Faults:

Didn't start one day, due to the fact the previous owner hadn't put the earth on the battery properly. Simple fix.

Lots of clonking from the front suspension. I am going to get it checked out - lots of torque steer when accelerating lightly, so something is not right.

Brakes not brilliant, but do the job okay - it is a large car after all.

General Comments:

Starts first time. Idles great. No excessive smoke. Cruises at 80mph @ 3000rpm and returns approx 55mpg. Handles quite well for a large car. Very powerful feeling from 60-90mph.

Mine is the estate, and it's got tons of boot space.

Don't like the seats much, they're quite bucket-like, which is annoying. Might swap them out for older style seats, which are flatter and softer.

Paintwork was a mess due to lack of care from previous owners. No rust as it's galvanised, but lots of scratches. I have painted the car with a roller, and looks much better hehe.

Hoping to keep it another year and see if I can get it to 300k on the clock - will be the highest mileage car I've ever owned. Brilliant!

Faults:

Clutch went out at 150k, poor driving.

Blew gasket at 170k.

Damaged sump at 180k (aluminum sumps don't do too well on Kenyan rocks), the car at was never the same even with repairs.

Door handles a bit fickle... French design.

Lights...had to replace at 140k.

Electronics and electricals a bit fickle, mostly due to age and shock.

The stepper motor system is not the best design.

The Pug drive stick requires Van Damme to use, a softer Japanese type would be desirable.

General Comments:

The 405SRi is an fuel efficient, fast machine, with lots of comfort. It is best for intercity travel, does not do too well in rough road sections (if you travel in Kenya you will know what I mean by rough) due to its weight, which tends to affect things.

It handles pretty well for a front drive car. The fuel injection system was able to achieve 13km/litre, which is quite decent for the engine size (2lt) and age.

The trick is to get a Haynes Maintenance Manual, service it more frequently than proposed by the manufacturer and urban and semi-urban transport. Finally fiddle with the water cooling system to have the fans run all the time at slow speed, that will ensure the engine remains cool at all times.

Faults:

Battery went flat, although that was purely because I ran out of diesel and accidentally left the flashers on for hours! So not really the fault of the car...

General Comments:

I bought this car for £295 as a short term measure, after my Renault Laguna didn't so much fail its MOT, as wipe it's rear on the certificate, and it proved to be the best car I've ever owned. I kept expecting it to break down, and yet it ploughed on and on and on, and returned 50+ mpg every time.

The body work was poor (it was 13 years old when I got it), but mechanically it was superb, and never gave me a moment's trouble (other than the self inflicted one with the fuel and battery). Alright, interior wise, it was quite poor. It may have been registered in 1996, but the design was introduced in 1988, and you could tell (much to the amusement of my brother when he saw it), but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one!

I now have an MG ZT-T, but felt a little guilty giving up my car when it had done nothing wrong! I couldn't help but think of 'Boxer' in 'Animal Farm' when I traded it in, knowing full well it would probably be scrapped!