Wow, you've gotten a lot of great advice!!

I have to admit though, I used to H-A-T-E Fords. The saying "Fix Or Repair Daily" was common with the majority of Fords I had delt with. Then I got my Festiva...

For all the pounding that car has taken (Close to 112k HARD miles on it, its a 93) it's been nothing but reliable. I've had to replace parts on it, but nothing that you wouldn't replace on a normal matainance schedule. She's given her heart and soul for me, and has saved my butt a few times too. I LOVE that darned car! Everyone I know who owns Festivas has said the same thing, that they just go and go and go and never really give you any c**p about it. The only thing I don't like about the car is that it runs GREAT unless it isn't running at all. It doesn't warn you when it breaks, it just simply stops working

My husband has a 78 Ford Currier pickup. This thing has almost 400k on it and is still up and running. It's taken a pounding too, but it keeps coming back for more!

The Ford dealership in town is a bunch of jerks though, at least their parts department is. I called to see about pricing on my Festivas clutch and they told me I should just come in and get another car, as the Festiva is a "throw away" car. Not to me! And really not to anyone else...I know someone who has a 80 Festiva with its original motor and it still is used as a commuter car.

Hey, maybe you can suggest bringing the Festiva back? Great gas milage, it isnt TOO ugly lol and they're really cheap.