Faults:

Experienced no problems.

General Comments:

Car is a rental I drove in Italy. I requested a station wagon, paying for a VW Golf wagon. Knew I'd probably get something else, but Croma was a surprise. It's better (and bigger) than Golf, Focus, or Opel Astra.

Very high-tech vehicle.

Comfortable interior and fun to drive.

Station wagon: has ample luggage space.

Turbo diesel model I drove was quick enough and economical.

If they sold something like this in the U.S., I would be interested in one.

Faults:

Problem with transmission, not too expensive.

I've got to replace petrol pump last year.

Several small problems with electronics. Not a big deal.

General Comments:

When you buy Croma you get a comfortable and fast car for really little money.

Holding the road is great, acceleration even better (Fantastic acceleration with only 118hp! You should try it!)

In my opinion, better then most of modern car even is 13 years old.

This is a car that it should be.

Faults:

I got the car from my parents, who bought it new. After the registration of the valves in the garage at 60.000 km, they started a trip to Italy. After two hundred km the engine blew because all the oil had been squeezed out of the O-rings between cylinders and head: The apprentice in the garage had tightened the bolts that hold together the two parts too much, so three of the four (I think) broke. Result: new engine and my father didn't trust the car (and garage) any more...

Recently (194000 km) the car started choking. My garage changed all the cables and ignition system for a lot of money. Only after a second trip to the garage they found out that the previous garage had mounted wrong spark plugs 5000 km ago.

It started to get wet inside after rain, but I managed to seal the front and rear window with silicone. The rear door still lets some moisture in after heavy rain.

General Comments:

Great car for a family (lots of room), even though it's not really a nice design. It started to get a little rusty lately, no wonder with the Munich winters with the salt on the roads. But I must admit I have neglected the wheelhouse and floor-panels in the last few years as I thought the whole car would not last that long. But it has proven to be a pretty reliable car even in wet or cold periods. The maintenance is not more expensive than for any other car, brakes, exhaust-pipes, nothing unusual. Needs quite a bit of oil though.

Faults:

Nothing major went wrong, apart from a leaking front shock and a worn clutch at 170 000 km. Seems normal for this kind of power.

General Comments:

Extremely fast, 0-100 in a mere 7 seconds, roomy and very reliable. Blows away all kinds of GTI's and the like with just 158 HP. Amazingly light-weight - kerb weight 1180 kg, although it's a big limo.

Consumption is about 13 l/100 km city driving and 10l/100km highway use.

These cars are extremely underrated and come to the second hand market really cheap.

Faults:

Electrics are a bit hit and miss, but spending time cleaning up switches, contacts and checking earthing points usually solves most of the gremlins.

Clutch master and slave cylinders have just had to be replaced, but not that expensive if you choose an independent garage.

Interior door trim is abysmal, it has warped so looks really ugly.

Rear calipers on this model are expensive and prone to failing. Parking with the hand-brake off at home, especially during the winter will extend their life.

General Comments:

This car has enormous boot space, and has the carrying capacity of a small estate with the seats folded down.

Rear passenger space is excellent and is the biggest of most cars I have seen.

Fuel economy is excellent, I regularly get between 35 & 45 miles per gallon.

Galvanised body so rust isn't an issue even for a car of this age. Only the wheel arches where mud gets behind can be a problem.