Not DIY but our grandaughter is learning to drive and wants a small affordable (insurance) car.
This week we went to look at a Citroën C1 and a 2007 1.2 Ka.
The Citroën was 'ok' but she has her heart set on a Ka. Went to look at one, small independent dealer, £2600 for a 100k mile plus car that wasn't actually that good, it looked a but tired and worryingly, as you revved the engine, there was a gentle thunk sound as the revs dropped off...probably engine mount I thought...dealer passed it off as a heat shield...cobblers. Hole in the exhaust, it was just overpriced and tired, pre pandemic you'd have struggled to justify £1000 for it.
Our SIL is a garage mechanic, his boss is a neighbour of our gd, he said take the Citroën over a Ka, rotboxes in his opinion, that thunk was probably either subframe or engine mounts. One to walk on from