Faults:

CV gators & brake disks all needed replacing when first acquired. (£150-odd)

Cam belt done at 77k (£100-odd)

Speedometer stopped working at 78k, required three different garages to examine and eventually fix. (£50)

Dashboard 'light are on' indicator bulb gone. (unfixed)

Glow plugs had to be replaced at 81k. (£cheap)

Battery replaced at 82k. (£60-odd)

Radiator had two huge holes and needed replacement at 84k. (£200-odd)

Fuel pump (!) replaced at 85k.. symptoms erratic revs at idle, random stopped stalling, failure to start properly even after turned over. (£400)

Power steering column just gone, leaked everywhere, clacking noise sounding in engine, as yet undiagnosed. (£probably a lot)

Rear, driver side speaker gone at 86k. (unfixed)

Starting is *terrible*.. was turning over v. badly before. Better since fuel pump mended, but now sometimes doesn't turn over at all...

General Comments:

Well.. it's cost me so much money now that I'm starting to feel sick about this particular car. I think I've managed to spend more than its value.

Handling is wonderful - except on very tight corners, at high speed in the wet (so basically excellent). Inspires confidence.

Top speed is reasonable given the law, acceleration is very brisk from 1st through to 3rd gear. Needs to be worked for best performance, but definitely nippy (92bhp, but feels like more)

The dashboard is very well laid out and looks good... everything is easy to find and use.

Seats are reasonably comfortable, even for extended periods. Fine for long-legged drivers.

Basic equipment on SL model is lacking, but less to go wrong I suppose (no e/w, but pas and e/s, no fancy bits really).

Boot on this one is smaller than hatchback (SLDT is a 4-door Saloon), but I've found it pretty spacious. Plenty of room in the back too, given the size.

Love the car, just wish it didn't go wrong CONSTANTLY. Never ever ever ever get one without a *full* service history. Trust me.

And the main dealer garages really are a rip-off. Don't bother trying to find cheap servicing and repairs - it's never cheap with this car. Forget DIY too.

Faults:

The alarm system broke and left the left indicator lights permanently on shorty after I bought the car. The Franchised dealership I recently bought the car from a Franchised dealership (Richard Hardie, Hebburn, Tyne & Wear). The whole unit had to be replaced at my expense (£275) as it wasn't covered by the dealer warranty.

Shortly after the rear break drums went, this was partially covered by the warranty, but I still had to cough up a couple of hundred pounds for the bits that were not covered by the warranty.

Shortly before selling the car on the new alarm broke, but did not render the vehicle unusable like the first alarm.

General Comments:

The dealership gave zero after sales care and did not care once the car was driven off the forecourt.

The car was uncomfortable to drive due to the tight fitting cheap 'sports seats'.

It was slower than its looks hinted.

Faults:

Power steering fluid leaks when steering is held on full lock.

General Comments:

For the size of the car and engine it is very slow, even my old bigger car with a smaller engined was faster. I've even been overtaken by a standard Vaxhaul Nova 1.4 Sri!

Handling is OK for a standard car, but nothing special. There are a lot of better handling cars for much less money.