Festiva Update!

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 11/01/2019 at 11:26 • Filed to: festiva, gambler 500, snow

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That’s not gone well...

My plan for the 2012 smart was to wait until temps got down to the low 30s. I could then limp the car to a shop for a new belt without overheating the engine. What I didn’t plan for was yesterday’s surprise heavy snow. The forecasts all called for a dusting up to one inch...we got FAR more than that. Oof.

With the two garage queen smarts having long expired registrations and the two smarts at home immobile, that meant the rally car and my motorcycles were my commuters! Glad I live less than a mile from work.

Fuel leaks have been temporarily fixed, so that’s not a problem for now. It still needs a new tank.

I’ve never ridden a snowmobile before, but I imagine it’s as fun as driving this car in the snow is.

THAT SAID, as fun as this car is to drive in the snow:

A) Everyone thinks I’m homeless and treats me like I am.

B) Car still isn’t really legal.

C) Snow buildup in the interior is a bit much. Amazingly, everything still works!

So last night I attempted to put the hatch and the doors back on. The hatch was easy peasy. The doors? Well after two hours of fighting I only managed to get a single bolt on a single door in. It’s not only a two person job, but threading the bolts is stupid hard unless you get it the first time. On top of this, the mud caked to the B-Pillars is literally frozen solid, so I couldn’t close the doors even had I succeeded.

New plan then.

Hatch stays on.

Doors will stay off, however I will get them door bars. While cursing over the doors I stumbled upon those Ford Transit roof rack bars I bought. They’re thick 2 or 3 inch diameter steel and the bolt holes line up perfectly with the Festiva’s door hinges. I’ll paint these red then use them as door bars. Don’t care for safety**, I just want to make it appear that I’m trying to be legal.

**Funny thing. When I started telling my mom about the Gambler she actually was really supportive. She said she’s happy I’m doing all my crazy stuff now while my body can take it because when I’m her age I’ll have plenty of silly stories to tell. She doesn’t want me being the kind of old person that regrets not being adventurous while young and it then being too late to start.

As for a proper snow car, the smart gets fixed this weekend. The Festiva will go under its cover and on the upcoming 50 degree day it should melt out.

I’ve also decided the Festiva will live for only a year . Why? Firstly, rust. I keep discovering rust in places that suggests it’s going to rust out faster than I think. Having no doors isn’t going to help that.

Secondly? Well, there’s this W116 diesel out there that I’ve been in love with since my first Gambler. The owner is most likely getting rid of it before winter fully kicks in or in the spring. The first person in line in either case? Yours truly. This thing has a bank of toggle switches to start it and a pimped out dash with LEDs everywhere. It’s a beautiful boat that loves the dirt.

Either way, the Festy is not getting renewed plates.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 11:31

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SNDIT 1

I hope they let you transfer the plates.

benjrblant > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 11:31

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true jalop status is owning 5 cars but only having one road legal car.

achievement unlocked!

Rainbow > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 11:37

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Where do you live, again? As long as the Festiva passes emissions, it’ll be legal in Georgia. If and when I get a new job, I’d be seriously interested.

functionoverfashion > benjrblant 11/01/2019 at 11:44

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road legal

loosely interpreted here

also, no doors on a not-jeep - extra points

shop-teacher > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 11/01/2019 at 11:44

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Sadly, Illinois does not allow that :/

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > shop-teacher 11/01/2019 at 11:48

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SNDIT 2 it is then.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 11:49

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You better get that W116. If you don’t, at least send it my way :)

Glad you fixed the fuel tank, even if it’s just temporary.

Fyoeu > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 11:49

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Ugh... that surprise snow really screwed up my commute!

Also, b efore you get rid of the Festiva, you should totally take it to a super nice restaurant and have them valet it for ya, hahaha.

I’ll never forget going to Ruth’s Chris when I was little, and my mom parking her ol’ Sentra right next to a Maybach.

Mercedes Streeter > Rainbow 11/01/2019 at 12:02

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Illinois! The Festiva is a 1993, so its exempt from Illinois emissions testing. That’s part of the reason I got it. I already have four cars that need to pass testing. lol

It would make a great rally car, though it should NOT be a daily unless the rust is repaired.

Mercedes Streeter > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 11/01/2019 at 12:03

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Transfer? Not allowed out here. But I think the plates will come with the car anyway and I’ll use them for decoration.

Mercedes Streeter > benjrblant 11/01/2019 at 12:05

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Shhhhh. The smart’s road legal...it just can’t travel very far without melting its engine.

The other smart has a seized alternator. Apparently if you store an older smart outside in a place where it rains/snows and don’t start it at least once every couple weeks the alternator will rust seize. Have to lower the engine to replace it, too. Le sigh...

Mercedes Streeter > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 11/01/2019 at 12:06

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Oh you bet I’m trying to get it! That car’s a ball offroad, too. :D

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 12:37

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Floor jack or engine hoist is the way to one person put doors back on in my experience.

punkgoose17 > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 13:06

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You could make some fabric and plastic Jeep style doors. Here is an idea for a frame. cover the bottom half in fabric and the top half in clear plastic.

stars-pulse-like-venom > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 13:19

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Does this mean I don’t have to put doors on?

Rainbow > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 13:56

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Oh crap, I forgot it’s already almost 2020. That’s exempt here, too.

Seriously, if it's not dead by the time you choose to get rid of it, let me know how much you want!

Mercedes Streeter > Rainbow 11/01/2019 at 14:54

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Since I chopped off the fenders and all that, like $300-$400? Basically I’d just want to make back the registration and title fees. lol

Mercedes Streeter > stars-pulse-like-venom 11/01/2019 at 14:55

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No, but you now have to follow a crippled smart to a shop! :D

Mercedes Streeter > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! 11/01/2019 at 14:56

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Oh snap, why didn’t I think to use my jack?!?

Mercedes Streeter > punkgoose17 11/01/2019 at 14:57

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I love it! I’m installing some makeshift 3" door bars whenever it decides to get above freezing. I could then use the bars as a baseplate for fabric down at the bottom and plastic up at top, Jeep/Hummer style!

Rainbow > Mercedes Streeter 11/01/2019 at 16:46

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Super tempting!

stars-pulse-like-venom > Mercedes Streeter 11/03/2019 at 20:03

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Didn’t have to do that either :)