1995 FESTIVA :to buy OR not?

[Marcel Bluret]

Hi folks, I've gotta nice siver EF Fairmont which just got re-reg'd but needs a new W/screen,4tyres,1elec-front-W/dow-repair, radiator,full tune-up,etc, @275,000klms & whilst I only use this car for long trips to city for AIR-CON-(wife's health-issue), IF it was an EB-EF:5litreV8/automatic, I be very happy to spend the $2500+work needed to keep it goin' (hopefully?) for another few years.

It sits inside the garage & mebbe goes on a 500klms trip every 6wks or so-(apart from a weekly-aircon-workout).

I just don't really like the 6cylinder/4litre motor & we only need 2drs,manual=box,w/dows & freezing AIR CON which is why I've been looking at FESTIVAs @under $3000 & have found a very nice one owned by a lady who's looked after it well & I can get it for $2000-(RWC & 6mths rego!)

I know NOTHING about these cars being an 'old-car guy' who's EF is the most 'modern' ever owned.

ANY advice is much needed - please?

This 1995 'met-dark-green':2door/1.3/5spd/manual=w/dows,alloys & 13" new tyres,V.G.CDplayer,gd paint/body/interior & mechanically excellent FESTIVA (with a 'bodykit' :-rear-wing & side-sill-thingys?) was test-driven by me last Wed & @188,000klms with FSH,(I met it's mechanic), it is actually PERFECT & exactly suitable for our needs BUT the AIR-CON was LOUSY!

It was an immaculate comfy car & very nice to drive & the owner has owned it for 5 yrs but has never done anything to the AIR-CON.

She is moving away & the sale is GENUINE, as all she said has checked out true & she is going to have the AIR-CON completely looked at this week & I'm sure it no doubt needs a reciever/dryer/re-gas/compressor-seal, etc,as 5 years is way too long to never check the AIR CON system & she lives in Toowoomba where the cool weather prevails, uses this car on weekends only, so I don't think she deliberately tried to sell me a lousy Air-Con'd Festiva.

My point is ; COLD Air-Conditioning is my ONLY purpose in owning a 'modern' Ford & while I feel my EF is ready to die & needs all this work & $ spent, will the little 1.3 Festiva's AIR-CON ever be really COLD enough even if totally 're-done' (which I could tell it did need) or should I stick with my EF-FAIRMONT & keep my fingers crossed ?

I would really prefer the FESTY as it is even more roomy behind the driver's wheel for me than the Fairmont & of course is a manual, has done 100,000klms LESS & is in seriously VGC in every way BUT I cannot seem to get a 1.5 FESTIVA & I have NO more than $2500 to be honest & I don't expect to get much car for that amount.

I will testdrive it again when the 'AIR' has been attended to but am I expecting too much for an 15 year old 1.3 Festiva to be as 'chilled' as a 15 yr old 4litre EF F'Mont ?

All info/advice/abuse, etc, will be appreciated, as this is a 'big-deal' for me!

Thanks, Marcel.

[kiwijohn42]

It'll suck as much gas as the falcon if you have to have the aircon on max all the time. Dont know if it'll handle it for long.
Might be worth saving up for something newer.

[Marcel Bluret]

Thanks John for the advice.
I did assume & accept the FESTIVA would suck heaps more fuel with AIR-CON on 'Full' & that is OK but IF it will NOT ever be freezing-cold, I may as well just do the work & spend the same $2500 on my EF FAIRMONT.

What exactly do you mean when you state "it may not handle it for long".
Big Bad Engine dramas or what?
Remember,this AIR-CON will only be on 'FULL' very rarely but will be needed only for long summer day trips, so it must work VERY well when it is used.

I just don't like big automatic (1990s) FORDS unless they are 5 litreV8s, as we really don't need such a big car but like me, my EF is considered TOO OLD, ready to die & I may as well "run it into the ground" !

[I've also seen way too many E-series/4litres with 'blown'head-gaskets,etc]

As I've already paid rego on it, fitted a new radiator & can very, very S..l..o...w...l....y spend the same amount :($2500) on hopefully tryin' to keep it alive till I also 'kick-it' I may as well just keep it but I do NOT trust that 4-litre's alloy-head & as its done 275,000+ klms, there are many items/parts/work required & while I'm no mechanic, those jobs that I can still do- I will !


