1998 Vauxhall Tigra review from UK and Ireland

"Sticky valves" on the first service after I had bought it (when it was 2 years old). Vauxhall paid for repair as it was a known fault, although they didn't recall them, just fixed them as they were reported. Cost would have been around £600 otherwise.

At 3 years old I needed a new pump for the power assisted steering. It had done less than 20,000 miles and after complaining Vauxhall contributed half the cost, but it still cost around £300.

Now it's 4 years old and it's time to replace the drive belts (£200), the service dept have also told me that the timing belt should be replaced and also the rear brake drums (£300 odd and £250 respectively)

It needs a new reversing light switch too.

I bought the Tigra originally because I wanted something a little bit different with a little bit of go to it (I'm not talking a sports car here) but I wanted to be able to get a bit of speed out of it when I get a chance. I'm quite happy with that.

At a year old it was the newest car I had ever had and I like the car very much to drive. It looks good, too. But I am very frustrated that for the age and the low mileage that these things need replacing so soon. It is actually in the dealers being serviced at this moment and if I let him do all the things he wants to do it would cost almost £1,000 including the service.

Oh, and does anyone else think that having indicator bulbs that are only painted orange, which starts to flake after a little while, are just another little annoyance to add to things!