1991 Volkswagen Golf 1.3L Petrol · J491 LFJ

The vehicle is road‑worthy as of the most recent MOT on 7 October 2025 (124 737 mi), where it passed despite advisory items such as slight play in the nearside front track‑rod end, off‑side rear wheel bearing play and light oil misting from both rear and nearside front shock absorbers. The maintenance trend appears stable: recurring minor wear items persist, but no new major defects have emerged since the 2022‑2023 period, indicating that previous owners have addressed the most serious failures while allowing routine wear to continue. At 124 737 mi the car averages roughly 3 500 mi per year over its 35‑year life, well below the typical usage for a vehicle of this age. Mileage rose from 98 970 mi in July 2015 to 101 401 mi by July 2016, then progressed steadily to 108 577 mi in July 2020, 114 811 mi in August 2021, and 120 055 mi in August 2022. The increments of 5‑6 000 mi between 2020 and 2022 represent the most active periods, but overall the mileage record is consistent and shows no long gaps that would suggest prolonged storage or neglect. A prospective buyer should focus on the suspension and steering components that have shown repeated wear: inspect the nearside front track‑rod end for excessive play, verify the condition of both rear wheel bearings, and check the shock absorbers for oil leakage or loss of damping. The corroded area on the nearside rear suspension mounting, noted in the 2025 and earlier tests, warrants a close visual and tactile examination for any progression. Brake discs, brake fluid level in the hydraulic reservoir, and the condition of the front brake disc wear should be confirmed, as the 2020 test flagged disc wear and a low fluid reservoir. Verify that the exhaust system is free of leaks, given historic centre‑exhaust failures, and ensure all lighting (position lamp, horn) and wiper operation are functional, as these were recent failures. Finally, a visual inspection of the rear sub‑frame for any advancing corrosion will help confirm that the structural integrity remains sound.