I'd LOVE to "save up to buy something newer" .... but I'm OLD, a fulltime 'carer' -(who cannot even do 1 day's work & leave my wife home alone due to rural-isolation,etc) and, most STUPID of all; I am (again!) paying off a HOME Mortgage BUT this time on a pension !!!

The only things I save are Teabags, old worn socks-(ya can wear 2 on each foot,as the outer sock covers the holes on the inner sock -if ya arrange it-clever hey!?), power-bills=(go to bed with the sun-fun with no Viagra! ) ...oh ..wot else?... shoes/boots = much ingenuity can be used here!
...... I can save many things........ BUT...... NEVER MONEY !

SORRY for the cynical bitchin' mate but you made me spontaneously laugh & that is now a rare & precious gift & I'm not jerkin' ya chain in any way, so please do NOT take any offence but unless I win lotto, no 'newer' smaller 'chilled' car is ever comin' my way - ( 'cept to run me over! ).

I never EVER expected to end up livin' like this but life seems to teach ya what you must NEED to learn & not what ya think you want, or so I've found anyway.

Yet ......... Things could be very MUCH Worse !!!

I am very LUCKY to have a 'Carer's Pension' to try to look after my wife, live in the true lucky country & I can STILL manage to own 2 cars,(+other shedded 1950/60/70s-classics:worthless Renaults) but I do not want AIR-CON for comfort -
it is actually a vital 'health-need' for my wife, so I'm not complaining at all - just learning 'new auto-info' basically.


I'm just suspicious of my EF FAIRMONT's ability to 'last the distance' even if
I spend the (to me!) BIG BUCK$ on it & do the needed work myself but I
guess I'm stuck in a slight 'No Win Situation' ........... ?

:on ONE side with a '95- FESTY @188,000 klms with all the work/parts VERY good...@$2000 ono?.......

OR the 'Other Side' : my '95- EF FAIRMONT@280,000 klms: requiring all the work/parts the FESTIVA has already recently had done !

However, IF the little 1.3-FESTIVA will NOT get & stay really "CHILLED-
(no matter how thirsty it is?)- there is no point in buying it at all !

I may as well just do up & keep the FAIRMONT as its AIR-CON is cold enough & it looks GREAT but these E-series model Fords are SO damned WORTHLESS, an owner can't help feel slightly angry when wreckers/carsales folks offer ya $50 ! ..... NO B.S. !!!

Thanks anyway John & may you never end up in my situation as it can get 'boring', especially when ya worked all your life & owned many 'classic' automobiles, each now worth much more than ya damned house!

[Makes me realize how lucky I have been in my life. ]

You've made a 'Grumpy Old Man' getta 'good-morning belly-laugh' so I do sincerely appreciate your input altho' no doubt you did NOT intend to be 'humorous' when suggesting that I "save-up" for a newer model !

Sorry mate for any unintended offence & Enjoy your FORDS!


Best Wishes, Marcel

[Franco Cozzo]

Mum has a 1999 WF Festiva, it did 4 years with only oil topups and its still going (i serviced it twice since) with 250,000km on the clock, we have the 1.5L version, which is a Mazda engine, (1.3L is a Mazda engine also).

These cars werent built by Ford, they where built by Kia, you will see the plate in the engine bay.

Its a tough mother of a car, it won't die.

The aircon is good, a lot better than my WS Fiesta and its on par with my LV Focus, remember its running 134a though and your EF probably R12, the older gas, thats easily fixed with getting it regassed with Hychill minus 30 though.

[Marcel Bluret]

Hi Big Damo.
Many thanks for your reply & it is good to hear some positive FESTIVA-TALK & I know how extremely HOT as HELL it can get in VIC where ya may need chillin' AIR-CON while drivin' just like QLD.
(as well as= heater-demisters/wipers/foglights/snowchains/bag of clothes for all-seasons, etc.. all in the ONE day! ..sorry mate!)

.... At least ya can 'modify' a car down there without an expensive & bullying NIGHTMARE !!!!

Yes I knew FORD didn't make 'em & I did see the KIA on the plate but I did NOT know that they were both MAZDA donks-(1.3/1.5) & EVERYONE I have talked to :literally 50+people=owners/mechanics/usedcarsalesfolks,etc,
.....[ EVERBODY who wasn't 'outa the loop' during the 1980s-2010 ] ,......
... and they ALL say only GOOD things about these FESTIVAs!

