Possible purchase of used car - MOT query

Goudy

I believe the Alto from 2009 for the UK market was assembled in India (Maruti Suzuki).
I've read they were also made in China but I don't think that was for our market.
It had a sister car which was almost identical, the Nissan Pixo.

Both are pretty basic, had a Alto for a while and it actually drove pretty well, engine was very willing.

The orginal Ka have all pretty much dissolved and you would have trouble finding one in a scrapyard these days.

The second generation from 2008 are actually a Fiat Panda/500 underneath and build fairly well in Poland, though the Panda is far more practical. All suffer from rusty rear beam axles these days.
Earlier, leggy cars can also suffer from gearbox input shaft bearing problems.

The later Panda from 2012 might be worth looking at. Cheap, generally well screwed together and pretty robust, the engine and running gear have been used for donkeys years and are fairly fuss free.

The last generation Ka from 2014 was a Ford Brazil design and is actually based on Fords global B platform, same as the Fiesta at the time. They were built all over but I've read the UK cars are again from India.

The Toyota Yaris has always had a pretty good reputation but the first and second generation models are getting a bit old these days.
I ran a Verso version years ago as a small van for a while and found the 1.33 engine mated to the auto gearbox was a peach, though some parts were a bit pricey.

bd80s

Well I've told the garage I'll take the Yaris, they are going to service it for me before I pick it up. Did forget to check the service history on it and need to check when the cam belt was last changed (been stung by that before buying a private car and the belt going and smashing the engine a few weeks later!). 

Thanks for all you help everyone who replied! 

oldagetraveller1

Depending on which engine it could well be chain driven, timing that is!

With a timing chain it is very important that engine oil and filter changes have been completed using the correct oil and recommended intervals. Toyota recommend 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.

"57" plate will be a Mk2. I did own a 2010 1.4l Diesel with their awful MMT(Multimode transmission Mk 2) for a while.I got rid and bought a Mk 3 1.33l petrol 8.5.years ago.

If it isn't a manual transmission and has the MMT cancel and run a mile!

The MMT is a manual gearbox with an electrically operated clutch and gearchage. Controlled by a really lacking sense computer!

bd80s

It is a manual so it shouldn't be the MMT (I think? Didn't know that was a thing so learning lot's of new handy stuff from this thread!)

I've emailed the garage to confirm on service history and enquired re cam belt so they should come back today and tell me is it is a timing chain instead. 

Very much hoping it doesn't throw up an issue now as having umm'd and ahhh'd over the colour and then deciding that no I really do like the car I don't want to have to start from scratch haha!

facade

The yaris is a good little car (even though it is likely made in France).

The only real issues are because Toyota engines aren't very good at keeping the oil in the sump any more (something to do with the low friction piston rings) and they can burn a fair bit of oil (not quite as bad as Mini and VW though ).

This can be made worse by lack of servicing, make sure it has had regular services.

bd80s

Garaged has confirmed it has a good service history so it sounds like I've covered everything I need to check on it. 

Just need to get to Saturday to collect it now and get used to the weird dashboard

Thanks for all you help everyone!