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 RUclipsrs 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.
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'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 :)
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.
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.
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.
Love this video, I drive a 2005 Suzuki Ignis 1.3, 310,000km, totally agree with all your positives and negatives, it is an exceptionally sturdy and reliable little box on wheels, a real Tardis with a great engine
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.
Excellent informative vid, I agree with the mk1 Ford KA, they are very rot prone, I bought a 2008 Mk1 KA pretty cheap and I knew it was rusty due to the bubbling around the fuel filler, but I had very little idea just how rotten the car was when I noticed rust flaking out of the wheel arch when I slammed the passenger door one day, needless to say it was scrapped. Totally agree on the Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo, they are brilliant little cars, cheap to run cheapest to insure, and the K11 Nissan Micra, another great motor.
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 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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...👏🏻👏🏻
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!
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!
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.
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?
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!
I've owned a Peugeot 107 & a Renault Clio & I think you are absolutely spot on about both. The Clio had electrical faults & I had to get the electric windows fixed (cost £120) & the 107 had rotten sills & I had to get both sides welded & it cost £300. But both were good cars lost in accidents.
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!
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 😎
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.
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
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 🙂🚘🚗✌️
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!
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!!!
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
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.
Enjoyed this video & hearing your inside knowledge on cars and their issues is really intend helpful. I'd like follow up videos with medium and larger sized cars. 👍
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.
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.
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
@carukchannel Yes agree there. And door microswitches causing central locking gremlins, but the metalwork was 'too good' and after 2007 Skoda had to cut back on the rustproofing. Corrosion is the one thing that really kills off 15+ years old cars however good the mechanics may be.
Great video Lee , very informative , I will be looking for a reasonable van at the end of the year to use as an occasional dayvan/camper , around £3000 , keep up the good work
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
Great advice on these cars, I'd go for the MK2 Clio personally, mainly because I really rate Renaults from that era. I've had a Y reg MK1 Megane as a cheapie and it was brilliant. I've also had a Clio 172 but that's not in this bracket obviously and the sill covers meant it went rotten :( I'd love to see more of these videos in different sectors. I'm into my larger cars so it would be great to get your opinions on some of those.
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
Great video. Really informative as usual. Would be interested to see an MOT being done on a car from start to finish . Perhaps we could have that in a future video ?
@@we-are-electric1445 I still can, I can take vehicles into a couple of stations and they will let me test there. I will work on doing a video one day showing a full test if possible
@@carukchannel I think it would make interesting and useful content. I have not seen any of the other car channels doing anything like it . I hope you can do it. 😀
I had a Smartforfour, it was easy to fix and rock solid reliable as its just a Colt with a different body. The only thing we had an issue with was the abs sensor - 30 quid and 20 minutes to replace. Very roomy inside and the 1.1 3 pot engine had plenty of umph and gave amazing fuel economy. Would own another 100%.
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 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.
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 RUclipsrs 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.
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'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 👍👍
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.
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.
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 👍👍
Love this video, I drive a 2005 Suzuki Ignis 1.3, 310,000km, totally agree with all your positives and negatives, it is an exceptionally sturdy and reliable little box on wheels, a real Tardis with a great engine
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%
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 👍
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!
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).
Cracking insight for somebody looking to buy a first car or runabout👍👍
Thanks
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.
Excellent informative vid, I agree with the mk1 Ford KA, they are very rot prone, I bought a 2008 Mk1 KA pretty cheap and I knew it was rusty due to the bubbling around the fuel filler, but I had very little idea just how rotten the car was when I noticed rust flaking out of the wheel arch when I slammed the passenger door one day, needless to say it was scrapped.
Totally agree on the Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo, they are brilliant little cars, cheap to run cheapest to insure, and the K11 Nissan Micra, another great motor.
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 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
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
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.
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.
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.
Excellent. Really really well explained and thorough.
Glad it was helpful! 👍👍
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.
Really useful vid. Thanks Lee. My boy is wanting to throw some money away on a runabout, so this helped 👍
No problem 👍
Thank you for a very informative video. I would like to see more like this, particularly £2000 or even £3000 cars.
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.
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
Excellent video very informative, keep them coming Lee. Appreciated.
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
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...👏🏻👏🏻
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
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.
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!
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.
Good format, maybs take a poll to see what the audience would want to budget for, this is a rich seam guv!
I had a volvo 240 saloon for around 15 years and paid only £200 for it...one of the best cars i ever had.
Excellent video -this will be very useful to hundreds of people. Thanks.
