Faults:

Required replacement engine

Required replacement rear leaf spring

Brakes seized

Condensation inside headlamps

Fault with driver's door latch and interior handle

Driver's door window mechanism fell apart

Rust in front inner wing.

General Comments:

I've done all the work to this car myself. The previous owner was going to scrap it due to a blown engine, but I persuaded them to give it to me, because I wanted a project car. It makes an ideal project due to its very simple construction and low-tech design.

Many of the problems with the car were caused by neglect as opposed too bad design. Once I did the major work such as replacing the engine, the car has been very good.

It's extremely economical due to the 903cc engine, the insurance and maintenance costs are also very low.

The interior is very basic, but not particularly uncomfortable. I once drove it 500 miles in one day, and had no complaints at the end.

It's also fairly quick for a sub-1 litre car, and handles fairly well too. The only thing spoiling the drive is the gear change. The travel on the lever is too long, and the change a bit crunchy, but this may be due to wear and tear on the gearbox.

Faults:

Bodywork prone to rust especially around the boot.

Interior trim very basic.

Door mechanism flimsy - though may have been due to age of car.

Pier-burg carburettor is very poor after around 85000 miles - leading to poor starting and engine cutting out - can get a new replacement Weber for £200.

Automatic choke is very poor - again contributing to poor starting.

Suspension problems at around 100000 miles - but I think can be blamed on age.

Parts hard to find.

General Comments:

This is a car that was showing its age even by the late eighties, the engine is the best thing about this car, it is economical (up to 40mpg) and as a unit is very reliable.

The handling is a bit soft.

Overall tis car served me fairly well for 3 years and eventually a collection of individual faults combined to defeat it.

If you can find a good model with no rust (check the boot thoroughly), it can be a useful car - but think about replacing the carburettor.

Faults:

Starter motor, bushes burn out. Understandable its 10 years + with original parts.

Wheel bearings and lower ball joints worn.

Back brakes need attention.

General Comments:

Reliable as anything, only been in the garage twice since owned!

Inside rattles a bit when running.

Gets rusty quick even after treated.

Parts take more than a week to order. And some parts are not being made anymore like wing bits (someone crashed in to me!)

What's all the Porsche System about???

Faults:

Heater has stopped working.

Screen wash container is cracked.

Brake pads needed replacing.

General Comments:

Never had any problems with starting the car, but the engine does cut out frequently in the old before it eventually warms up.

The engine is very tough and reliable.

Once it gets going it does hold it's own on the motorway.

The electrics seem to be failing one by one, a common problem with this car.

Faults:

Back brakes binding, synchromesh slowly deteriorated on gearbox, clutch was on its way out.

General Comments:

Considering the age of the car it wasn't bad at all. Fixing the problems wouldn't be too expensive. The actual engine is really tough and reliable and the car does go fine. It's all the other stuff that slowly wears away! It's a bit odd to drive, the steering wheel is angled slightly uncomfortably and the gearstick is a bit wobbly. The economy was great though. Bodywork tended to rust after a while and I thought it was too tinny.