Faults:

Head gasket (engine oil in coolant).

Radiator & radiator hoses leak.

Transmission oil leak.

Rear wheel bearing.

Rear brake cylinder leak.

Airbag light (wire under seat got damaged - common on 3d models).

Windows are wobbly if not completely open or closed.

Seats are wobbly.

HT leads.

Central locking doesn't work at times.

Right & left engine mounts.

Steering rack gaiters.

Front wishbone bushes shot.

Boot gas struts are shot.

Rain water gets into the rear light.

Rear passenger window screws got loose.

Reverse gear is tricky to get in (put it into 1st gear before putting it into reverse to avoid crunching).

Muffler has almost got an extra rust hole in it.

General Comments:

Considering how many miles I put yearly, and that we are talking about a 15 year old car, I am pretty pleased with how it fares.

When you get in for the first time, you notice that the pedals are very close to each other, showing that this is a car that was designed for women, so it's not a car for tall people.

The trunk is roomy for the car's size, especially with the rear seats folded.

For its age the fuel economy is not bad, but if you don't service it regularly, it can drink like a van.

My few tips:

- Using a torque wrench on the wheels' lug nuts will make for a smoother ride.

- The bolts that hold the wishbones have a tendency to get loose, especially if the car is driven hard, so make sure you tighten them regularly (depends on how you drive - I do them every 6 months) to torque spec; this will increase the car's stability and reduce fuel consumption.

Faults:

Gearbox oil leak, from a seal.

Premature disk wear.

General Comments:

The car is very quick and nippy for a 1.1 litre.

It handles great in the corners.

Very comfortable on long trips.

Faults:

The car hasn't had serious problems up until now.

General Comments:

It is a fast vehicle. I would really prefer it if the roll bars were a bit stronger. If the driver gets to know it better he will find out that the limits of the car are quite far.

I am not sure if I agree with the tires. Maybe it should have something like 195/50 - 15.

I am planning to tune the car up to 150 - 160 HP. I think that it can take it. I suggest buying the ABS edition since the brakes will work much better. Enjoy your flight!