1987 Volkswagen Transporter 1.9L Petrol · D458 DVT

The Volkswagen Transporter passed its most recent MOT on 3 July 2025 at 213,524 miles with no defects recorded, leaving it roadworthy as of that test. The maintenance trend shows improvement after a volatile early-2024 period, with the latest annual cycle free of failures. Recorded mileage sits at 213,524 against a 39-year life, an average of roughly 5,475 miles per year. The gap between the 17 April 2024 failure at 210,715 miles and the 22 June 2024 pass at 210,716 miles shows almost no use in that window. From the June 2024 pass to the July 2025 pass the van covered only 2,808 miles. Low annual mileage like this often means long standing periods, which raise the risk of perished rubber components and corrosion rather than drivetrain fatigue. The MOT history shows three failures in 2024 (17 April, 15 May, 19 June) all at near-identical mileages around 210,715 to 210,716, yet the record lists no defects for any of them. A clean failure with no advisory points to administrative or presentation issues at test rather than mechanical faults, but the repeated rejections suggest the keeper struggled to present the van correctly or the test centre applied strict criteria. A buyer should still inspect structural integrity for rust on chassis rails and sills given the age, check suspension bushes and brake discs for deterioration from intermittent use, and confirm the emissions system is sound. The absence of recorded advisories means no specific weak points are flagged, but a 1987 vehicle with this profile warrants a physical check of corrosion and standing-related wear.