Faults:

I had a persistent water leak into the front passenger foot well which it took several checks to reveal was a faulty weld near the offside wing.

After 70,000 miles The engine would cut out during acceleration. This was a faulty unit that measured airflow for the fuel injection system.

After 96,000 miles the engine cut out during acceleration due to prematurely worn HT leads and plugs. The garage said this was a common fault.

General Comments:

The cabin and load area are both very roomy.

After 97,000 miles the drivers seat is sagging a bit.

Overall it has been reliable and cruises well at 75-80mph.

Fully laden with 5 people, luggage and with windsurfers on the roof it does about 30mpg on long journeys.

The air conditioning is just about powerful enough for British summers whilst the heated windscreen is very useful on frosty winter mornings.

It should have many miles left so if properly serviced and not thrashed it should be a good second hand buy. Not sure they are worth the money new.

Faults:

Starter motor beginning to wear out - it either refuses to crank the engine or does not release from the ring gear causing a loud screeching when the engine fires.

'Exhaust gas recirculation valve' broken causing engine to "kangaroo" under gentle throttle.

Headlamp lenses discoloured and failed MOT due to too faint a beam pattern.

Exhaust system (twice)

Front wheel bearings failed (twice)

Paint peeling off bumpers (OK, where I hit things)

Alarm doesn't arm.

Lambda sensor (DIY - £60 from Halfords)

General Comments:

Drinks petrol very heavily, especially around town.

Common as muck, but decently comfortable and smooth on long journeys.

However the more basic models' front seat lack support; and sag after a few years.

Drill holes in the bottom of the induction air box using a hole cutter, beneath the panel filter - it makes the car feel usefully pokier when given some beans - and sounds throaty too!

Faults:

The alternator packed up shortly after purchase.

General Comments:

The car can be slow to pull away from standstill, but a few seconds later when the turbo cuts in it soon picks up its feet. Its no slouch on the motorway either. It will cruise at 80 and still have room for a quick spurt of speed if needed. The car is also surprisingly quiet for a diesel.

The car is very roomy, seating 5 very comfortably. The load space is spacious, even before the seats are lowered.

Faults:

The wishbone bushes have gone three times.

The big rubber hose on the left of the engine keeps working it's way off.

The great big plastic piece of plastic on the bottom of the engine literally fell off.

The paint-work. Rust after 7 years!

Paint peels off the bumpers.

General Comments:

Although the car is a bit tacky and things fall off and seem to be held together by rubber bands and sticky tape, the engine is up to 190000 miles and still runs well.

The tracking and wishbone bushes cause me constant grief, but for a bit over a thousand you can be in a nice big comfortable car.

Oh yes, it looks nice too.

Faults:

Tie bone went on the way home from buying the car!

Have noticed a leak into the passenger's foot-well.

General Comments:

Engine sounds like a diesel.

Has almost no overtaking power. The Metro was better (1.4 GTa).

Holds the road extremely well.

It loves the motorway, puts almost every other car to shame!

Lovely gearbox (better than the Metro anyway).

Looks classy.

The small steering wheel gives a good race car feel!

Excellent driving position.

Well equipped for a basic model (electric windows, sunroof, power steering, ABS, lots of dials).

Fuel economy is good.

Performs well even though my history tells me it hasn't been serviced for 32,000 miles!