something a little different this video, I give my opinions on small vehicles to buy under £1k, Using my experience of trading these vehicles over the years, working on them and of course Mot Testing them and seeing all there faults and positives. Hope you enjoy guys and please let me know your thoughts in the comments.
I'm sure in this day and age where money is tight and prices are so high this will come in use for those who really need a cheap reliable A to B motor or daily. So many TH-camrs go for expensive motors that are way out of most people's price range so genuine consumer advice is welcome. I certainly wouldn't go around any of the Walsall locations featured though 😅 No warranties etc despite the clear Consumer Rights Act... Very scary types
Agree with it all fella,the 206 i've not got much experience of. Some cars can be a pan to fix yourself & running costs BUT you just gotta juggle the good with the bad....as with all cars out there. Liked the video!
I've had three clios. A 1.6i, then a1.4i and now a 1.2i. My 1.2 is doing almost 500 000km and still running strong. And no rust even though I'm in a tropical climate in South Africa. I love this channel.
You wont get a very good Toyota Yaris for under a grand, I've had 3 Yaris's and still drive one now, a 2014 low mileage 64 plate, but these cars really do hold their price, and you can be paying several thousand for even a Mk1 in decent nick, bearing in mind that all Mk1 Yaris are now over 17 years old, and to be honest, the ones I've seen on Ebay and the likes for under a grand are absolute knackers, fit for the scrap yard. When I had a Mk1, which was a very very early April 1999 T plate Yaris, it had problems with corrosion back in 2010 at 11 years old, where the fuel filler neck and breather rotted out and leaked fuel vapour, so always check the filler pipe from fuel tank up behind the rear wheel up to the filler flap door - they rot. It was failing MOT's at 13 years old for holes in the lower corner of the rear wheel arch where it meets the sill, and also the rear outer sill needed welding. Practically all old Mk1 Yaris's for less than 2 grand are likely to need extensive welding on the rear undersides if not already done. Steer clear of any Mk1 Yaris with the semi auto gearbox (automated manual), usually fitted to later mk1 1.0 petrol engines they are very unreliable - if you need an auto in the mk1, get the proper fully automatic box only available with the 1.3 engines. Although the Mk2 Yaris would not be available normally for under a grand, You may be able to find early 06 or 07 plates available, but my experience of that Model, I had an 06 plate myself, they suffer with severe problems with the headlights going foggy and cloudy - the Mk1 also had this issue, but the Mk2, early models 55 - 08 plates especially got the problem really bad, and it can be an MOT fail, so whilst buffing them might work temporarily, and I sanded mine and sprayed clear lacquer on them, replacement may end up necessary. Mk2 Automatics steer clear of - nothing but trouble with the multimode semi auto that was the only option in the MK2, so if one comes up as spares or repair for a cheap price, walk away, will cost a bomb to put right and they just go wrong all the time. Manual is the way to go with the Mk2, but check the clutch pedal bite point, as some early model Mk2 suffered with very low biting points like mine did, and getting reverse or first can be problemsome, especially getting into reverse. If you really want a Yaris, and you want a decent one, I'm afraid you will be having to spend a lot more than a grand. Yes you can pick them up for under a grand, but once the MOT runs out, you may well be in for a shock because corrosion is going to be the big killer. They are very reliable yes, but on older Yaris's if they have not been properly maintained, then even Yaris's can break down. All Petrol engine Yaris's have timing chains, not belts, so people think they are bulletproof - they are, only if the oil has been changed regularly, at 6000 - 10000 mile intervals, and if oil changes are neglected, then the engines VVT mechanisms can go faulty, the timing chains wear out, then stretch and rattle, eventually putting the engine management light on, which is an MOT fail, and a new chain on a high mileage Yaris could be more than the car is worth, so if the engine is noisy and rattling,, walk away, especially on beat up old Mk1 that is being sold for under a grand. They are that cheap for a reason, they are usually about ready for the scrap yard.
I've had my Nissan Micra 23 years .. W .. Never broken down .. I've done 78K .. a few bits of rust on it been repaired.. never failed an MOT .. .. Still got OR exhaust .. rear brake shoes .. stoplight bulbs etc .. They don't make them like this anymore .. Thank you for posting :)
The thing about cheap small high milers is its a lottery. You can mitigate that to a point if you have Lee's experience. I have bought some that ran for a few years and some that go bang in a few days. Some cam belts have dates on them so you can check when they were last changed but most owners don't want you unbolting stuff. Expecting service history on a 20 year old car is a pipe dream. So you pays ya money and takes ya chances.
Don’t be afraid, 41 minutes of Lee talking and it’s quality real life advice/experience. As usual these videos seem much shorter than they are but that’s down to our host here. Hope he can do more of these as both myself and my better half really enjoyed this . Funny how the cars shown are all over 15 years old and only a few have rust issues yet when I was a youth some models, especially Italian, came out of the factory with the old tin worm.
That age Honda Jazz, forget it. They are rust buckets and if you spot any corrosion at all near the sills, arches, it's just a matter of time when.... you will be leaving it at the scrapyard. And be aware, quite a few sellers clean and paint over the rust to hide it because the engines and gearboxes outlive the car body and operate very nicely.
Yes quite a few comments regarding rust but there are some sound ones out there. I just bought one last month 2006 1.4 Sport manual. Bodywork is very sound and i took tje precaution of having it undersealed as part of the deal. That said, it came with several water leaks so ive had a month of stress and hassle fixing this as i have no garage and it hasnt stopped raining much. Buyers need to be aware of the water leak issues. They are easily fixable if you have the time to identify and check the cars out thoroughly before parting with your cash.
A superb informative video and much needed for the likes of us without big budgets. I'd love to see more like this with maybe the price categories expanded to say £1500 - £2500 (and possibly £2500 - £3500 which would be around my buying limit for a used car). Your really do us a service with videos like this Lee, so many thanks indeed!
i think this was one of the best vids i've seen,for those wanting to purchase a small used car on a modest budget & yes, i would like to see some more similar vids.
Toyota Yaris, one of the most reliable cars I’ve had. Bulletproof. Can withstand anything. Probs can’t get them for 1k anymore but worth the price any day long.
I bought my 2003 Yaris in 2017 for a grand, and it’s been absolutely bomb-proof, it has never let me down. I have had a few things changed as maintenance, and parts are super easy and cheap to find. The fuel economy is fantastic. With 135k miles on the clock and a little rust, I could still sell it now for more than I bought it for - if I wanted to, which I don’t! I wouldn’t even know what I’d replace it with, maybe a Civic from around the same era, or a slightly newer Yaris (some 2011 pre-facelift T-Spirit variants can still be found around £2.5-3k, but at that price point there are many other options too).
My partner has a blue one also 2003. Been a great car. Only ever broke down once last year - she just dropped her friend off after driving back from Sheffield and it wouldnt start. Turns out it was the cam sensor so a cheap fix.
One you missed if you can pick one up below a grand is a 1.0 Daihatsu Sirion. £30 tax fuel economy is brilliant. Very reliable little jap car and spacious. But its looks might not be everyones taste. Probably more reliable than a lot in the video.
Don't forget the '08 Daihatsu Cuore/Mira! Same engine as the Aygo triplets and the Sirion, same space inside as the Sirion but it's the same size as the Aygo triplets and with a moving rear seat! 💗
I really like small cars, but these days manufacturers seem to think that small car buyers will be happy with a low power weedy engine. Cars are getting bigger and heavier and those of us who live alone or as just a couple without kids have little choice. Of course we could look for a used GTI or something, but I find most of them have been thrashed or modified.
Jazz would be my choice if you can get one with no rust. Absolutely bullet proof mechanically and feels more refined that most of the other options on this list.
Yes drive very well as good as a polo in drive standard, under 1k can be challenging to buy a decent one. If I was going to buy one i would be buying a near 2k car say 2008 model with lower mileage. To be fair that would then be a decent vehicle to get some years out of.
@@carukchannel I've been looking into the jazz as a first car but i've got an auto license, how much should my budget be if i want an automatic jazz that can last 2 years atleast?
