General Comments:
The car is reliable and runs very well, however the build quality is now starting to show through.
The interior has a few rattles and squeaks, but that is to be expected in a 6-year-old car.
The brake master cylinder has now started to leak which is very worrying as the brakes fade very fast on hills.
The brakes also squeak very often now, had solved the problem temporarily with copper grease, but its since returned.
The gaiters on the power steering rack have split, allowing some power steering fluid to leak.
On the whole though I am very pleased with the car, the ride is comfortable, the 1.4 engine is nippy with good rev range, not thirsty on petrol, and the handling is very satisfying.
The boot is also very useful, with seats folded flat I could easily fit two washing machines in the back!
Bodywork repairs were expensive when a cyclist hit me on the front end, but the car is Italian so the parts are pricey.
No serious faults so far though, with regular maintenance I'm sure the car will stay reliable until I change it.
17th Oct 2004, 13:40
Turned out that the master cylinder wasn't at fault, but it was the other brake pipe that split, but the split was being held together by the connecting ring to the brake union, so the brake fluid wasn't leaking, but pressure was draining away. Changed the exhaust gasket and I noticed the pipe started bleeding while I was under the car.