Why you buy it
It still looks sharp and is easy to live with. The high driving position and easy visibility make it popular with Mums on school runs and the elderly. It is also well made, reliable and comfortable.
The original Corsa was significantly improved in 2003 and continued in production until the all new shape came out in 2006. There are stacks of 2003-2006 models on the used market, with all sorts of different size engines and specifications so you can take your pick.
Which one is best ?
For the commuter there are 1.4 litre petrols and 1.3 CDTis that can handle motorways. The 1.3 CDTi delivers up to 64 mpg while the petrol is just 38 mpg.
For those that have just learned to drive, or the city dwellers, there are the cheap to insure 1.0 and 1.2 litre engines (insurance group 2 or 3).
What to pay
The five door cars are more expensive than three door cars and the three and four year old diesels are more expensive than the equivalent petrols, but will have done – on average – 9,000 miles more. So if you don’t do a lot of miles, you need to consider if the mpg saving provided by the diesel is a false economy. If the diesel costs £200 more, and with its higher mileage may cost more to repair, you could be better off in the long run with the petrol’s slightly higher fuel bills.
Overall though, 3 year old cars start at £5,000 with 23,000 average miles for petrols and 38,000 for diesels. They then drop at 5-15% per annum until a 2003 year car is worth around £3,000.
Our pick is a 2004 1.4 petrol, as it loses lots in 2005 and 2006, but then has a couple of ‘quiet years’ so you can sell it on after that having lost only £600.
What to check
1. Check that the indicators are working normally; not flashing very fast. If they are flashing irregularly or very quickly, the body control unit usually needs replacing. It costs £250.
2. As you drive the car over rough surfaces or bumps (e.g. speed bumps) listen for a creaking noise coming from the suspension. A creaking noise from the suspension usually indicates that a suspension mount or antiroll bar link needs replacing. Budget £100.
For more, visit the fault guides section.