Faults:

Suspension ball joint required replacement

CVT whining leading to power loss and heading toward transmission failure according to the qualified mechanic who eventually took it off our hands.

General Comments:

It was a nice small vehicle in many respects. Allowed for use of the back via folding seats, almost a station wagon. Good performance generally for a small car.

The CVT is not recommended. Even while the fluid remains pink and looks healthy, based on our experience, if you have any weight in the vehicle and drive it hard, it is likely to overheat the gearbox and bearings will begin to fail. This causes the whining to begin. It was an unfortunate vehicle for us, losing us a significant amount of money in the resale.

While I can't evidence this, my personal opinion is that the CVT gearbox is not really mated well to the turbo engine and can't really handle being pushed. They don't like heat. It is possible if you do regular fluid changes and don't put it under strain, that it will be OK. However it makes less sense to give a car aggressive styling, a performance engine, and then mate it to a gearbox that isn't really up to task.

Gearbox fluid was changed during ownership several times.

Shame because I really wanted to like this car. Get the manual version because the engine is strong.

Faults:

None, really.

I broke off the radio aerial by forgetting to unscrew it before going into the car wash (NZ$ 40 for a new one, yikes!).

And I blew the cigarette lighter fuse by trying to inflate an air mattress electrically the wrong way round.

So, none of the car's fault, really.

General Comments:

This is easily the best and the most likable car I've ever owned! If it disappeared on me, I would buy one exactly like it again.

Things I like about this car:

Tremendously comfortable front seats.

Wonderful CVT transmission.

Great steering.

I love the styling - what a quirky little thing!

At 100km/h, the car ticks over at barely 2000 rpm. That makes it a great, relaxed highway cruiser.

Fuel consumption is sensationally low - I get 5.6 L/ 100km regular fuel in everyday driving.

It's possible to sleep in the back of it - I've gone on holiday with it, sleeping on a mattress with the dimensions 190 x 90 cm in the back with the seats folded down. It was perfectly comfortable.

The boot is huge, and can be made even "huger" by folding down seats. I've picked up a tall fridge freezer with this car!

Faults:

Passenger side window is not closing/opening properly. To be fair though, I have not taken the car in as yet for its first service, and have not notified the dealer or manufacturer of the problem as yet.

General Comments:

Fantastic value for money for a "second" vehicle - as these are a 2006 model and sold at a heavily discounted price.

It is unfortunately a bit skittish on rough roads when the hardtop roof is open (which takes only 22 seconds to open or close), but as a summer runabout car it is fun to drive, and people are curious as to the manufacturer as it is styled by Pininfarina and is quite stylish.

Being a 1.5, it isn't very quick (isn't exactly slow either), but is very fuel efficient.

I look forward to putting more kilometers on the clock, and keeping readers of this site updated on how the car and I age together.