In general, the car is reflects the purchase price in the positive context. The interior is rather simple with no fancy lights or smart devices - just fine with me. More importantly, the coupe is spacious for the size of the car. The back seats are a bit shorter to save space but comfortable enough. The model was equipped with computer controlled AC which is really good option. I have to admit immediately, that it maintains perfectly the temperature in the front seats but is a bit weak, on both, heating and cooling on the back seats. The engine has low momentum turbo that gives the cat about 100 HP but it feels that it is a bit weak for the weight of the car. Despite that, it has wide acceleration span. At 110 km/h on 5th gear the engine runs at 2500 rpms and usually has enough power to accelerate. Distinct exceptions are uphill roads, where you start asking yourself "Where the 100 horses go"?
Using the AC actually feels on the engine - I can distinctly feel when it couples to the engine and some torque is lost. This actually makes the car a bit more fuel efficient during the winter, despite the dubbed winter tires.
The car is most fuel-efficient at about 90 km/h where the consumption is about 5.7 l/100 km. On the highway (110-120 km/h) it spikes to between 6.2-6.4 l/100 km. It is about the same downtown.
Problems that are worth mentioning
- Well, changing the front light is one hell of an experience!
- Some time it is a problems to start engine, so far it seems that this occurs more frequent when the car is parked downhill...
- The wiper arms can not be lifted upfront, which is not practical at all during winter and when changing the wiper blades itself.
- The balance of the car is a bit... if you lift the front wheel at the designed jack point, you will be lifting the back tire noticeable as well.
- The engine compartment is stuffed completely, which suggests rather difficult access to anything.
- The water drain holes between the engine and the windshield are easily stuck with dirt and difficult to clean - something I have read in other places as well.
- The door frames are covering the plastic sealing which perhaps works perfectly in the hot sunny weather to protect them from the sun, but it is complete nonsense in snowy winters. Regardless how well you clean the snow, when you open the door you will get plenty of snow right on the seat.
- Changing the light bulbs on the back are not the easiest as well. It takes some courage the first time to pull the plastic body from the car body.
- The lock mechanism on the petrol hatch got stuck, fortunately at open position. If you are unfortunate, try to reach the are from inside the trunk - there is a way to pull it manually.