Great video and advice. I'm not a huge Nissan fan but think Japanese and Korean cars reflect most reliable and best value for money sub £2k. Had a Kia Venga and just changed for a Mazda 5 as I need the space and like the higher seating position. When my Uncles 1.4L Rover 25 died, he asked me to help him find a 'cheap but reliable' car. Found him a 2005 1.1 Hyundai Getz 5 dr for £700. That was 6 and half years ago and it's still going strong. A little corrosion to wheel arches which I need to sort for him again (did 5 yrs ago and is back), but he has it serviced every year by an independant mechanic. The odd niggle, but for an 18 yr old motor it's a gem. Never failed to start, never left him stranded, still on the original clutch. I think the Hyundai's and Kia's are great value for money at the low cost end of the market.
I have had 2 Mitsubishi colts 1.1 3 cylinder, sliding rear seat. Cruise at 70 and 55 mpg very underrated. Last one did 160k when sold. Very tough and no rust unlike jazz sometimes have. I had a 1.3 and preferred the 3 cylinder.
Great video Mate. Fully agree. I have experience with the Hyundai Getz, Fiesta & Peug 206. Good cars. More reliable & easier to fix than the modern rubbish.
The Aygo triplets are my choice. Actually, I own a well-maintained 2007 Peugeot 107 as my first car! I bought it in June 2023, with 150k kms/~93k miles, and I have to say it's a crackin' little car! Agile, nippy, great to drive because of its small size and with quite a lot of oomph for what it actually is because it's only ~850kg and the Daihatsu 1KR-FE engine is a gem! It's a characterful little engine and I love it just for the sound it makes when it revs out, which is like half a V6 (in fact, sound was one of the reasons I went to the Aygo triplets, because I like the way 3-cylinders sound, I find them better than 4-cylinders in that respect)! Not to mention that, where I live, I only put fuel to it once a month and I get about 450kms/280mi out of its 35l fuel tank. It's a magnificent little car and I wouldn't sell it for all the EVs in the world! 💗 Great and informative video mate! But there are two more cars to share the Daihatsu 1KR-FE engine: the 2005 Daihatsu Sirion and the 2008 Cuore/Mira. The 2005 Sirion is larger than both the Aygo triplets and the Mira, but the 2008 Cuore/Mira has the same space inside as the Sirion but with a size similar to the Aygo triplets and with a sliding rear seat too! Don't really know whether these Daihatsu models were on sale in the UK since I'm from Greece, but I must say I see all of the aforementioned 1KR-FE-powered models everywhere in here, with the Aygo triplets being the most popular, and all of them are still going strong!
Funny enough as loan cars we have a 2004 Hyundai getz, 2006 fiat panda, 2003 Toyota Yaris, 2008 mk5 golf 1.9 TDI as you've mentioned 😂 they're all brilliant little cars, query I would have with the polos is sills, we fail so many on rotten sills and the 3 cylinders suffer with timing chains so bad, also the Honda Jazz's auto gearboxes are horrendous, the wing mirrors also fail they're £400+vat ish just to buy and the aftermarkets usually don't fit or function, the newer shape clios suffer with wiper linkage/motor failures and fuse boxes corroding; they can't be bought 2nd hand as they're programmed to the car and are on back order with Renault with no eta and cost over £250+vat just to buy, we see these sooooo often, I really wouldn't rate or recommend them at all in my experience, I'm not a mechanic but I've worked at my family's garage for 10 years to see enough of it! Overall really good and informative vid!
As always a cracking video, you're probably one of the very few secondhand car dealers I'd consider buying from. Cheap cars but you're frank and honest about all makes, the good and the bad. Keep them coming Lee 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Ive had 4/5 Honda Jazz 1.2 & 1.4 ,s ...amazing cars .practical..economical ,,cheap to run .tons or room for such a small car prefer the 1.4 .,bit more grunt ....never had a mechanical issue ...but you r right check rear arches ..as they are prone to rust ..high miles no problems ...would defo recommend ..no rocket ship ..but you wont be buying it for race meetings .
Family member had one which was ok,no rust anywhere,great little thing indeed, that was written off & got another.....that was rotten as a pear! It came from way up north & no wonder it was rotten. A family member got it with even viewing it!
Agree with all you mentioned in the video,not had much experience with clios in my time. You know, a relation had a Jazz (2006) it was ok, BUT got written off in an accident...so got another (same year & miles) and was rotten a a pear! Someone in the family just purchased it over the internet/phone. Never viewed it,driven it,checked the fluids & the auto gearbox was knackered as it judders when taking off, but family member put in Lucus oil stabilizer in & seems ok so far .....it is terrible underneath!! No rust on the sides thou. Came from way up north, what's it doing down near London i'll never know! 😂 Now....being an ex Yaris MK1 owner for 14yrs i recommend them HIGHLY!! 🥰Just needed front pads & discs,serpentine belt in 14yrs, regular oil changes at 4,000m with Magnatec 5W-30 & coolant every 4yrs with Prestone on the dot, it was the BEST & MOST reliable car i ever owned. 90,000m when i parted with it & it drove PERFECT for 14yrs! Quality when driving was lovely. No rust under it as i sprayed WD-40 underneath EVERYWHERE 3x a year for like 10yrs. I got that Yaris back in 2008 & looked after it properly, 2021 got a MK3 Yaris.
I had a Mk1 5 door 1.0 CDX Yaris, in Silver, one of the very first ones on a T plate, for 5 years 2011 - 2016, was a lovely car, nice to look at, very practical inside with all the cubbys and storage places, got it from my mother who owned it 2004 - 2011, and she had no troubke with it at all, apart from a rusted out filler neck betweeen the petrol tank and the filler flap, caused the car to smell of petrol all the time. Had to have an exhaust on it when I got it, and it needed more welding done on sills and inside rear wheel arches, but apart from that, no trouble at all, and I sold it on at 17 years old and 70K miles on it for just 400 quid in 2016. I then had a Mk2 06 reg for 7 years 2016 - 2023, and that got written off at 17 years old by another driver, but aside from cloudy headlights and a finickity clutch pedal with low bite point, it was reliable and never broke down, apart from the usual stuff like tyres, battery and exhaust box. Now got a 64 reg Mk3 Yaris on 30K miles, and that is a very nice car, but I will say that it has much less cubbys and storage than the Mk1 did, and the back seat wont slide back on forth like on both the Mk1 and Mk2. Lovely looking car in Sintra Blue (the most uncommon blue colour for a Mk3 Yaris), but I still think the MK1 I had was my favourite Yaris. I suppose they were just so modern and futuristic back then compared to the Starlet it replaced - I loved the central digital speedo, which they did away with on the MK3.
@@stevejones1972 Mk1 will go at the rear wheel arches,they where great cars! The 1.0L was said to be the best engine to ever be made! For the size & bhp with the reliability the Daihatsu engine was fantastic! Car of the year 1999.
@@stevejones1972 The 1.0L was named best engine ever made! With the small engine having good bhp it was such a reliable Daihatsu engine! Being a MK1 Yaris owner for 14yrs they're super. only ever replaced the front pads,mid & back exhaust & serpentine belt for reliability! Tyres,battery,regular services don't count. 3x a year i sprayed EVERYWHERE incl under the back end with WD-40 & it held up with rust,the rear beam/bar was fine,no rust! Seals fine with v.little rust on rear arches. Got mine in 2008 with 60,000m sold in 2021 with 90,000m. Used Autoglym that gave an awesome shine indeed! Got my 2002 Yaris 1.3L 4sp auto gor £3,400 in 2008 with FSH,sold it in 2021 with 3 service stamps on top then did everything myself,sold for £1,000 which is cheap! A nice chap came to look at it & didn't mess me around. I put in Forte engine & fuel cleaner in 2009 when i worked at a garage,it was part of a service that cannot be got in shops,although ebay sells it which i got & also put in my 2015 Yaris 1.3L CVT. The 2002 Yaris i drove 15mins with that Forte in & it shuddered, almost stalled BUT it cleared,then drove way much better after indeed! I did poo myself when that happened lol I used Prestone every 4yrs on my 2002 Yaris,coolant is VERY important! Says every 10yrs but never go 8yrs personally. I flushed out the coolant with de ionised water, put in 60% prestone as there was that water in there already,so really it'll be 50/50. My 2015 Yaris i got my garage to use the genuine Toyota Pink coolant instead, so 5yrs it'll last then i'll go to Prestone. I'll start servicing myself next year, £90 a service does add up,don't forget they add 20% VAT I removed the PCV, cleaned it out with brake cleaner as it was dirty, so that helped the longevity indeed. Never had a new water pump or thermostat in 14yrs, the person who i sold it to i still talk to, he hasn't don't anything! So 16yrs is amazing! Did my 2015 CVT fluid at 88,000 with the proper Toyota FE fluid fo the dealer at £58 for 5L,did 2x drain & fill in a 2 week period,it was 2.2L each drain, i followed Amd's advice (video) with the procedure. Had 2 rear wheel bearings done which is common, £300 plus the VAT with labour on top is expensive! The Yaris uses same bearing as Mazda 2, they're bases off a Mazda 2 i hear. Sintra Blue aint a bad colour really,i worked for Toyota in early 90's the Scarlet drove awesome. The Corolla was fantastic!!! My first accident was in a Camry 2.2L estate in workshop lol It has 2 rear wipers! Just change the oil every 4,000m or 5,000m MAX & the car will love you. The VVT solenoid can get clogged due to lack of oil changes, i used Magnatec 5W-30 on the MK1 for years. Nice chat fella.
