2008 Vauxhall Astra 1.8L Petrol · FH08 HDJ

The most recent MOT (20 Sept 2025) was a pass, but it flagged a minor exhaust leak, front brake discs that are worn, pitted or scored, and the off‑side front tyre close to the legal tread limit. These are the only items recorded at the latest test. A clear pattern emerges from the last four years: recurring minor exhaust leaks, progressive wear on the front brake discs and pads, and ongoing front‑wheel tyre wear. In 2023 a slight play was noted on the off‑side front wheel bearing, and in 2022 the car failed due to serious shock‑absorber fluid loss, a fractured front coil spring, and worn suspension arm bushes. The 2022 failure was followed by a clean pass a few weeks later, but the same suspension wear, oil leak and exhaust leak re‑appeared in subsequent tests. Since then the MOT results have been passes, suggesting the most serious faults have been addressed, but the underlying wear items remain. The trend appears stable rather than worsening: no new major failures have been recorded after the 2022 incident, but the recurring minor defects indicate components are reaching the end of their service life and will need attention soon. Mileage of 173,315 mi on an 18‑year‑old Astra works out to about 9,600 mi per year, which is typical for a vehicle of this age. It does not point to extreme hard use, but it also does not suggest long periods of inactivity. Expect normal wear on consumables such as brakes, tyres, suspension bushings and exhaust joints.