1998 Toyota Celica 1.8L Petrol · S298 BCD

The Celica presents as roadworthy following its most recent pass on 6 March 2026 at 139,182 miles, with a stable maintenance trend across the recorded history. The vehicle cleared that test with no defects logged, and prior passes in March 2025 and May 2024 also recorded clean results. The only blemishes are two failed tests on 2 March 2026 and 8 May 2024 where the DVSA entry shows no defects recorded, indicating administrative or presentational failures rather than mechanical faults. At roughly 28 years old the car shows 139,182 miles, an average of about 4,971 miles per year, which is low for its age. Annual use stayed light: 1,301 miles separated the May 2024 test at 137,317 miles and the March 2025 test at 137,881 miles, then just 1,301 miles again to March 2026 at 139,182. Such low accumulation suggests extended standing periods, which on a 1998 chassis raises the risk of perished rubber components and stagnant fluid systems despite the clean MOT slate. A buyer should still commission a physical inspection of suspension bushes, coil springs, and subframe corrosion, as the MOT record does not confirm structural integrity beyond absence of advisories. Brake discs and calipers warrant checks for binding or uneven wear after long dormancy. The twin failure entries without recorded defects imply the tester aborted the examination; verify the car was fully assessed each time rather than passed on a partial look. Given the sparse but clean history, the Celica reads as a lightly used older vehicle with no flagged mechanical trends. The low mileage and repeated no-defect passes point to careful storage more than heavy use, though age-related degradation of consumables remains the chief concern for any 1998 example.