Small older car, most rust resistant?

woody33

I'm looking for a 1 litre car maybe 15-20 years old, relatively reliable and corrosion resistant. I'd like a Yaris, but even these can suffer from the dreaded tin worm. (My poor Micra has failed the NCT in a big way due to rust, a shame as it had been running well.) If I buy locally I'd get a mechanic to look it over. Thoughts?

colm_mcm

Any reason to want a 20 year old car?
I would maybe look at 10-15 year old for near enough the same money?

BuboBubo

See a few older Polos around with no rust on them, I'm no expert though.

80sDiesel

Colt. We have one as a city runabout and not a spec of rust. Intending to keep it as it’s so reliable . Nice sound from the 3 cylinder too.

Something like this.
https://www.donedeal.ie/view/25698708

walshtipp

Get something newer and you won't need to worry about rust for a while.

kermitpwee

Yaris are one of the best at that age, but they all might need a patch of weld

woody33

Mk 1 Yaris ended in 2005, I kinda like them, Mk 2s are much more expensive. A bit of a weld would be ok, as long as the rest could be sealed reasonably well. I had a Polo before the Micra, it too died of corrosion, the joys of seaside living. I'll check out Colts.

phill106

Ive got a 06 corolla i have only seen one tiny spot of rust on the a pillar, seems good enough?

biko

K11 Micras have the cross member rust problem.
Fix that and they will keep trucking for years.

elperello

If you could live with a 1.4 engine the Audi A2 from about 15-20 years ago has an aluminum body and will be a future classic so if you keep it well it will hold value.

For Forks Sake

elperello wrote: »

If you could live with a 1.4 engine the Audi A2 from about 15-20 years ago has an aluminum body and will be a future classic so if you keep it well it will hold value.

Seek and ye shall find, posted this in the Bangernomics thread earlier on, taxed and NCTd, Diesel too, so as near free motoring as you'll get if the car checks out. All for €1250.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a2-2004-1-4-l-diesel-tdi/26296461?campaign=3

Akrasia

I've had a lot of older cars and rust was not the reason why most of them died

Its the uneconomical repairs that kill old cars
The electric window regulator goes, maybe live with it till the next service, then the seatbelt pressure sensor stays on, or the air con flange only blows to one setting...

A few small jobs cost the price of a newer or less injured replacement car.....

colm_mcm

biko wrote: »

K11 Micras have the cross member rust problem.
Fix that and they will keep trucking for years.

We had two that rusted badly on the rear sills.

Jacked it up one day and the sill went up but not the car!

Iodine1

If I remember correctly: FIAT were galvanising the bodies some years back? Anyone fill in with more details?

woody33

Thats a nice looking Audi A2 on Done Deal, I'd be tempted if I covered a decent amount of miles per annum, but in reality my car sits outside the door unused for days on end. There is a Skoda diesel in the family too, that gets regular use. It's becoming increasingly difficult to justify having my own car at all, to be honest, but you know how it is....I know where there is a Citroen C2 for sale, but it seems fairly tatty, also tax is €320 a year.

kermitpwee

I would have no worries about a mk1 yaris, they are in way as rusty as a k11 micra.

You'd get a fresh enough panda for small money.... No need to buy a 15 year old thing IMO.

selectamatic

colm_mcm wrote: »

We had two that rusted badly on the rear sills.

Jacked it up one day and the sill went up but not the car!

Rear axle assembly can rot from the inside out too and the radiator support goes in loads of them too.

Op as pointed out you'd get a panda for handy enough money. Mk3 clio, mk2 yaris worth a look too.

woody33

Then there is the Nissan K12, still has a timing chain which is good, but maybe too many Renault parts...switch gear, perhaps more stuff.

beauf

woody33 wrote: »

I'm looking for a 1 litre car maybe 15-20 years old, relatively reliable and corrosion resistant. I'd like a Yaris, but even these can suffer from the dreaded tin worm. (My poor Micra has failed the NCT in a big way due to rust, a shame as it had been running well.) If I buy locally I'd get a mechanic to look it over. Thoughts?

Your problem will getting it insured. You'll get a 10yr old car for that same money.