Faults:

Mainly consumables, exhaust (replacement cost £26 from Amazon), and clutch (replaced by local garage for £150).

Non consumable items that have gone wrong have been indicator stalk stuck on, but this was an easy fix (10 minutes) by myself, and the rear wash wipe was down to a trickle, but this has been repaired by myself.

General Comments:

This is a fantastically cheap car, that is very practical. I bought this for £800 to act as a van, for my hobbies, football, DIY tip runs, and daily commute.

It has been abused without complaint; I haven't even changed the oil on this car in 9 years.

It has been faultless, and I haven't been easy on it when driving. I fuel it with 100% sunflower oil in the summer, and so is very cheap to run, and then a diesel / sunflower oil mix over the winter.

Having renovated a house, this was used to reduce reliance on skips, and has carried quite remarkable loads to the tip, as well as picking new items up (new washing machine, no problem).

I hope this car continues to soldier on.

Faults:

Replaced battery, replaced temperature sensor and offside drop link. All for less than £50.

General Comments:

This car has surprised me, I have owned many cars over the years, from Subaru to Land Rover, I have owned them all, and eventually got bored and had to get something else. This car was only a stop gap while between employment; it cost me £273 off eBay with about 4 months MOT.

By far the best £273 I have ever spent; I normally would not even consider a French built vehicle, let alone the balloon shaped Picasso. I did have a 2000 Renault Kangoo when starting my business and I loved its simplicity; it was also reliable and it's the same things I love about the Picasso.

It's just a simple honest machine, the HDI engine is reliable and powerful enough for modern traffic, although mine is chipped. It handles relatively well for a such a high center of gravity and the ride is OK when up to speed. The space inside is amazing; three adults will sit comfortable in the rear even with the front seats all the way back; the seats can be removed and it can used as a van as I have done with gardening equipment.

Sure its build quality is not up to German standards, but it's cheap for a reason; even so I think a Picasso is all the car you could ever need, especially if you have a family and need the room.

All this reliable Frenchness for less than £300? I think that is an amazing bargain, and this is not just any Picasso, this has been well and truly used with over 160,000 miles.

Faults:

I have had a drive shaft, a clutch and a wiper motor.

I did have to put a new ignition switch in last year.

Nothing much apart from servicing and brake pads.

General Comments:

My car is great. I moved house last month, and did not hire a van, I did the move in the car. A saving of £250.

I will get a new one soon, and it will be Picasso.

Faults:

In tank fuel pump went, replaced for a small excess under a private warranty.

Exhaust broke just behind cat, got a new full system inc cat from eBay for £125 and had it fitted for £50.

Water temp sensor replaced by me for £10.

Offside wishbone and gator replaced for a small excess under private warranty.

General Comments:

This cars been fantastic, being a diesel it was 'chipped' 3 years ago and runs better than new!

MPG has also improved, and its very comfortable!

It's taken us to the continent twice a year for the last 5 years, through 95c heat and up mountains at -12c with snow tyres on!

Costs pennies to run and can do 650 miles on a tank through Europe!

Excellent family car, can't fault it.