General description

The body is of welded steel construction available in 3 or 5-door Hatchback, 3 or 5- door Estate, soft-top Cabriolet, or Van configurations.

The body is of monocoque construction and is of energy-absorbing design.

Rust and corrosion protection is applied to all new vehicles and includes zinc phosphate dipping and wax injection of box sections and door interiors.

All body panels are welded, including the front wings, so it is recommended that major body damage repairs are left to your dealer.

    See also:

    Road test (Every 12 000 miles or 12 months)
    Instruments and electrical equipment 1 Check the operation of all instruments and electrical equipment. 2 Make sure that all instruments read correctly, and switch on all electrical equipment in ...

    Tailgate/boot lid lock and cylinder - removal and refitting
    Removal 1 Remove the trim panel as described in Section 32. 2 Extract the lock cylinder retaining clip, disconnect the control rods and remove the cylinder. 3 Undo the three screws and detach th ...

    Rear suspension lower arm (Saloon, Hatchback and Estate models) - removal and refitting
    Models with rear drum brakes Removal 1 Chock the front wheels, jack up the rear of the vehicle and support on axle stands placed under the side members. 2 Remove the relevant driveshaft. 3 Remov ...