Faults:

Incessant squeaking of the front suspension from new. Apparently a joint was assembled upside down. Fixed under warranty.

Rear fog lights not working. Wiring damaged by the dealer while installing the stereo. Fixed under warranty.

Wind noise from the driver's window. To be fixed at the first service.

Front tyres wearing badly on the inside edges. Tracking to be checked at the first service.

General Comments:

I've been after one of these cars for what seems like ages; I fell in love with the shape long before hearing the fantastic voice that the V6 has.

This is a very fast car and yet is relaxing to drive at more modest speeds (once you're used to the lightning fast responses of the fly-by-wire throttle) due to the huge amount of torque that is on tap from very low revs.

At speed (I've had it at an indicated 150mph on an unrestricted autobahn), the car is very stable and composed. The only clue as to your velocity (apart from the blurred scenery) is the fantastic engine note which just gets better the nearer you get to the red line.

Although luggage space is limited, it is possible to pack enough luggage for two on a 2 week holiday, just so long as you use the rear seats as a parcel shelf!

Comfort is great on shorter journeys (I'm 6'2" and have plenty of head and leg room, although I've tried a car with a sunroof fitted and wouldn't suggest one if you're over 6'), but there's a lack of lower back support when you're on a cross-continent cruise.

Speaking of the seats, there definitely needs to be more lateral support, as I find myself hanging on to the steering wheel and passengers are flung about when you hit the twisty back roads at speed. The seats in the GTV Cup look quite promising... I wonder if they'll become available as accessories?

Economy is predictably poor around town - I find myself filling up at around 250 miles (although there is a generous reserve left in the tank when the warning light comes on). On longer cruises, the GTV comes into its own as a 'proper' grand tourer, returning 30mpg even on high speed runs, which allows for a far more useful 450 mile range.

Overall, this is a fantastic car. It's far more fun and less painful to own than I expected and I don't think we'll be parting company for quite some time.

Faults:

Bonnet lid stuck down. Required the dealer to adjust the bonnet release catch.

General Comments:

Fantastic engine. Useful in-traffic torque from 1000 revs, and seriously beefy from 2500 to 7000 revs. 4000 and above and it sings like an angel. Other cars I have driven sound like they are about to hernia when reved hard. This just sounds better and better all the way to the redline.

Handling is sharp and sweet. Some tramlining under braking. Car just sits on the road at all speeds, no rock, no roll, just plenty of feedback. The steering is very sensitive, with the 2.1 turns lock to lock meaning most cross country driving can be done without moving the hands on the wheel.

Brakes are OK, but not as much bite initially as you would expect. Press harder though and the car stops quickly and safely. Close pedals allow heel-toe braking.

Lovely smooth gears, well spaced and matched with the engine. Long travel gearstick with a circular top make it hard sometimes to be sure of the right gear. I'll be replacing mine with a short travel one. Long travel clutch also makes it easy to slip when setting off quickly.

Having such a powerful, versatile engine, combined with a good spacing of gears, means much less changing. You could cover miles cross country without getting out of second or third if you're driving hard. And this car loves to be driven hard.

The interior is comfortable, with a lovely old-school style. A red leather interior really adds to the occasion of driving the car, and is not overbearing. Some trim seems badly fitting, however rattles and squeaks are minimal.

Overall, it's a fantastic car to own and drive. I love mine to bits, and definitely made the right decision in buying one...