2007 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · PE57 FBL

The vehicle shows a history of reactive maintenance rather than proactive care, particularly regarding safety critical consumables. In the August 2024 test at 101,153 miles, the Polo failed on multiple critical points including a fractured nearside front coil spring, poor parking brake efficiency, and an incorrect brake slack adjuster. While it passed just four days later at 101,653 miles, the tester flagged remaining issues such as worn brake discs and tyres reaching the legal limit. The presence of a non-excessive oil leak noted back in 2023 suggests a persistent engine seal issue that previous owners have chosen not to rectify. At 19 years old with over 100 miles, the car has averaged roughly 5,350 miles per year. This low annual mileage often leads to age-related degradation of rubber components rather than mechanical wear. This is evident in the 2023 failure at 89,305 miles, where the vehicle was rejected for tyres with exposed cords and significant sidewall damage on the offside rear. The record of worn rear axle swivel pins and bushes from that same period indicates that the suspension is beginning to perish due to age, which is common for vehicles of this era that sit for extended periods. The maintenance trend indicates that the owner only addresses faults when an MOT failure is imminent. Recurring issues with the offside front seat belt webbing and headlamp frosting across 2024 tests show a lack of general attention to minor safety defects. A buyer should inspect the structural integrity for corrosion, as the age of the vehicle makes it highly susceptible to rust in the sills and floor pans. Given that the last MOT was in August 2024, the vehicle is now overdue for its annual test, meaning the current state of the brakes and suspension remains unverified.