How much can MOT history tell you about condition?
Discussion
I don't really need to buy a car at the minute, but I'm idly looking for an older wee car. I was given a 2001 Mk1 Yaris, and was thinking of something along similar lines.
I've typed in some registration numbers of cars I've seen advertised into the MOT history site, and most of them have a number of advisories mentioning "corrosion" in recent years. A 2008 Daihatsu Sirion has advisories including "Macpherson struts corroded but not seriously weakened".
I've been told that rust is going to see off my Yaris in the next year or so, and as that has had a few similar advisories, I don't want to buy a car which is likely to suffer the same fate. I don't mind spending money keeping a car running well, but I'm reluctant to buy a car which isn't going to last. Am I right in thinking that MOT advisories mentioning corrosion (as in the case of the Macpherson strut) is a good indicator that the car itself will be suffering from corrosion, or is it not really possible to make that correlation?
I've typed in some registration numbers of cars I've seen advertised into the MOT history site, and most of them have a number of advisories mentioning "corrosion" in recent years. A 2008 Daihatsu Sirion has advisories including "Macpherson struts corroded but not seriously weakened".
I've been told that rust is going to see off my Yaris in the next year or so, and as that has had a few similar advisories, I don't want to buy a car which is likely to suffer the same fate. I don't mind spending money keeping a car running well, but I'm reluctant to buy a car which isn't going to last. Am I right in thinking that MOT advisories mentioning corrosion (as in the case of the Macpherson strut) is a good indicator that the car itself will be suffering from corrosion, or is it not really possible to make that correlation?
I'm also sort-of looking for something sort-of similar and I've found that the MOT history can give you a feel for the condition of the car - try looking at some Ford Kas at that age, lots of corrosion mentions!
As Steveo says, corrosion on a strut wouldn't bother me too much, but seeing mentions on bodywork, sills, other structural members would be a cause for concern.
Wouldn't necessarily put me off looking at something like that, depending on the price and how much MOT it has left, but then, I can remember when cars were really rusty!
As Steveo says, corrosion on a strut wouldn't bother me too much, but seeing mentions on bodywork, sills, other structural members would be a cause for concern.
Wouldn't necessarily put me off looking at something like that, depending on the price and how much MOT it has left, but then, I can remember when cars were really rusty!
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