2016 Abarth 595 1.4L Petrol · CG53 MJG

Over the five recorded MOT tests, the roadworthiness record for this Abarth 595 is broadly clean but reveals a recurring pattern of tyre and suspension wear that warrants close mechanical scrutiny. The most recent test on 16 July 2026 was a pass with no defects recorded, mirroring the November 2023 and November 2025 passes where the car also emerged with a clean sheet. However, the intervening failures and advisories cannot be overlooked. A November 2023 dangerous failure was issued for a nearside front tyre with ply or cords exposed, alongside an advisory for a cut on the offside front tyre that had not yet reached the cords. A second failure in November 2025 was recorded on the same day as a pass for the same component category, with insufficient washer fluid flagged. Earlier advisories in 2021 noted worn shock absorber top mounts on both front corners, and a 2022 advisory recorded light oil misting on the nearside rear shock absorber. Taken together, the pattern points to a chassis that is shedding consumables faster than the brake and emissions items, which is a meaningful point for any prospective buyer. The recorded mileage of 101,140 miles across approximately ten years equates to an annual accumulation of around 10,114 miles, which sits squarely within typical usage parameters for a small performance hatchback of this age. There are no significant gaps between test dates that would suggest extended periods off the road, and the mileage progression appears broadly consistent year on year. For a turbocharged 1.4-litre platform driven at this rate, the mechanical implication is steady wear on clutches, DMF-type flywheel hardware, and turbocharger components, alongside the usual ageing of rubber and bush items that the MOT advisories have already begun to flag. The combination of moderate-to-high mileage and the recorded suspension advisories suggests the chassis components are entering the phase where further degradation is plausible rather than merely possible. Given the specific components already flagged, a test drive should focus on the front suspension geometry and damping behaviour. Listen for clonks or knocks from the front strut towers when traversing speed humps or uneven B-road surfaces, as the recorded top mount wear on both front shock absorbers in 2021 indicates these bearings have had four further years of cyclical load since. Pay particular attention to whether the steering self-centres cleanly after a corner and whether any vibration transmits through the steering wheel on uneven surfaces, which can indicate worn strut bearings, top mounts, or top mount bearings allowing excessive wheel deflection. Visually inspect the front strut upper mounting plates under the bonnet for any signs of corrosion, cracking of the strut tower sheet metal, or perished rubber. On the rear, monitor for any progressive worsening in ride control, as the 2022 advisory of oil misting on the nearside rear shock absorber suggests the damper seal may be deteriorating further, with potential consequences for wheel hop, axle tramp under hard acceleration, and inconsistent damping across the axle. The tyre condition should be treated as the single most pressing item to inspect at the point of purchase, given the dangerous failure recorded for exposed ply in 2023. Check the inner and outer shoulders of all four tyres with a torch, as shoulder wear is often missed during casual inspection, and measure the tread depth in the central groove as well as across the full width. Verify that all four tyres are of matching manufacturer, size, and speed rating, as mismatched fitments are common on used hot hatches and can unsettle the ESP calibration. Finally, a careful visual inspection underneath the vehicle for any oil residue on the rear shock absorber bodywork, subframe corrosion around the rear axle mounting points, and the condition of the front lower wishbone bushes and anti-roll bar drop links would round out a sensible evaluation of a car whose MOT history, while largely unremarkable, has begun to signal the early stages of chassis component fatigue.