Toyota Yaris (1999 - 2005) 1.0 16v VVT-i GS 3d Owner Review

purchase car not even a month ago, was looking around and this yaris caught my attention with 48k miles, full service history, new clutch, new fan belt. Went and test drove it and there was a whistle coming from the throttle body downwards. So walked away. Went back to looking for another car and i kept going back to the same yaris only cause off the milage. So took it next day. Now 1 month later ive had to replace rear axle, rear brake drums due to heavy corrosion. The whistle still there even after checking every vaccum hose, even paid 3 different mechanics look at it and they took it apart and still can't find whats causing it. Eps doesn't work have to manually turn steering, if you let go after turning itll continue to stay in the same position you let go at. I wasn't expecting new for an 18 year old car, but when you see really low mileage you expect things to work. There's a list of stuff that needs done to get it up to scratch. But that whistle is super annoying and no one knows what it is, even after joining yaris groups and fourms and asking and sending vids still no one. On YouTube there's 1 vid of someone else having this exact problem and when asked what it is he says ask your mechanic and ive been to 3 lol. I would say its a reliable motor to still be starting and driving 18 years later. Ive had younger cars go to a scrap yard. Im hoping this car will last a few years as I quite like it, ive had big cars insignias, vectras etc but I'm not gonna lie I do like this wee motor. Just im having a bad experience so far with replacing things that shouldn't need replacing for a super low mileage car. Even tho ive had big cars this yaris has you sitting up higher and feel like your in a bigger vehicle, love it for parking, cheap to run, cheap insurance group. I think the insurance group is group 5. Tho tax is a tad more expensive than the 2.0 insignias but cheaper insurance in the yaris so in the long run its miles cheaper. If i had a good start experience I know I'd be writing a whole different review and I'd be praising the wee motor. I've all the past receipts from previous owner who had it 10+ years and its not many receipts. In the 18 years its been on the road its had by going off receipt front brake pads, its had droplink nuts changed, few small things that cost next to nothing, services, fan belt and clutch in June 2020. From ive had it its had rear axle, rear brake drums, rear brake shoes, spark plugs, rear wiper. what it needs is eps ecu, another eps, possibly intake manifold, intake gaskets and throttle body as that's were whistle coming from, front suspension, wishbones, struts etc, rear struts, rear springs and few other things like rubber boots etc needs new brake lines. So i got left with all the big jobs to sort lol so hopfully if I sort all that the car will last few years