Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car, although the windscreen wipers smear a little!

General Comments:

This is a really average car that handles averagely, brakes averagely, accelerates slowly and will always start and get you to work and back.

It used so little fuel that it is actually cheaper than walking!

I've done 12,000 miles in 4 months and it's great - I bought it for £200.00 from a guy in Stevenage whose number I got on the Internet. Had to unsieze the rear brakes (it'd been stood in a driveway for 1 year) and drive it back to Nottingham for the MOT - I thought I had a bargain (and the tank was full), but the fuel gauge was broken and reads 'full' all the time. Still think I've got a bargain!

Faults:

Nothing. I bought the car as an old wreck with a years MOT for £400. After a good scrub and a clean it came up really well - no exterior rust at all.

The engine is a little rattly, but has been 100% reliable. I've given it a good service and a change of camblelt, and it is sweet as a nut.

General Comments:

An incredibly characterless vehicle, but I'm immensely impressed with its staying power. If you want a reliable vehicle which provides reasonably economical, very well equipped and comfortable transport, then you won't go far wrong with one of these.

If you want everyone to look at you then don't bother. Escort owners laugh at me for some reason, but it's bigger, better equipped, better engineered and cheaper to run that any Fraud Escago.

Faults:

The rear drum needed changing, due to running with a leaking tire for 3000 miles.

The thermostat was changed after 6 months, previous owner didn't put any antifreeze in the car so it seized.

Both faults were on the car when purchased & I blame them on lack of servicing by the previous owner.

My previous Proton clocked 70,000 miles in 4 years with no faults.

General Comments:

This was my second blue Proton GLS saloon. Both cars died early deaths in accidents.

Seriously solid motoring.

Ultra reliable.

But not up to modern comfort standards.

Be sure to get one with full service history.

Watch out for rust on the back metal bumper.

Faults:

Nothing mechanical: The sunroof leaks occasionally and that's all (some silicon sealant fixes that in the winter!).

General Comments:

Quite quick for a 1.3 and fairly economical (I get 36 mpg around town, more on a run).

Very reliable; always starts first time (even in sub-zero temperatures when my husband's company Rover struggles). Regular servicing (esp. oil changes every 3000 miles) probably helps.

Spares are cheap but I have to travel to get them as dealers are few and far between. Service parts are readily available from local factors, though.

Feels quite old inside but everything continues to work quite happily. Very good heater, lights, and so on.

The only downside is that the front seats aren't very comfortable if you're 'broad in the beam'!

Faults:

Bought cheap and needed some suspension and body work - apart from that, not much at all.

General Comments:

Moves like a tank, will fit a small banana republic in the boot with room to spare - haven't seen the sandwich box since buying it but there you go.

Solid, reliable, dependable cheap motoring but often gets mistaken for a private hire taxi.

Faults:

Nothing mechanically, but the area under the hatch floor where the spare tyre is kept fills with water! I think this is a common fault with this model.

General Comments:

I`ve had this car 2 years and have covered 30,000 miles and it has never let me down.

It is well equipped and nice to drive but perhaps a little rough around the edges regarding fit and finish, still, nothing has fallen off yet.

Service parts can be dear, £14.00 for an air filter.

Buy one, keep it serviced and it'll run forever. All those minicab drivers can't be wrong.

And you get a free paddling pool.