1997 FORD FIESTA1.2L PETROL

The roadworthiness of this vehicle is currently indeterminate due to a complete lack of testing data for the past eighteen years. While the vehicle passed its test in March 2008, there are no recorded entries to confirm its mechanical or structural integrity up to the present. This significant gap in documentation suggests the car may have been kept off the road, exported, or operated without maintaining legal MOT records, presenting a high risk regarding its current operational condition. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a vehicle nearly 29 years old, having covered only 95,125 miles as of early 2008. This averages out to approximately 3,200 miles per year, which indicates the car spent long periods stationary or was used sparingly. Low mileage on older vehicles often masks the degradation of rubber-based components, such as perished seals, split hoses, and perished suspension bushings, which suffer from age and lack of regular travel rather than mechanical wear-and-tear. A physical inspection must prioritize the structural integrity of the chassis and body. The February 2008 failure specifically identified excessive corrosion within 30cm of the body mountings. Given the time elapsed since that report, this rust has likely progressed significantly if not treated. A buyer must meticulously inspect the sills, floor pans, and wheel arches for structural rot that could render the vehicle unsafe or unroadworthy. The braking system also requires rigorous scrutiny. The 2008 failure record noted poor parking brake efficiency on both sides and service brake performance that barely met the minimum requirements. Long periods of standing common with low mileage cars often lead to seized calipers, corroded cylinders, and degraded brake fluid. A tester should check for binding brakes and ensure the handbrake provides effective hold after the system has potentially deteriorated through decades of inactivity.