Festiva or Aspire? (bench racing time!)| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

Marty! Dork
10/6/10 3:29 p.m.

I'm looking at picking up a Festiva or Aspire. Have a lead on a $300 rust free Festiva but kinda leaning towards a Aspire as it already has the bigger brakes and more common wheel pattern.

I'm thinking Mazda B-series/trans/axle swap. Megasquirt, gratuitous use of fiberglass, and maybe some lexan for good measure.

What about suspension?

Oh and under $2011 please.

Anything else to know?

mndsm Dork
10/6/10 3:30 p.m.

Erm, you about got it. Aspire is gonna cost a little more, and really, subframe swaps between the two are easy. Sounds like fun!

DukeOfUndersteer SuperDork
10/6/10 3:43 p.m.

VOTE - Festiva

Keith SuperDork
10/6/10 3:51 p.m.

A coworker just bought a Festiva, so I'll know more about them soon :) He claims it's a 4x100 bolt pattern - but I just checked and you're right. So he may be disappointed.

The best part is that, according to Wikipedants, it's really a Kia Pride and it's the most popular vehicle in Iran. Both of which make the car more fun. We're scheming to swap the 63 hp 1.3 out of the car and into the boss's yellow 1992 Miata and see if he notices...

RexSeven Dork
10/6/10 4:13 p.m.

Time to bring back Project Festevil:

http://www.modified.com/tech/0401_sccp_ford_festiva/index.html

And then there was Teqnyck with Festiva of Borg:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/724/

"We are the Borg. All your auto race are belong to us. Resistance is futile."

Thinkkker SuperDork
10/6/10 4:19 p.m.

Get the Festiva, its a better looking car and lighter to boot.

The suspension swap is easy, nothing to it.

Then grab a 1.6 or 1.8 b series and drop it in. Preferably with a knife-edged crank and ITB's ;).

poopshovel SuperDork
10/6/10 4:33 p.m.

The front and rear suspension swaps from the festiva. I got a Festiva for $90, and an aspire for $100. After recoup, I've got a free Festiva with ass-pyre goodies; technically, I actually MADE money on the deal. If you're planning on being in GA any time soon, I've still got a rolling aspire with a running motor and locked up tranny for $150.

Marty! Dork
10/6/10 4:35 p.m.

Thanks for the responses. I'm not worried about the work of a suspension swap as much as the cost (thinking Challenge budget here). It seems that I can get a Aspire close to the cost of a Festiva plus & the swap bits. Looks are irrelevant as I think they are both kinda screwy looking.

ITB's is a interesting thought......

mad_machine SuperDork
10/6/10 4:36 p.m.

I would go with the Festiva too. The Aspire is a bit bland

Marty! Dork
10/6/10 4:37 p.m.

Thanks for the offer poop, I would a <3 a rust free southern car but alas I'm outta vac-kay time for the year. Who knows when Jan 1 rolls around I may revisit if the one I'm mulling over falls through.

mad_machine SuperDork
10/6/10 4:49 p.m.

is the aspire or the festiva really a rot prone car? they are fairly modern. The few I see running around here seem pretty rust free

Raze Dork
10/6/10 4:58 p.m.

Festiva + SHO = Shogun (motor not so cheap, or easy to find)

Festiva + Northstar + Fiero Getrag + Megasquirt = ???

MA$$hole New Reader
10/6/10 5:12 p.m.

Go with the Festiva. We actually spotted a group of 6 bombing down the highway after leaving the challenge on Sunday. One was towing another & there was a clean wide-body one also.

Matt B HalfDork
10/6/10 5:17 p.m.

In reply to Raze:

= flaming box dethwagen?

Sure would be a fun end tho

Streetwiseguy HalfDork
10/6/10 5:25 p.m.

I raced against a Festiva guy with a 1.6 Mazda turbo powerplant. I don't know if it was boltin, but I don't think it was too far off. Fast car in a straight line. A bit twitchy in the corners.

Marty! Dork
10/6/10 5:37 p.m.

Just got a email from the seller. Looks like this gem will be in my future come Saturday morning.

Now anybody want to tell my wife for me?

Rumnhammer Reader
10/6/10 5:38 p.m.

You guys probably spotted cars going to Festiva madness this past weekend in North Carolina. It is the event started by the guy that bought my B6T powered car. He passed away this past March, but his wife carries on the meet in his honor.

Yes the suspention is a direct bolt on from the Aspire, and yelds brakes that are an inch larger, ventilated and go on top hat style instead of the press off the hub style of the festiva. This swap gets you a 4x100 bolt pattern with a center hub that is hub centric for Miata rims, which are also a nice upgrade for the festy.

The B6T bolts right in using either a JDM DOHC spec motor mount or a home made version of same. if you use the festiva tranny. Most people now use the tranny that comes from the Capri though with custom motor mounts since the festy tranny likes to explode with the power of the B6T. Check out the wiring how to I wrote up on fordfestiva.com and you will have that sorted.

The BP engines also will fit but you may have to massage the firewall a bit. There are write ups for the BPs on that link too, in fact the wiring is even easier on the BP.

Chris Rummel

m4ff3w SuperDork
10/6/10 6:05 p.m.

Raze wrote: Festiva + SHO = Shogun (motor not so cheap, or easy to find) Festiva + Northstar + Fiero Getrag + Megasquirt = ???

Festiva + Duratec 30 from Taurus + MTX75

Plus a pair of turbos for good measure. Instead of a SHOGUN we have a (very) poor man's Noble?

clutchsmoke New Reader
10/6/10 6:08 p.m.

In reply to Raze:

I like how you think. SHO trans is crap. I can definitely get on board with the idea of a northstar powered mid-engine Festiva. I bet someone could even get it done under challenge budget.

alfadriver SuperDork
10/6/10 7:07 p.m.

Marty! wrote: I'm looking at picking up a Festiva or Aspire. Have a lead on a $300 rust free Festiva but kinda leaning towards a Aspire as it already has the bigger brakes and more common wheel pattern.

One thing to think about- if you are doing just autocross and not road racing (don't let Angry read this), the drums are a lighter choice + are good enough.

For that matter- I'd be willing to bet that the smaller disks in the front will also be good enough. You should see some of the drill jobs I've seen on Miatas- just gutting the front brakes.

Wheel pattern is a different issue, of course.

But weight vs brakes that will be good enough.... I'd lean toward the Festiva.

ScottRA21 Reader
10/6/10 7:15 p.m.

Challenge budget?

Turbo KL variant?

But Festiva + Northstar? Starfest?

oldopelguy Dork
10/6/10 7:21 p.m.

I've got a couple of Festivas I'd part with if it falls through. SE SD, but could probably get one or the other to Minneapolis without any trouble.

And I have a nice set of 14x6" rims that fit perfectly for them, from a Sapparo.

Zomby woof Dork
10/6/10 7:33 p.m.

Swift GT rims will fit, and I believe they're made out of helium alloy, and weigh less than nothing.

93celicaGT2 SuperDork
10/6/10 8:00 p.m.

ScottRA21 wrote: Challenge budget? Turbo KL variant?

The thread needs to stop here.

http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45102&highlight=kl+festiva

There you go. It's laid out pretty simply in that thread. Replace KLZE with junkyard KLDE or KLG4, (KLG4 is better, later Millenia spec) add cheapest turbo setup you can possibly find, and show up to the challenge with well over 300whp in a 1700lb car.

You will, of course, still run a 18 second quarter mile, but it's cool, because you'll trap about 140.