2015 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · LR15 KCN

The most recent MOT (2025-05-17) was a pass at 56,224 miles, but with three live defects: a damaged nearside windscreen (not affecting view), worn and scored front brake discs, and perishing/cracking on both rear tyres. A clear mechanical pattern emerges across the last two years: recurring suspension faults — specifically, the 2024 failure recorded a serious fluid leak in the offside front shock absorber and a damaged, seriously weakened Macpherson strut mounting. These were repaired before the 2024 retest and haven’t reappeared since — but no later MOTs confirm whether the repair was thorough or long-lasting. The 2025 test shows no suspension defects, suggesting stability for now , but the absence of evidence isn’t proof of durability. The defect trend is mixed: windscreen damage has persisted since at least 2023, and rear tyre perishing has recurred annually since 2024 — worsening in 2025 to affect both sides. Brake disc wear is new in 2025, possibly linked to under-use or infrequent braking leading to surface corrosion rather than friction wear. At 56,224 miles over 11 years (~5,111 miles/year), this Polo sits well below average UK annual mileage. That low usage could mean less mechanical wear — but also raises concerns about rubber degradation (tyres, bushings, seals), brake disc pitting from moisture, and potential fluid stagnation. It does not reliably indicate careful ownership; it may instead reflect long periods of inactivity, which accelerates deterioration of elastomers and corrosion-prone components. The history is not mostly clean: there’s a documented failure in 2024 involving critical suspension components, plus consistent minor defects.