Faults:

The clutch is slipping slightly as I drive along, but I think that maybe down to the other driver, as she does ride the clutch. The engine does need to be re-tuned, to gain maximum fuel value, but over all the fuel consumption is not that bad, it will probably be amazing when I take it to be re-tuned. When I purchased the car I had the full service history and the repairs were nothing serious, two of which were complimentary, the problem about the electric windows and children getting their heads stuck in the windows as it closed on them. but there have been no problems and the last owner was an elderly lady who drove it 3 miles every weekday.

General Comments:

I'm only a student and all my friends have 1.1's and I think the highest one of them has is a 1.4 so I'm proud to be driving the biggest sized engine, silly I know, but still worth being proud of.

The car does have a mean acceleration and has a nice purr to it when forced.

When I was learning my mum borrowed my car and she took it up to 96 mph without realizing, this is a problem as you don't have a needle dial, the digital dial can make you speed without realizing.

The interior is lovely, apart from the dashboard, but never the less it has beautiful seats and so much leg room its unbelievable, its like being in a BMW, but in actual fact a small hatch back.

The stereo is a bit poor, but I changed it anyway and the speakers have improved a hell of a lot since then.

Faults:

Where to start! First off, the radiator sprung a leak.

The speedometer had a tendency, regardless of actual speed, to zoom up to 130+ MPH, and stay there - piling hundreds of extra miles on the clock.

Engine mountings are extremely weak, leading too many an exhaust front pipe/manifold being destroyed by excess vibrations.

Rear tail wiper seized completely, after the rear washer had stopped working.

General Comments:

Well, to be honest, I love this car. Mainly because it is my first one, yes - but at the same time, I cannot help, but enjoy the go-kart-esque handling, the excellent range of 4th gear, and decent top speed for a 1372cc non-injection engine.

The space on the inside is legendary. In fact I am sure that there can't be that many cars around that are so big on the inside, for how compact they are from the outside.

The gearbox is quite iffy, with the distinctly annoying trait of wantonly popping out of third gear, plus utilising the synchromesh to get to reverse gets a bit annoying after a while (place in neutral, pick up clutch, depress clutch, place in first, place in reverse).

Having said all this, it's really fun to drive at it's limits - and thanks to the small engine size, isn't that much faster than the speed limit!

Faults:

Digital dashboard failed - they're expensive, but can still be sourced through scrapyards (check not just sender unit (much cheaper) rather than faulty display).

Starter motor solenoid.

Front calipers seized.

All locks inoperable other than drivers door.

Leak in spare tyre well.

General Comments:

Lackluster carb response, and any incline requires an effort to stay at motorway speeds.

Quirky digital dashboard, but amusing in the dark - particularly useful to know exact speed given number of speed cameras in the UK!

Excellent road handling for an old car, comfortable and hardwearing interior.

Very economical if driven sensibly, averaging 42mpg at 70, push it to 80mph and it tumbles 30mpg.