Faults:

Minor body cancer here and there. THE HEATER TAKES FOREVER TO WARM UP.

General Comments:

Honestly a very fun car to have here in the states. I parked my supra bi-turbo and purchased this car. the car is extremely rare here in the states plus it being right hand steer makes it all the more unique. the car is very basic. absolutely no bells or whistles. better suited for side street driving. I think driving her past 60 is a little too sTrenuous. the fuel economy is very good. one fault is the heater takes forever to warm up, but the car is almost older than myself. I would also hate to see the outcome of an accident. here in the states everyone like to drive large trucks and ute's.

Faults:

Alternator has failed.

Due to alternator failing, battery has run down.

General Comments:

The Derby is a very comfortable car to drive, the low seating position and large steering wheel make it easy to drive and comfortable.

The looks of the care are beautiful. Everywhere it goes it turns heads.

The interior is very basic, but it has all the right features, including wooden style dash, rev counter and digital clock (baring in mind this is a 23 year old car that's practically state of the art!)

Handling is a bit scary on the original tyres as they are a very thin in width. This is easily sorted by buying new wider wheels when it comes to tire renewal time.

Boot is huge, you could store a few bodies in there.

Rust is a major problem with Derby's or in fact with an Volkswagen of this age, but it is mostly surface rust as the metals used were of a high grade and therefore were less susceptible to car cancer.

Faults:

The main problem was overheating, I was told that this was common with VW alloy engines such as the 1.3 unit fitted to the Derby.

The headlights were also terribly weak - a friend that also owned a Derby suffered the same problem, he fitted uprated bulbs, although I don't think these were legal.

During the final year of ownership I used the car relatively little and reliability suffered as a result.

General Comments:

For a small car it was quite good over longish distances due to an engine that was reasonably lively and very good front seats. I regularly made a trip from Birmingham to Plymouth (UK) without problems either from the car or from my body.

The controls all worked well, precisely and with a degree of solidity not present in other small cars I have driven. It was also a decent drive along country roads being agile and responsive to the throttle, although you wouldn't win any hill climbs in one!

Room in, and access to, the back seats is restrictive, but the boot was a decent size and it was OK on petrol.

Faults:

I have merely changed the dynamo. That's all.

General Comments:

This is a most beautiful, sympathetic, nice, economically clever car! I simply love it! And I have been a Derby-owner for two years now. I would want no other car!