ROVER METRO1991 · 1.1L PETROL

The MOT record for this 1991 Rover Metro is extremely sparse, with only a single test entry on file. The most recent and sole MOT was passed on 8 June 2006 at 29,770 miles, meaning the vehicle has held no valid MOT certificate for approximately twenty years as of June 2026. With no subsequent tests to compare, it is impossible to establish whether the maintenance trend is stable, worsening, or improving. The absence of any recorded retests or failures over two decades raises serious questions about whether the car has been kept in a roadworthy condition or has simply sat unused without legal cover. The recorded mileage of 29,770 miles has not changed since the 2006 test, confirming the vehicle has covered zero recorded miles in twenty years. For a car of this age, that equates to an average of roughly 851 miles per year over its life, which is exceptionally low. Such a figure typically indicates either very light local use followed by prolonged storage, or a period of disuse that may have introduced its own problems. Long-term standing can cause seized brakes, perished rubber hoses, dried-out suspension bushes, fuel system degradation, and internal corrosion in ways that low-mileage use alone would not explain. The sole advisory noted in the 2006 test flagged the hydroelastic suspension as getting low. Rover Metro models rely on interconnected fluid-filled suspension units to maintain ride height and damping, and a low system suggests fluid loss from deteriorated spheres or pipework. A twenty-year gap means those components will almost certainly have degraded further. A buyer should inspect the suspension spheres, hydraulic lines, and fluid reservoir for leaks or collapse, and check whether the car sits level and recovers properly after being pressed down at each corner. Beyond the suspension, the complete absence of recent inspection data means every safety-critical system demands physical verification. The brake system should be examined for binding calipers, corroded discs, perished flexible hoses, and a seized handbrake, all common after prolonged standing. Structural rust in the sills, floor pans, subframes, and suspension mounting points must be assessed carefully, as corrosion on a thirty-five-year-old steel-bodied car can compromise structural integrity even if the mileage is low. Tyres, coolant, engine oil, and fuel condition should all be treated as suspect after two decades of inactivity.