2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5L Petrol · GK59 WTO

The 2009 Subaru Impreza presents a generally sound mechanical picture at 108,282 miles, with the most recent MOT test conducted on 17 December 2021 passing cleanly and recording zero defects. That clean pass followed a failure just hours earlier on the same day at 108,281 miles, where the tester flagged an excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint and both front tyres below the 1.6mm legal tread minimum. The immediate retest pass confirms those specific items were rectified, though the record now sits over four and a half years old as of June 2026, meaning no verified roadworthiness evidence exists for the past four-plus years of use. The mileage progression tells a coherent story. Between 2019 and 2021 the car accumulated roughly 29,681 miles over two years, averaging close to 15,000 miles annually, well above the 6,370 miles per year average across its seventeen-year life. That spike suggests heavier use during that period, followed by what appears to be very light or zero use between the December 2021 test and the present, given the recorded mileage has not advanced beyond 108,282. A car standing idle for extended periods can develop its own problems, including flat-spotted tyres, seized brakes, moisture ingress in the exhaust, and deteriorated rubber components. Buyers should focus their in-person inspection on the front suspension, specifically the nearside lower arm ball joint that failed in December 2021, checking for play, perished boots, and any grease leakage that could indicate a replacement has aged or was poorly executed. Both front tyres were also replaced or renewed at that time, so verify their current age, tread depth, and sidewall condition, particularly if the car has sat stationary for long stretches. The 2009 test flagged slight play in the nearside steering linkage ball joint rack arm, a wear point worth re-checking given the mileage increase since then. The rear tyres were noted as worn close to the legal limit in 2019 at 78,601 miles, so confirm whether they were replaced during the 2021 visit or remain original, as aged rubber at this age presents a genuine risk regardless of remaining tread. Beyond the MOT items, a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion is advisable on a seventeen-year-old Subaru, paying attention to sills, subframes, and suspension mounting points. Brake condition, exhaust integrity, and fluid leaks should also be verified given the lack of recent test coverage.