2009 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · RO59 KTL

The 2009 Renault Clio presents a stable and largely reassuring roadworthiness profile, culminating in a clean pass at 74,658 miles on 11 September 2025 with zero defects recorded. That outcome is notable given the car's age. The maintenance trend over the past three years shows clear improvement, moving from a suspension failure in 2023 through a minor lighting defect in 2024 to a fully defect-free result in 2025. This trajectory suggests the previous owner addressed the most critical mechanical fault promptly and has maintained the vehicle to a reasonable standard since. The mileage pattern reinforces the impression of careful, low-intensity use. The car covered just 1,513 miles between the September 2024 test at 73,145 miles and the September 2025 test at 74,658 miles. Over the full three-year window from September 2023 at 71,245 miles to September 2025 at 74,658 miles, total accumulation was 3,413 miles, averaging roughly 1,138 miles per year. That is exceptionally low, even below the already modest annualised figure of 4,392 miles across the car's full life. Such minimal use raises the possibility of prolonged standing periods, which can cause tyre flat-spotting, brake disc surface corrosion, and dried-out rubber seals, none of which the MOT explicitly tests for. Buyers should focus their in-person inspection on the front suspension, given the fractured nearside coil spring identified and rectified during the 15 September 2023 failure at 71,245 miles. A broken coil spring is a serious structural defect that places uneven load on the remaining suspension components. Check the offside front spring carefully for cracks or corrosion, and inspect both front dampers for oil misting or bounce-test weakness. Examine the nearside front suspension bushings and top mounts for accelerated wear caused by the period the car may have been driven with a compromised spring before repair. Beyond the suspension, the low annual mileage warrants attention to consumable condition regardless of the clean MOT. Inspect all four tyres for sidewall cracking and date codes, as rubber degrades with age as well as use. Check the brake discs and pads for surface corrosion that can develop during short journeys or standing periods. Verify the headlamp aim adjustment mechanism functions correctly, since the 2024 advisory for an obviously incorrect nearside beam pattern suggests the aim may have been disturbed, possibly during front-end work following the spring replacement. A brief road test over varied surfaces will reveal any lingering suspension clunks or brake drag that the MOT's static checks might not fully expose.