Faults:

Airbag warning light due to loose cables under driver seat. Fixed under warranty.

Central locking motor / driver side failed. Fixed under warranty.

Aerial housing corroded, replaced under warranty.

General Comments:

Fantastic car with lots of kit as standard, HDi engine performs so well giving you bags of torque and excellent fuel economy.

Had a few minor hiccups during ownership which were fixed under warranty - however car remained very, very reliable and was very comfortable even though I commuted around 100 miles a day.

Great cruiser over the motorways, HDi engine provided really good mid-range acceleration, ideal for overtaking.

Faults:

Everything has gone wrong with it. It would be a shorter list if I said what still works, but the main things are:

Door locks (inc. remote, interior lock, and key locking)

The lights sometimes stay on for hours!

The engine constantly cuts out.

There is a problem with the throttle.

The radio broke within a month...

General Comments:

The steering is unbelievably inaccurate. It feels like the wheels are connected with a piece of elastic. It goes wherever it likes especially when there is a bit of wind about.

The throttle is like a switch and has no progression.

The brakes are similarly inconsistent.

The clutch is vile as is the gear change.

The handling is very 'boy-racer'. If you know how to drive properly you will hate it. However if you have no skill what-so-ever you might like the obvious feel of it.

The air-con is rubbish. It doesn't work very well and blows air to the wrong place.

It is by far the worst car I have ever driven and I actually get angry when I drive it. It is very frustrating and it needs destroying.

Faults:

Airbag light kept coming on - repaired twice, eventually being rewired.

Engine Management light came on four times. Once needed a new distributor cap, the other times were software/firmware problems.

New brake disks needed at 30,000 - the same time as first pad renewal!! Very expensive.

General Comments:

Superb handling, excellent space for a small car, reasonably economical.

Poor reliability.

Faults:

Rattle from metal bar under fuel tank, cured by cutting some old fuel pipe and fitting around it.

Rattle from area around rear n/s side seat catch, very annoying.

General Comments:

This is my first car with some degree of comfort built in after a MK2 XR2 and a 1.6 205 GTi.

The car isn't that quick below 3,000 rpm, but after that the second cam kicks and it will pull strongly. I've never had a lead foot anyway and tend to treat any car with kid gloves so this is only a minor issue.

Economy is very good averaging 35 - 40 mpg easily.

The car looks great in Metallic Red, but I simply had to replace the hideous steel wheels and saucepan lid wheel trims and have fitted some Wolfrace alloys. It now looks far more purposeful.

At the three year (but only 14000 mile) service I was disappointed at leaving the car at 8am and not being able to pick it up until 5.30 pm as the dealer didn't start work on it until the afternoon. Not only that, I was miffed at £25 for a pollen filter and they said it was all washed and ready to go when in fact it hadn't had a sponge anywhere near it.

Overall, although the build quality could be better (squeaks and rattles abound) I'm starting to warm to the car. It's comfortable, quiet and quick if it has to be. Not much room in the back, but I don't care - I never sit there!