Faults:

Rust all over the body and bottom (some holes had to be welded).

ECU broke around 260000km.

Alternator broke twice, around 265000km and 280000km.

Humidity getting inside distributor, causing oxidation and failures to start in wet weather.

Timing belt clamp-wheel did split around 290000km, almost causing engine destruction (luckily discovered because of weird noise from engine, before more serious damage occurred: belt was still running around half of the clamp-wheel)

General Comments:

Nice to drive in city because of decent mid rpm torque (peaks around 3000rpm), small turning radius, good visibility and short gear ratios.

Liftback body is capable of transporting large objects when rear seats are folded.

Lights are weak.

Short gear ratios hurt fuel consumption.

Noisy and not very stable at high speeds - requires constant steering.

Low body and short seat are not suitable for tall drivers.

Cabin warms up fast during winter.

GLX-level equipment is quite good, considering the year and cost of the car (includes heated & power adjustable mirrors, heated seats, seat height & steering wheel distance adjustments)

Engine is still rock solid, despite 300 megameters, and consumes no oil.

Faults:

One exhaust valve had to be replaced due to a hole burnt in it. Fuel injectors were fine, though.

Crankshaft gearbox-end bearing needed to be replaced due to a manufacturing flaw in this engine type. Also known as "crankwalk" phenomenon.

Exhaust controllers needed to be replaced from cylinder head.

Drinks petrol like crazy, no matter how you drive it. 13 litres per 100km is normal. And high-octane of course.

Road noise over 120km/h is terrible, and you don't want to drive long distances with these speeds.

General Comments:

Oh boy, what a car!

This car is from a past era of Japanese turbo cars, when fuel economy was not a point of interest, and only performance mattered.

Sadly new EVO's have lost their "balls". They look too much like executive saloons.

This piece of machine glues down to the road. Suspension is tight and you can throw it into corner very hard and come clean out of it. The car's body won't bend at all when driven in hard corners. AYC helps you to exit corners even faster.

This is great car to drive on twisty roads, and the handling is very sharp. You're constantly aware of the surface of the road. However, my opinion is that this is best driven on snow and gravel.

This car delivers good 0-60 performance (under 6 seconds), but this is not a type of car you want to launch always from traffic lights. My car is completely stock version. Turbo kicks in from 3000rpm and it pulls hard until the red-line. I like to keep my window open and listen for that sweet whoooosh sound from turbocharger.

This is imported from Japan. Recaro seats are designed for local people, and they are way too small for a scandinavian fat-ass like myself.

Everywhere I go, people stop to look at my car. Young boys take pictures of it with their cell phones. When I stop to fill her up at a gas station, strangers come asking me about the car. Some family men are looking my car with envy from their "so-called" sport cars.

Faults:

Some bushings were worn.

OEM water pump started to rattle.

The lids on some small compartments inside have long since broken off.

Silencer had a rusted hole through.

Power steering pump, alternator and cam belts were replaced.

Floor had some rust present.

The interior heater motor has a life of 300 000km, then it will die soon and without warning. It's rather pricey to replace.

2nd Gear's synchromesh is dying.

OEM clutch is about to die soon.

General Comments:

The best daily driver you can get. Cheap, virtually maintenance free and not thirsty on fuel, either. Just change the oil on time and it'll run to world's end and back, too.

It's a great choice for cold climates. I've cold started it often at -35 Celsius with no problem, Heater could provide a bit more warmth in the winter, but seat heaters are good.

It handles is well (though it's no 205 GTI).

Most mechanical parts start to make loud noise before their eventual demise, so you don't have to keep track of kilometers to time the replace of other parts than the cam belt.

Eats a little oil at 370k (0.5l/1000km), but with no internal engine work done, that's expected at this age and I don't consider it a fault of anyone other than my own.

Fuel consumption is minimal and it has sufficient power for safe overtakes.