CITROEN C12005 · 1.0L PETROL

The most recent MOT, conducted on 11 August 2017 at 85,743 miles, passed cleanly with zero defects recorded. However, that certificate is now over eight years expired as of June 2026, meaning this vehicle has not been subjected to a roadworthiness assessment in nearly a decade. The maintenance trend appears stable historically, with only minor advisories and straightforward failures, but the prolonged gap since the last test makes the current mechanical condition entirely unverifiable through official records. The mileage pattern reveals a notable anomaly. Between the August 2015 test at 59,496 miles and the August 2016 test at 71,683 miles, the C1 covered 12,187 miles in twelve months, which is reasonable. Yet the recorded mileage then flatlined at exactly 85,743 miles for the August 2017 test and remains there today. This suggests the vehicle has either been standing unused for the past nine years, or the 2017 reading was a genuine snapshot followed by prolonged inactivity. A car sitting idle for that long raises concerns about deteriorated rubber components, stale fuel, and brake seizure. Historically, the failures were minor and electrical rather than structural. The 2016 test flagged a split front wiper blade and a non-functioning offside rear number plate lamp, both simple consumable fixes. The 2015 failure identified a defective nearside front position lamp and a major exhaust leak. None of these point to chronic mechanical neglect, but an exhaust leak of that severity warrants attention to the system's overall condition, particularly around the manifold, flexi-pipe, and rear box, where corrosion commonly develops on ageing vehicles. A buyer should treat this C1 as uninspected and arrange a thorough pre-purchase examination. Prioritise checking the underside for structural corrosion, especially around suspension mounting points, sills, and subframes, as moisture ingress during long periods of inactivity accelerates deterioration. Inspect the exhaust system for advanced rust given the previous major leak, and test all brake components for binding or uneven wear caused by standing. Verify that the engine starts cleanly from cold and that the cooling system holds pressure, as prolonged static storage can cause gasket shrinkage and coolant system degradation.