Faults:

Near side track rod end ball joint started leaking grease - replaced 150000 miles at a cost of £13 and 1/2 hour of work.

Central locking stopped working on N/S/R door - pushed the button down manually and left it! No-one rides in the back anyway.

Just passed it's MOT again at 170000 miles - one CV boot replaced, and one flexible brake hose.

The car still goes like a train, even at this mileage, but it is burning a significant amount of oil.

The only other thing I've had to shell out for were three tyres (budget ones - came to about £80 IIRC), a back box for the exhaust, and brake pads all round.

General Comments:

I paid £200 for this car 2 1/2 years ago - it was cheap because of the mileage and the dented bodywork.

I really can't fault it: it has been reliable, comfortable, is well equipped, has decent performance and handling, plenty of room in the boot.

The only downside is 35mpg, but with no repayments and zero depreciation you can't have everything!

Faults:

The clutch became heavy and was replaced at 103,000 miles. The clutch mechanism had worn. The drive-shaft oil seals were also replaced at the same mileage. During my ownership the clutch cable was replaced twice.

Exhaust intermediate section replaced at 123,000 miles. Rear silencer replaced at 197,000 miles.

Head gasket replaced at 205,000 miles.

Diesel injection pump started leaking at 215,000 miles. The spindle in the pump was replaced.

Glow-plugs were replaced twice, and battery once during my ownership. The handbrake cables were replaced three times.

A Volvo estate drove into the rear of the car at 221,000 miles and wrote it off.

General Comments:

The car was excellent value for money. I bought the car second hand when it had already lost half its value, and kept it for 190,000 miles.

The car was always economical - I usually got 52 miles per gallon from it.

It was a comfortable car, with plenty of room for the family and all our luggage.

The car was excellent for my 80 mile round motorway trip to work each day. It coped very well with several holiday trips from the North of England to the South of France.

Faults:

Radiator leaking and needs replacement, but has done the last 12,000 miles like it!

Heater doesn't work properly and probably needs matrix replacing.

It does rattle quite a bit.

General Comments:

Fantastic reliability.

Starts on first turn of key whatever the weather conditions.

Very economical for it's size; between 35-42 mpg.

Superb load carrying; doesn't mind how much you load it up it still drives the same.

Bought it for only £750 and would probably get the same back if I was to sell it, but I'm not!

Faults:

ABS sensor light intermittently coming on, when on front/right wheel will lock up under heavy breaking.

Coolant pipe split 180 miles from home first day I drove it.

Rear window heater not functioning.

Common 405 fault, excessive wear on outside edge of front tires.

Catalytic converter sounds ominous, hole developing.

Power steering cuts out some times though possible reason being the 17"x225's. under too much pressure at slow speeds.

General Comments:

This car was previously owned by a friend who kept it immaculate.

Quick off the mark, power band between 3000rpm and 5200rpm.

141mph my personal best.

Handling is both responsive and accurate for a front wheel drive family saloon.

Mine is metallic charcoal with pro tinted windows, sitting on 17's with the spoiler it looks a beast.

Faults:

Only fault was rear caliper at MOT time £80.

General Comments:

Very quick, but very thirsty, not sure if this is just because mine has aircon, but love it.