2004 Toyota Celica 1.8L Petrol · FL04 FZW

The 2004 Toyota Celica presents a stable maintenance trend, though its most recent MOT dates back to 22 March 2025 at 153,961 miles, making the certificate roughly 15 months old against today's date. The tester recorded zero defects on that pass, indicating the vehicle met all required safety and emissions standards at that time. Curiously, the record shows a failed test on 21 March 2025 at the identical mileage with no defects listed, suggesting a same-day retest after a minor rectification or a data entry anomaly at the testing station. Regardless, the current status confirms the car was deemed roadworthy as of early 2025. The mileage accumulation tells a story of recent dormancy. Between the March 2022 test at 129,972 miles and the February 2023 test at 136,081 miles, the Celica covered roughly 6,000 miles, aligning with the typical annual usage for a vehicle of this age. However, the odometer has not moved since the March 2023 test at 136,696 miles, meaning the car has stood stationary for over three years leading up to the 2025 test. This prolonged inactivity raises questions about the condition of consumables like rubber hoses, tyres, and brake components that deteriorate with age and lack of use rather than mileage. A buyer must inspect the mechanical implications of this three-year stationary period. Brake discs will likely exhibit surface corrosion, and calipers may be binding or seized from lack of use. Suspension bushes and tyre sidewalls require close scrutiny for perishing and cracking, as rubber hardens with age regardless of tread depth. The exhaust system and underbody need checking for corrosion, particularly given the vehicle is over two decades old. While the MOT record remains entirely free of advisories or failures, the lack of recent mileage accumulation means a physical inspection is essential to verify that prolonged storage has not compromised the structural integrity or mechanical operation of the vehicle.