2002 Volkswagen Golf 1.6L Petrol · LT02 OYZ

The vehicle is currently roadworthy following a clean pass in April 2025 at 97,002 miles. However, the maintenance trend shows a pattern of reactive repairs rather than proactive upkeep. The April 2025 failure was significant due to an excessively worn offside front suspension ball joint and an illegal offside front tyre. While these issues were rectified to achieve the subsequent pass, the recurring failures in 2024 suggest that the owner only addresses mechanical faults when necessitated by the MOT testing process. At 24 years old, the recorded mileage of 97,002 miles is remarkably low, averaging approximately 4,042 miles per year. The data shows consistent usage patterns, with roughly 7,400 miles driven between April 2023 and April 2024, and another 7,500 miles between April 2024 and April 2025. This low annual mileage often masks age-related degradation of rubber-based components, such as bushings and seals, which can perish regardless of the low mileage on the odometer. A buyer must conduct a thorough inspection of the front suspension geometry. The tester noted a failing ball joint in 2025 and light misting on the offside front shock absorber in 2024; the buyer should check for further oil leakage on the dampers and play in the control arms and drop links. The history also indicates a major exhaust flexi-leak in 2024, necessitating a check of the entire exhaust system for corrosion or degraded hangers that may have been overlooked. Given the recurring issues with tyres being below the legal tread limit in both 2024 and 2025, the current set of tyres should be inspected for uneven wear, which would indicate an alignment problem. The age of the vehicle also demands a close look at the sills and wheel arches for structural corrosion, as the MOT record does not explicitly detail structural integrity, and low-mileage cars of this era are prone to hidden rust if left stationary for extended periods.