Say hello to 52mpg...

GOODOLEDAYS1016 · 06-22-2008, 12:41 AM

and goodbye self esteem. Just bought a 1992 ford festiva the other day. Its gonna be my everyday driver. Beats driving my ole truck everyday. the savings I have just made are around 360.00/mo (4200.oo/yr) that I do not have to spend on gas. I am curious though as to how a vehicle that is 15years old had the technology to get 52mpg. but even a hybrid these days only brags of 35mpg. Not sure....My grandfather worked a ford for 30yrs and told me that when they started mfg'ing the festiva, all was well. by 90 or 91 they were told by Uncle sam they could not sell the car at 45mpg. Instead the could only estimate 35mpg. and by '93 (last year they were made) Uncle scam told them to shut the festiva down and they were no longer allowed to produce or distribute it in the US anymore....sounds funny to me. either way, I am still saving a buttload of $$$ at the cost of being laughed at every time I get passed.

Tacts · 06-22-2008, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOODOLEDAYS1016

....My grandfather worked a ford for 30yrs and told me that when they started mfg'ing the festiva,...

They were made by KIA not Ford... I'm not making a judgment statement about Ford's ability to make cars... just your ability to make factual statements. Most of the rest of your post is completely contrary to the manufacturing and marketing history of the model.

It amazes me how people have so little regard for facts, but love to spout conspiracy theories. Must be the same gene that draws people to religion, ufo research, and the search for the Loch Ness Monster.

Brandon Miller · 06-22-2008, 01:18 AM

I sure wouldn't want to get hit in one...my advice wear a helmet.

shinysideup · 06-22-2008, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOODOLEDAYS1016

and goodbye self esteem. Just bought a 1992 ford festiva the other day. Its gonna be my everyday driver. Beats driving my ole truck everyday. the savings I have just made are around 360.00/mo (4200.oo/yr) that I do not have to spend on gas. I am curious though as to how a vehicle that is 15years old had the technology to get 52mpg. but even a hybrid these days only brags of 35mpg. Not sure....My grandfather worked a ford for 30yrs and told me that when they started mfg'ing the festiva, all was well. by 90 or 91 they were told by Uncle sam they could not sell the car at 45mpg. Instead the could only estimate 35mpg. and by '93 (last year they were made) Uncle scam told them to shut the festiva down and they were no longer allowed to produce or distribute it in the US anymore....sounds funny to me. either way, I am still saving a buttload of $$$ at the cost of being laughed at every time I get passed.

Two reasons.

1: Old EPA MPG ratings (before '07) are done with old-school driving styles. Slow starts, no A/C, lots of coasting. Today's standards are done much tougher.

2: Safety and convenience. Today's Corollas weigh more than yesteryear's Camrys. Today's Camrys weigh about as much as a 1964 Pontiac GTO. All of that weight goes into electric seats, crush zones, airbags, sound deadening, and so on.

Unfortunately, you can't fight weight creep. I'm happy with a motorcycle most of the time. Try talking some 5'2" soccer mom out of her SUV. "But I feel ... unsafe!!" is the usual answer.

FlyXJTnow · 06-22-2008, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOODOLEDAYS1016

and goodbye self esteem. Just bought a 1992 ford festiva the other day. Its gonna be my everyday driver. Beats driving my ole truck everyday. the savings I have just made are around 360.00/mo (4200.oo/yr) that I do not have to spend on gas. I am curious though as to how a vehicle that is 15years old had the technology to get 52mpg. but even a hybrid these days only brags of 35mpg. Not sure....My grandfather worked a ford for 30yrs and told me that when they started mfg'ing the festiva, all was well. by 90 or 91 they were told by Uncle sam they could not sell the car at 45mpg. Instead the could only estimate 35mpg. and by '93 (last year they were made) Uncle scam told them to shut the festiva down and they were no longer allowed to produce or distribute it in the US anymore....sounds funny to me. either way, I am still saving a buttload of $$$ at the cost of being laughed at every time I get passed.

Does all that savings add up to you not having to file bankruptcy now?

Hammer · 06-22-2008, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacts

It amazes me how people have so little regard for facts, but love to spout conspiracy theories. Must be the same gene that draws people to religion, ufo research, and the search for the Loch Ness Monster.

Oh here we go again, someon starts off with a good point then has to turn it around and start attacking those who believe. Grow up!

av8tr4610 · 06-22-2008, 07:18 AM

My parents bought a festiva new in '92.....I was pissed...who wants to be seen driving that thing?! However, once again my parents proved that they actually know what they are doing, and I am an idiot for caring about what people think of me because of the car that I have to drive. That festiva has 325,000 miles on it, still gets around 38 mpg and they only thing that they have had to replace are the tires and they have put in 2 new clutches....thats is in 15 years. The thing still runs like a champ.

k.a.m. · 06-22-2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by av8tr4610

My parents bought a festiva new in '92.....I was pissed...who wants to be seen driving that thing?! However, once again my parents proved that they actually know what they are doing, and I am an idiot for caring about what people think of me because of the car that I have to drive. That festiva has 325,000 miles on it, still gets around 38 mpg and they only thing that they have had to replace are the tires and they have put in 2 new clutches....thats is in 15 years. The thing still runs like a champ.

And now you and your parents get to laugh at all the people who are upside-down in their equity on their fancy BMWs. Ha ha!

BrianS · 06-22-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacts

They were made by KIA not Ford... I'm not making a judgment statement about Ford's ability to make cars... just your ability to make factual statements. Most of the rest of your post is completely contrary to the manufacturing and marketing history of the model.

It amazes me how people have so little regard for facts, but love to spout conspiracy theories. Must be the same gene that draws people to religion, ufo research, and the search for the Loch Ness Monster.

If you think there's never been a conspiracy about cars and gas mileage check out the story on the GM EV1. It was a plug in electric car. It could top 80 mph but would admittedly only go 100 miles between charges. How often does the average person's daily commute top 100 miles round trip? Lots of people loved the cars they had leased and wanted to buy them. GM took them when the leases were up and had them all crushed. There were all sorts of protests from people who wanted to buy all 900 of them. That was back in 1996 and GM today says they might be able to make a plug in electric hybrid in two years!

punkpilot48 · 06-22-2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianS

If you think there's never been a conspiracy about cars and gas mileage check out the story on the GM EV1. It was a plug in electric car. It could top 80 mph but would admittedly only go 100 miles between charges. How often does the average person's daily commute top 100 miles round trip? Lots of people loved the cars they had leased and wanted to buy them. GM took them when the leases were up and had them all crushed. There were all sorts of protests from people who wanted to buy all 900 of them. That was back in 1996 and GM today says they might be able to make a plug in electric hybrid in two years!

Is this what the book/documentary "Who killed the electric car?" is about?