Faults:
Front shock mounts had lifted slightly - this can be cured by getting a 3mm thick one and a half inch washer machined to fit under the metal collar to take up the play. About £5-10 the pair instead of £32 per kit and needing to dis-assemble the unit. Can be fitted with car still on the road. Doesn't affect handling at all.
Clutch is badly worn - but I don't know how long it has been in there.
Thermo-switch for radiator fans has failed - temporarily bridged by 2 core cable and a manual switch on the centre console.
Noisy heater fan - easily removed and disassembled/cleaned. Brushes only worn over half their area so turned them upside down.
Steering rack damper section failed after hitting a pothole - new rack was quite expensive at £80 exchange.
Eats front drive-shaft gaiters - car has had 5 drive-shafts (not all one side) in the last 6 years. (Known as car bought from friend and had a stack of bills with it too).
General Comments:
Ultra reliable - only let me down once when the alternator belt failed.
Normal mixed driving, most runs under 2 miles or over 10 gets me about 58 mpg. Never seen less than 50 and long motorway cruise at 60 has seen 70+ mpg.
Ventilation is poor and noisy with the fan at standstill/low speed, but is good at high speed and the heater is good.
Tilting glass sunroof can leak, but this can be cured while leaving it usable with a couple of pounds worth of p-section draught excluder strip placed around the rubber seal (not on the glass).
Seats are supportive and comfortable up to about 200 miles, beyond that I get a little stiff.
Handling is very stable yet nimble, though hard cornering does scuff the front tyres a lot.
Doesn't complain at being loaded with 5 people and luggage, though it does struggle to give much performance then.
Don't like the temperamental bottom quarter of the fuel guage - it tells you empty when there is still a good 1 or 2 gallons left in there.
5th Feb 2006, 08:43
Update - early 2006 and I will be getting rid of the car soon. At 183000+ miles it is getting too tired. Problems now are-
Steering becoming a bit vague - probably worn bushes.
Clutch completely worn out.
Differential bearing has been noisy for a while, but is getting worse.
Door locks getting very temperamental.
Brake discs worn out.
Handbrake cable snapped.
Alternator failed (£15 for a second hand one)
Starter motor bearings failed and seized it (£25 for a second hand one)
Basically still a reasonable old banger, but will cost more than it is worth to me to get it through another MOT test. Also feeling too noisy and vague on the motorway. Still been fantastic car for the money though. Am considering updating to a 106 diesel as it's replacement though!