Being a new member to fordfestiva.com Id like to introduce "Freshtiva".I bought this car shortly after it was manufactured in Oct 1993. Best car Ive ever owned. Have taken a lot of flack about it like, " I see you brought your own golf cart to the course" or, " how many clowns can you fit in that car", etc. So to spite them all I keep driving it. At 175,000 it was still running fine but I decided to freshen it up so I could spite my critics even longer. So I did the following to it. Replaced timing belt, replaced water pump, flushed out cooling system, replaced valve cover casket, replaced alt belt, ac belt, put in new halfshafts, replaced distributor cap, rotor, plugs, wires, air filter, pcv valve, drained trans-axle fluid and replaced. Then I replace control arms and ball joints, replaced tie rod ends, replaced all eight wheel bearing ( inner and outer, front and back) and all eight oil seals, replaced struts all around. Then I degreased engine ( from bad valve cover gasket) , got four wheel computer alignment, four new tires, waxed it , shampoo carpet and bought some new floor mats. About $1500 total with me doing the work. Freshtiva is born. Runs and drives like new, no rattles, shimmies, shakes, nothing, drives like a dream, I love it. Body is perfect as I always protected it from other drivers and the elements. Ive never added a quart of oil between oil changes, and plugs are always clean when I change them. Should be able to spite critics for many years to come. Many of the parts I replaced didn't look to bad, with the exception of the front wheel bearings and the struts. This car has paid be back several times the original purchase price. When gas prices go to $3.00/ gal. again, I'll be ready!

Freshtiva and Lil Bertha new in 1993

Freshtiva today 9/12/07 @ 183,787 miles. Improvements and upgrades I've done since 2/21/06 when I first joined.

1. Added manual passenger side mirror
2. Removed manual mirrors and replaced with dual power mirrors with switch
3. Added factory 12 inch alloy wheels and caps
4. Added factory “swoosh “ stripe kit (red)NOS
5. Added factory cargo cover and hardware
6. Added factory cargo light and grounded latch
7. Added factory tach/speedo cluster
8. Added factory fog light switch (NOS) and after market fog lights
9. Add factory LX console with NOS retainer, boot, and shifter knob
10. Added factory interior door trim and map pockets
11. Add factory rear wiper and rear window washer
12.Added factory Kia Pride clock and bezel in dash (new)
13. Added factory variable speed intermittent wipers
14. Added factory mud flaps front and back
15. Added NOS factory hatch spoiler
16.Added on a upgraded dome/map light
17. Added factory look a like bumper pin striping
18. Added new nose bra
19. I have two rear windows with defrost, waiting to have professional install , switch is in.
20. Tinted the rear windows, 30% I think
21. Proclaimed Freshtiva a L Plus and added a Festiva L Plus decal
22. Added FordFestiva.com sticker
23. Replace some rear plastic that was scuffed
24 Gone to a wider Goodyear tire.
25 Considered and dismissed factory power steering as unnecessary
26 Recharged a/c this month, its been six years since last recharge
27. Working on interior fuel door and hatch release.
28. Made a cool bi-metal personalized festiva key ring for the car
29. etc. I cant remember everything.

My goal has been to use original factory parts and ideas to get Freshtiva looking at its extreme original festiva best. Freshtiva is no longer my daily driver and only goes out on special occasions. Other than some upgrades Ive paid for but not recieved ,ahem, like sideshirt flares, and a dash bin with lid and the forementioned work in progress Freshtiva is a finished product, and I have moved on to my other festivas. That is unless I come across an underseat storage tray. I also thought about going back to the old molding with red pin stripes to accent bumpers. Oh yeah I thought about adding some frabic to the interior door panels. Who knows ? Its 95% complete anyway. Not all the mentioned improvements and upgrades are in all the pictures. Ill try to add an updated Frestiva video.

Cargo light switch/hatch latch before cleaning. Hard to find item

 UPDATES 12-15-08

Recently did a seat swap. I used some Ford Aspire seats they were not a direct swap. I had to use the Festiva tracks with the Aspire seats. I also found and installed a rare factory option on Festivas, the underseat storage tray.

Also found and added some chrome trim rings and chrome door pulls. Also found some window cranks with chrome buttons on them.

Also installed some fog lights useing a rare factory festiva fog light switch.

I purchased some KIA Pride ( same car as the festiva ) power window regulators with the wire harnesses and power window arm rest with switches. Have yet to install. When I do Im going to use some factory tinted glass out of an older 1989 L Plus Festiva.

Ive also purchase some red striped LX trim that I going to install once I get the bumpers and power mirrors painted white to match the body color. I think the LX red striped molding will accent the red striped bumper and the red swoosh festiva hockey stripe.

 Thanks for looking !!

Click link below for a video of Freshtiva

Video of Freshtiva

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