Most 2015 petrol Swifts you’ll see use a small naturally aspirated petrol engine (commonly the 1.2-litre) paired with a manual gearbox — simple, frugal and inexpensive to service. The manual clutch and gearbox are straightforward items to maintain but do check for wear; the Swift’s small size means a smaller boot and tighter rear-seat space compared with larger family cars. Parts are common in Ireland and independent garages are familiar with this model, keeping running costs low.

• Clutch feel and slipping on a test drive — check bite point and that it doesn’t judder under load.
• Gearbox synchro and smoothness of shifts across all gears (watch for crunching into 2nd/3rd).
• Front suspension and steering for knocks or worn strut-top mounts and anti-roll bar links.
• Rust around rear wheelarches, sills under the doors and suspension mounting points (Irish salt exposure).
• Electrical items: central locking, electric windows, infotainment/Bluetooth and air‑con operation