2009 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · GU59 PCV

A 2009 Renault Clio carrying this MOT history presents a fundamentally clean roadworthiness profile, with the only mechanical interruptions being two unexplained failed tests in 2023 and 2025 that were followed the very next day by clean passes. No advisory items have ever been raised on the record, which is unusual for a 17 year old vehicle and indicates that no component has yet reached the threshold where an examiner felt obliged to flag monitoring. The 2025-10-30 pass and the failure/pass sequence from the day before suggest that on both occasions the vehicle was presented with an item that could be rectified on the spot, typically something like a blown bulb, a tyre at the legal margin, or a quick adjustment rather than any structural or mechanical deterioration. The overall trajectory is therefore one of stability, with no worsening trend visible across the four documented tests from 2023 through 2025. With 73,945 miles accumulated over 17 years, this Clio has covered an average of roughly 4,350 miles annually, which is well below the typical usage rate for a vehicle of this age and substantially lower than what is often seen for superminis in the UK. This level of annual accumulation generally points to either a second car, short urban journeys, or extended periods of inactivity rather than regular long-distance commuting. Mechanically, low mileage of this nature reduces wear on major drivetrain components such as the clutch, gearbox internals, and engine bearings, but it can also bring its own concerns around components that suffer from standing rather than working, including ageing rubber seals, perished coolant hoses, brake caliper seizure from lack of use, and the usual effects of an under-used cooling circuit. For a prospective buyer, the lack of any advisory history means there are no specific flagged components to focus on from the MOT file, but the low-mileage profile warrants close physical inspection of items that degrade with age rather than mileage. On a test drive, listen carefully for any clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, paying particular attention to the bottom wishbones and anti-roll bar drop links, which are known wear items on the Clio III and can perish at the inner bush even when external movement is not yet excessive. Apply the brakes firmly from a reasonable speed and check for any pulling to one side or a spongy pedal, as low annual mileage allows front caliper sliders to seize gradually, producing uneven pad wear that would not yet appear in the test record. Also inspect all coolant hoses, the cam belt replacement history given the engine age, and look for any oil staining around the cam cover gasket and the rear of the engine, as these are age-related leak points on this particular powertrain family. Finally, because the record is unusually clean for a 17 year old Clio, it is worth confirming that the mileage is genuinely low and not the result of clock tampering or a recent cluster replacement, particularly given the absence of any prior test entries before 2023 in the supplied record. Verify that the service book stamps or digital service history align with the mileage on the odometer and that there is continuity of MOT tests through the intervening years if the vehicle was kept on the road throughout. A pre-purchase inspection on a ramp remains strongly advisable, focusing on the front subframe for any signs of surface corrosion around the mounting points, the condition of the exhaust downpipe and flexi-joint which commonly fail on age rather than mileage, and the rear brake shoes and handbrake mechanism, as these deteriorate with standing time and are not always fully assessed during a standard MOT check.