Faults:

Brake pads / tyres (standard wear and tear).

Three batteries.

Clutch at 90000.

Gearbox at 112000 (a rarity apparently).

Not very much at all for several years of regular heavy use.

General Comments:

This car is basically indestructible from what I can tell. I have used it a LOT for a LONG TIME without anything like the problems I've had with more expensive, nicer looking and feature-laden cars.

Admittedly, it's a bit weird looking. If you cut the car in half and compared the front to the back, you probably wouldn't match the two. But the boot's spacious, the hatchback 5 seater I've got allows for trebling of the boot space with the folding back seats, and it's practical for moving stuff / people. The interior's cheap and plasticky, and the fabric's not great. It's bland and inoffensive to drive, without much pickup.

But the bottom line is this car is reliable like a rock, doesn't break down, regardless of how hard you drive it, and costs very little to keep going. Which is all you REALLY need a car for, isn't it?

Faults:

Clutch master cylinder leak; just topping it up for now, but will be done soon.

Driver's seat belt, when over extended, doesn't retract; mildly annoying.

Slight shaking on braking, due to worn front brake disks.

General Comments:

It's a better drive than my Lexus Ls400, if not as responsive as the Renault, and whilst a bit sluggish to get moving, cruises nicely at motorway speeds.

It's comfortable, and doesn't feel as small as it is.

Trim, seat, dash materials, trim and overall build is as good as my old Lexus, and light years better than my 2003 Renault Scenic.

Boot space is at a premium, and as the seat bases don't slide, and the seat backs are inclined, I have to have the rear seat backs unlatched, tilted forwards, so the dogs aren't pinned to the glass.

Feels a bit clunky until it warms up, which is probably the miles on it.

Very reliable so far, even in the sub zero weather we recently had, and I don't worry about it, unlike the Scenic.

Even the air con still works, as do the electric windows, remote central locking, sunroof, and alarm system.

Bargain for £550, especially as it had already had a new clutch and timing belt.

I admit it's a boring car, but it's 3 door, red, with funky Wolfrace alloys, and looks good in a generic way, and much, much better than the 5 door models.

I get 36 MPG (Imperial) at mostly motorway speeds, and find the handling safe and secure.

I can't think of another car I'd prefer sub £1000, that would be as good as this overall.