Faults:

The carburetor had 2 broken diaphragms; changed the whole carb and it's like nothing ever happened.

Rear bearing is worn out, makes a bit of sound, but still rolls fine with no effect on fuel consumption.

Gear lever goes all over the place, but the gears still engage like a dream.

General Comments:

I have driven many cars and each have their own special thing. But this car just manages to satisfy the most important things you want and expect from a car.

For one, it is small and can be parked almost anywhere. Although small, the interior is surprisingly big, especially in the back. It lacks a bit of boot space, but I always managed to fit everything in it, whether if it's a BBQ, a picnic table, or a PC desk, you name it!

The fuel economy is incredible considering how old it is and how heavy it is. It weighs about 900 kg, which is a bit heavy for its size compared to other small cars. I manage to get 40+ MPG out of it normal driving, and 35 MPG driving like a mad man!

It is one of the most reliable cars I have ever seen, and if you know how to tinker around and have a little background with cars, you will always find a way to do a quick fix to keep it going, and it will never ever leave you stranded (unless heavy damage is done).

With many of these cars still around, I would suggest buying used parts, as you will find them much cheaper than new.

The engine runs cool and rarely you will find one that overheats. If it does overheat though, it will likely throw the head gasket (I was lucky when it overheated, because after I let it cool, I put some water back into the radiator and it started back up like nothing ever happened).

When driving you will think that it has power steering (and it doesn't).

Very powerful brakes that will scrape the tarmac off the road with little pressure to the brake pedal.

Rapid acceleration that gets to 100km/h in 14 seconds (pretty sweet for a 3-cylinder).

Faults:

Steering system needed rebuilding.

Doesn't like to engage 2nd gear.

General Comments:

Car is amazingly fast, can overtake easily.

Power is amazing going up hills.

Parking & handling very very good.

It's survived 18 years of Maltese potholes!!

Absolutely EVERYTHING still works.

Lots of things come as standard eg. cigarette lighter, rev gauge etc.

Faults:

Carburetor gave severe problems at about 70,000km and 100,000km.

CV Joints needed replacement at 115,000km.

Seats are severely uncomfortable.

General Comments:

I've owned this car for three years now, and the more time passes, the more it continues to surprise me.

The ride has its flaws, especially on Maltese roads, which are worse than the moon's craters... so this problem is justified.

Handling is very good, considering its high center of gravity and aerodynamics. It is not and will never be compared to an Alfa, but at the end of the day it is not an Alfa..

The cabin has a conservative Japanese signature, especially the AM Radio which comes standard. Tuning the latter is very distracting while driving. On the other hand, dials are clear and easy to read. The rev counter comes standard on this model.

The engine itself is a workhorse. If given the right services at the right time, it will definitely last more than 150,000km without giving a penny of trouble. It's fascinating how the scream turns into a roar when revving over 4000rpm, especially on the third gear.

Performance is a strong point, taking into consideration its little 997cc engine. In the city it is able to give the power needed when requested, but obviously it's far from adequate on a highway.

After-sales, in my opinion, is Subaru's only turn-down.