My missus had one of those Fiestas about 15 years ago. She bought it for a grand. About 8 months later a guy smashed into the back of it. It was written off she got £1500 back on her insurance. A lad knocked the rippled boot floor backdown for less than £100, took it to VOSA and they put it back on the road. A year later she sold it for £650.
I had that generation Clio, a 2004 1.5 DCI, the only car I regret selling, however I can add to your list of known faults with them, Sunroof rattles, sunroof leaks, water leaking into boot, heavy clutches, bad rust in rear quater panels on 3 door models, damage to sills due to soft metal and inproper jacking up, throttle body failure on petrol models, remote central locking failure due to failed door lock actuators, rust along front edge of bonnet, failed bonnet catch mechanisms causing bonnet to fly up, alloy wheels easily buckled by pot holes, other than that they are pretty bomb proof 😂❤
had my 06 mk5 Fiesta from new, corrosion hasn't been an issue but on my 1.4tdci the injector seals went bad and that was a £300 bill. Apart from that, other failure points were broken coil springs, a wheel bearing, the air con compressor and an exhaust back box - not bad for 17 years and a car we paid £9,000 for.
Sounds a bargain chris and had given you great service. the 1.4tdci does suffer with injector seal issues in fact I have just fixed one that may feature on the channel in a few weeks. Might even keep it for a courtesy car going forward. They offer such great economy
I've got a 2005 Tdci which I've owned for nearly 17 years.. I had injector seals done, both front springs broke and I've just had wheel bearing flagged up on mot.. Saw underneath when it was on a ramp a while back and corrosion is minimal... Love the car and hopefully it has a few years left in it!!!
Superb informative video Lee buddy...Using your knowledge and passing it on is so helpful for so many people...plus the scope 4 u to make so many other videos like this with different criteria ie budget, engine size etc is HUGE...Great content as ever m8...👏🏻👏🏻
Well done brilliant video , been in the trade myself since early 90s and doing the auction round the northwest . ie Preston Chorley and Blackpool sadly all closed now miss them days , might have to take a trip down your way lol , but ya everything you have said in this video is 100% TRUE ,now you need to one £1000 to £2000 etc ,cheers nige
31:00 note on the 206, on the early ones (my mum has a 52 plate) they have rubbish paint, I left some bird dirt on there for 2 weeks, burned straight through the paint
Yes they all had rubbish paint, the metal is very thin and dents easy, however it has brilliant rust protection which is a reason why the metal is thinner. Sadly the paint suffers and they react easily or can even go blotchy / crazy pathing effect, it was the same with the 306 and previous 205 also
Another great video lee Had a mk4 fiesta 1.25 for 5 yrs just drove it never spent a penny on it rear arches started to go but weren’t that bad,heater matrix went in the end that was the end of her.
I have had a few of those in stock and your choices are good ones too. I would be vary on spending under 1K on any car these days, you can barely find cars for under a grand that are decent. I know this is classed as above a small car and they can rust, but I have to mention the MK1 Ford Focus which you can pick some up for under a grand though they are going up in value slowly. Great cars that are good to drive and you still see lots about over 20 years on. Great video.
I own a mk1 focus, ik I kept banging on about it in certain videos but we'll worth the money got mine for the price of a mk1 Ford ka and 350 quid but for the past almost 3 years I've had next to no problems but wear and tear items, ulez compliant too, ropey examples for around 400 quid or mint ones for 2k, take your pick
I had a 1.6 MK1 Focus and it rusted pretty badly, the same as Mondeo's. Also something went wrong with the engine. I took it to Ford and even they couldn't fix it. They said that pretty much all the MK1's have the same problem when they get old and can't be tracked down and fixed without it costing more than the car is worth. The front of house guy said he had one with the same problem but even though he got the labour for free they spent hours on it they still couldn't fix it.
If I were looking at a small-ish car with a hard limit of £1k, I'd probably do similar... I'd go private sales and get a Volvo C30 1.6 petrol - plenty around a grand without silly miles and basically a 1.6 Focus in a prettier (but much less practical, which hurts the value without hurting the reliability) package - partly because I know them, know the little things that go wrong on them, partly because (prejudice on my part, possibly?) I tend to find Volvo's get taken care of a little bit better, service history tends to be better than a similar price Focus.
Great information about small cheap cars but i cant believe you slated the Vauxhall Mervia. I've had 2 and loved them for the higher driving position like a little van. 😂
I dont mind the mk1 so much the later mk2 is poor. I would always push someone to a fusion over a meriva as they are more reliable but I will buy and sell mervias no issue 1.4 1.6 or 1.7 diesel
From experience I'd really recommend a K12 Nissan Micra. I've had my 2003 1.2 Auto for 7 years now, and it's been faultlessly reliable . Best car I've ever bought. Wiper washer motors can leak making the wipers have a mind of their own, but that's a cheap repair circa £200 fitted. Only downside is rust, which can be rampant, so check very carefully underneath. Find a good one though, have it wax oiled, service the auto gearbox every 6 to 8 years, and it will absolutely delight you. I've certainly no intention of selling mine anytime soon.
I've got a Ford Fiesta 2006 1.4L, 5 door. Love it to bits, great runabout, cheap on fuel, insurance and tax, nippy, fun to drive and easy to park and lots of room for a small car being a hatchback and folding seats.
Hey Lee - you might want to warn people about the Nissan Micra K12 160SR. Only 800 were ever made. So now whilst a future rare car for sure - due to the limited numbers they now no longer make the exhaust or the radiator for these. I own one and the exhaust had to be custom made. Also beware of bad maintenance - mine came with the books and even the radio code and only 52K. However lack of maintenance in the previous 2 years meant - 2 springs, wheel bearing, service, and discs and pads all round + battery. It is also worth noting the front discs have a nasty habit of looking great from the outside - whilst the inside disc side is shot. That said - since I did all that I have taken it from 52 to 68K in the last 2 years with just 2 services. Also worth noting the 1.6 Nissan engine from this period has the notorious rattle between 2000 - 3000 revs. Mine has always done it even after the heatshields etc are tightened up etc. So the 160 SR is quite fun - but it does have some pitfalls.
I have had no issue finding parts for my 2005 1.3l mitsubishi colt. 256 000 km and still going strong. Only problem for me has been the automatic gear. I had to get it replaced by the mitsu dealer, so wasn't cheap. The engine is reliable and corrosion not too bad.
Owned Mk3 Fiesta, 58 Jazz and 55 plate Picanto, all of which did me well but had their faults in the end. The car from this era that I loved and miss was an 08 plate Citroën C2, really fun little car and only bigish problem I had was a CV joint.
Nice drive and sell well, however do suffer with subframe corrosion (failed many) and gearboxes are weak but cheap to have fixed. I will buy and sell them mind as bar them two main issues they are good news
Loads of useful tips, thanks👍. Mk 5 fiesta at 999 looked decent. Always thought French cars were good value around this price, maybe not as reliable as the Japanese, but less rust.
Nice one Lee you are right about them Renaults I had a head on in a scenic and it held up well I walk out with a couple of scratches. I picked up a 2007 kea picanto 50 k on it I payed 450 for it it’s ok to get from A to B but I wud not take it on the motorway but I will get my money bk when I sell it 🙂🚘🚗✌️
The p107 are fabulous. My daughter lives over in the Peak District and when she comes over I give it the once over and a wash, it’s had a clutch just like you said in five years. It’s the best car we’ve ever had I love it
Great video, thank you. Any chance you will consider to make a similar video of cars between £1k and £2k in the future? Thanks again, was a pleasure to watch the whole video! 🙂👍
I enjoyed this, even though I'm not looking, it's good to have the knowledge on each car. I would suggest going up the price brackets next, or/and stay on the car size theme. Personally I would make the next bracket £2.5k. Great vid, keep it up. Liked and subbed.
