my 94 ford aspire 1.3 / 5spd

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It's old and ugly and has rust in places and the sound system is partially haunted, Has 205,000 on it and it runs just fine with no leaks or rattles doesn't smoke either.
Brakes are questionable when stopping from a high rate of speed and it doesn't have power steering either it handles curves well but there is quite a bit of under steer which can be exciting at times. But it does have the best heater in world, I'm sure i can bake a world class ham on the dashboard if i wanted too.




 
I guess when you drive one of these you "Aspire" to own something else.......
 
Real winner there
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: CKN
I guess when you drive one of these you "Aspire" to own something else.......

I'm fine with this basic economy car it gets me to work and it is reliable and 42 mpg is awesome.
 
Congrats on keeping it running and in decent shape for a 25 year old car. Whatever works for you and your budget! I had looked into one of these in college, ended up with a Chevy prizm in similar shape that lasted me plenty long.
 
only major repairs i have done is replace is the timing belt and both front cv axles. changing the timing belt was a pain in the *** but the cv axles wasn't to bad after finding a suitable pry bar and big hammer.
 
Originally Posted By: StevieC
I wish they still made really durable simple to work on long lasting vehicles like this.


Ditto.

I also liked the Festiva and Metro....I wish I could find an Aspire, Festiva or Metro with M/T in good condition and priced sanely......it seems some owners think they are more valuable than they really are.
 
My folks test-drove one of these in 1994 when looking for a new car...I went with them, and the car was so gutless it really bothered them.

Test drove a Temp 4-cylinder after that, and it was a night-and-day difference...kept that Tempo for 8 years, it was a good car.

That said, these cars were tough, reliable economy cars for lots of people, neat to see one still around!
 
Good little cars, used to work on them back when they were new. They were called the Festiva here. Mazda mechanicals are pretty tough. Wouldn't want to have a crash in one though!
 
Is it paid for? Does it owe you anything? Does it get you from point A to point B? If so then [censored] yes! Love old beaters that keep going. Easy to work on, no guilt if it gets wrecked and a little soul to it!!
 
i paid 300.00 for it with issues and resolved them and have been driving it ever since. only thing i despise about it is doing oil changes and the filter is on the back of the engine under the injectors near the passenger side.
the oil drain screw is facing the rear of car behind the passenger side wheel i thought it was odd that it doesn't use a shallow oil pan like other fwd cars.
 
I've had three.. 94 and 95 2Dr and 97 4Dr. Should of kept the 94. Except the 97 which is setting down at the farm I sold the other two for twice what I paid. Late 96 and 97 is years to stay away from. The gearing is better suited to higher speeds versus the Festiva's.. I've had six of those! If I didn't already have four vehicles there's a few in the area for around $300.. I'd buy them and fix them up. My wife would kill me though.
 
Good for you.

Probably more fun that you could get from a brand new debt mobile.

Just acquired an 86 Olds Calais from my brother. I first bought it in 1994 with 21,000 miles on it. Gave it to my parents, they gave it to my brother and now it's back with me. 129,000 miles now.

It's been more fun than anything I imagined. The Yester-Tech 4 makes me grin every time I hear it and it's agricultural sounds, it's trimmed and rides like a little luxury car. The right size, and yes, I have dumped money into it. Because I like it.

Needs some stuff: motor mounts and struts and shocks and soon, paint.

Happy to see you put some time and effort into an oldie and can appreciate your Aspire for what it is. No one else has to like it.

But I'll tell ya something: I do.
 
I haven't seen those around in the Bay Area in quite a while, granted they were cheap and kinda of an insult to the Ford badge - built by Kia when Ford controlled them and Mazda, hence the Mazda mechanicals. The Escort of that era also used Mazda-based architecture. I'd bet it handles like a go-kart out in the country, economy cars of that day were just that the name implied but they're light and nimble. I remember driving it's predecessor, the Mazda 121 years ago. It was an econobox but it handled surprisingly well for what it was, I could have tossed it into a corner going a bit too fast.

Kias back in that day were heavily Mazda-based just like Hyundais were more or less Mitsubishi.
 
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My wife had the older version: a Ford Festiva. Hers was a base model with carb, 4-speed manual, 12" wheels, no rear defrost, and no power steering. She loved it; retired due to engine failure with 273,161 miles.

Check the front struts...you might have cracked a spring.
 
The Festiva and the Aspire were two completely different vehicles...folks seem to be mixing them up here.

The Festiva was a Ford re-badge of the Mazda 121 from Japan with I think a 1.2L engine.

The Aspire was built by Kia, don't think it was anything else - it was built by Kia for Ford to help get a toe-hold in the NA market. The whole car was Kia mechanicals.
 
Those old Festivas were fun little cars, it was like driving a go kart! They did last too.
 
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