I'd go for a 1.2 petrol over the 1.3 Cdti.

I have a 1.2 corsa that's getting good mileage a week, very economical and so far been far more reliable than an early 1.3 diesel

 

Sorry yeah both cars will be ~2008 year. So go for a petrol over a diesel

 

The 1.3 diesel engines arent good at all.

The 1.2 or 1.4 petrol engines are more reliable, just make sure theres no rattles when the engine is started for the first time from cold. You also want to listen to the water pump. The corsa D only has a light to tell you it's hot or low on coolant, whereas the C has a guage.


If you go for a 1.3 diesel corsa D make sure its had the timing chain and head gasket changed.

To check a timing chain use a long handled screw driver with a non rubber handle, put the blade end onto the rocker cover above the chain and then put your ear to the other end of the screwdriver. You shouldn't hear any loud rattles or rumbling.

Hope this helps and doesn't put you off. I've had a 1.2 Corsa C for 2 years 15k miles and it's only needed a new radiator, water pump, oil pressure switch, clutch and wheel bearing. Not to bad for a 2001 reg car.


Cal

 

Would advise a 1.2 petrol mainly for the kind of driving you are doing.

I've got a 1.3 and while does me fine, short journeys don't do them much help.

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The 1.3 CDTi engine (much like the entire Corsa D) is a Fiat. It's by far the most-manufactured small diesel worldwide, so there are more people out there who've had problems. The biggest number of problems usually come not from the engine itself but ancillaries added on like the DPF or the turbo. Mostly city running with a weekly blat on the A roads is just about on the cusp of "you'll probably be ok with the diesel" but they really don't like pootling short journeys with lots of stopping and starting.

OTOH, the D, like a lot of post-2005 cars, is a damn heavy supermini and I found the 1.2 annoyingly unleggy. My Modus (pumped up Clio3) is a 1.4 and that's acceptable without being nippy and I really wouldn't want the 75hp 1.2 version. Based on my exp (I hired a lot of 1.2 petrol superminis in Malaga over the years; Fiestas, Corsas, Puntos etc) make sure that a naturally aspirated 1.2 has acceptable legs before buying.

You might wish you'd got a 1.4 or, better still, something like Renault's 1.2TCe because the little turbo really did give it the highway zip as well as the docile performance and mpg in town.

 

I have a 1.3cdti with 152k miles on.its gone through a gearbox and a clutch, remapped and tweaked to a proven 105 hp, as of yet been spot on! But I do change the oil every 4-6k miles and religiously check oil and coolant weekly!

Had a 1.2 with 47k miles on the clock, dropped a coil pack, blew a coolant hose, cracked a head, cracked the exhaust manifold and was slow.

Also had the 1.7 with.......297k miles on the clock and still going strong.

To be fair if they are looked after and not abused the 1.3 will last just as long as any other motor. And..... still have 65+mpg at 60mph!

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Don’t even think of going for 1.3 corsa d!
Ecu sits in a pool of water, constantly! Guess what: they don’t make it. Guess again how difficult is to find a good one and for what price, including programming.

 

Well guys thanks for the advice! I ended up getting a black 2012 1.2 petrol.
A little under powered but I expected it,
Engine management light came on, everything fine just idle goes up and down slightly
Air leak??

 

It's a 1.2 so gonna be pants. 1.3 cdti is much better. Anyhow, could be a dirty IAC Valve so give that a clean, should help!

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With all due respect to DanG, I would be carefull in taking any advice from him, IAC valves are unseen in Vauxhall world since 2000, so now 20 years further! What are we talking about here!

 

Find that pretty insulting.

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Unplugged the MAF and it seemed to idle steady
Anything you recommend inspecting/ cleaning first?
Will the light go out on it’s own if it’s fixed or does it have to be reset?

 

I’m sorry for that, not my intention, but your post was ill advised. I appologize if you feel bad about it.
@Joeyg1994, get the faultcodes read, otherwise you will be soon a parts changer, use the parts cannon and go nowhere.