Nissan Micra 03 plate K12. Is a solid reliable car, my daughter has had one for 18 months for a 20 year old car very impressive. Sailed through mot with no advisors too. Inly problem is keyless entry on ignition barrel. Its on a few notice boards sites so a slight problem in a few nisan models
Lee, brilliant and very well informed video. The best guide to buying a small cheap car I have seen. Always liked the Yaris, very reliable and economical and similar to the Jazz in that many are driven by the slightly older generation which can be a good thing as there’s more of a chance of a car with service history. Glad to see your channel is doing well and look forward to seeing your new videos. How about the same type of guide for slightly larger sector such as Astras, Focus etc?
Great video with some honest advice. Be great to see you do some more like this at other price points. Been watching since you started the channel. Keep up the good work.
This should confirm for most buyers that it's just not possible to get reliable cheap transport at this price point. Bearing in mind traders in these will be making profit then the actual values are near scrap. Sadly every single car shown would be a money pit. A full MOT just means that it will be scrap next year.
@@carukchannel Yup, surprisingly good also. I use it for my kids learning to drive. It’s actually brilliant for tip runs too, it’s amazing what you can fit in there. Oh it’s also got a cool digital dashboard. The only down side that there is no AC, and it’s like hades inside even on a moderately sunny day.
Great video! exactly what I need for choosing a first car. it's these little things of knowledge that make the difference.. I've found rust to be an issue on a lot of the ones I've online M.O.T checked so it is a bit of a minefield.
Good stuff. One brand/ model not mentioned is Mazda - I can understand why in a way (they're not as popular Up Over as they are here) but if you can find a Mazda2 with half-decent bodywork, the oily bits are all but bombproof, and even the 1st gen (looks like a 7/8 scale Mk5 Fiesta) isn't a bad drive. Shell out another 500 or so and you might get a DE. My ten penn'orth.
A great video, which makes some very good/useful points. My 2 pence worth based on personal experience and the experience of others of the Ford Owners Forum isL * Petrol MK5 Fiesta - Great little cars, quite durable mechanically, peppy AND robust petrol engines. As Lee mentioned, just deal with any scabby corrosion as soon as it happens (mainly the exposed underbody items) and there's really not too much more to worry about. However... * MK4 Fiesta - Total rot boxes, front arches, rear arches, sills, subframe (basically, any part of the car that's exposed to road salt/water WILL rust like a mother). Do yourselves a favour, pay a little more and get a MK5 Fiesta. The MK4 also carried over most of its mechanicals from the MK3, so it was already out of date when it became available. There's a reason why there's barely any of them left #RustBuckets
Brilliant video Lee. Huge thanks for this as I’m in the market for a daily to run up and down the motorway and do the school run too. Cheers again for sharing your knowledge and experience mate!
Got an 11 reg 107,been stood 3 yrs, strangely, the only fault was a dead indicator switch. At £575,a steal, super little car, fun to drive, 60plus mpg, cheap spares, just make sure you get aircon, though.
Another great vid nate, as you know, I've repaired all of these little buses, but apart from the 3 amigos..Aygo, C1 and 107 which as you know are always top of my list,, the Poli is a must for me, just can't go wrong if you get a good un, keep em coming mate, really do enjoy your videos and content 😎
I had a 2003 fiesta finesse, that was one heavy car for the old 1.3 engine to push around. I'm on my second K12 Micra, I really love these cars. My first was lost because the ex wife took it and my second was bought because I really missed the first. Weak point is the lower suspension arm but cheap to replace and ignition switch is a weak point as it can stop the car from starting.
I think Corsas have the same electric power steering (and problems) as the Punto. I had a 07 Punto where the power steering would fail intermittently, but I managed to cure it by removing and cleaning up the earth leads (there are 4 or 5, from memory)...
Watch out for SRS light on dash Clio Campus centre cup holders in consul sit directly on top of SRS ECU control box so spilt coffee can fry control box but fairly cheap S/H from breakers
Got a fiat panda class motor to drive . If I was single it wouldn't get me a bird but who cares its comfy and you can actually fit alot in them . Plenty of full tip runs 😂
On the Ibiza/Polo/Fabia, I've had all three on that age. I did find the interior was more fragile on the Ibiza and it was more prone to rust and electrical issues. It's the one of the 3 I'd avoid having again. The Fabia and Polo were both great
i had a little 02 206 1.1 (no abs) which i gave £300 for as stop gap, took it to work and put it on the mot ramp and it was immaculate, not one spot of rust, i managed to do 15k miles in it before the timing jumped and bent the valves (my fault as i never changed the belt) the rear axle did fail but i bought the axle off the 1.4 hdi and fitted it at home and it cost £130 in total to do that, it was brilliant on fuel and i do miss it, got a 62 plate corsa d ltd. and its okay i guess, osr arch is a little bubbly and short mot but it aint bad for £750 lol
Great Video, loved it, Id love seeing other prices ranges too, Yaris and Jazz would always be my choice with Polo's a close 3rd place, quality and reliability costs.
Lee, probably your best used car buyer video to date. I wrote a long helpful comment with lots of extra pointers on the Fiesta V but for some reason it was taken down immediately; lesson learnt!
Really interesting thanks. Dunno if you're considering it but a series of these, say csrs about 2K etc would be good. I know you don't particularly do vans but that would interest me no end cheers
something a little different this video, I give my opinions on small vehicles to buy under £1k, Using my experience of trading these vehicles over the years, working on them and of course Mot Testing them and seeing all there faults and positives. Hope you enjoy guys and please let me know your thoughts in the comments.
I'm sure in this day and age where money is tight and prices are so high this will come in use for those who really need a cheap reliable A to B motor or daily. So many TH-camrs go for expensive motors that are way out of most people's price range so genuine consumer advice is welcome. I certainly wouldn't go around any of the Walsall locations featured though 😅 No warranties etc despite the clear Consumer Rights Act... Very scary types
They only driven locally.and frpm a to b.
Agree with it all fella,the 206 i've not got much experience of. Some cars can be a pan to fix yourself & running costs BUT you just gotta juggle the good with the bad....as with all cars out there. Liked the video!
I noticed you didn't list the 8th gen civics? is that because most £1000 ones are duds?
I've had three clios. A 1.6i, then a1.4i and now a 1.2i. My 1.2 is doing almost 500 000km and still running strong. And no rust even though I'm in a tropical climate in South Africa. I love this channel.
You wont get a very good Toyota Yaris for under a grand, I've had 3 Yaris's and still drive one now, a 2014 low mileage 64 plate, but these cars really do hold their price, and you can be paying several thousand for even a Mk1 in decent nick, bearing in mind that all Mk1 Yaris are now over 17 years old, and to be honest, the ones I've seen on Ebay and the likes for under a grand are absolute knackers, fit for the scrap yard. When I had a Mk1, which was a very very early April 1999 T plate Yaris, it had problems with corrosion back in 2010 at 11 years old, where the fuel filler neck and breather rotted out and leaked fuel vapour, so always check the filler pipe from fuel tank up behind the rear wheel up to the filler flap door - they rot. It was failing MOT's at 13 years old for holes in the lower corner of the rear wheel arch where it meets the sill, and also the rear outer sill needed welding. Practically all old Mk1 Yaris's for less than 2 grand are likely to need extensive welding on the rear undersides if not already done.
Steer clear of any Mk1 Yaris with the semi auto gearbox (automated manual), usually fitted to later mk1 1.0 petrol engines they are very unreliable - if you need an auto in the mk1, get the proper fully automatic box only available with the 1.3 engines.
Although the Mk2 Yaris would not be available normally for under a grand, You may be able to find early 06 or 07 plates available, but my experience of that Model, I had an 06 plate myself, they suffer with severe problems with the headlights going foggy and cloudy - the Mk1 also had this issue, but the Mk2, early models 55 - 08 plates especially got the problem really bad, and it can be an MOT fail, so whilst buffing them might work temporarily, and I sanded mine and sprayed clear lacquer on them, replacement may end up necessary. Mk2 Automatics steer clear of - nothing but trouble with the multimode semi auto that was the only option in the MK2, so if one comes up as spares or repair for a cheap price, walk away, will cost a bomb to put right and they just go wrong all the time. Manual is the way to go with the Mk2, but check the clutch pedal bite point, as some early model Mk2 suffered with very low biting points like mine did, and getting reverse or first can be problemsome, especially getting into reverse.
