SUBARU IMPREZA2003 · 2.0L PETROL

This 2003 Subaru Impresa presents a stable and improving maintenance trend in its most recent history. The November 2021 test at 102,704 miles passed with zero defects recorded, a clean sweep that suggests the previous faults identified in 2018 were addressed and have not returned. The 2020 and 2019 tests also passed without advisories, reinforcing a pattern of consistent upkeep over the last several years. The vehicle appears to be in solid mechanical order as of its last inspection. The mileage profile is notably low for a 23-year-old vehicle. Between the 2018 test at 89,850 miles and the 2021 test at 102,704 miles, the car covered just 12,854 miles over three years, averaging roughly 4,285 miles annually. That figure drops further when considering the 2020 test recorded 98,668 miles, meaning only 8,036 miles were added in the two years between 2018 and 2020. Such modest accumulation raises the possibility of long periods standing idle, which can introduce its own concerns around perished rubber components, stale fuel, and brake corrosion, even if the MOT record itself remains clean. The 2018 failure and subsequent pass reveal a cluster of issues worth scrutinising in person. The tester flagged pitted brake discs on all four corners, indicating the car had been standing or driven gently enough to allow surface corrosion to score the friction faces. The nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint had slight play, and the rear tyres were perishing with inner shoulder wear, suggesting possible suspension geometry drift or neglected tyre rotation. A major exhaust leak was also present on the initial 2018 failure. A buyer should inspect the underside for fresh corrosion on brake lines, exhaust hangers, and subframe mounting points, given the car's age and the history of pitted discs. The front suspension wishbone bushes and rear trailing arm bushes deserve close examination, as these commonly perish on low-mileage vehicles that sit for extended periods. Despite the clean recent record, the gap between the 2021 test and today in June 2026 means the MOT is now over four and a half years expired. No current certificate exists to confirm the car's ongoing roadworthiness. A fresh MOT test or pre-purchase inspection is strongly advisable before committing funds, particularly to verify the structural integrity of the sills, floor pans, and suspension mounting points, which are common corrosion sites on ageing Imprezas.