Not many about, but the gen-1 Mazda2 petrol (chain cam engine) might do. A lot of people recommend its Ford Fusion sister car for the decent use of space (especially the boot with easy loading).

The Fusion itself in 1.4 petrol form (chain cam Ford Zetec engine similar to the 1.25, both Yamaha-derived units) would also be worth a look, if you can get a later model with the stability control to make it handle better.

Not sure if that would be in budget, but worth a look. Neither are pretty, but are decent enough to drive, and practical for such a small car, more so than their replacements in that regard.

Its bigger brother the Mazda3 1.6 petrol would do fine, though it may be a bit big if your choices are limited to Fiesta-sized cars - you can certainly get a well-cared for (a gen-1 car like mine) one for about £1k, though they are susceptible to rust. Mine's still ok, so others may be. The chain-cam 1.6 engine is a very durable engine - mine has never missed a beat in 13 years of continuous ownership from new. The one slight downside compared to the Fords is that parts are more expensive.

The Yaris would probably still be my choice though for the ultimate reliable A to B small car, with the Jazz not far behind. Just get the minimum spec car possible to get you the newest model possible. A well-kept example from a retiree would probably do best.

I like Fiats they are reliable and a good used buy.

Fiat in general tend to come about the bottom of any reliability surveys, so this statement really shouldn't be taken as fact.

Hovever, a basic Panda 1.2 should be a fine little runabout, classless, characterful, and a much better buy than a Grand Punto.

The Fusion itself in 1.4 petrol form (chain cam Ford Zetec engine similar to the 1.25, both Yamaha-derived units) would also be worth a look.

Wrong advice here.

The 1.4 petrol engine is indeed the Zetec, its actually the Yamaha designed engine and is available in 1.25, 1.4 and 1.6 versions (there was a 1.7 but that was only in the Puma).

But this engine is not a chain cam type, like all engines badged as Zetec by Ford it was/is a cam belt engine.

This engine has more recently been known as the Sigma and still has a belt.

FYI the chain cam Ford engines were the Duratec used in the Mk 2 Focus (2004 on, Mk 3 Mondeo (2001 on) and were Mazda derived.

Nothing wrong with belts but like all components they have a max life. Even cam chains can break or stretch.

Fair enough (thanks for the correction) on whether it is belt or chain, but the advice as regards it use isn't wrong (SLO recommends them as well as I recall, as they are related to the 1.25). As with most cars, a well-maintained one should be fine, but some are more hardy when maintenance is scrimped than others - ones with chains or belts alike.

Older cars with no or very little provable maintenance history we should be wary of, at least without you having them properly inspected. A car with a belt that has recently been replaced and otherwise is fine should be ok, but with a chain, it is obviously imperative for the car to have seen fresh good quality oil on time throughout its life.

As with the Mazda-derived chain-cam engines (like the 1.8, also in the Mazda 5 and 6), they have been proven reliable, as has the one in my 1.6 petrol Mazda3, as long as they see good quality oil on time.

Some manufacturers, such as VAG, have had problems either because of the inherent design of the chains, or in their case, (IMHO) seemingly forcing their supplier to cut costs which led them to keeping their chain stamping machinery going beyond their working life, which lead to defects which were either not picked up, deliberately or not. I was apparently pure luck as to whether a car had correctly machine chains or not, and no amount of oil changes could rectify that.