If you really want a Yaris, and you want a decent one, I'm afraid you will be having to spend a lot more than a grand. Yes you can pick them up for under a grand, but once the MOT runs out, you may well be in for a shock because corrosion is going to be the big killer. They are very reliable yes, but on older Yaris's if they have not been properly maintained, then even Yaris's can break down.
All Petrol engine Yaris's have timing chains, not belts, so people think they are bulletproof - they are, only if the oil has been changed regularly, at 6000 - 10000 mile intervals, and if oil changes are neglected, then the engines VVT mechanisms can go faulty, the timing chains wear out, then stretch and rattle, eventually putting the engine management light on, which is an MOT fail, and a new chain on a high mileage Yaris could be more than the car is worth, so if the engine is noisy and rattling,, walk away, especially on beat up old Mk1 that is being sold for under a grand. They are that cheap for a reason, they are usually about ready for the scrap yard.
I've had my Nissan Micra 23 years .. W .. Never broken down .. I've done 78K .. a few bits of rust on it been repaired.. never failed an MOT .. .. Still got OR exhaust .. rear brake shoes .. stoplight bulbs etc .. They don't make them like this anymore .. Thank you for posting :)
Thanks for watching nightlore 👍👍
The thing about cheap small high milers is its a lottery. You can mitigate that to a point if you have Lee's experience. I have bought some that ran for a few years and some that go bang in a few days. Some cam belts have dates on them so you can check when they were last changed but most owners don't want you unbolting stuff. Expecting service history on a 20 year old car is a pipe dream. So you pays ya money and takes ya chances.
Don’t be afraid, 41 minutes of Lee talking and it’s quality real life advice/experience. As usual these videos seem much shorter than they are but that’s down to our host here. Hope he can do more of these as both myself and my better half really enjoyed this
. Funny how the cars shown are all over 15 years old and only a few have rust issues yet when I was a youth some models, especially Italian, came out of the factory with the old tin worm.
That age Honda Jazz, forget it. They are rust buckets and if you spot any corrosion at all near the sills, arches, it's just a matter of time when.... you will be leaving it at the scrapyard. And be aware, quite a few sellers clean and paint over the rust to hide it because the engines and gearboxes outlive the car body and operate very nicely.
Yes quite a few comments regarding rust but there are some sound ones out there. I just bought one last month 2006 1.4 Sport manual. Bodywork is very sound and i took tje precaution of having it undersealed as part of the deal. That said, it came with several water leaks so ive had a month of stress and hassle fixing this as i have no garage and it hasnt stopped raining much. Buyers need to be aware of the water leak issues. They are easily fixable if you have the time to identify and check the cars out thoroughly before parting with your cash.
A superb informative video and much needed for the likes of us without big budgets. I'd love to see more like this with maybe the price categories expanded to say £1500 - £2500 (and possibly £2500 - £3500 which would be around my buying limit for a used car). Your really do us a service with videos like this Lee, so many thanks indeed!
Many thanks david I will do more of these videos going forward
i think this was one of the best vids i've seen,for those wanting to purchase a small used car on a modest budget & yes, i would like to see some more similar vids.
Many thanks Barry appreciate it 👍👍
Toyota Yaris, one of the most reliable cars I’ve had. Bulletproof. Can withstand anything. Probs can’t get them for 1k anymore but worth the price any day long.
Agree 100%
I bought my 2003 Yaris in 2017 for a grand, and it’s been absolutely bomb-proof, it has never let me down. I have had a few things changed as maintenance, and parts are super easy and cheap to find. The fuel economy is fantastic. With 135k miles on the clock and a little rust, I could still sell it now for more than I bought it for - if I wanted to, which I don’t! I wouldn’t even know what I’d replace it with, maybe a Civic from around the same era, or a slightly newer Yaris (some 2011 pre-facelift T-Spirit variants can still be found around £2.5-3k, but at that price point there are many other options too).
With the Honda Jazz you usually find that approaching 20 years old the car starts falling to bits whilst the engine will still run like new
I have a Nissan micra 2003 bulletproof never misses a beat great video mate 👍
My partner has a blue one also 2003. Been a great car. Only ever broke down once last year - she just dropped her friend off after driving back from Sheffield and it wouldnt start. Turns out it was the cam sensor so a cheap fix.
The easiest clutch I replaced was on my 1750 Maxi. All that needed to be removed was the battery box. The whole job took one hour.
One you missed if you can pick one up below a grand is a 1.0 Daihatsu Sirion. £30 tax fuel economy is brilliant. Very reliable little jap car and spacious. But its looks might not be everyones taste. Probably more reliable than a lot in the video.
Yes, it's same engine as Aygo/C1/107/Mk2 Yaris but all were 5 door with more space inside and lots of cup holders!
Don't forget the '08 Daihatsu Cuore/Mira! Same engine as the Aygo triplets and the Sirion, same space inside as the Sirion but it's the same size as the Aygo triplets and with a moving rear seat! 💗
I really like small cars, but these days manufacturers seem to think that small car buyers will be happy with a low power weedy engine. Cars are getting bigger and heavier and those of us who live alone or as just a couple without kids have little choice. Of course we could look for a used GTI or something, but I find most of them have been thrashed or modified.
I had a volvo 240 saloon for around 15 years and paid only £200 for it...one of the best cars i ever had.
Jazz would be my choice if you can get one with no rust. Absolutely bullet proof mechanically and feels more refined that most of the other options on this list.
Yes drive very well as good as a polo in drive standard, under 1k can be challenging to buy a decent one. If I was going to buy one i would be buying a near 2k car say 2008 model with lower mileage. To be fair that would then be a decent vehicle to get some years out of.
@@carukchannel I've been looking into the jazz as a first car but i've got an auto license, how much should my budget be if i want an automatic jazz that can last 2 years atleast?
@@user-bv6gs4qw9k I would avoid at all cost, the auto jazz was appalling and the box unreliable
@@carukchannel oh dear, which from.this list would you recommend to an auto driver? And what should the budget be
I don't think you'd be able to get a Jazz without rust in, good working order and mot for £1000.
Great video and advice. I'm not a huge Nissan fan but think Japanese and Korean cars reflect most reliable and best value for money sub £2k.
Had a Kia Venga and just changed for a Mazda 5 as I need the space and like the higher seating position.
When my Uncles 1.4L Rover 25 died, he asked me to help him find a 'cheap but reliable' car.
Found him a 2005 1.1 Hyundai Getz 5 dr for £700. That was 6 and half years ago and it's still going strong.
A little corrosion to wheel arches which I need to sort for him again (did 5 yrs ago and is back), but he has it serviced every year by an independant mechanic.
The odd niggle, but for an 18 yr old motor it's a gem. Never failed to start, never left him stranded, still on the original clutch.
I think the Hyundai's and Kia's are great value for money at the low cost end of the market.
I have had 2 Mitsubishi colts 1.1 3 cylinder, sliding rear seat. Cruise at 70 and 55 mpg very underrated. Last one did 160k when sold. Very tough and no rust unlike jazz sometimes have. I had a 1.3 and preferred the 3 cylinder.
Great video Mate. Fully agree. I have experience with the Hyundai Getz, Fiesta & Peug 206. Good cars. More reliable & easier to fix than the modern rubbish.
The Aygo triplets are my choice. Actually, I own a well-maintained 2007 Peugeot 107 as my first car! I bought it in June 2023, with 150k kms/~93k miles, and I have to say it's a crackin' little car! Agile, nippy, great to drive because of its small size and with quite a lot of oomph for what it actually is because it's only ~850kg and the Daihatsu 1KR-FE engine is a gem! It's a characterful little engine and I love it just for the sound it makes when it revs out, which is like half a V6 (in fact, sound was one of the reasons I went to the Aygo triplets, because I like the way 3-cylinders sound, I find them better than 4-cylinders in that respect)!
Not to mention that, where I live, I only put fuel to it once a month and I get about 450kms/280mi out of its 35l fuel tank. It's a magnificent little car and I wouldn't sell it for all the EVs in the world! 💗
Great and informative video mate! But there are two more cars to share the Daihatsu 1KR-FE engine: the 2005 Daihatsu Sirion and the 2008 Cuore/Mira. The 2005 Sirion is larger than both the Aygo triplets and the Mira, but the 2008 Cuore/Mira has the same space inside as the Sirion but with a size similar to the Aygo triplets and with a sliding rear seat too!
