Faults:

Alternator packed up - a cheap replacement is the Rover K-series 1.8 alternator. It fits straight in, and just needs the adjuster bar lengthened, and works 100%.

Crank pulley separated - the alternator pulley is compressed onto the tapered crank pulley with a rubber insert. This came loose and had to be replaced.

Rust claimed the car - front subframe, rear arches, front corners of boot, cockpit floors has huge holes, sills had completely gone.

General Comments:

Superb car, with impeccable handling and reliability. MPG is excellent (40mpg), and I couldn't fault the car one bit.

The car is a motoring journalists favourite, but I really hate to agree. It feels excellent to drive, the driving position is brilliant and is the large seats are very comfortable - the interior trim feels solid, and the pillar-less doors close with a satisfying, quality sounding thud. Gear change is easy due to the gear stick being inches from the steering wheel. I don't subscribe to the 'driver's car' statement, but this is pure driving fun.

It's practical enough to carry a decent amount of shopping in the boot.

I'd have another one in a shot, but it'd have to be rust free. These weren't rust proofed very well, or at all.

Faults:

Faultless.

General Comments:

Rare, rapid, blown 1600 engine provides terrific torque and power for 1600cc. Add a Mongoose exhaust and you have 155bhp+, 155ftlbs torque minimum.

Corners on rails.

T-tops off, and it's a convertible.

Disturbs Honda Civic Type R's, even though it's 18 years old.

Add an 180mm pulley for up to 180bhp and 180ftlbs torque+.

Excellentm and all for £2500.

Beat that...

Faults:

Two new front shocks (they failed inspection due to being worn/leaking).

All rubber bushes replaced on rear suspension arms (This got rid of the annoying noises)

New clutch (was getting stiff and hard to press down).

General Comments:

This is the most fun car I've ever owned, which is saying a lot, as I have had over 20 cars, my other car is a 1996 Subaru WRX, but I find this car a lot more fun to drive, its not that fast in a straight line, but around corners its simply unbeatable compared to other cars in the same price range.

The Supercharger makes the car very responsive, theres no Lag, its got instant power straight off the line, also the instant power is handy for corner exits.

On the straight roads most VTEC Hondas etc are faster, however not one has been able to keep up with me once there are some tight corners in the equation, they end up dropping back out of view in my mirror.

Only gripe is that Wind Noise becomes annoying at speed (over 100km per hour) probably due to worn rubber around the drivers side window. (it's an 18 year old car)

When buying one of these cars, try and find one with a good service history, avoid modified examples that have been thrashed to near death.

What ever you do, don't buy budget tyres, you need at least Bridgestone Potenza GIII's to get the most out of it.

I am very lucky as my car has only had one previous owner, who got it serviced every 5000ks from new. there is over $10,000NZD of receipts for the last 10 years alone.

In my opinion I have one of the the best ones in New Zealand.