Faults:

Electric door locks failed and the plastic switch on the end of the ignition key died, failing to activate the starter motor.

The alternator was replaced just before I got it. It has a oil leak on the top of the rocker cover that I cannot get rid of. Looks like there should be an attachment there as it has a blocked hole and the oil seeps around it.

General Comments:

My first diesel, after a life time of petrol and propane motors. Apart from being unbelievable in fuel consumption it seems to have not much else going for it. The wait for the diesel light to go out, the lack of power and the noise are against it, but it runs forever on a single tank.

It seems a bit small in the front and the key is hard to get to, especially as you have to access it twice, once to start warmers and the next to start. So far I like it though.

Faults:

Damp was getting onto the spark plugs which was causing them not to fire resulting in loss of power when the weather was rainy/wet. Solved with new H.T. leads.

Rear fog lights won't stay on most of the time. Even changing the switch didn't cure the problem.

General Comments:

1.4 engine too slow and not enough power to negotiate hills, would recommend 1.6 minimum.

L.X. spec at this age is very basic. You don't get electric windows or power steering.

Sunroof leaves you with no headroom. I'm 6ft 1 and can't comfortably sit up straight.

Handles very well, grips the road on corners although would benefit from power steering.

Not had a service for 25,000 and it's still going strong.

Overall a nice sized car, with enough room for 4 adults on a long journey. A shame it tends to get poor reviews as a car. Still looks impressive too.

Faults:

Changed the duse box.

Changed the bushes.

Changed the starter.

Head gasket blew after I had it. Repaired under warranty.

Changed the clutch. Repaired under warranty.

General Comments:

The car is quick, and generally very good at pulling away from lights. Handles like a dream.

Faults:

More like what hasn't gone wrong with it!

Electical Faults:

-Oil pressure warning light works intermittently

-Interior lighting (centre console/heating controls) does not work, main beams come on every time you indicate (until the switch burned out 2 weeks ago).

-Rear foglights do not work

-Heated windscreen has stopped working

Engine Faults:

-Burns a lot of oil

-Engine never seems to warm up properly

Other Faults:

-Tracking always needs adjusting

-Wishbones (?) on front suspension wear out quickly

-Rear shock absorbers wear out quickly

-Drivers seat subframe snapped

-Gearbox problems, difficulty engaging 3rd gear and noisy when in neutral and engine at idle speed

General Comments:

Very poor fuel economy (23mpg on long runs), acceleration is poor too (due to poorly-suited gear ratios).

The seats are very uncomfortable, there is a distinct lack of headroom (I think due to the poor design of the tilt & slide sunroof housing in the roof). The heater blower is very weak (I would be lost without an electrically heated windscreen!) and the air direction controls are poorly designed so that it is impossible to direct the air exactly where you want it to go.

Basically a very poorly designed car, not a patch on my previous Escort, a 1988 1.4LX.

Faults:

Fuel problems, early clutch failure, central locking motor burning out, painstaking to find the correct spare parts as the car was a 1991 model but the old shape. Even the Haynes manual is little help.

General Comments:

Despite the odd problem I have found the car very reliable and enjoyable to drive.

Faults:

Starter motor keeps failing, interior bodywork (dashboard) works loose, engine needs regular flushing out . . .

Plus, people keep nicking it!