2018 Mazda 2 1.5L Petrol · ET68 OFW

The vehicle presents a generally stable mechanical condition, though the most recent MOT history reveals a distinct deterioration in front tyre condition. In the June 2026 test at 43,865 miles, the tester flagged a nearside front tyre below the 1.6mm legal minimum and an offside front tyre worn to the legal limit on its edge, resulting in a failure. A pass was issued later that same day, indicating the front tyres were replaced. This pattern suggests the previous owner allowed the front tread to degrade to a dangerous level before addressing it, pointing to a reactive rather than proactive approach to basic consumable maintenance. The recorded mileage of 43,865 miles equates to approximately 5,483 miles per year, which is notably low for an eight-year-old vehicle. The MOT records confirm this consistent but light usage, showing incremental accumulations of 5,342 miles between May 2023 and May 2024, 5,645 miles between May 2024 and May 2025, and 4,889 miles between May 2025 and June 2026. Such low annual mileage often implies extended periods of standing, which aligns with the recurring advisories for perishing and cracking on the tyres noted in the 2024 and 2025 tests. A physical inspection should focus heavily on the tyres and the areas obscured by child seats in previous tests. The repeated advisories for cracking and perishing on the nearside and offside rear tyres in the 2024 and 2025 tests, combined with the front tyres failing in 2026, strongly indicate that the rubber has degraded due to age and prolonged standing rather than high mileage wear. Check the sidewalls and tread thoroughly for further deterioration. The previous installation of a child seat prevented a full inspection of the offside and nearside rear adult belts in 2024 and 2025. A buyer must manually extract the seat belts slowly to check for fraying or slow retraction, ensuring the locking mechanism functions correctly without the obstruction.