Don't really know whether these Daihatsu models were on sale in the UK since I'm from Greece, but I must say I see all of the aforementioned 1KR-FE-powered models everywhere in here, with the Aygo triplets being the most popular, and all of them are still going strong!
Funny enough as loan cars we have a 2004 Hyundai getz, 2006 fiat panda, 2003 Toyota Yaris, 2008 mk5 golf 1.9 TDI as you've mentioned 😂 they're all brilliant little cars, query I would have with the polos is sills, we fail so many on rotten sills and the 3 cylinders suffer with timing chains so bad, also the Honda Jazz's auto gearboxes are horrendous, the wing mirrors also fail they're £400+vat ish just to buy and the aftermarkets usually don't fit or function, the newer shape clios suffer with wiper linkage/motor failures and fuse boxes corroding; they can't be bought 2nd hand as they're programmed to the car and are on back order with Renault with no eta and cost over £250+vat just to buy, we see these sooooo often, I really wouldn't rate or recommend them at all in my experience, I'm not a mechanic but I've worked at my family's garage for 10 years to see enough of it! Overall really good and informative vid!
Thanks yes Renault wiper motors can be a paint I missed that one. However your fleet of loan cars would back up my choices 😁😁👍 thanks for watching bud
As always a cracking video, you're probably one of the very few secondhand car dealers I'd consider buying from. Cheap cars but you're frank and honest about all makes, the good and the bad. Keep them coming Lee 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Ive had 4/5 Honda Jazz 1.2 & 1.4 ,s ...amazing cars .practical..economical ,,cheap to run .tons or room for such a small car prefer the 1.4 .,bit more grunt ....never had a mechanical issue ...but you r right check rear arches ..as they are prone to rust ..high miles no problems ...would defo recommend ..no rocket ship ..but you wont be buying it for race meetings .
Family member had one which was ok,no rust anywhere,great little thing indeed, that was written off & got another.....that was rotten as a pear! It came from way up north & no wonder it was rotten. A family member got it with even viewing it!
Cracking insight for somebody looking to buy a first car or runabout👍👍
Thanks
Interesting video as always. Especially with a low budget. A lot of people still need cheaper cars like these. Which many dealers ignore. Excellent!🤙
Well said!
Agree with all you mentioned in the video,not had much experience with clios in my time. You know, a relation had a Jazz (2006) it was ok, BUT got written off in an accident...so got another (same year & miles) and was rotten a a pear! Someone in the family just purchased it over the internet/phone. Never viewed it,driven it,checked the fluids & the auto gearbox was knackered as it judders when taking off, but family member put in Lucus oil stabilizer in & seems ok so far .....it is terrible underneath!! No rust on the sides thou. Came from way up north, what's it doing down near London i'll never know! 😂 Now....being an ex Yaris MK1 owner for 14yrs i recommend them HIGHLY!! 🥰Just needed front pads & discs,serpentine belt in 14yrs, regular oil changes at 4,000m with Magnatec 5W-30 & coolant every 4yrs with Prestone on the dot, it was the BEST & MOST reliable car i ever owned. 90,000m when i parted with it & it drove PERFECT for 14yrs! Quality when driving was lovely. No rust under it as i sprayed WD-40 underneath EVERYWHERE 3x a year for like 10yrs. I got that Yaris back in 2008 & looked after it properly, 2021 got a MK3 Yaris.
I had a Mk1 5 door 1.0 CDX Yaris, in Silver, one of the very first ones on a T plate, for 5 years 2011 - 2016, was a lovely car, nice to look at, very practical inside with all the cubbys and storage places, got it from my mother who owned it 2004 - 2011, and she had no troubke with it at all, apart from a rusted out filler neck betweeen the petrol tank and the filler flap, caused the car to smell of petrol all the time. Had to have an exhaust on it when I got it, and it needed more welding done on sills and inside rear wheel arches, but apart from that, no trouble at all, and I sold it on at 17 years old and 70K miles on it for just 400 quid in 2016.
I then had a Mk2 06 reg for 7 years 2016 - 2023, and that got written off at 17 years old by another driver, but aside from cloudy headlights and a finickity clutch pedal with low bite point, it was reliable and never broke down, apart from the usual stuff like tyres, battery and exhaust box.
Now got a 64 reg Mk3 Yaris on 30K miles, and that is a very nice car, but I will say that it has much less cubbys and storage than the Mk1 did, and the back seat wont slide back on forth like on both the Mk1 and Mk2. Lovely looking car in Sintra Blue (the most uncommon blue colour for a Mk3 Yaris), but I still think the MK1 I had was my favourite Yaris. I suppose they were just so modern and futuristic back then compared to the Starlet it replaced - I loved the central digital speedo, which they did away with on the MK3.
@@stevejones1972 Mk1 will go at the rear wheel arches,they where great cars! The 1.0L was said to be the best engine to ever be made! For the size & bhp with the reliability the Daihatsu engine was fantastic! Car of the year 1999.
@@stevejones1972 The 1.0L was named best engine ever made! With the small engine having good bhp it was such a reliable Daihatsu engine! Being a MK1 Yaris owner for 14yrs they're super. only ever replaced the front pads,mid & back exhaust & serpentine belt for reliability! Tyres,battery,regular services don't count. 3x a year i sprayed EVERYWHERE incl under the back end with WD-40 & it held up with rust,the rear beam/bar was fine,no rust! Seals fine with v.little rust on rear arches.
Got mine in 2008 with 60,000m sold in 2021 with 90,000m. Used Autoglym that gave an awesome shine indeed! Got my 2002 Yaris 1.3L 4sp auto gor £3,400 in 2008 with FSH,sold it in 2021 with 3 service stamps on top then did everything myself,sold for £1,000 which is cheap! A nice chap came to look at it & didn't mess me around.
I put in Forte engine & fuel cleaner in 2009 when i worked at a garage,it was part of a service that cannot be got in shops,although ebay sells it which i got & also put in my 2015 Yaris 1.3L CVT. The 2002 Yaris i drove 15mins with that Forte in & it shuddered, almost stalled BUT it cleared,then drove way much better after indeed! I did poo myself when that happened lol
I used Prestone every 4yrs on my 2002 Yaris,coolant is VERY important! Says every 10yrs but never go 8yrs personally. I flushed out the coolant with de ionised water, put in 60% prestone as there was that water in there already,so really it'll be 50/50. My 2015 Yaris i got my garage to use the genuine Toyota Pink coolant instead, so 5yrs it'll last then i'll go to Prestone. I'll start servicing myself next year, £90 a service does add up,don't forget they add 20% VAT
I removed the PCV, cleaned it out with brake cleaner as it was dirty, so that helped the longevity indeed.
Never had a new water pump or thermostat in 14yrs, the person who i sold it to i still talk to, he hasn't don't anything! So 16yrs is amazing!
Did my 2015 CVT fluid at 88,000 with the proper Toyota FE fluid fo the dealer at £58 for 5L,did 2x drain & fill in a 2 week period,it was 2.2L each drain, i followed Amd's advice (video) with the procedure.
Had 2 rear wheel bearings done which is common, £300 plus the VAT with labour on top is expensive! The Yaris uses same bearing as Mazda 2, they're bases off a Mazda 2 i hear.
Sintra Blue aint a bad colour really,i worked for Toyota in early 90's the Scarlet drove awesome. The Corolla was fantastic!!! My first accident was in a Camry 2.2L estate in workshop lol It has 2 rear wipers!
Just change the oil every 4,000m or 5,000m MAX & the car will love you. The VVT solenoid can get clogged due to lack of oil changes, i used Magnatec 5W-30 on the MK1 for years. Nice chat fella.
Hi lee top video again not pushing high price cars some people have not got a lots off money you are a top man regards
Thanks 👍
My missus had one of those Fiestas about 15 years ago. She bought it for a grand. About 8 months later a guy smashed into the back of it. It was written off she got £1500 back on her insurance. A lad knocked the rippled boot floor backdown for less than £100, took it to VOSA and they put it back on the road. A year later she sold it for £650.
