In a few days we'll be leaving Calgary on another road trip in the Festiva.
Our route will take us west to Vancouver BC. From there we'll be heading south to Mount St Helen's then to Silverton OR to visit a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home. It's then on to the San Francisco area, east to Yosemite then on to the Grand Canyon. The next leg will take us to Zion and Bryce Canyon, Craters of the Moon and Yellowstone. We'll be visiting friends in north central Wyoming before heading home through Cody WY and Helena MT.
All told we'll be travelling about 7500km (4700 miles) in 14 days. That's about 2500km less than our trip last fall. Follow this link to the first blog post for that trip.
View Larger Map
We'll do our best to keep the blog up to date as we head out on this next adventure.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
One of my favorite Festivas
When we were in Raleigh NC for Festiva Madness V I was introduced to what has become one of my all time favorite Festivas. Charlie had driven about 2200 miles from Arizona to get to the meet which is only about 500 less than we did. I don't recall how many miles were on it but, being from Arizona, the car is rust free and in immaculate shape.
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| At Festiva Madness V, Raleigh NC, October 1, 2011 |
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| At the track... |
Charlie's car is very streetable and performs very well on the race track as well. With his suspension mods and well tuned engine he's been able to surprise a few supposedly much faster cars as can be seen in these videos taken at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler AZ...
Charlie's Festiva vs. Dodge Charger
For the following video Charlie lowered the suspension a little, added different springs on the rear and installed some Toyo Proxes R888 track tires...
Charlie's Festiva vs. Ferrari F430
I hope you enjoyed a look at an excellent example of the EconoBox breed!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
8 FORWARD SPEEDS & 2 REVERSE? IN AN ECONOBOX?
This post is long overdue! I said in my post back in December that I would have some info on the Dodge Colt so here you go.
The Colt was first introduced into North America in 1970 with a 1.6l four cylinder driving the rear wheels through a four speed manual gearbox or the optional 3 speed automatic. I remember it being available as a Plymouth Cricket as well. It was available in this layout until 1979, going through a couple of revisions or generations.
We had a 1974 edition for a couple of years. We called it the "hundred dollar wonder"! When we bought from friends it had no carpet, the front end would shudder, shimmy and shake at anything over 70km/hour and water would come up through the hole in the floor that was missing its plug. Fixed the front end and replaced the plug but never did get around to putting in any carpet.
The "Econobox" version of the car was introduced in 1979. This was the fourth generation of the name plate which was based on the Mitsubishi Mirage and marketed as the Dodge Colt and Plymouth Champ. It was only available as a three door hatch until a five door was added in 1982. Two engines were available, both four cylinders, a 1.4. and a 1.6l. A turbocharged version of the 1.6l was offered in the last year of this generation. There were three different manual transmissions available as well as an automatic. There was a five speed and two different four speeds availalbe with the most intriguing of these being the "Twin Stick" option. This had a 2 speed transfer case which gave the driver 8 forward speeds and two reverse!!! Combined gas mileage ranged from 25-34 mpg with the "Twin Stick" option on the lower end of the scale.
The fifth generation of the Colt was introduced as a 1985 model. A 4 door sedan was added to the lineup as was a 4x4 wagon. The base engine was a 1.5l four cylinder with a 102hp turbocharged 1.6l available as well. The wagon got a larger 1.8l non-turbo engine. Gas mileage ranged from 22-33 mpg. The next generation was introduced in 1989
This new Colt was taller, wider, longer and heavier than previous years and was on the market until 1992. Three engines were available, a 1.5l and 1.6l normally aspirated. A 135hp turbocharged 1.6l was offered only in the 1989 model year. Transmissions available were 3 and 4 speed standard and a 3 speed automatic. Gas mileage ranged from 26-28.
There was a seventh generation introduced in 1993 but as far as I can tell was only available for two years.
So there you go.. another econobox for you to enjoy.
The Colt was first introduced into North America in 1970 with a 1.6l four cylinder driving the rear wheels through a four speed manual gearbox or the optional 3 speed automatic. I remember it being available as a Plymouth Cricket as well. It was available in this layout until 1979, going through a couple of revisions or generations.
We had a 1974 edition for a couple of years. We called it the "hundred dollar wonder"! When we bought from friends it had no carpet, the front end would shudder, shimmy and shake at anything over 70km/hour and water would come up through the hole in the floor that was missing its plug. Fixed the front end and replaced the plug but never did get around to putting in any carpet.
The "Econobox" version of the car was introduced in 1979. This was the fourth generation of the name plate which was based on the Mitsubishi Mirage and marketed as the Dodge Colt and Plymouth Champ. It was only available as a three door hatch until a five door was added in 1982. Two engines were available, both four cylinders, a 1.4. and a 1.6l. A turbocharged version of the 1.6l was offered in the last year of this generation. There were three different manual transmissions available as well as an automatic. There was a five speed and two different four speeds availalbe with the most intriguing of these being the "Twin Stick" option. This had a 2 speed transfer case which gave the driver 8 forward speeds and two reverse!!! Combined gas mileage ranged from 25-34 mpg with the "Twin Stick" option on the lower end of the scale.
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| Twin Stick ad. |
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| 1982 Plymouth Champ. Photo found at www.oldparkedcars.com |
The fifth generation of the Colt was introduced as a 1985 model. A 4 door sedan was added to the lineup as was a 4x4 wagon. The base engine was a 1.5l four cylinder with a 102hp turbocharged 1.6l available as well. The wagon got a larger 1.8l non-turbo engine. Gas mileage ranged from 22-33 mpg. The next generation was introduced in 1989
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| 1985 Colt, photo found at www.thestreetpeep.com |
This new Colt was taller, wider, longer and heavier than previous years and was on the market until 1992. Three engines were available, a 1.5l and 1.6l normally aspirated. A 135hp turbocharged 1.6l was offered only in the 1989 model year. Transmissions available were 3 and 4 speed standard and a 3 speed automatic. Gas mileage ranged from 26-28.
