2005 Smart Fortwo Coupe 0.7L Petrol · HV55 AYG

A defined pattern of front suspension wear and brake pipe corrosion has already been flagged on this 2005 Smart Fortwo Coupe, and although the 2022 test recorded a pass, the advisories together paint a picture of a chassis that is beginning to show its age despite the vehicle still being on the road. The ball joint play on the nearside lower arm, combined with worn pins or bushes on both nearside and offside lower arms, indicates that the front suspension geometry is no longer in first-class condition. The fact that these items were raised as advisories rather than failures means they had not yet deteriorated to the point of non-compliance, but on a 21 year old platform the progression from advisory to failure on suspension components is often a matter of only a few thousand miles, particularly given the additional loads placed on the lower arms by the tall, narrow body. The general brake pipe corrosion advisory, covering all pipes, is the more serious long term concern, as brake line corrosion on a vehicle of this age can quickly advance to the point of structural failure and an MOT fail. With only 49,227 miles recorded over 21 years, the Fortwo has covered an average of roughly 2,344 miles annually, which is unusually low even for a city oriented two seater. The MOT history supplied shows a single test entry in 2022, meaning there is a lengthy gap between recorded examinations, and the vehicle may well have spent considerable periods either off the road, in storage, or used very lightly with tests not retained in the supplied dataset. Low annual mileage of this nature reduces wear on major drivetrain components but brings its own risks, as prolonged standing allows brake discs to corrode, brake fluid to deteriorate, suspension joints to seize or develop flat spots, tyres to develop sidewall cracking, and rubber seals throughout the engine and transmission to harden and perish. Given the age of the vehicle, even with low mileage, corrosion of underbody components including brake lines and suspension arms, as already flagged, can still progress significantly simply from environmental exposure rather than mechanical wear. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the front suspension during any inspection, as the advisories point toward the lower arms as a known weak area. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps, uneven surfaces, and kerb impacts, and feel for any vagueness or wandering in the steering, particularly under braking, which would indicate the ball joint has deteriorated beyond the slight play recorded in 2022. The vehicle should also be raised on a ramp if possible so that the lower arm bushes can be physically inspected for cracking, splitting, or excessive movement when levered with a bar, and the brake pipes examined closely along their full length, paying particular attention to the sections along the underbody and behind the front wheels where road salt and moisture collect. The general brake pipe advisory is the single most important item to verify, as brake line corrosion that is merely covered in grease at one test can quickly become pitted, scaled, or perforated by the next, and on a 21 year old vehicle replacement of the entire pipework is a realistic possibility. On a road test, the pedal should feel firm and progressive with no sponginess or excessive travel, as any softness could indicate either fluid leaks from corroded pipes or air ingress from disturbed joints during prior work. The Fortwo is rear engined and rear wheel braked through the actuation of the front discs, so any pulling to one side under braking would suggest a seized or binding caliper, which is common on vehicles that have seen long periods of disuse. Finally, check the age and condition of the tyres, including any cracking in the sidewalls, as the combination of age and low mileage frequently results in perished rubber long before the tread is worn through, and inspect the underbody generally for any fresh corrosion or underseal bubbling that would suggest the chassis is deteriorating faster than the MOT record alone would imply.