2012 Vauxhall Astra 1.4L Petrol · SD62 MZG

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance trend shows a shift from structural degradation to immediate consumable neglect. While the most recent test in May 2026 at 102,319 miles passed without failures, it revealed an offside front tyre worn to the legal limit with uneven edges. This indicates a potential alignment issue or suspension wear that was not present during the clean tests in 2024 and 2025, suggesting a recent decline in preventative mechanical attention. The mileage pattern remains consistent with a fourteen-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 7,300 miles per year. The record shows steady usage, with roughly 8,000 miles covered between May 2025 and May 2026, and another 4,800 miles between June 2024 and 2025. This regularity suggests the car has not sat for long periods, which is generally beneficial for seals and rubber components, despite the recurring corrosion issues noted in earlier inspections. A buyer must prioritise a physical inspection of the front sub-frame and exhaust system, as these components showed corrosion in both 2022 and 2023. Although the tester noted structural rigidity was not significantly reduced at that time, surface rust on Vauxhall components of this era often accelerates if untreated. The buyer should also check the offside rear coil spring for further cracking, as corrosion was flagged previously, and verify that the defective exhaust mounting has been properly secured. The uneven wear noted on the offside front tyre necessitates a check of the tracking geometry, ball joints, and suspension bushes. If the geometry is out of specification, new tyres will scrub prematurely regardless of quality. Given the history of perishing tyres in the rear, a thorough check of the sidewalls on all remaining tyres is required to ensure the rubber has not become brittle from age despite the relatively low mileage.