• Summary

    2 out of 5 2.0

    What does this car say about you?

    That I need a family hatchback but wanted something a little different and a bit more power.

    What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

    They think its OK but nothing special.

    Would you buy this car again and why?

    No. The road/wind noise, rattles and squeaks inside the cabin and handling on cambered road surfaces are unbearable. The general build quality is nowhere near as good as some rivals such as a Focus, 1 series, A3 etc, even not on a par with an Astra or Pug 308. The interior plastics feel very cheap all over the car and it rattles and creaks around the front centre console and the central pillars to the left and right of the driver and front passenger!

    What are you likely to buy next?

    Ford Focus 1.6 tdci Zetec or BMW 116d ED.

  • Buying experience

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Type of dealer you bought from?

    Independent

    Did you buy this car new?

    No

    What price did you pay?

    £7,500

    When did you buy the car?

    January 2011

    Did you get a good deal and why?

    Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

    What was the dealer like?

  • Driving it

    2 out of 5 2.0

    What's it like to drive?

    Plenty of power for overtaking but not very quick in first or second gear. Peak power arrives at around 1500 rpm but only in 3rd gear and theres a flatspot in 4th. The 6th gear is handy when cruising on the motorway. In general the car needs to be worked quite hard to get the performance from it. My friend has a 13 reg BMW 118d which performs much better in every gear despite having 30hp less! The car suffers badly from road noise, both from the wheels on the road surface and wind. The overly light steering coupled with the heavy front end (large engine) and torque steer means that the car has a tendency to wonder to the left and right, especially on more cambered road surfaces. This is alarming at times and can make the car feel very unsafe.

    What's it like to park?

    The car has good all round visibility and is easy to park.

  • Living with it

    1 out of 5 1.0

    Have you had any problems with the car?

    Fuel Pump Failure Fuel Injectors have ceased working correctly at 82000 miles.

    What's most practical about your car?

    Spacious inside Fair size boot.

    Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

    Automatic Lights and Wipers.