Faults:

Within one week of ownership, it was recovered with a failed clutch master cylinder!

The slave cylinder failed next!

Difficult gear selection rectified!

Water leak into boot... still leaking!

Thermostat failed causing over cooling... replaced!

Coolant level sensor failed... replaced!

Timing chain and gears replaced (recognised fault)... expensive!

Head gasket failed (recognised fault?) expensive!

Radio failed... twice! Internal solder joint issues!

Both front wheel bearings replaced!

Near side rear tyre wears poorly.. issues with trailing arm bearing!

Oxygen sensor replaced... failed!

Second oxygen sensor failed... still current!

Heater stays hot... still current.

Anti roll bar bushes broken, causing knock... known expensive issue, and still current!

General Comments:

The car was originally comfortable and economical, with all the practicality you expect from an estate car.

Faults:

Absolutely nothing has went wrong with this car since I bought it. Being a petrol, I would have thought it would have died by now, but fingers crossed, it will last till next year when maybe I can retire it. With honours.

General Comments:

Change the oil every 3000 miles and make sure you use decent oil, and it will plod on forever.

Okay, it has its little vibrations from the dining room table of a dash, but at the price I paid for it, and the mileage it returns per gallon of petrol, 40ish, I really can't complain.

Faults:

Have the usual all over squeaking and groaning.

Front offside window dropped down and wouldn't rise again.

Idling erratic when first started.

Power steering fault light lit up, and a few miles after lost all power assist. Came back on after a restart and is now intermittent.

General Comments:

Car drives well, allowing for minor, seemingly common, niggles. Although sluggish when pulling away.

Engine seems noisy -- even for a diesel.

Economy, so far, seems good.

Faults:

Power steering sensor replaced under warranty at 54610 miles.

Indicator switch replaced under warranty at 55210 miles.

Power steering unit at 90k service.

Shock absorber cover (91300 miles).

Power steering sensor - £71.

Power steering pump - £470 + fitting £120 (117410 miles)

Front passenger CV joint (126350 miles).

Front passenger wheel bearing - £147 (131800 miles).

Drivers side rear wheel bearing - £204 (150177 miles).

Two rear wheel cylinders (150231 miles).

Rear window - £80 (Just crumbled away after a frosty night!).

Front suspension bushes + steering rack gator + track rod end + front strut bearings + 2 nearside springs + 2 rear wheel cylinders + shoes - £714 (175540 miles).

Clutch pedal repair - £80 (196700 miles).

Handbrake cable replaced (202900 miles).

Two rear brake cylinders - £59.

Driver's side front spring - £326 (204290 miles).

Clutch pedal fix - £45.

Bonnet repair (£40) + New windscreen (£225) (220064 miles).

Brake light switch - £28 (240095 miles).

Passenger side CV joint - £90 (245422 miles).

Gearbox recondition - £850 (247182 miles).

New radio - £98.

2 front lower arm near subframe bushes + 2 rear brake cylinders + mid exhaust box + offside front ball joint - £520 (255357 miles).

2 front wheel bearings + CV boot (264625 miles).

General Comments:

All costs and fuel usage have been recorded from new. Average mpg 55.3, average cost per mile 16.9p. Total overall cost to 266624 miles was £45189 (includes tax, insurance, breakdown cover, servicing, fuel, purchase, cleaning, but not parking charges (which have been minor) ).

The car is comfortable for long journeys with performance that I find perfectly adequate.

It has broken down 4 times when on the road (3 times for the same electrical fault, once when clutch pedal box broke). The power steering pump and gearbox faults resulted in being off the road for about 1 week each.

Maximum mileage from one tank of fuel was 935 miles.

Some window misting occurs in damp weather, though there is no obvious dampness in foot-wells.