whats the craic?

seems alot of car for the money, i know they are similar to the probe in levels of cool but how are they in the reliabilty stakes, i see there are lots of the 2.5v6 ones for sale, is this a reliable engine?

or are they fundamentaly flawed hence the chepa prices?

have also looked at 406 coupes but i'm put off by their 'frenchness'

i need a winter runaround, auto a preference.