2008 Mazda 2 1.5L Petrol · RE58 CTZ

The vehicle holds a valid MOT certificate issued on 18 December 2025 at 85,624 miles, passed cleanly with only minor advisories. The maintenance trend over the past two years shows a clear improvement. The December 2025 failure at 85,620 miles flagged a major exhaust leak, failed Lambda readings, and exposed tyre ply, yet the very next day's pass confirms these were rectified promptly. Earlier failures in January 2025 and January 2023 involved worn suspension ball joints, defective headlamp lenses, and steering rack play, but none of these items reappeared as failures in subsequent tests, suggesting a pattern of reactive repair rather than chronic neglect. At 85,624 miles over approximately 18 years, the annual average sits around 4,757 miles, which is notably low. The mileage progression from 80,330 miles in December 2023 to 84,240 miles in January 2025 shows roughly 3,910 miles covered in just over a year, and the subsequent jump to 85,624 by December 2025 adds another 1,384 miles in under 12 months. This is consistent with light, regular use rather than long periods of inactivity, though the narrow four-mile gap between the December 2025 failure and pass raises the possibility the vehicle was driven directly to a retest after repairs. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and steering components. The January 2025 failure identified excessively worn lower suspension arm ball joints, and both the January 2025 and December 2023 tests flagged play in the steering rack inner joints on both sides. Although these passed on retest, the recurrence of steering and suspension wear items across multiple tests on a low-mileage car warrants close examination of bushings, ball joints, and rack boots for deterioration. The December 2025 failure also exposed ply on the offside rear tyre, indicating either a slow puncture or prolonged underinflation, so a thorough check of all four tyres for sidewall damage and uneven wear is advisable. The major exhaust leak and Lambda failure point to a possible cracked manifold or degraded Lambda sensor; a cold-start inspection should verify there are no exhaust gas leaks or persistent engine management warnings.