Faults:
When I first got the car, the exhaust was rattling when you started the car moving off - sounded a lot like it was scraping on the ground (dealer replaced under warranty with no problems)
Drivers electric window gearbox started to die, it would go down, but not back up again (again dealer replaced with no problems under warranty)
Plastic trim in the boot lining is starting to move around a little bit - but again that is more my own fault really for not securing that gas bottle...
General Comments:
The Car is quite zippy - being it is the 3 door hatch model and accelerates very well.
Stopping power is very good, feels like it just throws out the anchors and hauls itself up - constantly, predictably and reliably.
Handles well - even at high speeds it still feels like it is planted on the road firmly.
I have a tiny bit of difficulty with the clutch, but that is driver error (read: lack of skill) as my mates have no problems at all with it. When changing gears "casually" people in the car tend to feel the gear change more, but when I'm really giving the car a lot of poke she changes very smooth!
The engine likes to rev too and it has a very usable power band - you can rev it for the cool factor and rev it to use the power too.
A great little car in shopping center car parks too.
I found it to be extremely efficient to drive as well, and I drive in a very lead-foot style too.
7th Jun 2006, 17:47
Don't know how you are getting 50+ mpg with yours -- best I ever got on my '99 was 34 mpg.
Better look at getting your timing belt replaced soon -- if it breaks while the car is running, your engine is toast.