Faults:

Rear doors won't open. The passenger side went first, now the other one has gone too. Also, the back boot lock button fell out; replaced it, but that one broke too! Also, plugs go quite a bit too, so it judders really bad when you start the car.

This car has given me nothing but problems from the start. I should have kept my old Ford Escort. At least the doors opened, so my kids don't have to climb over.

General Comments:

It's not a comfy ride. I would give it 4 out of 10. :(

Faults:

Miss-fired and jumped when I picked it up from the garage on first purchase, took it back three times to get the plugs and engine cleared out, was told water had got into the engine when it was power washed. Carried out under warranty.

Sun roof would not open on the right side a week after purchase, took it to the garage to get it fixed, was told a small stone had got lodged in there somehow, and was stopping it from opening, carried out under warranty.

Needed a new left shock absorber at 56,000 trade price, no VAT, no labour, £10.

Needed new wheel bearing on right back wheel, 61,000, trade price, no VAT, no labour, £25.

Power steering fluid leaked from time of purchase in 2009, been to the garage twice, they tried sealing the leak, trade price, no VAT or labour, £15, that did not work, replaced a "switch", trade price, no VAT, no labour, £60, however the steering fluid still leaks.

General Comments:

Very quick for a 1.4.

Very economical, currently getting around 41/42mpg on long journeys with changing speeds.

Extremely comfortable.

Hazard light switch and back windscreen demister switch in an awkward place.

Cannot have a passenger sat behind me as there is not enough leg room.

Cannot put it through a car wash as it doesn't register the back spoiler; as a result my boot was dented.

Paint seems to chip off easily.

Faults:

Replaced 2 ignition coils at 73000 miles. Replaced other two at 76000 miles. Only one coil had gone, but I replaced the pair each time.

Rear wheel bearing failed at 72000 miles. I replaced it with a cheap imported part, which lasted 6 months. Has been fine (12 months so far) since replaced with a genuine part.

Rear shock absorber snapped inside the housing giving me a nasty knocking noise from the rear of the car. This happened just before Christmas, after hitting a large pothole, but is a known weakness on these cars.

Had noisy front brakes, but no juddering or pulling to one side. When I replaced the pads and discs, I found the original pads had cracks in the friction material. I believe the cracks were holding moisture, which 'boiled out' under breaking, giving the pulsing and noise.

General Comments:

Good handling and great in the recent snow and ice.

Getting between 35mpg and 45mpg on my commute between Gillingham and Biggin Hill each day.

Very comfortable for long journeys.

Does not like cheap spares, always go for recognised manufacturers, genuine or OEM parts. Cheap ones from ebay or similar do not last.

Faults:

On delivery, the radio was locked out due to the car battery being flat for a period of time. Luckily the previous owner had written the unlock code on the passenger side sun visor.

At first servicing (about 80,000 miles) the front brake pads needed replacing as well as the front anti-roll bar bushes.

Both front light housings broken (discovered during NCT). When trying to fit a new headlamp the housing broke, very brittle.

TDC sensor beginning to fail.

A front wheel bearing needs replacing.

There are so many rattles from various parts of the car that I couldn't go into detail.

General Comments:

Took an immediate dislike to this car compared to my previous car. The things that annoy me most are:

The pedals are too close together for me, and the clutch seems to jump at the point that it engages. Even after over a year of driving this car, I haven't gotten used to this.

You have to give it plenty of revs when starting with the steering wheel fully turned in one direction.

The location of the buttons for the rear window heater and hazard lights are out of sight.

Once I was just shy of 100,000 miles, the car started to suck the wallet dry. First trying to get it through an NCT with broken headlamp housing. Then the timing belt followed by TDC sensor and a wheel bearing. I've been planning to get rid of the car for a few months, but the more it costs me, the more I want to hold on to it and get value for money, but something else always goes wrong.

On the plus side, there is plenty of power in it, and the suspension stands up well at high speeds. There is also plenty of space, and it's reasonably comfortable.