Enjoyed the car for the first week, then had to leave it in my garage for two weeks or more because of snow. Car drives well and dare I say it, more comfortable to drive than the Skoda Roomster I traded in. This was my first petrol car in years having mostly had diesels in the past.

Things seemed fine until in January I noticed the paintwork was covered in very noticeable scratches . I couldn't figure this out as I have owned many different cars over the last 40 years and always washed them with care, hoseing them down, washing with a soft soap filled brush or car sponge, rinsing them drying with a chamois. I had never had this problem before and made an appointment to take it to the dealer I bought it from.

This turned out to be the worst experience I have ever encountered. I live some 40 miles from the garage and by the time I got there the car was covered in road dirt. That, plus the very dull day, would have made inspection somewhat difficult. Not to the paint shop manager who looked quickly around the car and declared it could have been a cat! Astonished I asked how he came to this conclusion when he could barely see the colour never mind the scratches. He said paint finishes are much softer nowadays! Nobody had told me Hyundai cars can't stand washing otherwise I would never have bought one.He then quickly said he would not consider doing anything about it and if I wasn't happy write to Hyundai!

Shocked and angry I did write to Hyundai. However that didn't inspire me either. It took them some weeks to come up with a suggestion to take it to another dealer. I did so, some 40 miles in the other direction but at least this dealer was sypathetic and although not admitting any liablility' said that a repair was a lengthy job and would need to have Hyundai authorisation. This he added would be difficult and lengthy as the damage to the car wouldn't photograph because it was black and shiny thus unable to easily justify repair authorisation to Hyundai. He suggested black Tcut product instead.

The stress of this was getting me down and I felt unable to continue pushing this, potentially for weeks or months, so I have brought some of the suggested product which helps a bit but wouldn't fool an expert.

This has taken the pleasure out of my new car and destroyed all my faith in the dealer.

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Hyundai i20

reviewed by ericthellama on 31 January 2011