2015 Vauxhall Adam 1.4L Petrol · DS65 FPD

A remarkably clean MOT history defines this 2015 Vauxhall Adam, with the most recent test on 10 November 2025 returning a pass with no advisories, advisories, or defects recorded. Across the available DVSA record, every annual test has produced the same outcome, with two failed tests on 25 November 2024 and 16 November 2023 appearing to be retest entries rather than mechanical failures, given the absence of any recorded defects. There are no recurring component flags, no advisories tracking the gradual deterioration of suspension bushes, brake pipes, or coil springs, and no corrosion advisories hinting at structural concern on the subframes. This is an unusually tidy paper trail for a city car of this age, suggesting either genuinely light mechanical wear or simply a vehicle that has not yet begun to flag the typical age-related items DVSA examiners routinely pick up on older examples. At 58,491 miles over an eleven-year life, the Adam is accumulating roughly 5,300 miles annually, which is comfortably below average for a small petrol hatchback and suggests a primarily urban or second-car role. The consistency of the annual testing pattern, with no extended gaps in the MOT record, implies the car has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for long periods, which is mechanically reassuring. Lower annual mileage of this nature typically translates to slower wear on high-friction items like brake discs and pads, clutch material, and tyre rubber, though it does mean components more sensitive to age than to use, such as rubber bushes, coolant hoses, and drive belts, may still be approaching the end of their service life purely through calendar ageing rather than mechanical fatigue. For a prospective buyer, the absence of any flagged items on the MOT history means a pre-purchase inspection should focus on the components that DVSA testing does not strictly measure, but which are known weak points on this model. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or rattling from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly from the lower wishbone bushes and anti-roll bar drop links, as these are common wear items on the Adam platform. Check for any pulling to one side under braking or a spongy pedal feel, as the rear drum brake mechanisms can bind and the front calipers can seize on lightly used cars. Steering should feel precise without excess play around the straight-ahead position, as worn rack mounts can develop on higher-mileage examples even when not flagged at test time. A thorough under-bonnet inspection is also worthwhile given the low annual mileage profile. Look for any signs of oil seepage from the valve cover gasket and around the timing chain area, as the 1.2 and 1.4 petrol units fitted to the Adam can develop minor leaks that worsen with age rather than use. Inspect the coolant hoses for any signs of perishing or weeping at the joints, and confirm the air conditioning system blows cold, as the condenser and compressor clutch can deteriorate on cars that see predominantly short journeys. Finally, examine the underside for any surface corrosion on the brake lines, fuel lines, and exhaust mounting points, and confirm all warning lamps extinguish promptly on ignition, as electronic gremlins on the Adam's body control module are a known complaint irrespective of MOT outcome.