Hi Lee, a really helpful video. I’ve got a KA 54 plate. Paid £850. 64,000. Clean MOT. everything is a complete gamble
True, glad its been good for you, I have sold many over the years but they are cracking on a bit now
@@carukchannel thanks for the amazing & helpful content you bring us
Everything's a gamble for sure... It's still all about playing the odds
I had that generation Clio, a 2004 1.5 DCI, the only car I regret selling, however I can add to your list of known faults with them, Sunroof rattles, sunroof leaks, water leaking into boot, heavy clutches, bad rust in rear quater panels on 3 door models, damage to sills due to soft metal and inproper jacking up, throttle body failure on petrol models, remote central locking failure due to failed door lock actuators, rust along front edge of bonnet, failed bonnet catch mechanisms causing bonnet to fly up, alloy wheels easily buckled by pot holes, other than that they are pretty bomb proof 😂❤
had my 06 mk5 Fiesta from new, corrosion hasn't been an issue but on my 1.4tdci the injector seals went bad and that was a £300 bill. Apart from that, other failure points were broken coil springs, a wheel bearing, the air con compressor and an exhaust back box - not bad for 17 years and a car we paid £9,000 for.
Sounds a bargain chris and had given you great service. the 1.4tdci does suffer with injector seal issues in fact I have just fixed one that may feature on the channel in a few weeks. Might even keep it for a courtesy car going forward. They offer such great economy
I've got a 2005 Tdci which I've owned for nearly 17 years.. I had injector seals done, both front springs broke and I've just had wheel bearing flagged up on mot.. Saw underneath when it was on a ramp a while back and corrosion is minimal... Love the car and hopefully it has a few years left in it!!!
Superb informative video Lee buddy...Using your knowledge and passing it on is so helpful for so many people...plus the scope 4 u to make so many other videos like this with different criteria ie budget, engine size etc is HUGE...Great content as ever m8...👏🏻👏🏻
Corsa C - an amazing car, bought one cat N 2006 1.2 twin port and fixing it up.
Well done brilliant video , been in the trade myself since early 90s and doing the auction round the northwest . ie Preston Chorley and Blackpool sadly all closed now miss them days , might have to take a trip down your way lol , but ya everything you have said in this video is 100% TRUE ,now you need to one £1000 to £2000 etc ,cheers nige
31:00 note on the 206, on the early ones (my mum has a 52 plate) they have rubbish paint, I left some bird dirt on there for 2 weeks, burned straight through the paint
Yes they all had rubbish paint, the metal is very thin and dents easy, however it has brilliant rust protection which is a reason why the metal is thinner. Sadly the paint suffers and they react easily or can even go blotchy / crazy pathing effect, it was the same with the 306 and previous 205 also
Another great video lee
Had a mk4 fiesta 1.25 for 5 yrs just drove it never spent a penny on it rear arches started to go but weren’t that bad,heater matrix went in the end that was the end of her.
I have had a few of those in stock and your choices are good ones too. I would be vary on spending under 1K on any car these days, you can barely find cars for under a grand that are decent.
I know this is classed as above a small car and they can rust, but I have to mention the MK1 Ford Focus which you can pick some up for under a grand though they are going up in value slowly. Great cars that are good to drive and you still see lots about over 20 years on. Great video.
I own a mk1 focus, ik I kept banging on about it in certain videos but we'll worth the money got mine for the price of a mk1 Ford ka and 350 quid but for the past almost 3 years I've had next to no problems but wear and tear items, ulez compliant too, ropey examples for around 400 quid or mint ones for 2k, take your pick
I had a 1.6 MK1 Focus and it rusted pretty badly, the same as Mondeo's. Also something went wrong with the engine. I took it to Ford and even they couldn't fix it. They said that pretty much all the MK1's have the same problem when they get old and can't be tracked down and fixed without it costing more than the car is worth. The front of house guy said he had one with the same problem but even though he got the labour for free they spent hours on it they still couldn't fix it.
If I were looking at a small-ish car with a hard limit of £1k, I'd probably do similar... I'd go private sales and get a Volvo C30 1.6 petrol - plenty around a grand without silly miles and basically a 1.6 Focus in a prettier (but much less practical, which hurts the value without hurting the reliability) package - partly because I know them, know the little things that go wrong on them, partly because (prejudice on my part, possibly?) I tend to find Volvo's get taken care of a little bit better, service history tends to be better than a similar price Focus.
My wife had an ignis for 8 year's and was super reliable in fact it never had any thing for an mot failure.
Great to hear, I like them also as I mentioned.
Worked for Suzuki,they're so underrated!
You are so right about Ford Ka, trouble is i love them ,so nippy but rust killed both of mine.
Great information about small cheap cars but i cant believe you slated the Vauxhall Mervia.
I've had 2 and loved them for the higher driving position like a little van. 😂
I dont mind the mk1 so much the later mk2 is poor. I would always push someone to a fusion over a meriva as they are more reliable but I will buy and sell mervias no issue 1.4 1.6 or 1.7 diesel
Aygo/107/C1… my recommendation! 👍
From experience I'd really recommend a K12 Nissan Micra. I've had my 2003 1.2 Auto for 7 years now, and it's been faultlessly reliable . Best car I've ever bought. Wiper washer motors can leak making the wipers have a mind of their own, but that's a cheap repair circa £200 fitted. Only downside is rust, which can be rampant, so check very carefully underneath. Find a good one though, have it wax oiled, service the auto gearbox every 6 to 8 years, and it will absolutely delight you. I've certainly no intention of selling mine anytime soon.
I've got a Ford Fiesta 2006 1.4L, 5 door. Love it to bits, great runabout, cheap on fuel, insurance and tax, nippy, fun to drive and easy to park and lots of room for a small car being a hatchback and folding seats.
What fuel economy figures are you getting on it?
Hey Lee - you might want to warn people about the Nissan Micra K12 160SR. Only 800 were ever made. So now whilst a future rare car for sure - due to the limited numbers they now no longer make the exhaust or the radiator for these. I own one and the exhaust had to be custom made. Also beware of bad maintenance - mine came with the books and even the radio code and only 52K. However lack of maintenance in the previous 2 years meant - 2 springs, wheel bearing, service, and discs and pads all round + battery. It is also worth noting the front discs have a nasty habit of looking great from the outside - whilst the inside disc side is shot. That said - since I did all that I have taken it from 52 to 68K in the last 2 years with just 2 services. Also worth noting the 1.6 Nissan engine from this period has the notorious rattle between 2000 - 3000 revs. Mine has always done it even after the heatshields etc are tightened up etc. So the 160 SR is quite fun - but it does have some pitfalls.
100% agreed on the 206 being the last worthwhile Peugeot.
Thank you for a very informative video. I would like to see more like this, particularly £2000 or even £3000 cars.
Right off the bat... Im not sure about you, but I think I'd filter for petrol only as well as
I have had no issue finding parts for my 2005 1.3l mitsubishi colt. 256 000 km and still going strong. Only problem for me has been the automatic gear. I had to get it replaced by the mitsu dealer, so wasn't cheap. The engine is reliable and corrosion not too bad.
If you want a Corsa C with better seating position and higher roof instead of Meriva go with Agila A or the car it is based on, Suzuki Wagon R.
Excellent video and very informative. The 41 minutes flew by!
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent. Really really well explained and thorough.
Glad it was helpful! 👍👍
Owned Mk3 Fiesta, 58 Jazz and 55 plate Picanto, all of which did me well but had their faults in the end. The car from this era that I loved and miss was an 08 plate Citroën C2, really fun little car and only bigish problem I had was a CV joint.
Suzuki's are great had 2 swifts both been very reliable good on fuel and cheap tax.😊
Nice drive and sell well, however do suffer with subframe corrosion (failed many) and gearboxes are weak but cheap to have fixed. I will buy and sell them mind as bar them two main issues they are good news
Really useful vid. Thanks Lee. My boy is wanting to throw some money away on a runabout, so this helped 👍
No problem 👍
Loads of useful tips, thanks👍. Mk 5 fiesta at 999 looked decent. Always thought French cars were good value around this price, maybe not as reliable as the Japanese, but less rust.
Thanks happy
Nice one Lee you are right about them Renaults I had a head on in a scenic and it held up well I walk out with a couple of scratches. I picked up a 2007 kea picanto 50 k on it I payed 450 for it it’s ok to get from A to B but I wud not take it on the motorway but I will get my money bk when I sell it 🙂🚘🚗✌️
The p107 are fabulous. My daughter lives over in the Peak District and when she comes over I give it the once over and a wash, it’s had a clutch just like you said in five years. It’s the best car we’ve ever had I love it
Cracking cars and one of my favoured vehicles to buy and sell
Excellent video very informative, keep them coming Lee. Appreciated.
