Faults:

I have had endless problems with the power steering.

The car has had three new steering columns and the problem remains. The power steering only works intermittently.

All have been replaced under warranty, but clearly the problem has not been resolved. I am told that it is something to do with the torque sensor.

My local dealership has now closed and I will have to travel much further to get this sorted out.

The dealership also had incomplete records so that each visit meant a total re-telling of the problem.

General Comments:

It looks great.

You can fit a child's buggy AND some shopping in the boot.

It runs forever on a tank of petrol.

When the power steering works it is a joy to park in tight spaces.

It looks great parked next to the usual dull cars in the car park at work.

You can find it easily in the supermarket because it's bright yellow.

Faults:

Locks broken at some stage and original stereo stolen. Previous owner replaced with 8 CD changer, but it looks like stealing the standard Fiat CD stereo is a common problem as it happened to a friends too.

Found a couple of paint/rust bubbles after only 3 years! One on the sun roof metal rim and the other under the window sill on the boot. My 1992 Panda was painted with more care!

General Comments:

Very fast 0-40 for a 1.1 Engine. Gear ratios are close for pulling away from lights. Miles better than the other 2 1.1 cars I've owned.

More room in the back for rear passengers that my pops Audi TT. Sacrificed boot space to do it though, but it's much bigger than a minis.

Cheap to run. Cost me just £19 to fill up and it last 3 weeks at about 14 miles per work day.

Faults:

I've had my car eight months a lot of things have gone wrong, it's needed new brakes.

It needed the computer system to be reprogrammed as my car somehow immobilised itself.

My head gasket went because my radiator was not functioning properly.

It breaks down after I've picked it up from the garage due to the compression not working.

My car needs new tyres as they are balding.

My car needs a new cam shaft all in the space of 8 months.

My car is still under warranty luckily, but I've had to pay for some of the things that are not covered by the warranty.

General Comments:

I love my little car to pieces, it is a perfect first car as it is small, this car is seriously quick at pulling away at traffic lights.

It's a great little car and it looks good with the body kit on.

I do believe I just got a lot of bad luck with it as it's been to the garage 5 times in the last 8 months so on average that's once every 2 months.

The seats are very comfortable and they look sporty.

There's not a lot of leg room for the passengers who have to sit in the back of the car.

The fuel consumpsion is good and is quite cheap.

Faults:

The front wheels needed to be tracked & balanced every 2000 miles.

The fit & finish is woeful, even at this money.

The paint is prone to scratches & some of it has flaked off.

The dealers are helpful in selling you the car & don't care less afterwards.

My car's sunroof has started to rust.

I replaced the factory fit stereo as it was pitiful with poor reception & two measly speakers.

General Comments:

This car is well equipped & surprisingly comfortable for the money.

It lacks street credibility & Fiat does have a poor name come resale time.

The handling is only OK. It's safe & easy to drive, but it rolls too much in corners.

The power steering is well weighted but vague.

The dash is well made & attractive.

The seats are supportive & very comfortable.

The gearbox & the brakes are only fit for the skip.

I really can't complain as it goes on the promise of petrol, has been comfortable & has never failed to complete its journey.

Faults:

One of the front wheels needed balancing not long after picking it up, curing the judder at 70mph+.

A piece of tape has come loose inside the rear brakelight housing.

Windscreen wipers misaligned by about an inch.

General Comments:

A brilliant small car, which is hilarious to drive, quick enough (remembering it's a 1.1), and very neatly packaged.

Downsides? A bit small, gets lots of looks on the motorway (still), rides a bit rough, and the orange stripes are a little OTT.