Where are all the Festivas?
My 1990 Festiva L Plus, with only 27,000 miles got
nerfed while parked in front of my house. I am so
upset. The insurance folks want to total the car
for $2200. (Keep in mind we are talking San
Francisco Dollars, which do not go as far as other
US currency,) I have tried to locate
another Festiva with an automatic transmission but
with no luck. There are none to be found, even
tried 14 different used car searches on the web and
could only track one down in Ohio with a standard
transmission.
Can anyone offer up a possible solution? I
really do not think the price being offered is
fair, since I am unable to replace it with the same
vehicle. I know fellow Festiva owners know exactly
what I am talking about when it comes to loving
our "toy cars". Hey, I enjoyed the fact that the
tires were really just Hostess Donuts....
Any suggestions?
nerfed while parked in front of my house. I am so
upset. The insurance folks want to total the car
for $2200. (Keep in mind we are talking San
Francisco Dollars, which do not go as far as other
US currency,) I have tried to locate
another Festiva with an automatic transmission but
with no luck. There are none to be found, even
tried 14 different used car searches on the web and
could only track one down in Ohio with a standard
transmission.
Can anyone offer up a possible solution? I
really do not think the price being offered is
fair, since I am unable to replace it with the same
vehicle. I know fellow Festiva owners know exactly
what I am talking about when it comes to loving
our "toy cars". Hey, I enjoyed the fact that the
tires were really just Hostess Donuts....
Any suggestions?
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Yeah those festivas are nifty little go-carts, but seriously if you still want a good, reliable little twqo-door hatchback, pick up a Geo Metro from 1989-1994. They're about the same price and will give you about the same performance (or lack of), increadible gas mileage and clown-car-like cargo capacity.
(By the way, please educate this New Englander..what is "nerfed"?)
*Zero* available. It's easier finding a 63 Falcon Ranchero than a Festiva! And they taunt me, as I got off the bus last night on my way home from work, someone scooted past me in their Festiva
I am still seeking advise in finding another...
Tell me where to travel, and I'm there....
btw, if it is a rat, I'd be happy to turn it into an 'art car' The silly toy car quality lends itself to such a future.
The one closest to you is a '91 at a dealer in Daly City for $1595. Another is a '91 stick shift in Laguna Beach for $2000, another is an all red '92 stick shift in Long Beach for $3200, one a '91 blue automatic in the Moreno Valley area for $2450. Just go to http://www.autotrader.com and run a search under collector cars, not the regular search, for 89-92 Festivas anywhere in California any price range and you'll get about six matches. Good luck!
btw, cinemafia, I didn't see that commercial, but obviously enough did. I used to *love* embarrassing the other cars by darting off the line at an intersection... they were so smug that they didn't think a Festiva had the capability, but I know better. *zoom* then *putt putt*
Also, if you call AAA, they can direct you to a driving school that teaches the fine art of the manual transmission. Like I said, in this segment, the majority of cars will be manuals.
btw, if I were a gear head and could keep one running, I'd want a Mini or a Sunbeam instead...
HEY! My car is averaging 37mpg do I mind? Well, it's a bit out of my pocket book but, anything to get the damn SUV's off the road! I love rubbing it in, telling my SUV driving friends about mileage over 30 just makes them shake their heads!
Hurray for the economical hatchback!
My enthusiasm would cease upon coming in contact with one but, I'll cross my fingers and drive as safely as possible.
Speaking of SUV's, believe it or not my Festiva looks like one when parked next to my Austin Mini. I thought it was funny that the Mini was mentioned earlier and the same year for that matter. I love them both, but, must give the reliability award to the Festi.
If anyone wants a mini, check out minimania.com. It's truly one of the best sites I've found on the net. Look under "Private Sales." I found my 67 Austin Mini MK1 posted on the site and had it shipped from England to the east coast. Plenty being sold right out of the states also.
Anywho, good luck with the Festiva and happy driving. I'm on to the focus ZX3 next(Beautiful Car) or the PT Cruiser if I can be real patient.
Cheers!
j
In the meantime, I am fighting it out with those insurance rats who think they can give me a couple of dollars to total my "old useless piece of tin that blah blah blah...."
The car market here is turning towards four-cylinder cars, and it's not a coincidence ,it's a logical way to go when gas prices are becoming so expensive.
I think it will take another 5 to 10 years by the time today's truck based SUV's will naturally dye out. Today, if you'll ask anyone who owns SUV ,why did you decided to buy one, and why you did not consider any smaller cars ? In many cases answers will be "because I feel safe in it" and
"gas is so cheap these days and I can afford it"
It was the case last summer when gas was cheaper than spring water. Are you ready to fill it up for 45$ now (and remember you are still paying your loan off around 450$ every month ,all while your monthly insurance is just nailing your financial coffin.
Gas prices are way up since last year , economy will not soar for much longer, those two major facts will kill SUV's the same way they've created them.
It is becoming a very high price for your safety and comfort.
If Ford will follow it's great success of fantastic Focus and will push in with a new Ford Fiesta kind of car (it looks very interesting in the post above) others will follow.
GM can bring their great Opels here, Fiat is doing a lot nicer cars lately.
Do you agree....?
Debrahill, there is a creampuff Festiva here in my apartment complex - a silver one, no less. It has a manual tranny, but if you are interested, I can put a "do you want to sell this car?" note on the windshield - let me know.
I am sorry to learn that the plague is already upon us with the rat SUVs. At least you can spot them coming?
If I find one here in Dallas I'd be willing to deliver it to you for gas and a bus ticket and whatever it costs. I'll keep you posted!
Alan
http://www.egroups.com/group/festiva
Mike