yeah i take most of the probs with a pinch of salt i dont mind the odd prob as long as the dealer fixes it. plus i was looking at the golf and theres quite a lot of negative stuff about reliability on them too these days ! the ford i've got has given me no probs so far ( touch wood )
but it's a ford !! 
our local honda dealer (chelmsford ) was always brilliant in the past with my old civic but was taken over by lind who also do the vw franchise just hoping they haven't come down to the vw customer service standards !!
Definatly will get a new one as the used ones are not much cheaper really would only end up getting a year old sport instead of new SE, only toy i wouldn't mind would be the front and rear sensors ( wifey worried about the bits you cant see from the driving seat
)