2005 Mitsubishi E/V/O/8 2.0L Petrol · KEZ 6796

The Mitsubishi presents a mixed mechanical picture. The most recent MOT, conducted on 3 April 2023 at 55,605 miles, resulted in a pass, but only after an initial failure on the same day for a defective nearside rear position lamp. That fix was minor. The underlying trend, however, is one of gradual deterioration rather than consistent upkeep. Across the 2022 and 2023 tests, the same core defects persist: worn rear suspension arm bushes, play in the offside front steering rack inner joint, and pitted front and rear brake discs. These are not new failures. They are recurring advisories that the tester has flagged repeatedly without evidence of permanent repair, suggesting a pattern of minimal intervention rather than a resolving maintenance strategy. The mileage profile tells a specific story. Between the clean pass on 2 September 2020 at 46,500 miles and the March 2022 test at 50,797 miles, the vehicle covered 4,297 miles in roughly 18 months. Then, between March 2022 and April 2023, it added 4,808 miles in just over a year. That is a noticeable acceleration in use after a period of very light running. The current recorded mileage of 55,605 has not changed since April 2023, meaning the vehicle has sat idle for over three years as of today, 18 June 2026. A car standing stationary for that long raises its own concerns: seized brake calipers, perished rubber bushes, degraded brake fluid, and flat-spotted tyres are all realistic risks independent of the MOT record. A buyer should approach this vehicle with a clear inspection checklist. The rear lower suspension arm bushes have been flagged in both 2022 and 2023, and given the vehicle's age and standing period, those bushes will almost certainly have deteriorated further. The offside front steering rack inner joint play is a recurring defect that warrants a physical check for clunking or vagueness, as worn inner joints can fail suddenly. Both front and rear brake discs were noted as pitted and scored in consecutive tests; with three years of inactivity, surface corrosion will have set in deeply, potentially requiring full disc and pad replacement. The corroded rear brake pipe flagged in 2022 was an advisory, not a failure, but any corroded pipe on a 21-year-old vehicle deserves close visual inspection for structural integrity. Finally, check the headlamp lenses for hazing and verify all rear lamp functions, given the 2023 failure on the nearside rear position lamp.