How Reliable are used Ford Festiva/Aspire?

curt3 · April 2002

I had a 1995 Aspire that I bought because of my good fortune with the Festiva. I also regret selling it (the Aspire) since it was a faithful little car. It lacked the coolness of the Festiva but it felt more car-like than the Festiva.

I kept my Aspire for 4 years and traded it in on a new 2000 Kia Sephia--I really moved down the food chain on that one. I kept the Kia only 10 months and moved on to a Mazda. Anyway, the Aspire had close to 70,000 on it and was never a problem.

joffficer · April 2002

It's an auto, but might be a good resalable car..... looks good, runs great! 200k miles!

curt3 · April 2002

Good luck with the 1990 Festiva. I believe that the 1990 model has fuel injection. It should prove to be reliable well into the 300,000 mile range.

rake · May 2002

just bought a '90 LX w/ auto but no air. Has 82M mi. Needed something easy on gas to get me to work (18 mi of backroads) and around running kids to softball. Needs front end aligned and brakes checked. Hopefully will serve me well.

Kirstie_H · May 2002

A major national publication is looking for a consumer who is buying or just bought a vehicle and has considered a Ford, but is worried about their recent quality lapses. If you are have a story to share, please send your phone number and some basic information about your experience no later than Wednesday, May 29 to katiebw@aol.com or jfallon@edmunds.com.

arkansaslegs · June 2002

I owned a 1989 Festiva and drove it till I got my Aspire. I have over 100 thousand miles on my Aspire, and I have just recently experienced my first "problem". It acts like something is clogging the fuel system, it will idle, but dies when I push the accelerator. Does anyone have any idea where I can find a web page or discussion on this type of problem?

Anyone else had this type problem with theirs?

soqrbrad · June 2002

I am a 16 yr. old almost 17 looking for a car to get me to and from school and a job. A friend of my mom has a 1991 ford Festiva w/ 106,000 miles on it, no A/C, a single disk cd player, and an am/fm stereo in it. He is offering $1100 for the car. I viewed it both on edmunds.com as well as Kelly's blue book. Here it said most people pay $550 for the car while KBB said that $1050 is what the car is worth. What price do you think I should try for?

revka · June 2002

Edmunds.com TMV (True market value) pricing is based on what people are actually paying for the vehicle. You may want to read this Edmunds' article about how the KBB determines it's retail values.

Perhaps print up the Edmunds' TMV pricing and show it to the seller. My 2 cents. Good luck, and please keep us posted on your purchase.

Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards

joffficer · June 2002

Let's face it... they are neat little cars, but very basic! Most are abused, and show it (they do hold up to the abuse, though).

henpecked · July 2002

I had a 1994 ford aspire ad to have the engine replace with 79,000 mile.Because of a cracked engine block.And a large list of other parts replaced before the engine replacement.I paided 4thousand for the car. cost 1200 to replaced the motor.Traded that junk for a Kia Rio just to get rid of it "Great Car". I also have a 1993 ford festiva Gl that i have owned since 1999.No major problems and has 152,00 miles.

mekp1 · August 2002

Can anyone help? A friend of mine in the Caribbean has a 1993 Ford Aspire, at least that's what it says on his documentation and also is so marked on the car itself. It's made in Korea. However, the US Vehicle ID number has an R in it (8 digits from the right) which I understand suggests it's a 1994 model.
My friend needs a radiator for his car? Does he look for a 1993 model (this doesn't seem to exist - at least not on the searches I've done on the net)? Or would a radiator for a 1994 model be OK?

Can anyone sort out this mystery for me? If so, where would I go - in the States - to get the radiator?

Hope that someone can work this one out?
I'd be really grateful.

revka · August 2002

I imagine you could get your answer through a Ford dealer parts shop. Someone in one of our more active Ford discussions (i.e. Ford Focus ZX3) might be able to recommend a good online source for Ford parts. Just an idea.

You may also want to ask (copy/paste) your question on our main Maintenance & Repair message board. Look for access to that board via the pull down menu on the upper/left side of the page. Good luck.

Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards

joffficer · October 2002

I never did buy the last festiva I looked at, but I found another. Can anyone tell me about the auto used in the '90 model. Is it any good.. is it as dependable as the engine?

Thanks, Jeff

rake · October 2002

my original message was #105. Since April, have put approx 4000mi on and it's runnin' fine. '90LX w/ auto and no probs so far w/ the auto, just is a bit touchy getting into reverse sometimes. Like a small car, take time and it takes ya where ya gotta go. Had rear brakes replaced by retired mechanic neighbor for $36 and looking to replace any filters I can just to say I know it was done and when.

joffficer · October 2002

I got a 1991 GL auto/AC for just over a grand. The body is in Very good shape, as well as the interior. Even has a great pioneer CD stereo! Only 71,000 miles on the clock (carfax checked!), and everything works great.
Looks like it'll be my winter car, as the wife is driving my Elantra GT more and more!

aheathenscott · November 2002

I have a 93 Festiva L 5 spd with 82,000 km (about 50,000 miles). I just had a new clutch installed as the old one started slipping. The new clutch causes the car to pop out of gear occasionally when in 4th gear - particularly in the low end rpm. The mechanic thinks this will go away soon with regular driving and says this is being caused by the new clutch assembly pressure plate creating too much pressure on the older transmission. Any ideas?

revka · November 2002

Welcome to the Hatchbacks board! I think you'd do well to also post your message on our Maintenance & Repair message board. If you can't find an appropriate discussion over there, feel free to start one up. Good luck, and please return here to keep us posted on your situation.

Revka

Hatchbacks & Wagons Host

mpgman · November 2002

Got 320,800 on the original engine AND CLUTCH. Finally overheated and suffered internal engine damage that I didn't want to fix. Any visit to the dealer was greeted with "What are you doing here? We never see them in for repairs." Guess I was a lucky one.

aheathenscott · January 2003

Had badly worn out tranny bearing replaced. Got 25% discount because mechanic missed the problem when replacing clutch two weeks before. Car runs like new again. Nice & quiet. Mechanic said that new pressure plate caused a movement inside the tranny that the older worn out clutch could not do. Man am I able to save money because of this car. That was the first repair in 4 1/2 years. If only I could meet a woman that was impressed by zero debt instead of fancy wheels.

How Reliable are used Ford Festiva/Aspire?

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