2015 Abarth 595 1.4L Petrol · GKS 87N

The 2015 Abarth 595 passed its most recent MOT on 22 May 2026 at 40,145 miles, but the record reveals a maintenance pattern that is stable at best and quietly worsening in key areas. The latest test flagged four advisories, including a deteriorated rear exhaust silencer and clamp, worn rear brake disc inner faces, worn lower suspension arm inner rear bushes on both front corners, and cracking or perishing tyre sidewalls on all four wheels. None of these are immediate failures, yet the combination suggests a car that has been kept on the road rather than actively maintained. The rear exhaust and brake wear items have appeared repeatedly across multiple tests, indicating slow, ongoing deterioration rather than sudden faults. At roughly 3,650 miles per year, the mileage is low for an 11-year-old car. The annual test records show a consistent gap of around 1,400 to 1,800 miles between each inspection, with no sudden spikes or suspicious odometer reversals. The vehicle appears to have been used sparingly, likely for short urban trips, which can accelerate corrosion on exhaust components and brake surfaces due to insufficient heat cycling and moisture burn-off. The MOT history itself is clean and continuous with no recorded failures, which supports a baseline level of roadworthiness, but the advisory accumulation tells a more nuanced story. The recurring rear exhaust silencer and clamp deterioration, present in every test from 2023 onward, points to a slow structural corrosion issue rather than a one-off fix. Buyers should inspect the full exhaust system for perforation, rust scaling at flange joints, and the condition of mounting rubbers, as a replacement silencer and clamp will likely be needed soon. The rear brake disc wear noted in 2025 and again in 2026, now described as worn, pitted or scored on the inner faces, suggests the discs have been running at or near minimum thickness for some time. A physical inspection should measure disc thickness and check for lipping, cracking, and uneven pad deposition. The worn lower front suspension arm bushes flagged in the latest test, combined with the upper strut and shock absorber bush wear noted in 2022, indicate the front and rear suspension bushings are reaching end-of-life across the board. These should be checked for play, cracking rubber, and any signs of oil contamination from leaking dampers. The all-four tyre sidewall cracking advisory is a significant concern that should not be dismissed as cosmetic. Perished or aged rubber on a low-mileage car typically results from age-related degradation rather than wear, meaning the tyres may need replacement regardless of remaining tread depth. Buyers should verify the date codes on all four tyres and the spare if fitted, and budget for a full set if the codes show they are more than six years old. Overall, this Abarth 595 remains roadworthy on paper, but the pattern of slow, compounding wear on brakes, exhaust, suspension, and tyres suggests a buyer should approach with a thorough mechanical inspection and realistic expectations for near-term remedial spending.