SEAT Ibiza - Pictures

Electrics: glitches are not unknown. Make sure all the cabin toys are fully operational – and pay close attention to the stereo, as the CD player is troublesome.

Cabin trim: beware of creaky interiors, because once the trim has started to get noisy, it can be very difficult to resolve. FR and Cupra models are the worst offenders.

Headlamps: while the headlights look great, they’re often afflicted by problems with condensation – and there’s no way of checking if a potential purchase is affected.

Timing chain: it's fairly common for these to snap on 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engines. Regular oil changes with a good lubricant are the key to preventing this.

Suspension: take a test drive and listen out for creaking around the front suspension when cornering and going over bumps – noises could mean dry bushes.