Faults:

My first real problem was yesterday; my drivers side window fell inside door and I am seeking info how to repair it. So far it's easier to find a chicken with teeth than to get info from anyone who has had the problem, or even repaired another car with similar problem.

But other than that, it's a great wee car.

General Comments:

The car runs great. It's had its first problem above, and have a small oil leak from near the dipstick. Has anyone else had this?

I love being inside my car; it's comfortable.

I wish they still made them. I hate the cars they make now; they all look like snails.

Faults:

Shocks required replacing when we bought it.

Driver's mirror adjustment knob has been pushed into the mechanism (by my wife!) and now has to be adjusted externally.

Cigarette lighter doesn't work.

Passenger electric window switch works intermittently.

General Comments:

Reasonably comfortable (By that I mean neither my wife or I get back ache from driving it!).

Economical (as expected for a diesel) 45 - 50 mpg.

Slow! well, compared to my previous Seat Ibiza Tdi 90bhp, its slow (sob sob - had to sell it to buy a house). I should have bought the turbo version, but couldn't find one.

Handles great though! You can through this thing round bends, which kind of goes some way toward compensating for the lack of power (65bhp I think?).

Safe? Hmmm... Kind of feels like I'm driving around in a tin can. When on the motorway, I can't help thinking that if I had to carry out an emergency stop at 90 mph in front of a Range Rover, I would probably completely disappear between the Range Rover and the rear bumper of the car in front! Thinking of starting a family soon and don't really want to drive kids around in this.

Styling - looks dull and dated inside and out.

Reliable - probably the most reliable car I've ever owned (my wife used to have a 1992 Escort - cost about £300 a month to maintain, could have leased a nice car for that!)

Very practical and roomy.

I think my next car will be a 306 Turbo diesel.

Faults:

I haven't had to do many repairs to the car so far all I have bought is the Catalytic converter, and fixed screws back into drivers seat, otherwise I have had no problems whatsoever. and it originally came from a good home, 1 owner.

General Comments:

The car handles great I used to think it would have been better with power steering, but after getting used to it find it OK, if there was another model similar and I could afford the cash again Id buy it, I bought this car for £350 from a garage owner he wanted to get a land-rover so it was an on the spur of moment sale I am 6ft 4 and thought it wouldn't have space to get in, but after placing seat straight back I was OK, Id recommend them anytime, economical petrol-wise.

Faults:

When I bought it:

The front CV joint was worn.

The drivers window had a broken tooth on the mechanism.

Bits of trim were missing.

The glove box was held together with a tie-wrap.

The brakes needed adjusting at the rear.

General Comments:

Apart from the things mentioned above, that was it. The car has been a bargain purchase for £300 and £45 for a reconditioned drive shaft sorted my major problem out. I adjusted the brakes and gave it a service. The Clutch, brakes, head gasjet and radiator had all been replaced recently when I inspected the car!

Nothing goes wrong with it, it starts first time everytime (as long as you start immediately after the glow plug light goes out). After I gave it a clean and some TLC, the interior looks in amazing condition for a 155000 miles car. There are a few squeaks and rattles, but it just seems to need all it's screws and nuts tightening up a bit!

It's used as a second car to my Porsche 944 and now does the 80 mile/day journey round Manchester returning at least 600 miles from a full tank, which takes about £35 to fill at the current prices. (72p/litre)