2014 Citroen C3 1.6L Petrol · OY64 PFD

The defining story of this 2014 Citroen C3 is one of generally stable roadworthiness punctuated by a small cluster of component-specific advisories that a prospective buyer should not ignore. The most recent test on 27 May 2026 returned a clean pass with no advisories recorded, which is reassuring, but a look at the wider history shows that the car has not been entirely trouble-free. In the June 2025 test cycle, the vehicle actually failed on a windscreen defect classified as unacceptable condition, while the same visit also flagged worn front inner suspension arm pins or bushes on both sides and a defective rear exhaust mounting. The very next day, on a retest, the windscreen had evidently been replaced or rectified and the car passed, but the suspension and exhaust advisories were carried over again, and a further advisory for a defective front exhaust mounting appeared. The 2024 test, by contrast, flagged only a pair of rear brake disc wear advisories, and the 2023 test was completely clean. Taken together, the trajectory is one of a fundamentally sound car with a few persistent niggling issues rather than any structural or systemic deterioration. Annual mileage on this C3 is remarkably low at roughly 2,451 miles per year over its twelve-year life, which is well below the typical figure for a vehicle of this age and points to either light private use or significant periods of standing. Such a usage profile has mixed mechanical implications. Components that rely on regular operation to shed surface corrosion, such as brake discs and callipers, are particularly vulnerable when a car is used infrequently, and the pitted and scored rear brake discs flagged in 2024 are consistent with exactly this kind of light, intermittent use. Equally, rubber components including suspension bushes, exhaust mountings and the flexible sections of the exhaust system can deteriorate through age and standing time rather than mileage, which would also help to explain the recurring front suspension and exhaust mounting advisories seen in 2025 despite the very modest annual mileage. Given the specific advisories on record, a careful test drive should focus on the front suspension and the rear brake condition. The worn front inner suspension arm pins or bushes were noted on both sides, so when driving slowly over speed humps and potholes, listen carefully for clonking or knocking noises from the front end and pay attention to any vagueness or wandering from the steering, particularly under braking. On a quiet stretch of road, firmly turning the wheel lock to lock can sometimes reveal a subtle slack or rumble from worn bushes. With the rear brake disc wear advisories from 2024 still fresh in the vehicle's recent history, the brakes should be tested with several firm stops from around 40 mph, feeling for judder through the pedal or vibration through the seat, and the car should be held on a slight incline with the handbrake to confirm the rear calipers are not binding or sticking in their guides, a common consequence of low-mileage, short-journey use. The exhaust mounting defects are also worth a hands-on check on the day of viewing. With the engine running, ask the assistant to gently rock the exhaust at the rear while you listen underneath for any metallic clonking that would suggest a broken or perished mounting rubber, and inspect the front mounting area for obvious cracking or separation. Given that the failure in June 2025 was specifically an unacceptable windscreen, the glass on the car now should be inspected closely for any stone chips in the driver's line of sight, particularly within the swept area of the wipers, as any such damage could lead to another failure at the next test. Finally, although the car has clearly passed its most recent MOT cleanly, a buyer should still budget for replacement of the front suspension bushes in the near term and potentially a rear brake disc refresh, both of which are likely to be the next items the examiner flags given their progression in the advisory record.