Right, some advice again please.
They have just got daughters b/f's 1.2 Corsa back from MOT > work done in Scotland (CV gaiters, handbrake and light aim adjust) and they have offered it to us for £600. It's a 4 dr, could tow a small trailer (handy for her chainsaw carving stuff, the Ka can't tow) and she just prefers it to the Ka (which we can then sell once the Astra (Belmont) is sorted for the Mrs).
However, from the MOT there was an advise on 'an oil leak somewhere, a/r bar drop links and corrosion on the fuel filter'. [1]
Now I guess the last two shouldn't be an issue to sort (?) but what of the oil leak. Are they prone to leaks from anywhere in particular and if yes, can they be expensive / difficult to sort (engine out / strip sorta thing. I know 'it could be anything' but I'm asking if there are known / common issues here please).
Laddo is going to call the garage today and ask them if they know where the leak is coming from and from there I need to (quickly) decide to either let them drive down in it to let me check it over and if ok, buy it, service it and they can take it back up later or, just walk away from it and she can get the Ka up there when she goes back up in a month or so (he's buying a truck down here and has to go back up soonish for work).
The insurance seems to be about the same for them + me on either the Ka or Corsa and I think the Corsa is quieter on the motorway and may even be slightly better mpg.
Oh, in light of the recent Astra theft, would it have a factory fitted immobiliser as standard? ;-)
Cheers and thanks for your time.
T i m
[1] We know it had one oil leak as I mentioned it here when he lost half the oil on a trip down. It was the oil pressure switch and I replaced that at the time but I have a funny feeling it may still 'use oil' but intermittently. I'll confirm that when he calls later.