Anything to look for?

Hi, been looking 4 a runabout 4 work and have come across a 2005 1.5 sve, is there anything I should be checking for when viewing?
It's around 80k miles, 10 month mot for under 800
Cheets
Mark
 
Among basic "buying a used car checks":
- Inspect the radiator support beam behind the front bumper for rust. Very common on the N16 models to rot.
- Make sure the rear brakes and handbrake work properly. (Rear wheels/rims not hot to the touch after a drive, handbrake keeps the car stationary on an incline)
- The QG engines like the 1.5 is are notorious for timing chain wear resulting in various issues. (Hard to start, stuttering while driving/accelerating etc.)

If there is a check engine light, you need to know what it is for. If the code is cam or crank position sensor related, chances are the chain is no good. There is no easy external way to tell if the chain is bad.
If the service history is ok (oil has been changed on a regular basis and frequently enough) and there is no check engine light present, and the engine sounds and feels smooth, the chain is probably ok (for now).

Other than that the N16 is a pretty solid car IMO. Some smaller faults can arise (CD player/display unit related etc.) but I didn't list faults that do not affect the reliability/driveability side.
 
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