Faults:

Fuel filter head has a crack, and would draw air in, meaning a bit of churning in the morning.

Needed a tyre and an air filter.

Heater control panel fell off.

Usual flimsy AX construction.

General Comments:

This is probably the shortest review I've written. Firstly, let me say I am an AX aficionado, I've owned four of them and they really are awesome little cars; no frills transport for those not obsessed with fashion, with enough Citroen-esque quirks to give some character.

The AX Diesel certainly has character, you'll either love it or hate it. Take the lightest, flimsiest old supermini about, then stick a heavy cast iron block diesel engine in it, without the benefit of PAS, it gives distinctly heavy steering, but it works well enough.

The main advantage of the diesel engine is the economy and added torque over the usual 954cc petrol models, I can't comment on the 1100cc ones, and the 1360cc AX's are a different animal altogether, but the 1.5 diesel comfortably outperforms the 1.0 on the road and at the pumps. Although I have read ridiculous claims of over 70mpg, my one never bettered 58ish on a run. Saying that, it was an average of over 50mpg in all driving, so I couldn't really complain. It had low insurance grouping, used the cheapest tyres you could get your hands on, and was only marginally more expensive to run than a moped.

I can't really think of any bad points, the car was utterly reliable in the time I owned it, although the chap I sold it to, who still has it 3 years later, swapped the back axle for a Saxo one, and it needed a new steering column for some reason. It's basically a tin box on wheels with an engine, but it's hard to dislike a car with wine bottle holders in the doors. I suppose the Saxo and 106, which are mechanically identical, are a bit more refined, but for cheap basic motoring with a bit of charm, it's hard to beat the AX.

Faults:

Needed new brushes for the alternator at 105,000.

General Comments:

I have had this car well over a year now, it's my first car and I am so impressed with it. This car has broken down just once, and it waited until I got it back on the drive (quite kind of it, I thought) This was just the brushes on the alternator (my partner's brother also had an AX and he said the only problem was the alternator, so maybe this is a universal AX thing).

It's very nippy for a 1.0i, but then again the back end is made from fibreglass (so don't try to stick your P Plates on, because they won't).

It's very fast off of the mark, but then tends to lag at 30, but once you're past the 50mph mark it gets into its own. Best driven between 56-65mph, but will do up to 96mph.

Very eco-friendly; mine gets a 44-47mpg average. If you're trying to get the most mpg out of an AX, then I advise driving at 55-60mph whilst in the nationals as my AX's petrol consumption does not seem to like 70 much.

My only dislike is the back seats, there's not much leg room, but seeing as I only have passengers once a week, it's not a big issue for me.

What can I say, I love my AX, it's never let me down and has been very in-expensive.

My partner drives a 2.0HDI Xantia and he loves driving my car, it has a raw feel to it and the engine has quite a grunt. I live near the Derbyshire Dales and it just powers up the steep hills; it just does not give up.

Excellent 1st time car!