• Summary

    4 out of 5 4.0

    What does this car say about you?

    it says i'm happy to be different (not many around here), also that i'm not completely over the hill

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

    they all like it - and some wish they had one as well

    Would you buy this car again and why?

    probably not - simply because if i were to buy another open top, it probably would be a newer car, although I, being 6 feet 3 inches tall, would be restricted for choice (I don't fit in a mk. 2 mx5, for instance)

    What are you likely to buy next?

    A replacement estate car for my wife; her Skoda Favorit is still going strong, but is now rather long in the tooth. We will probably go for either a Fabia or an Octavia.

  • Buying experience

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Type of dealer you bought from?

    Didn't buy from a dealer

    Did you buy this car new?

    No

    What price did you pay?

    £2,500

    When did you buy the car?

    May 2005

    Did you get a good deal and why?

    Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

    we wanted an open top sports for weekend strolls around the north norfolk coast

    What was the dealer like?

  • Driving it

    4 out of 5 4.0

    What's it like to drive?

    my wife loves it; she never really puts her foot down, but loves the smooth, easy drive. I occasionally let it rip, and then the performance matches the wonderful rasp of the exhaust. Pulling away in first can be a bit snatchy - I tend to use second, which is quite low. It's not really a motorway car; it is noisier with the roof on, so we tend to use it on sunny days. It does have a very effective heater, so even on cold, Winter days, you can drive along with the roof off, and the heater effectively keeping the cabin warm (no wind deflectors for necks, however!)

    What's it like to park?

    not bad; the view over the shoulder and to the rear is a bit restricted, but we cope (quite happy that the spoiler is there - looks better then the esi in that respect)

  • Living with it

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Have you had any problems with the car?

    no; it starts first time and runs smoothly

    What's most practical about your car?

    the cabin and boot are bigger than an mx5. Also, the roofline is higher than that of an mx5, so I fit!

    Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

    the roof - even though it's a manual, it is still very easy to remove and store