Ford Festiva Gl -- Festiva Improves On The Old Fiesta, And Price Is Right

Fiesta Plus Festiva may be a formula that equals virtually one and the same car, but it carries with it a couple of important lessons that one hopes Ford has learned.

Fiesta was the nifty little European hybrid, nurtured under the wing of master showman Lee Iacocca to compete with the hot-selling Volkswagen Rabbits and Honda Civics. It was small, lightweight and front-wheel-drive, and it got great mileage.

Only one problem. Henry Ford II didn't like little foreign cars and thought bigger was better. Even then, in between two Arab oil embargoes.

So he killed it.

But demand wouldn't let up. So, nearly 10 years later, Ford brought out the now Japanese-Korean hybrid, Festiva, and its success has been measured by the 200,000 models sold in its first three years.

Gone is the old four-speed stick shift, replaced by the trendier five-speed (three-speed automatic, $515 extra - wasn't available back in '77).

Horsepower from the now-injected (no more carburetors) 1.3-liter four is 63 at 5,000 rpm. When you've only got 1,785 curb pounds of car to pull, though, 0-60 times in the 10-second range aren't hard to achieve. Nor is mileage in the 30s (federal ratings are 31 city, 33 highway - that with the optional automatic; it can go up to 43 highway with the stick).

Festiva now comes in two versions: $6,905 base (L) and $7,488 (GL). The base isn't exactly brimming with equipment. High points include a maintenance-free battery and two-speed wipers.

GL, though, makes the Festiva a bit more inhabitable: two outside mirrors, a radio (AM/FM with clock), cargo cover, rear wiper-washer and larger tires (165/70SR12s). Throw in an air conditioner, a $160 rear defroster, the automatic and shipping charge, and a typical entry-level GL Festiva for a typical American buyer goes out the door for $9,307.

The cloth buckets and door trim also have been upgraded for '91. Believe me, there'll be enough room - don't be intimidated by the Festiva's small exterior size and 55.3-inch height. Remember, this is your basic box-hatchback (or hatchback-box). There's 11.7 cubic feet for your groceries behind the back seat; 26.5 in the back if you fold the rear seat.

Generally, this is a fine car for around town and commuting. For longer trips, it could use larger, wider tires and wheel rims. As a highway cruiser, an argument could be made for the Festiva being a bit under-tired.

But then, its price is far below today's average retail, too.

-- TEST DRIVE POLICY: Test drives are done by nationally recognized auto writers from supplied by Times news services. Scott Heimer is auto columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

1991 FORD FESTIVA GL 2-door hatchback

ENGINE 1.3 liter 4-cylinder Fuel injection 63 horsepower

DRIVE Front-wheel

TRANSMISSION 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic

FUEL ECONOMY 31 mpg city 33 mpg highway

BASE PRICE $7,488

OBSERVATIONS

-- Two models Basic model is the L at $6,905, top model is the GL (used in this test drive).

-- Dimensions Height 55.3 inches Length 140.5 inches Wheelbase 90.2 inches

-- Options Power steering, air conditioning, 3-speed automatic transmission, rear defroster, rear wiper-washer.