Faults:

In the two years or so I have owned the car I have only had 2 problems with it.

The first occurred about a year ago when the distributor cap cracked and the coil spark was earthing straight to the engine block. This took minutes to fix at low cost (about £5.00).

The most recent problem was this week when the starter motor packed up. Again this is easy to fix although slightly more pricey.

This is the third Vauxhall I have owned and the third to have a starter motor fail, mind you they are all old cars now so this is to be expected.

General Comments:

I enjoy driving the car, it is comfortable and easy, except parking without power streering but even that is bearable. It gives fairly good mileage and has plenty of room for carrying my band equipment round in. It is reliable (most of the time) although I do often get mistaken for a taxi driver.

Faults:

CV boot.

Rear bushes.

General Comments:

Extremely nice car to look at and to drive, poor on petrol only if driven hard. Do not recommend as a first car.

Faults:

My father was the original owner and from about 55,000 miles the engine management system began switching off the engine at any moment it chose.

Vauxhall always stated that it was a problem with the fuel pump relay but the problem persisted, always occurring in frosty weather.

General Comments:

Despite this electrical fault, which I could have repaired with the necessary funds, I found this Vauxhall refreshingly reliable and well built.

As of 160,000 miles and 6 years old, the clutch was original as was the entire exhaust system.

Faults:

The heater is poor in winter.

The radiator loses coolant, not in great amounts but more than average.

General Comments:

Spares are reasonably priced but the car does not have the comfort or refinement that my Toyota Carina had. All in all it has been a good car for the 4 years I've had it. It has now done 110,000 miles.

Faults:

Brake disks warped. Bottom ball joint and CV joint have gone and been replaced.

General Comments:

Best car I have ever owned. Starts first time every time and goes like stink.

Faults:

Fragile 4x4 system has had the pressure switch fail 3 times in a year at £90 a time.

General Comments:

A fast car that won't easily be beaten. This car has awesome grip and cornering ability, and an outstanding equipment specification. It's running fine with 110,000 miles and still turns heads after 10 years.

Faults:

The sump gasket has gone.

The speedo reads wrong.

2 wheel bearings.

Exhaust was rotten, it was welded but it still gives a lot of rattly noises.

General Comments:

Good cars for cruisin in and they are comfy, especially the back seat if you know what I mean.

Faults:

Clutch, clutch cable, handbrake cable, electrics, emissions, rust on wheel arches, heater controls sticking, rear demister, wheezing power-steering, broken tilt adjust on passenger seat.

General Comments:

Very powerful and very quick. Handles incredibly well and holds on to the last around corners. Sadly though the car needs to be properly looked after from when it is brand new otherwise a massive series of problems occur when it goes over 100k miles.

A car with performance which can comfortably embarrass all of its rivals from its introduction over a decade ago and is still class leading now. Basically it can skin GTi's, XR's, GSi's GTE's and a few turbos too.

Good family hatch with outrageous performance.