so that probably would add up to 300 miles.

    I'd find a trustworthy dealer, preferably someone you know, and go from there.  Best of luck to you.
    Runs, reliable, fuel efficient, not a pain to drive, and could keep me alive in a standard crash is my criteria. The Geo Metro does better in a frontal crash test than the Dodge Neon. I plan on getting a 1995 metro at the earliest. The early 2000s metros have 79 hp vs the weak 55 hp from the early 90s models.
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    Offline Seraphina

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #7 on: February 22, 2022, 11:47:04 AM »
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    • Whew!  Glad you specified Festiva, not Fiesta!  I was once given a practically new Fiesta as a loaner car and it reminded me of the Yugo, if anyone here is old enough to have tried one out!  As for the Festiva, my ex-bro-in-law had one for maybe seven or eight years to drive from Long Island to Brooklyn and back for work. He bought it used, so it might do the trick for you, seeing that it endured hard use.  I’d stay away from the Geo.  A work colleague had one that kept needing alternators and batteries.  The Prizm, the poor man’s Corolla, has an fairly good record, but the Corolla itself was better.  I’d do some research on the year before buying a Prizm.
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    Offline Emile

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #8 on: February 22, 2022, 11:55:40 AM »
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    • Quote from: Seraphina on February 22, 2022, 11:47:04 AM
    ... it reminded me of the Yugo, if anyone here is old enough to have tried one out! 

    I never actually drove one, but whenever I hear the word "Yugo" this quote comes to mind:

    Quote
    "had the distinct feeling of being assembled at gunpoint."

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    Offline Last Tradhican

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    Re: Ford Festiva?
    « Reply #9 on: February 22, 2022, 01:22:55 PM »
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    • Quote from: Cryptinox on February 21, 2022, 08:43:52 PM
    It depends on what you want. A pickup truck is certainly an awful alternative if you want good mpg. I am also planning on getting a car 5k or less, preferably under 3k. The older civics and the tercel are good options too.
    The Camry LE that he recommended is not a pickup truck and it is the car with the lowest mechanical repair incidence. It is not uncommon to see 1980 camry's running around with 300,000 miles. You want to buy the older Camry's that didn't have the interference engines pre-2002. When the belt breaks on the interference engine the entire engine gets destroyed and you just lost your investment. With the non-interference engine when the belt breaks you get it towed to a mechanic and he installs a new belt. Ideally though, you want a non-interference engine with a timing chain drive instead of a belt, but those would likely be older cars, you have to research that one yourself.

    Geo Metro's were total junk cars. Ford Festivas don't last past 100,000 miles without heavy duty maintenance and repairs. 
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