Hey I'm a new member with a Festiva [ Archive] - GasSavers.org - Helping You Save at the Pump

Hey,
This is my first economy vehicle. It's a '91 Festiva L, 5 speed, dealer add on A/C and it's Surf Blue. It took me months to find this car and I had to drive 7 hours to get it!! Needless to say I'm intersted in improving it's already good fuel economy. The previous owner said he got over 50mpg on the highway with the A/C on! I've been driving a '86 TBird Turbo Coupe for the last 16 years. It just rolled over 250,000 miles (original engine!!) and it's time for retirement for it. It got 27-29 mpg going to work and as good as 32 mpg highway. I received a free '95 F-150 Supercab and thought I'd drive it to work. Well that lasted about three weeks and I decided I couldn't afford to drive that thing on a daily basis. So I started to look for a 5 speed Festiva .......... and finally found one. Now I'm eager to improve it's economy (efficiency). I also own a '86 Comp Prep SVO Mustang (1 0f 83 made that year). It's been on the cover of MM&FF and in the same mag a couple more times.


Kraig

Welcome Kraig! I don't know much about the Festiva, can you tell us more about it?

Welcome to the site Kraig! You will find a lot of useful info archived here that you can search through. I have personally had six Festivas over the past few years. They are a good economy car with the 5spd transaxle. Achieved 54mpg HWY on a trip with one (kept speed down around 55mph).

My more recent interest has been with Metros (more of them around), but would like to hear/see more about your vehicle and any planned modifications. Again, welcome!

Welcome!

Hi Kraig, welcome to GasSavers!

It's good to see a Ford vehicle here as there aren't many around. It looks to me that you have an excellent platform for a hypermiler. Keep us posted on any questions or plans :)

RH77

Ford/Kia :)

Ford/Kia :)

Ford/Kia? Hmm, didn't know that. It makes sense, though. I just always figured that it was a carry-over of a European or South American-Market model. What's the history of it in North America?

RH77

Not sure what the history is exactly. It was a mutt (like most econos). Had something to do with being Mazda Designed, Kia Built and Ford Sold....if memory serves me correctly. Definately say manufactured by Kia on all of them.

They have a 1.3 liter, EFI (later models) Mazda 4 cylinder and tranny. They're supposed to last 300,000-400,000 miles and the 5 speed ones get great gas mileage. They're very roomy inside for their size. And as I have found out, can be quite hard to find for sale! I plan on aerodynamic and other mods and hope to see milage well in excess of 60 mpg when I'm done .......

Any power numbers on that 1.3 beast?

you and mira should team up nicely. both of you have econo box's in the most literal sense of the word. box that is. its a real hinderance to the aerodynamics, but if you keep it at lower speeds that wont be a problem at all. is the majority of miles highway?

welcome to the site.

I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, there's no interstate, so most traveling I do is a 55 mph limit. I don't think aerodynamics will be a big issue. The 1.3 makes a mighty 63 hp!!

Great little cars they are. I bought a Festiva new in 92 I think it was. Very easy to get 50 mpg out of it. I auto crossed it some and had a great time with the car.

Even with it's boxy shape a Festiva can get over 50 mpg without special driving techniques or mods, just think what one can do if you implement these things? I picked a Festiva over a Metro as I believe a Mazda manufactured 4 cylinder will last longer than a Suzuki 3 cylinder. The Festiva also has a more sophisticated multi port EFI system with a vane air meter etc. leading to a more efficient and accurate control of the engine versus the throttle body injection system of the Metro. The Festiva's 5 speed tranny actually is overdriven in 4th and 5th gears also.

Kraig: Welcome to Gas Saver's. In thinking about it, I don't recall seeing many (any) Festiva's when I've been to the pick a part junk yard's, here in California. If someone come's across one, do you want us to keep an eye out for anything?

Local yard has two in it. One has two of the factory alloy 12" wheels (was thinking about them for the Metro :) ) and a rear hatch that was modified (license plate area filled in) so the plate relocated into the bumper.

I could use a rust free Surf Blue hood, mine has some minor rust on the leading edge (shipping would probably be a killer :(). I hope to have it registered and on the road next week. I'll let you know the mpg totally stock and then with each mod.

Make sure you create and update your 'gaslog' on the site :)

Kraig

I wouldnt go mod crazy untill you find your's and the cars max mpg.

Picked up a spare motor (complete) and 5 speed tranny for my Festiva tonight for $50! Any suggestions for a maximum mpg minded rebuild? This way i can have it ready for when the original engine needs a freshening up and can just swap out motors (might be years but I'll be ready).

Picked up a spare motor (complete) and 5 speed tranny for my Festiva tonight for $50! Any suggestions for a maximum mpg minded rebuild? This way i can have it ready for when the original engine needs a freshening up and can just swap out motors (might be years but I'll be ready).

Heh.. you're thinking like me now.

There is a guy that posts on teamswift that MetroMPG can point you towards. He modified a Metro camshaft to get better gas mileage. He might offer his talents to you as well.

With a spare engine this would be the perfect time to really learn how your motor works, if you already don't. I would take it apart and rebuilt it, piece by piece. There are some great gear-heads on this site, so I'm certain that someone will have some great ideas for making your engine a little more efficient.

My friend's mom had a festiva @ 450,000 miles, and this was years ago after we lost touch.

There are certainly enough Festivas on the roads in my neck of the woods, and even more came out of the woodwork (or the tall grass behind the barn) after gas prices shot up with Katrina. They certainly seem to be a frugal, durable car.

Well I got the Festiva on the road Thursday. Runs well! I've gone over 170 miles since filling it up and it still shows over 3/4 tank! (It holds 10 gallons) I'll enter my mileage in my gaslog when I fill her up later this week.

Sweet, looking forward to it!