Faults:

CV joints on both driveshafts clicking.

Sometimes surges on acceleration.

Driver's seat creaks.

Washer pump was seized.

Heated screen doesn't work.

Rear axle starting to sag.

Radiator is starting to rot!

Usual leaky filter head, bypassed with aftermarket unit..

General Comments:

Well, thanks to the government ripping us off on fuel, the insurance industry wanting its pound of flesh, and the local traffic police and their revenue cameras, I have been forced to downgrade to a small car again.

A trawl of the local secondhand car sites turned up a 106 diesel of 1994 vintage for the mere sum of £300. Considering most 106 diesels are well over £500, this example with 10 months MOT seemed to be a bit of a bargain!

I've owned several Citroen AX's in the past, and the 106 is basically an AX clone. The 1.5 engine and gearbox were identical with the AX one, so I knew it would be reliable. The clicky CV joints were pretty much to be expected too. Possibly it doesn't handle as well as the AX, more down to wear and tear than any fault of the car. The cheap price means that it won't break the bank to overhaul the suspension if I decide to keep it for a while.

Comfort wise, apart from the excellent heater, the car has no mod cons at all, not even a 12v socket! Which after my adventures with an old Audi A4 was something of a relief. The paintwork is faded beyond redemption, being a matte white colour now, and the aluminium sunroof surround will need rubbed down and repainted; jobs for next year.

Of course the only reason anybody buys a 17 year old diesel 106 is for fuel economy, the car's major good point, despite being allegedly less aerodynamic than the AX and having more miles than my example, it's much easier on juice; I'm averaging over 60mpg. Admittedly I seldom exceed 60mph these days, but it's cheaper to run than most small cars. Certainly, if it keeps going, it cannot depreciate any more.

The car is 17 now, and is getting to that dangerously endearing stage, where more than the car's worth will be spent on it to keep it going, but in these austere times, a gradual replacement of all dodgy parts might well work out cheaper than buying something else with problems of its own.

Faults:

According to the MOT and service documents mine had a new engine a few years back, but this was mainly due to negligence by the previous owner. Other than that not much. Paint work has faded which appears to be a common problem.

General Comments:

+ Fun to drive, cheap to run, easy to maneuvers and park, looks good.

- Cramped in the back, paint work faded (common problem as it seems).

Faults:

Left Side Drive shaft needed replacing.

Cigar Lighter shorted out.

General Comments:

Very good first car, I've seen a lot of reviews complaining about the pedals too close together which is true, they are close together, but it took me about 5 minutes to get used to that, its very cheap on petrol can do a 40 mile round trip every work day for about £15 - 20 a week depending on how I drive it, accelerates well for the engine size, out accelerated a 1.3 '96 fiesta earlier today which was a giggle, doesn't like going uphill too much, but that's nothing to worry about as when you get used to i, you learn how to handle uphill slopes.

Can keep up with traffic on the motorway, but the engine makes quite a bit of noise, the inside cabin is of a very good build quality, everything seems to work fine, not too plasticy.

Very good first car and a good runner has served me well 9/10.