The Festiva

[GasSavers_Kraig]

I've just been lurking for awhile. I just updated my gas log. The Festiva is doing quite well. In 4500 miles I've had no problems and averaged 48.09 mpg.
My best tank has been 53.78 mpg and my worst (this past week) was 44.69 mpg. The car is saving me over a $100 a month in gas (it'll pay for itself in less than a year)! Cold weather definitely kills my mileage, but over 44 mpg isn't to shabby for winter gas, cold weather and relatively little effort as far as driving technique to save gas. I'm going to try and make a coroplast grille block over the holidays as it takes it forever to warm up on cold days. A block heater would be nice too (Santa are you listening?).........

[CO ZX2]

Originally Posted by Kraig

I've just been lurking for awhile. I just updated my gas log. The Festiva is doing quite well. In 4500 miles I've had no problems and averaged 48.09 mpg.
My best tank has been 53.78 mpg and my worst (this past week) was 44.69 mpg. The car is saving me over a $100 a month in gas (it'll pay for itself in less than a year)! Cold weather definitely kills my mileage, but over 44 mpg isn't to shabby for winter gas, cold weather and relatively little effort as far as driving technique to save gas. I'm going to try and make a coroplast grille block over the holidays as it takes it forever to warm up on cold days. A block heater would be nice too (Santa are you listening?).........

Kraig, you're doing well. You must have just bought your car? $1200 bucks?
A heck of a deal. I've been around GS for a couple months.

Try www.partsamerica.com for a block heater. I bought mine there for $18.

[GasSavers_James]

Sounds like a good little car. I bet it will save you a lot of money over the years. I bet the parts are a lot cheaper than honda and toyota parts.

[red91sit]

Originally Posted by Kraig

I've just been lurking for awhile. I just updated my gas log. The Festiva is doing quite well. In 4500 miles I've had no problems and averaged 48.09 mpg.
My best tank has been 53.78 mpg and my worst (this past week) was 44.69 mpg. The car is saving me over a $100 a month in gas (it'll pay for itself in less than a year)! Cold weather definitely kills my mileage, but over 44 mpg isn't to shabby for winter gas, cold weather and relatively little effort as far as driving technique to save gas. I'm going to try and make a coroplast grille block over the holidays as it takes it forever to warm up on cold days. A block heater would be nice too (Santa are you listening?).........

Excellent! the grill block should help fuel economy a bit too, so it's a double benefit. My car currently has a full grill block, and still has troubles warming up in the cold.

[GasSavers_Kraig]

I've had it on the road since the middle of September. I bought it for $995. I picked up a complete running spare motor and tranny for $50! I should be good for many years as they're supposed to be quite reliable. There's one running around with 475,000 miles on it...mine only has 194,000 on it. Just broken in well

[Peakster]

Averaging 47+mpg is a Ford Festiva is amazing (especially without a scanguage)! I see your car has A/C. Does it have the power steering option too? What are your driving techniques?

[Matt Timion]

Man... you guys are making me regret my Honda Fit purchase.

[psyshack]

Those Festiva's are great little cars. I miss mine dearly.

[MetroMPG]

hey Kraig

Nice update on the car.

Originally Posted by Kraig

The car is saving me over a $100 a month in gas (it'll pay for itself in less than a year)!

That's serious savings. What were you driving before?

I was spending about $700 CDN a year in repairs & maintenance on my 89 Accord before I took the leap into Fireflies. They (surprisingly) turned out to be the most trouble-free cars I've owned, so I've also saved quite a bit of money since making the switch (not to mention the Blackfly gets almost 2x the mpg as the Accord).

[GasSavers_Kraig]

My previous driver was an '86 TBird Turbo Coupe with a 5 speed. I'd get 27-29 mpg in mixed driving. Bext of 32 mpg on the highway. I sold it with 251,756 miles on it, (it's still going with 260K on the original engine). Wanted something with good mpg and a Ford emblem on the front, thus the Festiva in the driveway. The Festiva seems to be a great little car (kinda miss the power of the TBird's 2.3 turbo .... but i have a 2.3 Turboed SVO Mustang in the garage). I drive about 400 miles a week so the savings really add up from the Festiva!