Hope so!
awesome video so detailed PLEASE do more of these!!! liked and subscribed
Thanks for the sub!
Excellent video and very informative. The 41 minutes flew by!
Glad it was helpful!
100% agreed on the 206 being the last worthwhile Peugeot.
Great vid
Should do a similar vid on sports car and luxury car segment. That would be very interesting
Great suggestion!
So informotive absolute belta. Thank you lee for knowledge pal 👍🚗👍
No problem 👍
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?
Excellent...really informative...yes more videos please with different budgets
will do
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!
Corsa C - an amazing car, bought one cat N 2006 1.2 twin port and fixing it up.
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!
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
Fantastic round up of cars. Keep it up
Thanks 👍
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 😁
You are so right about Ford Ka, trouble is i love them ,so nippy but rust killed both of mine.
Very thorough Lee, as usual. Honest appraisals from someone on the inside. Thank you.
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.
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.
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!
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!
I've owned a Peugeot 107 & a Renault Clio & I think you are absolutely spot on about both. The Clio had electrical faults & I had to get the electric windows fixed (cost £120) & the 107 had rotten sills & I had to get both sides welded & it cost £300. But both were good cars lost in accidents.
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
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
Great video Lee your knowledge is fantastic, and great advice, I would defo buy from you
Great video, I'd like to see more like this.
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.
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
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
Great channel, thanks for all of your hard work. I’ve learned heaps.
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.
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 🙂🚘🚗✌️
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!
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 👍
Super interesting vlog. Watch everyone till the end.👍
Thank you so much 👍
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!!!
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
Top car content. My favourite channel for it
Many thanks
Very useful video. Thanks! You are the guru. PS something on estates and SUVs please under 3k cheers.
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.
Enjoyed this video & hearing your inside knowledge on cars and their issues is really intend helpful. I'd like follow up videos with medium and larger sized cars. 👍
Thanks! Will do!
Great vid Lee
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.
Great video, hooked on your ideas and would love to have your knowledge 👍🙌
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
Aygo/107/C1… my recommendation! 👍
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
Mk.1 Fabia is my pick. So well built underneath and the older they are tge better the build quality.
Yes very good car, although windows are pain on the mk1 always breaking regulators / motors and pain to fix
@carukchannel Yes agree there. And door microswitches causing central locking gremlins, but the metalwork was 'too good' and after 2007 Skoda had to cut back on the rustproofing. Corrosion is the one thing that really kills off 15+ years old cars however good the mechanics may be.
Great video Lee , very informative , I will be looking for a reasonable van at the end of the year to use as an occasional dayvan/camper , around £3000 , keep up the good work
Great info ! more of this type of video would be very interesting and useful Thanks for the effort !
Brilliant video Lee. Please do keep them coming. I enjoy all your videos but would love to hear your opinion on other price ranges.
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
Great advice on these cars, I'd go for the MK2 Clio personally, mainly because I really rate Renaults from that era. I've had a Y reg MK1 Megane as a cheapie and it was brilliant. I've also had a Clio 172 but that's not in this bracket obviously and the sill covers meant it went rotten :( I'd love to see more of these videos in different sectors. I'm into my larger cars so it would be great to get your opinions on some of those.
Me also, will do a video on larger vehicles in near future
Excellent video Lee! Would love to see another one like this but with a 5k budget
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 👍👍
Could you also please do video for cars under 2k for all your viewers Great information and knowledge you have about second hand cars. 👍
Great video. Really informative as usual.
Would be interested to see an MOT being done on a car from start to finish . Perhaps we could have that in a future video ?
Maybe but as I have just sold my MOT station that might be difficult, I will think of something 😁👍
@@carukchannel Oh right. I misunderstood. I thought you had said you were still going to do MOT's. I will need to get my ears checked.😁
@@we-are-electric1445 I still can, I can take vehicles into a couple of stations and they will let me test there. I will work on doing a video one day showing a full test if possible
@@carukchannel I think it would make interesting and useful content. I have not seen any of the other car channels doing anything like it . I hope you can do it. 😀
Great video defo would like to see more like this 👍🏻
Thanks! Will do!
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
Great video fella
Thanks 👍
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!
I like the 206 because they never seem to rust
Yes they do hold up well
I had a Smartforfour, it was easy to fix and rock solid reliable as its just a Colt with a different body. The only thing we had an issue with was the abs sensor - 30 quid and 20 minutes to replace. Very roomy inside and the 1.1 3 pot engine had plenty of umph and gave amazing fuel economy. Would own another 100%.
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 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.
Brilliant video 👍
Thanks 👍