Comments: 1-15, 16
Basically what hasn't gone wrong with it?
1.5 years into ownership the engine blew (a big end.. so basically had to replace the whole engine), wasn't a cheap thing considering it was a relatively new car.. and Ford (Found On Rubbish Dump as I like to call them now) decided that it wasn't covered under the warranty...
Just recently the front brakes have started to come on causing huge amounts of stress on the engine etc... when will it end?
I'll never ever buy another Ford.
Right then.. Guess who made the Festiva for Ford.. Kia.. that's why you've got a load of crap!
We had a Festiva 1996 and have had no problems with it.
Yep, don't blame Ford, blame KIA. I also had a Festiva LX with 100K + miles on it and I beat the hell out of it off roading, high speed driving etc... took it on 2 vacations across the U.S. And all I ever had to do was replace the ignition coil, the best part is the car only cost me $200.
Yeah, when Ford made them, they were tough as hell. I own a 93 L that went through 2 of the craziest drivers ever. They beat the hell out of it, just cuz it wasn't worth much.
My friend wanted a big Jeep with big ass tires because he loves offroading. I can't even count all the times we took it off into terrain that most cars wouldn't dare to go through. I now have 147,000 miles of pure beating, and it runs like new. All that's ever had to be replaced were quite a few tires (hmmmmmmmmmnnnnn... I wonder why.. maybe the fact that it's a light ass 5-speed with tiny tires) and a new clutch (same reason as above). Besides that, it's all stock.
I would never buy a Kia or anything made by Kia, but if Ford produced them again, I would definitely pick one up.
KIA didn't make the Festiva!!! They are made by a foreign based Ford plant in Korea... which by the way wips out some of the best cars ever made... and I didn't know Festivas were made in 98'..aren't those Aspires???!!!
My Festiva has never had any problems, and there is absolutely no wear whatsoever to the engine... and it has 146,000 miles on it!!! It still had cross hatches in the cylinder walls! And the bearings were fine. The piston rings had absolutely no wear on them either.
The only thing I ever did to the car was replace some gaskets, which is nothing! One time I recieved 65 mpg!!! But that was just once, it now gets 50 mpg... but any way the Ford Festiva is the best car ever made... fact.
"The 1.3 liter engine in the Ford Festiva was designed and manufactured by Mazda of Japan. Engine designation for the 1.3 SOHC is "B3", and is visible stamped on the I.d. number pad on the engine block." Fordfestiva.com.
Ya should have kept the bloody Holden!!! My Holden is wonderful! Oh and my friend's Festiva fell apart just like everyone else who got them from her work (and yes, they got them from different dealers so it couldn't have been a dud car). They're all LEMONS!
I recently bought a 1990 Festiva. It's in mint condition, all stock parts, and runs like a dream. Burns no oil, and is quite peppy. Having owned a Ford product before (a Lynx) I was a bit hesitant to buy this Festiva. So far, it is absolutely the best car I've owned. Despite the fact that it is a small car, it is solid. The hood has a nice heavy feel when you close it, and the doors close solidly as well. BTW, if my sources are correct, the Festiva was made for Ford by both KIA and Mazda. In short, the Festiva is hard to beat: it gives a lot for so little. Thanks for putting up this web site.
I have a 1997 Ford Festiva and I think its the best car ever. I have only had it for 3 months so I guess that's not really long enough to judge how many problems I may have with the car, but another Festiva Owner I know hasn't had any problems with hers either. I must say that when I was checking the oil and stuff today though, I did notice that it said KIA on the tag near the engine, not Ford, or Mazda or anything else people have been suggesting. LOL I still love my car though!
My father-in-law has a 1991 Festiva 1.3L 5 speed. It has 197,000 miles on it and has only needed to have the front suspension reworked. According to the N.A.D.L. book given to me while I was in the police academy, his car was manufactured by Kia in Kyung-Ki-Do Korea.
I have a second hand 1996 Ford Festiva for 7 months. I have had to replace to manual transmission which the service centre stated would go at around these miles in either the Festiva or Mazda 121. I have had to replace the wheel bearings and now the CV joints have gone.
The good thing is that it is economical as anything.
I had a 1994 Hyunda Excel and it would eat this car.
I will never have a front wheel drive car again.
Bought my Festiva new in 1988. Ten years and 216,145 miles later traded it in. Other than exhaust, brakes, and tires, never replaced a part. Last year I saw an '88 for sale in front of a house. "Damn good cars," I thought so I went to take a look. It was my old car! Of course I bought it back (for $350). Now it's my daily driver. Still the best car I've ever had (out of 35).
Can someone tell me where I can find the fuel pump relay on my 1990 Festiva? I pulled the pump out of the tank and tested it and it works. All fuses seam to be OK. I just can find the relay. The inertia switch wasn't tripped either. Thanks, Rick...
Hello,
I bought a 1989 Ford festiva, it had 198,803 when I bought it, and now it has 278,035 miles on it, and I had to replace the exhaust because it got rusty. That was all I have ever done to it... It is a nice little car, a little noisy, but nice. 0-60 in around 12 seconds... not a hot rod, but a nice little car.
Thanks.
I bought a brand new KIA POP in 2000 (successor to Ford's festiva) it is an excellent car, never changed anything, but the brakes once (150 US$) it was an excellent car until my sister crashed it into a wall... Anyway very reliable car and very cheap to maintain.