2011 Citroen C1 1.0L Petrol · CP11 RXJ

The 2011 Citroen C1 presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT on 7 July 2025 at 73,292 miles passed, but the tester flagged an offside rear brake pipe corroded and covered in grease or other material, alongside a front brake disc worn, pitted or scored. Comparing this to the clean pass on 10 July 2023 at 70,878 miles, the trend is worsening. Brake system corrosion has been a recurring theme across multiple tests, and the reappearance of a brake pipe defect after a clean year suggests active deterioration rather than a one-off advisory. The mileage profile is notably low for a fifteen-year-old city car. Between 2021 and 2025, the vehicle covered roughly 4,844 miles over four years, averaging just over 1,200 miles annually in that window. The jump from 72,163 miles in July 2024 to 73,292 miles in July 2025 represents 1,129 miles in the most recent year, consistent with very light use. Such low annual mileage often means prolonged periods of standing, which accelerates brake pipe corrosion, tyre perishing, and seal deterioration, exactly the pattern this record shows. Buyers should focus their inspection on the underside and braking system. Brake pipe corrosion appeared in 2021 on both rear pipes, returned in 2024 on the offside front pipe, and resurfaced in 2025 on the offside rear pipe, indicating a persistent moisture or underseal issue rather than isolated rust. The 2021 test also flagged corroded rear coil springs and perished rear tyres, both age-related failures consistent with a car that sits unused for long stretches. Have a garage inspect the full length of all rigid brake lines, hose ferrules, and the condition of the rear springs for section loss. The front brake disc wear noted in 2025 suggests the car may have seen slightly more recent use, but the disc condition should be measured against specification rather than assumed sound. The front suspension also warrants attention. In 2021, advisories covered worn anti-roll bar linkages and suspension arm bushes on both sides, typical of a small car of this age even at low mileage. These components were not flagged in subsequent tests, but that does not confirm replacement; worn rubber often goes unmentioned unless play becomes excessive. A physical check for clunking over uneven surfaces and visual inspection of bush condition will reveal whether these are deteriorating. Overall, the car is roadworthy today, but the corrosion pattern and age-related wear point to a vehicle that needs careful underbody scrutiny before purchase.