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In almost every manufacturer's range, there tends to be a forgotten model - the car you just don't see around. For Toyota in recent years, that car has been the Starlet which, prior to the more recent Yaris, was the smallest vehicle in their line-up. The reasons for this are rather difficult to fathom. To put it bluntly, there's really very little wrong with it.
All right, so dynamically the Starlet always lagged behind the class-leaders. And older 1.0-litre models certainly struggled to keep up with the traffic. Against that, however, you have to put exemplary reliability and strong build quality. If these things are important to you above all else, the Starlet is likely to be your kind of supermini.
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What you get
An inoffensive little car that won't let you down - but won't excite you very much either. Build quality is impeccable and the last examples were quite well equipped.
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What to look for
Rust around the tailgate and sunroof of early cars which can also get smoky and noisy with high mileage. Later models shouldn't really cause you any problems at all; they've usually had owners who drive them carefully and look after them.
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Replacement parts
(approx - based on a 1996 1.3 CD - excluding VAT) A clutch assembly is around £80. Front brakepads are around £30, a catalytic converter about £465 and an exchange alternator around £175. A headlamp is about £70.
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On the road
Out on the road and in normal day to day use, the Starlet will appeal to those who view the purchase of a car much like that of a dishwasher or a fridge. The model they choose must perform its functions reliably and without fuss, stress or expense.
It must be as simple to operate as a payphone and should demand as little input as possible from the operator. On all these counts, the Starlet scores heavily. It's a cinch to drive, simple to park and economical to run - expect over 40mpg on a motorway trip.
The post-1993 fuel injected catalysed 1.3-litre engined models make these kinds of longer journeys a more realistic proposition; cruising at 85mph is easy and quiet and the top speed is around 106mph. On A and B roads, while the 1.3 isn't exactly a ball of fire, there's plenty of acceleration on tap for fleeting overtaking opportunities; rest to 60 takes around 10.3 seconds.
Later versions also handle competently too, thanks to an independent suspension and the addition of an anti-roll bar. Not that many potential buyers will notice the difference, though they may remark on the fact that the car rides bumpy tarmac with surprising assurance. The five-speed gearbox fitted to later cars also makes cruising less stressful.
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Overall
Buy a late one and it makes some sense. Early cars have little to recommend them other than reliability.
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