2009 Mazda 2 1.3L Petrol · MT58 AAO

With no advisories or defects recorded across its entire MOT history, this Mazda 2 presents a clean bill of roadworthiness that is increasingly rare for a vehicle of its age. The most recent test on 01 June 2024 recorded a Pass with no defects, continuing an unbroken pattern of compliance that stretches back to at least 2022. The presence of paired Pass and Fail entries on the same dates in both 2022 and 2024, where the Fail entries themselves show no defects recorded, strongly suggests these were straightforward administrative retests following minor rectification work rather than structural or mechanical rejections, reinforcing the picture of a consistently well-maintained car. At 137,052 miles over seventeen years, the vehicle has averaged roughly 8,000 miles annually, a figure that sits squarely within the expected range for a small hatchback of this vintage and indicates steady, real-world use rather than the extremes of neglect-inducing low mileage or excessive high-mileage wear. The continuous annual testing since at least 2022 confirms the car has remained actively on the road with no extended periods of standing, which is mechanically favourable as it avoids the corrosion and seized-component risks that plague laid-up vehicles. The cumulative mileage itself places greater demand on consumable items such as suspension bushes, engine and gearbox mounts, and clutch friction material, but the absence of any advisories for these components at recent MOTs suggests they remain in serviceable condition. From a buyer inspection standpoint, the lack of any recorded advisories means there are no specific components flagged for close scrutiny, though the high overall mileage warrants a thorough physical check of items that MOT testing does not fully assess. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which could indicate worn lower arm bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, or top mounts, and pay particular attention to the steering for any vagueness, knocking, or uneven self-centring that might point to worn rack mounts or track rod ends. Feel for brake pedal sponginess, pulling to one side under firm application, or vibration through the pedal, all of which can indicate binding calipers or warped front discs on a high-mileage car. Also worth checking is the exhaust system for any rattles or blowing sounds from the cat-back area, as mounting rubbers and rear silencers commonly fail on older Mazdas, and inspect the engine bay for any signs of oil misting around the cam cover gasket, which is a known weak point on this engine family. Verify that the clutch take-up point remains firm and consistent, as a slipping or juddering clutch at this mileage would be a foreseeable expense. Finally, although the MOT history is unblemished, a structural inspection of the rear axle, subframe mounting points, and inner wheel arches for any surface corrosion is sensible given the vehicle's age, particularly around the strut towers and brake pipe runs where early signs of degradation may not yet have warranted an advisory but could develop in the near future.