So I had a thread on here asking what hatchback to get. I wanted 4 doors, less than 100k, less than 6 grand, with a manual trans. I narrowed it down to a Mz3, Matrix XRS, Honda Fit, Mazda 2, or Mazda 6 hatch. It was nearly impossible to find what I wanted. Everything was either clapped out, too expensive or an auto.
So I was searched "manual, hatchback" on CL, and found this very nice 1991 Festiva nearby with only 76k for $1600. It drove nicely, the owner was a nice guy, and so I just said, to hell with it, and bought it as a placeholder.
So far, I'm loving it. It's pretty fun to drive. It feels very old school and mechanical. And the motor is fun to rev and the gearbox is nice too. It can hold a TON of stuff, and gets around 40 mpg!
Not exactly what I had in mind when I embarked on this search, but it checks a lot of the boxes in the meantime.
Please don’t get hit by anything larger than a bicycle, and getting t boned by a bicycle in the driver’s door may kill you.
My son's friend's uncle had 2 of these. He used them for newspaper delivery. Held a ton of papers, got great MPG, and he literally drove the wheels off them. Got rid of the last one some months ago. Looks good, best of luck.
Mazda 323 seat backs and lower cushions and upholstery can bolt onto the stock seat lower frame for a huge improvement in just about everything. I always just took the rear seat out all together.
In reply to oldopelguy :
For the front seats? That's good to know. I like how the back seat folds up out of the way, it's clever.
Patrick, I'll do my best not to get t-boned!
Dirtydog, good to know, I keep hearing they are reliable as gravity. The guy I bought it from had two others! He loved them.
I actually want one of these for some weird reason. So far I've managed to talk myself out of it because rust.
Patrick said:
Please don’t get hit by anything larger than a bicycle, and getting t boned by a bicycle in the driver’s door may kill you.
FWIW, I T-boned a GM minivan on my bike and caved the door in.
Only on GRM can a person come here and brag about buying a Ford Festiva...and say the engine is "fun to rev".
This place is awesome.
Pete Gossett said:
dropstep said:
I actually want one of these to FT2 or BPT swap. So far I've managed to talk myself out of it because rust.
FTFW
Even just a 1.8BP out of a Protege would make that thing really scoot. It'll bolt up to the trans to boot.
Nice! I had a 91 Festiva that I purchased for $100 with 350k miles on it. It had a lot of issues, but was such a fun little thing to drive!
Due to the rarity of the cars, not many Challenge attempts with an engine swap have been attempted. Other than the infamous SHOGun.
My dad had a sport model, which means it has a sticker that read sport and plastic wheel covers. I can attest to the fact that they are fun to drive and do hold a lot of E36 M3 in the back.
That car needs to stay in the family.
alfadriver said:
Due to the rarity of the cars, not many Challenge attempts with an engine swap have been attempted. Other than the infamous SHOGun.
Wasn't there one with a B6T swap as well?
Mndsm
MegaDork
3/6/18 8:41 a.m.
TheRX7Project said:
Pete Gossett said:
dropstep said:
I actually want one of these to FT2 or BPT swap. So far I've managed to talk myself out of it because rust.
FTFW
Even just a 1.8BP out of a Protege would make that thing really scoot. It'll bolt up to the trans to boot.
Don't forget to grab the rear end out of an aspire, 4x100 hubs and better brakes.
Mndsm
MegaDork
3/6/18 8:43 a.m.
MadScientistMatt said:
alfadriver said:
Due to the rarity of the cars, not many Challenge attempts with an engine swap have been attempted. Other than the infamous SHOGun.
Wasn't there one with a B6T swap as well?
Idk if there was one at Challenge, but cam Waugh made one of those famous years ago.
There was one at the $2009 Challenge. It was awesome. I nicknamed it "squiggles" due to it shimmying down the quarter mile looking for traction and never finding it. 
And the best part: the rear wiper arm was replaced with a beer tap!
I have owned 6 or so festivas I love thoes little cars to death!
They're solid little cars. I had a '94 Aspire, which don't seem to be as loved as the Festivas although they are overall improved versions other than the drivetrain (bigger brakes, ABS, dual airbags) and probably ride a bit better/quieter (also heavier). They are re-badged Kias with a Mazda engine/trans. Past research on them says you can swap many a Mazda B-series motor with some modifications. They came with a B3 (1.3) but you can direct swap a B6(1.6) out of a Mazda 323 for a 20+HP(?) bump or a B6T version. I believe another popular swap is a the Escort versions (1.8/1.9)? DOHC which really wakes them up.
Either way, these things can take a beating with neglect(ask me how I know). I bought mine with over 160k and had it for about 3 years and sold it with over 190k. 5 speed w/ manual steering & A/C which blew ice cold although it prob robbed the engine of 10hp.
In reply to Klayfish :
Hahahaha, this had me rolling! That's why I came here.
Yeah, all sorts of B6 engines bolt right it and get you closer to 100hp. A B6T would obviously be a lot more. As it stands, this thing only has 63hp! The engine has low miles though, so I'd rather keep it and add some power if there are any parts to do so. If my math is correct, 12hp is a 20% increase!
That Challenge car is very cool!
Definitely going to try to grab Aspire front brakes and hubs (never thought I'd say that!) The 12 in. wheels and this thing are so hard to find tires for. That's right, 12 inch wheels!
This car is possibly the most stripped down automobile I've seen. No tripometer, no dome light, no tach, no power mirrors, but it does have auto seat belts!
TheRX7Project said:
Pete Gossett said:
dropstep said:
I actually want one of these to FT2 or BPT swap. So far I've managed to talk myself out of it because rust.
FTFW
Even just a 1.8BP out of a Protege would make that thing really scoot. It'll bolt up to the trans to boot.
I want to try a B6 DOHC head on the B3, just to see what it's like. Same stroke, different bore. Valves may not clear...
jstein77 said:
Knurled. said:
Patrick said:
Please don’t get hit by anything larger than a bicycle, and getting t boned by a bicycle in the driver’s door may kill you.
FWIW, I T-boned a GM minivan on my bike and caved the door in.
That had to hurt. 
It was actually funny. I had just bought it, and i had to retrue the front wheel, since a customer was looking at buying the same model and we were going to use my bike as a demo. (I also got a good case of road rash on my elbow from landing)
The dustbuster driver rolled the window down, said something meaningless like "oops", then got the hell out of there without checking to see if I was okay. Good thing for me, I guess...
GRM forum member and Hong Norrth gang member poopshovel_again aborted a Festiva challenge project a few years ago. he had a ton of parts in his basement, perhaps he still does. i will point him toward this thread.