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| Sixth generation Colt |
There was a seventh generation introduced in 1993 but as far as I can tell was only available for two years.
So there you go.. another econobox for you to enjoy.
Monday, December 19, 2011
What's next?
It's been a while since I last posted but I haven't forgotten about you! The next econo-box on the list is the Dodge Colt. I'm gathering some info and will post shortly. Can you say twin stick transmission?
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| 85 Dodge Colt |
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Inquiring minds want to know....
How did we get all of us and all of our stuff in the Festiva!
We've been asked quite a few times how we managed to take our road trip without a trailer or roof top carrier. Our answer has been that we travelled very light! Sharon did an excellent job figuring out the packing... here's how it was done.
Rather than have each person pack a bag and bring five or more bags into the hotel each night Sharon set up one bag with swim gear for the hotels that had pools, another with toiletries and PJ's and a third with a pair of shorts for each of us. A couple of larger bags contained the rest of our clothing but these stayed in the back of the car. What Sharon did is pack one small grocery bag for each day with a change of clothes, except pants, for everyone. When we got to our hotel all we would have to grab is the toiletry bag, the swim bag if needed and the small bag with the next days clothes in it. That small bag would become the laundry bag for the clothes we were changing out of and that bag would go back in the car the following morning.
In addition to the bags we had a sleeping bag, a collapsible cot and a pillow. Why you ask? Well I'll tell you. Most of the hotel rooms had only two queen or double beds so we brought along the cot etc and B, E and I rotated turns on it each night. Some snack type food items, an umbrella or two and our jackets rounded out the stuff we stuffed in the car.
We didn't carry too much up front, just a couple of smaller bags for maps and snacks etc. Those in back seat where a little cozy but didn't have a lot of "stuff" in with them. We borrowed a DVD player with two screens which allowed them to pass some of the time away. We had decided who was sitting where before we left Calgary so there was no discussion each morning!
You asked and now you know... five in a Festiva for more than five thousand miles can be done!!
We've been asked quite a few times how we managed to take our road trip without a trailer or roof top carrier. Our answer has been that we travelled very light! Sharon did an excellent job figuring out the packing... here's how it was done.
Rather than have each person pack a bag and bring five or more bags into the hotel each night Sharon set up one bag with swim gear for the hotels that had pools, another with toiletries and PJ's and a third with a pair of shorts for each of us. A couple of larger bags contained the rest of our clothing but these stayed in the back of the car. What Sharon did is pack one small grocery bag for each day with a change of clothes, except pants, for everyone. When we got to our hotel all we would have to grab is the toiletry bag, the swim bag if needed and the small bag with the next days clothes in it. That small bag would become the laundry bag for the clothes we were changing out of and that bag would go back in the car the following morning.
In addition to the bags we had a sleeping bag, a collapsible cot and a pillow. Why you ask? Well I'll tell you. Most of the hotel rooms had only two queen or double beds so we brought along the cot etc and B, E and I rotated turns on it each night. Some snack type food items, an umbrella or two and our jackets rounded out the stuff we stuffed in the car.
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| All packed up and ready to head out! |
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| B, I, and E in the back seat on the morning of Day 3. |
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| All of us in the car ready to head out from Raleigh NC on Day 9. |
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
More on the Metro/Swift..
Check out this link from one of my favorite small car blogs... Nostalgic Subcompact: 1989-1994 Suzuki Swift GT
We're not the only ones taking big trips in small cars!! While reading through some of the older posts on the same blog I came across this one asking "what's the smallest car you've taken on a long road trip"?
We're not the only ones taking big trips in small cars!! While reading through some of the older posts on the same blog I came across this one asking "what's the smallest car you've taken on a long road trip"?
Friday, October 21, 2011
What other econoboxes are in the Café?
Another popular econobox from the CAFE era is the Geo Metro. This car came in several guises such as the Pontiac Firefly, Chevrolet Sprint, Suzuki Swift and Forsa. First introduced to North America in 1988 it was available until the 2000 model year (2001 for the Metro). Here's an interesting discussion on the merits of the Metro compared to the Festiva.
We did notice at least one Metro on our Festiva Madness trip. It was a 3rd generation hatchback that we spotted in North Platte NE. Didn't get a chance to talk to the owner but did notice the car had Florida license plates. So assuming that he was from the Orlando area (just a wild guess) he was about 2670 km / 1660 miles from home. Was he perhaps on a Metro Madness trip? Who knows?
The Metro and its kin came in several formats over the years. They included a four door sedan, four door hatch and a convertible. Engine options ranged from a 1.0l 3 cylinder up to a 1.6l 16 valve 4 cylinder. I still see lots of these cars around my area, even more so than the Festiva. That's probably due to the fact that they were produced for a lot longer.
Watch this space for more info and photos!
We did notice at least one Metro on our Festiva Madness trip. It was a 3rd generation hatchback that we spotted in North Platte NE. Didn't get a chance to talk to the owner but did notice the car had Florida license plates. So assuming that he was from the Orlando area (just a wild guess) he was about 2670 km / 1660 miles from home. Was he perhaps on a Metro Madness trip? Who knows?
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| This is siimilar to the one we spotted in North Platte. Photo is linked to source |
The Metro and its kin came in several formats over the years. They included a four door sedan, four door hatch and a convertible. Engine options ranged from a 1.0l 3 cylinder up to a 1.6l 16 valve 4 cylinder. I still see lots of these cars around my area, even more so than the Festiva. That's probably due to the fact that they were produced for a lot longer.
Watch this space for more info and photos!
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