1999 Nissan Micra 1.0L Petrol · T402 DKX

The vehicle maintains a roadworthy status, though the maintenance trend shows the first sign of mechanical wear appearing recently. The most recent test on 20 January 2024 at 34,374 miles resulted in a pass despite identified slight play in the offside front steering rack inner joints. This follows several years of completely clean records, indicating that while the car has been well-maintained, the steering components are now beginning to degrade due to age rather than mileage. The mileage pattern is exceptionally low for a 27-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 1,273 miles per year. Between July 2019 and January 2024, the car covered only 2,068 miles, which suggests long periods of stationary use. This low usage explains the lack of heavy wear on the drivetrain and brake components seen in the earlier test results. However, long intervals of standing can often lead to the degradation of rubber seals, perished hoses, and corrosion on brake lines, which are not always fully captured in a standard MOT inspection. A buyer must physically inspect the steering assembly to determine if the play in the steering rack inner joint has progressed to requiring immediate replacement. Given the low mileage, the priority shifts from checking wear-and-tear to checking for structural integrity and age-related decay. Examine the chassis and underside for rust, which often affects vehicles that sit unused, and verify the brakes for any seized calipers or pitted discs which are common issues for low-use cars.