2011 Volkswagen Caddy 1.6L Diesel · 555 RXE

The 2011 Volkswagen Caddy passed its most recent MOT on 15 March 2024 at 147,698 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The March 2024 test recorded seven advisories, a sharp uptick from the single advisory noted in March 2023 and the clean bills of health seen in 2020 and 2021. The tester flagged perished anti-roll bar linkage ball joints on both front corners, worn shock absorber bushes at the rear on both sides, and deteriorated rear anti-roll bar bushes. Combined with a nearside rear tyre worn to the legal limit, this cluster of front and rear suspension wear points to a vehicle that has seen sustained use without proactive component renewal. Mileage accumulation sits at roughly 9,850 miles per year, which is typical for a working light commercial vehicle of this age. The record shows steady annual use with no alarming gaps or sudden jumps between tests. The MOT history itself is unbroken from 2020 through 2024, confirming the vehicle has been kept in regular annual testing. However, the current mileage of 147,698 is identical to the figure recorded in March 2024, meaning the vehicle has effectively stood still for over two years. Prolonged static storage can cause its own problems, including flat-spotted tyres, seized brake calipers, and moisture ingress into electrical connectors. A buyer should inspect the front anti-roll bar linkages and rear shock absorber bushes in person, as these advisories have persisted or multiplied across consecutive tests. The rear anti-roll bar bushes were flagged as worn but not yet causing excessive movement in March 2024, yet given the two-year stationary period, rubber components will have continued to degrade. Check the nearside rear tyre sidewall for age-related cracking, not just tread depth. With the vehicle sat unused since early 2024, a thorough road test is essential to confirm the handbrake is not binding and that the rear brake discs have not developed lip corrosion from standing. Inspect the subframe and suspension mounting points for surface corrosion, particularly around the rear trailing arms and front lower wishbone attachment points, as a 15-year-old work van operating at this mileage will have endured significant structural loading over its life.