2004 Rover 45 1.6L Petrol · GL04 EPE

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance trend shows a worsening condition regarding rubber components and structural integrity. While it passed the latest test on June 2026 at 67,332 miles, the tester identified new corrosion on both rear lower suspension arms and flagged both inner drive shaft CV boots as severely deteriorated. This indicates that previous issues noted in 2025 have either not been fully rectified or have since degraded further, pointing to a recurring failure of perished materials across the drivetrain and suspension. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a 22-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 3,000 miles per year. The record shows a consistent progression of roughly 2,000 miles between the 2024 and 2025 tests, and another 1,800 miles leading up to the most recent inspection. This low usage frequency explains the presence of perishing tyres and cracking sidewalls seen in the 2024 and 2025 records, as rubber components often fail due to age and oxidation rather than mileage-related wear. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the nearside front jack point where structural corrosion was flagged in 2025, as the tester noted rust within 30cm of a mounting. The recurring failure of drive shaft boots and trail arm bushes suggests the vehicle may require a comprehensive preventative replacement of age-related rubber parts, as these components have appeared in multiple advisories across the last three years. The binding nearside front brake noted in 2025 also requires verification to ensure the caliper piston is not seized due to the vehicle's long periods of inactivity.