21st Feb 2004, 13:40
You paid $900 dollars for an O2 sensor for that car? I think that you got taken. Check out price of that unit, at www.AutoZone.com. For the OE Bosch unit, you are looking at 104.99. Seems to me you need a new mechanic...
13th May 2004, 20:07
That sure was a lot to pay for an O2 sensor I paid 55 bucks for mine and put it in in 15 minuets.. best 200 bucks I ever spent buying a car. you should think of finding a different mechanic...
8th Apr 2006, 11:23
I just bought a 96 Aspire (4-dr+hatch) yesterday from the 2nd owner. It has 46,300 ACTUAL miles, A/C and is a 5-spd, and I gave $1900 for it. The first thing I had to do was buy new tires... the ones I replaced were in such bad shape, the right rear being cupped so bad, it went "whump-whump-whump" so loudly and shook so badly you would go crazy in short order... and since I must drive it 600 miles on Wednesday, I knew I had to replace them. I have owned 5 Festivas (predecessor of the Aspire) and loved them all. Out of those 5, I bought my first one brand new, but sold it after about a year, which I regret to this day. I only hope that the Aspire lives up to the high standards set by my Festivas. I agree with what another poster said - something about the Aspire not having the "character" of the Festiva...
As for $900 O2 sensors... they definitely saw that owner coming! I'm looking forward too many "trouble-free" years from my Aspire. Wish me luck!
3rd May 2006, 14:47
The Festiva and Aspire are known for being mechanically sound... but a lot of people think they were totally designed and built by Kia. Yes, the bodies were designed and assembled by Kia, but the engines and engine components were designed and built by Mazda. THIS is why these little cars have fared so well over the years. Mazda.
18th May 2006, 02:56
The Festiva was a Kia assembled Mazda 121. The Aspire was a Kia body wrapped around the 121 platform.
8th Dec 2003, 01:06
I agree with the first comment... I own a '95 Aspire with manual. This car has been the best I've EVER owned. I bought it with 116,000 miles on it and it now has 134,000 miles...18,000 in under a year... with NO PROBLEMS other than regular maintenance. I agree that the person doesn't sound appreciative... the aspire is the best car ever made and I'm keeping mine for many many years to come!