Faults:

Healthy appetite for sidelight bulbs.

Cam box oil seals started to leak at about 78000 miles.

General Comments:

For the age of the design the car has lasted very well considering it has had quite a hard life.

The engine on the whole is very pleasant and being a 16 valve it has enough go to overtake slower moving traffic and be mildly entertaining in a straight line.

The car's ride and handling are however pretty disappointing, bordering on infuriating at times; very often the car does not feel at all safe at speed or under emergency steering and braking.

Other than this, and the often heavy fuel consumption, the car is very good; it is plentifully spacious and the power steering, whilst a little inaccurate at speed, is fantastic for parking.

The seats are comfortable for long periods of time and the cabin is user-friendly, if a little bland.

Although very much yesterday's technology, the Carina II is nontheless a good used buy if you need something cheap, versatile and extremely reliable. I believe my car will carry on well past 100,000 miles without a hint of trouble.

Faults:

Radio/Tape changed under guarantee. Tape kept sticking. First tyre changed at 48,000 miles. Battery failed at 57,000 miles. Exhausts, tyres, plugs and filters etc. are the only other expense.

General Comments:

In its class, this must be one of the best cars it's possible to buy. This car has now done nearly 80,000 miles and has never let me down. Not even a light bulb has failed yet.

Dealers have had nothing to do other than service the car, but the vendor, Llwyd Coed Motors of Aberdare were excellent in every way. Unfortunately they lost their franchise with Toyota for some reason.