Faults:

Non-critical electronic problems such as failures in the electric parking brake, door locks, ignition card and sensors.

The 2.0 dCi engine is generally reliable, but it can suffer from injector failures and overheating. Extra caution is needed on excessively hot days to avoid overheating.

This is the only problematic aspect of the engine.

Progressive wear on the suspension and power steering producing an unpleasant squeaking noise.

It is essential to perform rigorous maintenance, especially changing the oil and filters to protect the turbo and injectors.

General Comments:

With proper care, the car is absolutely reliable and durable; proof of this is that mine has over 200,000 kilometers on it without any serious mechanical problems.

Comfort and safety are the main virtues of this car; it's made for that, and you feel it the moment you drive it in any type of terrain. The Laguna has a five-star crashing rating and is well equipped. It has that polished European flare that will appeal to buyers looking for something different from the mainstream Japanese products.

The Expression get the full complement of safety gear from electronic stability control and traction control, eight airbags, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers, front and rear foglights, cruise control with speed limiter, automatic parking brake, 16-inch alloys, leather steering wheel and gear knob, rear side sunblinds, dual-zone climate control with carbon and odour filter, heated door mirrors, cloth upholstery and a single CD player with MP3 compatibility and satellite audio controls.

The ride is an exquisite pleasure, the seats are leather and super comfortable, you'll feel like you're in an airplane whether you're driving or a passenger.

In keeping with its French credentials, the Laguna has a plush, supple ride and quiet, lavishly equipped, high-quality cabin. However, the soft suspension comes at the expense of some damper control.

As for the 2.0 dCi Turbo diesel engine, I have nothing but good things to say. It's as smooth and quiet as any petrol engine, and it's also light and fast. It's a faster car than my previous Falcon Forte, which had a gasoline engine twice the size. The engine runs like the first day (had it since new) and it's also quite economical, only 7l/100km (maybe that's a lot nowadays, but for an automatic car it's not too much).

For the moment, I'm extremely happy with the car and I don't plan on changing it. Besides, nobody wants a diesel with more than 200,000 km, so I'm going to continue enjoying it for a long time.

Faults:

* The car has three horns and only one works (the one on the end of the left hand side indicator).

* The air conditioning is very weak (I think there is gunk, old leaves etc blocking it up, or it needs to be re gassed).

* Fuel gauge is faulty (this is not a problem, as on the digital display it tells you how many more KM you are able to cover on the remaining petrol).

* The temperature gauge is faulty (this is not an issue, as if the car were to overheat, a light would appear on the dash board).

General Comments:

WOW! An exceptional vehicle with such low kilometres for just $1,150 NZD. This car totally outclasses its rivals.

The ride (like most French cars) is smooth and comfortable, as if you're floating on a cloud, and the performance is very good considering the engine size. The car can easily overtake other vehicles with little effort.

I actually buy and sell vehicles (I am a student and have a passion for European cars). This is my first, and I am very impressed. The car has already been sold, but I would buy another one tomorrow. There is virtually no wear in the interior; I think that the car has held up extremely well considering the age.

The model I had was the 2.0 RXE. This model shares the same reliable engine as the VOLVO S40 2.0 and the VOLVO 850 2.0; a unit renowned for excellent reliability.

All in all, it is a very nice cheap vehicle, which provides owners with a comfortable ride and excellent reliability. I highly recommend this car!