The rear axle needed to be replaced shortly after I bought the car because of rust. Luckily, I found a shop where they could replace it with a used axle (and also where a friend of mine worked) so it was rather inexpensive.
Although the car was small, I never felt unsafe in it. In fact, when I totaled the car on the highway at 65+ mph, the only injury I received was a bruise on my chest from the seatbelt. This despite the fact that I had been hit from the rear and knocked into a guardrail, and then bounced back across two lanes of traffic.
The color (pukey aqua) was not to my liking, but the gas mileage (40-45 mpg) definitely was.
The interior is a bit small for a larger person, but it is not uncomfortable.
Because it is so light, and because I usually drove it alone, my Festiva would really accelerate quite well.
My only real complaint was that I didn't have one of the models with a rear window washer, so at times, especially in the winter and early spring, it was hard to see out the rear window.
Hehe. I have the same AQUA color on mine 1993 Festiva. People call it the ZEST BAR, Flintstone mobile, Go-Kart, you name it.. I call it a dream car... Excellent reliablity... I hope it continues to go forever..
I have to agree with you on all counts. I hit a garbage truck (he ran a red light) doing about 50 km/h. The car was written off, but I walked away with a sore neck and that's all.
What did I get with the insurance money? Another Festiva, but this time in your dreaded Aqua colour. First one had a rear windshield wiper which was sorely missed on it's replacement.
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