The better car?

[vskid3]

If your wife is for the Prius, maybe it's worth seriously considering. If your budget is $10-12k+, I would recommend looking into a Volt. Sounds like you could do pretty much all of your regular driving on electric. I personally would do the Volt if it's in your budget, but the Prius is a great car if you're not looking to spend that much (that's why I have a Prius, Volt was too much back then).

Originally Posted by willie@eco

Btw, doing some research here hehe. Has anyone tried Pulsar spark plugs? Came across this after watching some how to index your spark plugs videos lol

The tiny details probably won't get you to the 40+MPG others have seen, but it's worth looking at tune up items like spark plugs to see if they need replaced. Generally the stock plugs are fine, expensive ones don't make much of a difference because there's really not much to gain there in the first place.

[hayden55]

I honestly wouldn't get the volt. With the high cost of electricity, the charging in-efficiency, and the fact that when its cold the gasoline engine stays on quite often, it cost isn't significantly less than to drive a prius instead.

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by hayden55

I honestly wouldn't get the volt. With the high cost of electricity, the charging in-efficiency, and the fact that when its cold the gasoline engine stays on quite often, it cost isn't significantly less than to drive a prius instead.

Well you will more than likely laugh at me for saying this lol but i rather have either all gasoline or hybrid. No full electric and here is why, if we get a solar flare and knocks out power or somehow has an effects on batteries im screwed lol. Sounds really funny but for some reason its something ive thought about since the power out of 2003.

[willie@eco]

I made a little video a few months ago on the festiva. Here is the link. Let me know what u guys think of it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5gC1F1aqEa4

[Tulok]

Originally Posted by willie@eco

Nah, not for me haha. Cool idea but not my cup of tea haha.

If you said it pings over 1/4 throttle you probably have a lot of carbon buildup in the combustion chamber! I'd look into your PCV valve for one! and 2, do a cleanout with seafoam or water, make sure your car is really warmed up before pouring in the water! then shut it off for 5-10 minutes and go race it around for a good 10 minutes. if the pinging isn't completely gone at that point, you may have other problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFtp_jmLF3k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZDISp2pdSo

The second video shows the pistons, which aren't nearly as important as the combustion chamber... I've personally used a combo of Water swirled with ATF mixed at 50-50 shaken up to a froth. A car that would not pass emissions, would pass afterwards with a treatment.

Switch the oil to 0w-30 (not the same as 5w-30), and block 1/3 to 1/2 of your radiator with cardboard as well if you mainly do short trips.

Short shift, or skip shift you can go 1-3-5 or 1, 2, 5. Cars get better mpg flooring it in a higher gear than pressing the gas halfway in a lower gear.

You will see a MPG improvement!

[vskid3]

Originally Posted by willie@eco

Well you will more than likely laugh at me for saying this lol but i rather have either all gasoline or hybrid. No full electric and here is why, if we get a solar flare and knocks out power or somehow has an effects on batteries im screwed lol. Sounds really funny but for some reason its something ive thought about since the power out of 2003.

The battery cells would probably be fine, it's the electronics connected to them that could be zapped. Electronics that pretty much every car the same age or newer than your Festiva also has. Sure, newer ones may be more sensitive, but if you're looking for an apocalypse vehicle, I suggest a horse.

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by Tulok

If you said it pings over 1/4 throttle you probably have a lot of carbon buildup in the combustion chamber! I'd look into your PCV valve for one! and 2, do a cleanout with seafoam or water, make sure your car is really warmed up before pouring in the water! then shut it off for 5-10 minutes and go race it around for a good 10 minutes. if the pinging isn't completely gone at that point, you may have other problems.

Switch the oil to 0w-30 (not the same as 5w-30), and block 1/3 to 1/2 of your radiator with cardboard as well if you mainly do short trips.

Short shift, or skip shift you can go 1-3-5 or 1, 2, 5. Cars get better mpg flooring it in a higher gear than pressing the gas halfway in a lower gear.

You will see a MPG improvement!

Thanks! My grill blocks are 100% right now meaning full on both upper and lower. I will do an oil change tomorrow possibly. Installed the vac gauge today and i really think its gonna help a ton. Didnt realize how heavy footed i was lol. Also, the timing was a real pita! As there are no real markings on the damper pulley but this is what i did. The timing on the distributor was advance to the max, so i backed it up just a notch past tdc but still advanced. Runs really nice now! No pinging yet from this so yay!

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by vskid3

The battery cells would probably be fine, it's the electronics connected to them that could be zapped. Electronics that pretty much every car the same age or newer than your Festiva also has. Sure, newer ones may be more sensitive, but if you're looking for an apocalypse vehicle, I suggest a horse.

Hahahaha nice! But yeah i see what u mean. Thanks for the imput! Any body see the video yet?

[pete c]

You have lots of city 3 mile drives?

You don't need a civic. You need a Trek.

Those old civic VXs bring pretty good money. It would never make financial sense to go to one unless you have a long highway commute.

Assuming you are physically able and this drive isn't through a war zone (it is detroit after all), you really ought to look into bike commuting. Decent road or mountain bikes can be had for cheap on CL. Stay away from new department store garbage.

[willie@eco]

Originally Posted by pete c

You have lots of city 3 mile drives?

You don't need a civic. You need a Trek.

Those old civic VXs bring pretty good money. It would never make financial sense to go to one unless you have a long highway commute.

Assuming you are physically able and this drive isn't through a war zone (it is detroit after all), you really ought to look into bike commuting. Decent road or mountain bikes can be had for cheap on CL. Stay away from new department store garbage.

Hmmmm... good point. Will keep that into consideration for the summer months. Its too cold right now for that lol