2004 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · AD54 AJU

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance history reveals a trend of reactive repairs rather than proactive preventative care. While the most recent test in December 2024 at 90,611 miles passed, it carried over concerns regarding a corroded rear exhaust section and a distorted nearside front road wheel. These issues were previously flagged as advisories in September 2023, indicating that the owner opted to leave structural corrosion and wheel damage as they did not yet reach a failure point. At 90,611 miles, this 22-year-old Polo averages a low of approximately 4,119 miles per year. There is a significant gap in records between December 2021 at 79,691 miles and September 2023 at 90,205 miles, where the vehicle covered over 10,500 miles. The low annual usage often correlates with age-related degradation, which is evidenced by the perishing nearside front tyre and the excessive deterioration of the brake hoses that caused the 2023 failure. A buyer must physically inspect the structural integrity of the exhaust system, as the recurring corrosion noted since 2023 suggests thinning metal that will progress. The distorted nearside front road wheel should be checked for impact damage that could affect vehicle handling or cause uneven tyre wear. Given the previous failure of the anti-roll bar ball joints and brake hoses, a thorough inspection of the front suspension rubber components and the entire brake fluid lines is essential to ensure no new play has developed since the last test.