Great video, thank you. Any chance you will consider to make a similar video of cars between £1k and £2k in the future? Thanks again, was a pleasure to watch the whole video! 🙂👍
So informotive absolute belta. Thank you lee for knowledge pal 👍🚗👍
No problem 👍
Good format, maybs take a poll to see what the audience would want to budget for, this is a rich seam guv!
I enjoyed this, even though I'm not looking, it's good to have the knowledge on each car. I would suggest going up the price brackets next, or/and stay on the car size theme. Personally I would make the next bracket £2.5k. Great vid, keep it up. Liked and subbed.
awesome video so detailed PLEASE do more of these!!! liked and subscribed
Thanks for the sub!
Nissan Micra 03 plate K12. Is a solid reliable car, my daughter has had one for 18 months for a 20 year old car very impressive. Sailed through mot with no advisors too.
Inly problem is keyless entry on ignition barrel. Its on a few notice boards sites so a slight problem in a few nisan models
Excellent video -this will be very useful to hundreds of people. Thanks.
Hope so!
Excellent...really informative...yes more videos please with different budgets
will do
Lee, brilliant and very well informed video. The best guide to buying a small cheap car I have seen. Always liked the Yaris, very reliable and economical and similar to the Jazz in that many are driven by the slightly older generation which can be a good thing as there’s more of a chance of a car with service history. Glad to see your channel is doing well and look forward to seeing your new videos. How about the same type of guide for slightly larger sector such as Astras, Focus etc?
Great video with some honest advice. Be great to see you do some more like this at other price points. Been watching since you started the channel. Keep up the good work.
many thanks aishy
Excellent video Lee , good advise for someone wanting a cheap run around . 100% correct on them KA , nice drive but my god do they rot !
Thanks 👍 yes if Ford had just spent another 50p on some underseal 😁
This should confirm for most buyers that it's just not possible to get reliable cheap transport at this price point. Bearing in mind traders in these will be making profit then the actual values are near scrap. Sadly every single car shown would be a money pit. A full MOT just means that it will be scrap next year.
yes and the gamble is the timing belts some will never have been done BANG
Brilliant video, very helpful - I wouldn't have even considered a Clio. Old man doesn't do cars so just wants something that will get him from A to B
Very thorough Lee, as usual. Honest appraisals from someone on the inside. Thank you.
I brought a 1.0 , W reg Yaris for £700. It’s as reliable as the sunset , and is surprisingly practical .
Glad to hear, does it have Power steering
@@carukchannel Yup, surprisingly good also. I use it for my kids learning to drive. It’s actually brilliant for tip runs too, it’s amazing what you can fit in there. Oh it’s also got a cool digital dashboard. The only down side that there is no AC, and it’s like hades inside even on a moderately sunny day.
Great video! exactly what I need for choosing a first car. it's these little things of knowledge that make the difference.. I've found rust to be an issue on a lot of the ones I've online M.O.T checked so it is a bit of a minefield.
Good stuff. One brand/ model not mentioned is Mazda - I can understand why in a way (they're not as popular Up Over as they are here) but if you can find a Mazda2 with half-decent bodywork, the oily bits are all but bombproof, and even the 1st gen (looks like a 7/8 scale Mk5 Fiesta) isn't a bad drive. Shell out another 500 or so and you might get a DE. My ten penn'orth.
A great video, which makes some very good/useful points. My 2 pence worth based on personal experience and the experience of others of the Ford Owners Forum isL
* Petrol MK5 Fiesta - Great little cars, quite durable mechanically, peppy AND robust petrol engines. As Lee mentioned, just deal with any scabby corrosion as soon as it happens (mainly the exposed underbody items) and there's really not too much more to worry about. However...
* MK4 Fiesta - Total rot boxes, front arches, rear arches, sills, subframe (basically, any part of the car that's exposed to road salt/water WILL rust like a mother). Do yourselves a favour, pay a little more and get a MK5 Fiesta. The MK4 also carried over most of its mechanicals from the MK3, so it was already out of date when it became available. There's a reason why there's barely any of them left #RustBuckets
Do like a mk5 fiesta got a few on sale currently 👍👍
I bought a 2003 mk5 1.4 fiesta 9 months ago for £800 as a daily, so far done 6000 miles , intermittent abs light, apart from that been faultless .
more than likely will be a speed sensor issue, cheap fix
Brilliant video Lee. Huge thanks for this as I’m in the market for a daily to run up and down the motorway and do the school run too. Cheers again for sharing your knowledge and experience mate!
Many thanks and good luck with you search
@@carukchannel cheers. When’s the new car lot open as I might have to see what you got!
@@lucythemoggy1970cheers dude! I’ll add it to my saved searches on Auto trader!
Got an 11 reg 107,been stood 3 yrs, strangely, the only fault was a dead indicator switch. At £575,a steal, super little car, fun to drive, 60plus mpg, cheap spares, just make sure you get aircon, though.
Another great vid nate, as you know, I've repaired all of these little buses, but apart from the 3 amigos..Aygo, C1 and 107 which as you know are always top of my list,, the Poli is a must for me, just can't go wrong if you get a good un, keep em coming mate, really do enjoy your videos and content 😎
cheers mart
I had a 2003 fiesta finesse, that was one heavy car for the old 1.3 engine to push around. I'm on my second K12 Micra, I really love these cars. My first was lost because the ex wife took it and my second was bought because I really missed the first. Weak point is the lower suspension arm but cheap to replace and ignition switch is a weak point as it can stop the car from starting.
I think Corsas have the same electric power steering (and problems) as the Punto. I had a 07 Punto where the power steering would fail intermittently, but I managed to cure it by removing and cleaning up the earth leads (there are 4 or 5, from memory)...
Watch out for SRS light on dash Clio Campus centre cup holders in consul sit directly on top of SRS ECU control box so spilt coffee can fry control box but fairly cheap S/H from breakers
Got a fiat panda class motor to drive . If I was single it wouldn't get me a bird but who cares its comfy and you can actually fit alot in them . Plenty of full tip runs 😂
Ohh and a great video 😂
😁
I like the 206 because they never seem to rust
Yes they do hold up well
On the Ibiza/Polo/Fabia, I've had all three on that age. I did find the interior was more fragile on the Ibiza and it was more prone to rust and electrical issues. It's the one of the 3 I'd avoid having again. The Fabia and Polo were both great
Loved this Top 10. Can you do a top in the future for a different price bracket, say £3,000?
All the best!
Yes I can 👍
Thank you great advice looking for my father in law in 80s now so probably be his last car so want it to be stressless for him 😊
Best of luck!
Top car content. My favourite channel for it
Many thanks
i had a little 02 206 1.1 (no abs) which i gave £300 for as stop gap, took it to work and put it on the mot ramp and it was immaculate, not one spot of rust, i managed to do 15k miles in it before the timing jumped and bent the valves (my fault as i never changed the belt) the rear axle did fail but i bought the axle off the 1.4 hdi and fitted it at home and it cost £130 in total to do that, it was brilliant on fuel and i do miss it, got a 62 plate corsa d ltd. and its okay i guess, osr arch is a little bubbly and short mot but it aint bad for £750 lol
Fantastic round up of cars. Keep it up
Thanks 👍
Great Video, loved it, Id love seeing other prices ranges too, Yaris and Jazz would always be my choice with Polo's a close 3rd place, quality and reliability costs.
Older micra best car ever Iv had 19 of them over time 1.0 burnout machine
Lee, probably your best used car buyer video to date.
I wrote a long helpful comment with lots of extra pointers on the Fiesta V but for some reason it was taken down immediately; lesson learnt!
Great video Lee your knowledge is fantastic, and great advice, I would defo buy from you
1st car i owned was a mk7 fiesta 1.25 82bhp really nice car, very reliable and nippy for a 1.2. Was a great solid car that has 130k on it now!
Given the year of the recommended ones, don‘t plan on taking them into an ULEZ zone, which will add considerably to your running cost.
I could not afford to drive a w12 bentley to ulez zone never mine pass through 🤣
Very useful video. Thanks! You are the guru. PS something on estates and SUVs please under 3k cheers.
Really interesting thanks. Dunno if you're considering it but a series of these, say csrs about 2K etc would be good.
I know you don't particularly do vans but that would interest me no end cheers