Buying guide

Used car checklist

Before you buy, check these known problems on the car. Each line comes from our Problems page.

Idle drops or engine stalls when pressing the clutch
Look for: RPM falls and the engine may stall when you press the clutch, mostly with A/C or lights on
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Overheating
Look for: Temperature needle climbs above the middle towards H, mostly in traffic. Owners say the needle normally sits around the middle on this car.
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Camshaft and tappet wear (top-end noise)
Look for: Ticking from the top of the engine, low power
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Hard start after the car has been parked
Look for: The engine takes long to start after standing
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Gearbox oil leak from a seal
Look for: Oil drops under the gearbox
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Check engine light at full throttle
Look for: Check engine light comes on when you press the pedal fully
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Also: have the engine scanned with a scanner that works on this car, look at every warning light at key-on, and check the service record. Scanner guide · Warning lights