My EF FAIRMONT is a 1995-model & does have the 'r134a' -AIR-CON gas but my 1970's Loony FRENCH Renaults cars-(came with "optional-air-con") & were all 'r12a' -AIR CON gassed, (which when I spent $500 swapping all over to 'r134a' gas was totally USELESS!), so I got this EF just 4 AIRCON.

This HY-CHILL sounds very GOOD!
I wish I'd known of it & it hadda been common & available 10 years back when I wasted $500 converting a RENAULT from 'r12a' to 'r134a' AIR-CON-gas, as it may have WORKED ??!

Apparently, the newer 'r134a' AIR-CON gas burns@much hotter/higher temps & when 'retrofitted' to many old 'classic' vehicles often works OK belting along the hiway@100klms/hr BUT in peak-hr CITY-TRAFFIC heading WEST into the blazin' sun,(when ya REALLY NEED IT ?)- it STOPS functioning completely & these same cars had really FREEZIN' Air-Con when they ran previously on 'r12a' gas !

Can the 1995 FESTIVA have an 'engine-transplant' from the 1.3 to a 1.5 motor or is that too hard ? (these were once simple swaps in the "oldaze")
I s'pose now ya have to swap the entire 'ECU thingy' if such a transplant was possible?

My next question is: Can ya gas-up with HYCHILL if the car has factory 'r134a' gas like the 1995 FESTIVA & my EF FAIRMONT ?

Where do ya get it done & roughly what sorta BUCK$ assuming both compressor & condensor are fine ?
Any good AIR-CON place or what ?
Any QLD/Brissie/Darling Downs FORDIES know?

Even a FESTY@180,000 klms in VGC is gotta be worth $2000 with RWC/6mths rego IF I can gas it up with HYCHILL & they seem to be, as ya say;
" Tuff mothers who won't die ".

[I could even change from 'r134a' gas to HYCHILL if I hadda keep my EF ? ]

I will NOT be drivin' this FESTIVA hard-(EXCEPT monthly for 5-10 mins I always give 'em a "full-on Flatout FLOGGIN" )
Fixes 'em everytime!

I wish I COULD afford a later model but I just don't have the $$ & also I want one with "manual-wind-up-windows" & as little "electronica-BS" to breakdown as is possible in a computerized car.

I mean apart from tiny old ladies, who needs POWER-STEERING in a 2door hatch with 13" wheels that probably weighs as much as Big Damo & me?

As for 'lecy-windows, my EF takes longer to press the button & watch ONE window go up/down than I can hand-wind all 4-windows in my 1974 RENAULT 12,..... wot 'techno-BS' ! ....... (Sorry 'tech-lovers' )

I now feel lots more confident about changing to a FESTIVA from my EF Fairmont than I did before,(now I've hadda good ol' *****!)& as this 1995 car=(WB?)- I'm lookin' at needs it's AIR-CON done anyhow, it SHOULD work much better anyway & later I can always later change to HYCHILL to really "Stiff the Missus" !

Many THANX Big Damo for your info & 'inspiring,encouraging & commonsense' advice mate!
May you find a good home for your small FORD & stay well & safe.

See ya, Marcel

[Yellow_Festiva]

Buy the Festiva.

Re-gas the aircon and see how you go.

The 1.3 will return around 500km from mixed driving and the tank is like 34l.

If looked after they WILL go forever.

One of the best early Korean cars IMO.

You will be able to service it yourself for nix, and insurance is also DIRT cheap.

Aircon will reduce economy by 5-8%. Big deal.

[Marcel Bluret]

Hi Yellow Festiva, I have noticed your posts & have been meaning to contact you about this 'dilemma' of mine but I think that you may be correct !

You also have a 1995 FESTIVA manual ?
Is it a 1.3 or 1.5 motor?
Is there really such a huge difference as those figures you quote are fine with me.

I (think) noticed that you are in Sydney (?) & I have adult kids there who have said it has been SERIOUSLY HOT recently & I suspect NO 15 year old 1.3 litre-powered car's Air-Con will be really 'freezing' when the tempuratures are over 40 degrees but that is rare & I will not be taking my wife out if the heat is that extreme anyway and so as long as she can sit inside a FESTIVA @25 degrees when it is really hot outside, it is sufficient.

You seem to have a good grasp on my situation & also own the same car I'm thinking of changing to, so I will take your advice & hope that I can buy this particular FESTIVA, as it has been very well looked after!

Thanks heaps for the encouragement & best wishes.

