It is a good size for a modern car, with adequate power, relaxed cruising and good economy.
A best of 54.8 MPG and overall 48.3 MPG. The worst consumption was during the winter of 2010 when the car only averaged 36.4 MPG between two fill ups.
Five doors provide added convenience. On the three door model, once tipped forwards, the front seats do not return to their previously adjusted position.
The handling is fun and the roadholding reassuring.
The standard Toyo R27 185/55 R15 tyres have performed very well and after regular tyre rotation each had 5mm of tread left, after 26000 miles.
The front pair were replaced with the same make at 30,000 miles.
The seats are comfortable and supportive, if you position the backrest sensitively and there is sufficient room for four average sized adults.
The boot space is enough for day to day needs; a shame the extended boot floor is not flat as in the current Polo.
Thankfully there is a proper space saver, spare wheel, not a can of foam.
Visibility is good to the rear unlike many contemporaries with their kicked up C pillars but the angle and thickness of the passenger side A pillar obstructs the view of the kerb during left hand turns.
The gear change is precise and the brakes perform well under normal conditions but new brake discs were needed after 26000 miles/5 years of use.
I stopped using the main dealer even though they supported me in getting the lacquer bubbling alloys replaced. Why? ...I booked the car in by appointment so I could wait for two of my tyres to be switched to new alloys, balanced and refitted. How long? ..one hour.... two hours? ...2 hours 47 minutes!!
Event Mobile Tyres recently fitted 4 new tyres to my wife's car in 40 minutes!
The fitter was asked by the receptionist to bring my car to reception as I had waited so long.
The fitter took it to a space 100 metres away by the main exit from the dealership and then in full view, instead of bringing my keys directly to the reception started throwing snow balls into the garage area presumably at his mates.
Faults: the lacquer on 6 wheels, including two replacements, has bubbled up.The first after just two winters.
From new this car has been very sensitive to near perfect wheel balancing. After delivery the franchise dealer had to re-balance the front wheels twice, either side of an attempt by a National tyre fitter and recently after a service when the front wheels were swapped over the car vibrated at speed until the wheels were swapped back.
Three months short of the 7 year service and MOT, I felt the car's front suspension seemed to stutter over surface irregularities more than in the past.
An engineer checked the steering and suspension and could not find an obvious problem but whilst under the car he noticed oil under the sump which was traced to a hole caused by corrosion of the sump. Light pressure around the area resulted in a very serious oil leak.Thankfully a potential disaster avoided by a replacement sump.
I would have liked a trip computer which became standard on later TS2 models.
Overall a fun means of transport without necessarily risking life and licence to enjoy it's driving virtues!
Sold in January 2016 to webuyanycar for £3108. Not bad on depreciation as I only paid £9500 for it 7 years and 4 months ago.