Faults:

Battery replaced x 2 (in 7 years).

4 new tyres in 2010.

Dashboard lighting and horn stopped working 2011.

Water and oil pumps replaced in Sept 2013.

Both front side light bulbs blew in Oct 2013.

Clutch etc burnt out yesterday (Oct 2013) - at 144,000 km.

Now many rattles and squeaks, and wind noise from the driver's side window.

General Comments:

Brilliant! Loved this car all the time in the 7 years+ I have owned it. LHD - cost me 3,000 Euros, and worth every Euro.

It has been thrown round bumpy roads, faced floods, torrential rain, rocky roads, fallen in ditches, been hauled out by tractors, filled to the roof with items - and still comes out working well!

To run a car for 7 years, and only have batteries and tyres to buy is a miracle (compared to new company cars in UK, which were often breaking down!). Only late this year have large, expensive things needed replacing.

This 1.8 petrol model is quick, easy to handle, is good round bends, perfect for the motorway, in traffic, and off road (but not too rough off road).

It's not too expensive on petrol compared to other friends' cars.

Being small, it's easy to park.

Lots of room to carry things with the back seats folded down, but OK for 4 persons when the seats are up.

Total repairs cost this year is 1350 Euros.

A bit irritating until you get used to it - when in 5th gear, especially on a motorway, the loudish sound of the revs is like there should be another gear to change into.

Faults:

Defective disc brakes, producing vibrations. Solved during guarantee.

Undefined plastic noises in the front panel (after 60.000 km).

General Comments:

O.K. : Fast (thinking in a 4-wheel drive), stable, smooth engine running, comfortable, easy to handle, safe (active and passive), agile, nice view through the windows and mirrors, low maintenance costs (tyres, brakes, filters, electrics,...), full plastic side protections, funny driving on road/city/highway/trails.

Bad : Noisy over 120 Km/h, bad view through rear window, high gasoline consumption (9,5 litres per 100 km in road drive), brakes block easily under rainy conditions (you can't get A.B.S. for this model!), no place for mounting anti-fog projectors, seats don't keep your body in place during sport road driving.