Sincere regards, Marcel. now less more &

[kevino]

Marcel-if you buy a Festiva and have a crash you will die. They are one of the unsafest cars ever sold in Australia to be involved in a crash in.

[Pinkbits]

Originally Posted by kevino

Marcel-if you buy a Festiva and have a crash you will die. They are one of the unsafest cars ever sold in Australia to be involved in a crash in.

If you are prepared to make those kind of bold statements at least back it up with some facts.
A link maybe?

We have had three Festivas in the family & currently have one for sale.
They are great to drive, easy & cheap to service & extremely reliable. (1 second hand dissy & 1 master cylinder). The one i drove i used for work all over country Victoria (before i got my company car) & never had an issue.

[Marcel Bluret]

Originally Posted by kevino

Marcel-if you buy a Festiva and have a crash you will die. They are one of the unsafest cars ever sold in Australia to be involved in a crash in.

Hi Kevino!

I suspect you're totally correct about that but thats life...or death...or worse!

I personally don't consider many 'modern' vehicles to be safe in a crash being of the "old school" but I am careful & it will not be used hardly at all & if another driver does crash into us... well.. that is... fate, God, karma, destiny, bad luck, whatever we wish to call it BUT I simply cannot afford any car that has air-con & would be safer.

Of course, I would much prefer a new or 5 year old EURO-HATCH-type vehicle!
Unless you are giving away any, I'm simply "stuck" in my situation!

(I am a 1970s RENAULT driver/collector but I may as well ask for a new small LEAR JET as a late model "safe" small car!)

Do you think my EF FAIRMONT is a great deal safer than a FESTIVA ?

Any advice would be appreciated as I'm not very familiar with 'modern' cars but I DO know that my old RENAULT 12s are actually safer than most 'modern' vehicles but I cannot AIR-CON them-I have tried!

Thanks for you kind thoughts but there is nothing I can do really other than hope for the best & for us, death is rapidly approaching anyway!

Best wishes, Marcel.

[Franco Cozzo]

Festiva only has a 2 star safety rating, which doesn't hold up TOO well, but if you come from driving 1970s cars, you'd be worse off in one of those than the ol' Festiva I reckon.

If you want more info on HyChill, there is a thread on SAU here where one of the founders of the company gets involved in the first page, its pretty good, one of our teachers at TAFE uses it and I'm thinking of getting the Fiesta and maybe the Focus regassed with it:

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/for...hill-hr12-gas/

Pretty much r134a sucks compared to the ol' R12, its harder on the aircon compressor, causes corrosion inside the closed AC system and its not as good at cooling, the only reason it was pushed forward is because its much easier on the environment in the way of effect on the ozone layer. R12 is basically responsible for the hole in the ozone layer which stops a lot of UV rays from reaching earth. Without it we'd probably be dead, lol.

I'm not sure on the engine transplant, I think the 1.3 and the 1.5 have different gearboxes, as in the 1.3 is weaker. They're Mazda B3 and B6 engines. The car only weighs 965Kg for the WF, so its quite light, it handles like a boat and body rolls everywhere but its quite comfortable on crappy roads compared to my Fiesta and Dad's 323. It also doesn't have an OBDII port, so you can't plug in a scan tool to find out problems, it has this thing called a diagnostic ports, which you have to short out two pins to get the codes to flash the engine light on the cluster.

I have a Ford workshop manual on the engine of the WF Festiva which covers B3 and B5 engines if you need to find out something about it, and wiring diagrams.

You might also have an issue with finding a decent, grippy 165/70/13 tyre, I've been looking around for a long time and I can only find crap tyres which you can spin in the dry without much effort, and borderline dangerous in the wet. I'm giving these Beaurepairs Geolander's a go on Monday to see if they are any good.

[Marcel Bluret]

Thanks for that info mate as I don't have any worries about drivin' a 2star-rated car really.
I don't care about 'airbags' - I AM one!

I started "rollovers" aged 12 in FJ-FB Holdens & other 1940/50/60s cars with no brakes on every kinda surface I could find until I could just about "turn-turtle", shove it back in 1st & take off again!

It was GREAT FUN in the oldaze!
.... (before RBT,RWC,ABS,ECU,etc,....... ! .... wot do they all mean?)
I DID wear a old 'crash-helmet but no seatbelt!

Things sure have changed & I am an old man now & drive quite slowly & very carefully!

I will sure checkout HYCHILL as it sounds perfect for our needs.

Many thanks for all the detailed info & I am very grateful !

Best wishes, Marcel.