• Summary

    4 out of 5 4.0

    What does this car say about you?

    That I drive a cheap old car.

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

    They think it's cheap and old however they're coming round to it due to the decent performance and good economy.

    Would you buy this car again and why?

    I'd maybe buy a GTI but I doubt I'd buy any other 106.

    What are you likely to buy next?

    Probably a slightly larger car with a good diesel engine.

  • 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?

    £500

    When did you buy the car?

    October 2007

    Did you get a good deal and why?

    Not bad, the price was fine and generally the car is in good condition.

    Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

    It was cheap and I'd heard good things about the running costs of a 106. I was looking for a diesel but when I saw this I couldnt help myself.

    What was the dealer like?

  • Driving it

    4 out of 5 4.0

    What's it like to drive?

    Fun, mostly. Quite nippy with the 1600 engine which I've had up to 100mph without any fuss and with revs to spare. Acceleration is decent, 0-60 when pushed is about 10secs and 40-60 and 50-70 are OK provided you drop down to 3rd. Handling is good as it grips the road well so lots of fun on country roads. Quite happy on the motorway although long journeys can be tiresome due to intrusive noise and a skewed driving position(close and small pedals). The car has good economy - I got 450 miles out of a tank before the warning light came on (indicates less than 5L in tank) - about 50+mpg although it was all done on 60mph roads without breaking the speed limit. Average seems to be about 40mpg give or take a feew depending on my mood.

    What's it like to park?

    Easy peasy, with great visibility although theres no power steering so the arm muscles get a good work out. Doesnt seem to like dry steering.

  • Living with it

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Have you had any problems with the car?

    Gearbox oil leak. Cost about £130 to fix despite only needing a new seal (cost about £1 and a top up of oil). Due to the need for a speedy repair I had to go to a main dealer and I paid for the quick service.

    What's most practical about your car?

    5 doors is handy when carrying passengers.

    Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

    I like the keypad immobiliser. There's something quite cool about having to enter a PIN to start the car.