Faults:

Cold starting issues.

Alternator fault.

Water leaks.

Interior is fragile.

General Comments:

This little car served me well, all said and done. The alternator failed in the summer I bought her as my first car. It was scrap yard fix, so cost next to nothing.

For the whole summer she ran perfectly. Didn't even need to use the choke in the mornings; if I did, she wouldn't start.

The driving experience was entertaining. Handling first off was soft and a bit bouncy, thought the shocks needed replacing, but they were fine. Everything inside worked as it should, although it had a feel that it wouldn't for long... although nothing inside ever broke. The tailgate seal leaked no matter what I did.

When the weather started to become less favourable, she then started having a strop on the mornings. Full choke and a fair bit of coughing and spluttering. You couldn't leave her running and de-frost without her cutting out at least twice. So I found a way of balancing the choke and getting her to behave, and she normally did, and apart from coughing up the road for a mile or two, once warmed up she was fine. Good job too, because it's hilly here, and she hated hills when cold.

Never let me down, despite all the protests in the mornings.

Gertrude was a great car, and I'd have another one just like her.

Faults:

Injection pump went.

That's it!

General Comments:

Superb little car.

I bought it, then decided to break it as it wouldn't be worth going to the trouble of changing the pump and cambelt etc.

Made £250 off it.

Superb car, I recommend it.

These engines go on forever!

Faults:

When I first got the car I had to replace both CV joints.

It's blown 3 brake relay switches (sorted now though)

General Comments:

The 1.4 GT is a quick car for its engine size, with good throttle response giving it good acceleration.

This car has stiff suspension, so it handles itself extremely well through the bends.

Inside the car is very comfortable, but does not have the most desirable patterned material.

General Comments:

Seats after 11 years have molded around my body and are as comfy as can be.

She's like an old friend, never lets me down.

Sails through her MOT every year without problems.

Faults:

Alternator, brake discs, and normal wear & tear.

New radiator 2000

X1 new battery since 1993!

General Comments:

Totally reliable. however, the car had full service history when I bought it, and I've had it regularly serviced since.

Fantastic MPG. 400 miles to the tank is the norm.

Happy on the motorways for hours on end.

Faults:

Only the passenger side drive-shaft.

Sunroof seal leaked.

Drivers door seal leaked.

Passenger door had a dodgy lock. (Sometimes would not unlock)

General Comments:

Great car! It was my first car for when I passed my test and I loved it to bits.

It is very light and very quick.

My best friend has a Saxo VTR and my Pug wasn't far behind.

It has amazing handling.

Easy to wheelspin too, but gets the power down quite quickly.

The acceleration was good, liked being revved!

Easy to install a sound system too. But it does rattle quite a bit.

I only tried top speed once and that wasn't ideal.

It was wet, I had my full sound system installed (sub etc.) with 4 adults in the car and it was full of shopping!

I got 108mph and it wasn't struggling, so I was very pleased with that!

It was quite a thirsty beast, but I did flog it quite a bit.

The interior is basically a cloth version of the GTI one.

Very comfy, very supportive (better than my mates VTR) and the driving position is the best I've had, it was gorgeous to drive!

The back-end is very light so take it easy on the fast swooping corners, especially in the wet as I found out one night!

Overall I would recommend this car to anyone, I'm even thinking of selling my Suzuki Swift GTI to buy another!