You’d think the biggest issue you’d need to worry about when buying cheap, economical used cars would be MPG figures – but there’s a little more to it than that. A lot of cars from the early 2000s have had quite hard lives, leaving them fraught with problems that can result in expensive repair bills if you don’t know what to watch out for before you buy.
It’s also well worth checking how much money you’ll pay in road tax before you hand over any money. Not all cheap runabouts are created equal, so look up your potential purchase’s CO2 emissions by entering its reg number into this online government tool and compare the figure against this DVLA table so you can factor tax into your budget.
We’ve listed some of the most popular economical used cars below, and detailed some of the major faults you should pay attention to when shopping for them. All of the cars in this list can be found in used car listings for less than £2,000 – but don’t be afraid to knock the seller’s price down if you find any faults.
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Renault Clio (2001–2008)
The second-generation Clio is a great first car – providing you find the right one. Common complaints include worn-out upholstery, loose passenger windows and failed exhaust gas recirculation valves. None of these will render the car undriveable, but they’re irritating fixes you can do without paying to remedy.
Mk2 Clios are cheap, though. They depreciated with all the speed and grace of an anvil dropped off a tower block – and now, high-mileage examples change hands for as little as £500. However, if you need something economical, we’d suggest spending a little more and netting one powered by Renault’s 1.5-litre diesel engine, which will happily return 55mpg.
Skoda Fabia Classic (2000–2007)
The original Fabia was built on rock-solid Volkswagen mechanicals, so don’t expect any catastrophic engine failures if it’s been maintained properly. It’s the perishables that let the side down, here. Worn engine mounts are common – and the problem is easy enough to detect.
Simply mash the throttle into the firewall, then snap it shut quickly. If there’s a loud bang as the engine unloads, you can be fairly confident the mounts are shot. The heater matrixes can also fail – if the cabin smells like a swamp, it’ll probably need to be changed. But the 1.4-litre diesel Fabias can manage 55mpg, so it’s worth shopping for one.
Fiat Panda (2004–2011)
The second-generation Fiat Panda is a great little car. It’s excellent fun to drive, it’s cheap to insure and its 1.3-litre diesel engine can return 50mpg if driven carefully. However, it was made by Italians, so you should expect a few problems.
The body seals can fail, which lets water into the cabin – so check the carpets to make sure they’re dry. The clutch master cylinder also has a tendency to leak, which you’ll know about if the pedal feels spongy on your test drive. Finally, the power steering can be a little frail – and it’s an expensive problem to put right. So, if the wheel feels heavy, walk away.
Toyota Yaris (1999–2005)
Toyotas have a reputation for being mechanically bombproof (and they probably always will) – so there isn’t much to worry about when buying one second hand. At least nothing that you can blame on the car, anyway.
No, the Yaris’s achilles heel seems to be bad owners that are happy to thrash them into the dirt. Unloved (and unwashed) examples commonly gather rust on their undersides and around their wheel arches – which is a shame, because the engines will keep running long after we’ve all expired. Find one with a 1.4-litre diesel and you’ll regularly see 50mpg.
Vauxhall Corsa (2003–2006)
Loved by boy-racers and grandmothers alike, the third-generation Vauxhall Corsa is perfect for anyone that wants a cheap and easy-to-drive hatchback. The diesel versions can return around 50mpg in the real world. However, these Corsas are starting to get a little long in the tooth, and mechanical issues are becoming more common.
Watch out for noisy rear wheel bearings. If there’s a groaning coming from the back of the car, it’ll probably mean they’ve had it – and they will need to be replaced to avoid seizing up the offending wheel and stranding the car. The gearbox linkage can also be a little tired, which will make it tricky to select gears.