Used Daewoo Lanos review and buying guide (1997 to 2002): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Daewoo Lanos should you buy?

Lean towards a 1.4, but know why: the only engine warning against the Lanos is running problems on the 1.6. There's very little written about this car at all, so the 1.4 hasn't earned a clean record, it just hasn't been flagged. Treat it as the lesser risk rather than a safe bet, and don't let the badge stop you giving it a proper drive.

It was sold from 1997 to 2002 and nothing separates the early cars from the late ones, so don't pay extra for a newer plate. Ask whether it started out as a rental car, because Lanos models sold at Daewoo's own sales events were flagged as often coming off rental fleets. A car that's had a string of fleet drivers isn't the same buy as one with a single private owner.

Which Lanos engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.6 petrol is the engine with running problems against its name, so if it's a 1.6 you're after, don't buy one on a short spin round the block. Drive it for a good while, from cold and once it's fully warm, and only agree a price when it's run smoothly the whole way.

The 1.4 petrol has no warning against it, but that's because there's so little on record for this car, not because it's proven tough. Give a 1.4 the same long drive you'd give a 1.6. Nothing's flagged on the gearboxes either way, so there's no box to seek out or avoid; judge the one fitted on how it shifts on the drive.

What should you check when viewing a used Lanos?

Ask for proof the timing belt and its tensioner pulley have been changed, because that job's flagged as critical on the Lanos, and a seller who can't show a receipt for it is selling you a car that needs it doing. Don't accept a vague promise that it was done at some point.

Watch the dashboard once the engine's running. If the ABS warning light stays on, the cause can be as small as a loose connection, but don't take the seller's word for that; get it to go out before you pay, or treat it as a fault you'll have to find.

Check the handbrake. There's one complaint of the rear shoes binding and burning out with no warning light coming on, so after your drive feel near the rear wheels for heat that's out of line with the fronts, and make sure the car rolls freely once the lever's released. Listen too for trim rattles and wind noise at speed, both flagged on the Lanos.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What do Lanos owners like about them?

The paint's decent and there's a reasonable choice of colours, so a tidy Lanos doesn't look tired. It's an inoffensive shape that doesn't shout budget car, which is more than you'd expect from a car that was sold on value when it was new.

There's a body to suit most needs: you can have one as a three-door or five-door hatch, or as a four-door saloon. It's a small car, about the size of a Rover 200, so the saloon's the one to go for if you want the boot kept separate from the cabin.

• Daewoo models, including the Lanos, showed below average warranty repair costs in a 2003 reliability index.
• The Lanos offered good value as a second-hand purchase, making it an affordable option for buyers.
• This model provided good value with many standard features, including power steering, twin airbags, and three years of servicing.