A MOTORIST whose car turbo was replaced with a less powerful system has demanded it be replaced - or she will stop repaying its £18,000 cost.

Although Janet Thorburn has been warned that her Nissan Almera could be damaged if a high-power turbo was to be re-fitted, she insists she will pay the £800 repair costs each time it needs to be fixed.

A small number of Almeras suffer from a turbo fault which makes them more powerful - but places the turbo under too much strain. Nissan has swapped blown turbos for factory-approved parts. This makes the cars more reliable but less powerful.

Mrs Thorburn, from Darlington, took her car into a Nissan dealer in the town for repair after the turbo blew in October.

She claims the new parts have left her disillusioned.

She said: "It was a dream car when I first got it, but now it's not the car I bought, it doesn't feel like mine. If I'd have known they were going to replace the turbo, I'd never have taken it in.

"We took it back and said we wanted it putting back how it was, we don't want it how it is. This whole thing has ruined my Christmas."

Mrs Thorburn and her husband, Brian, have now stopped repayments on the Almera, and are challenging claims by the garage to repossess the car.

A spokesperson for Nissan said: "We would advise that this lady contacts our customer services department to see if she can resolve the problem."