2005 Toyota Celica 1.8L Petrol · SO05 JCJ

Corrosion is the defining theme of this Celica's MOT history, and it is a recurring rather than resolved issue. Across the 2018, 2021 and 2022 tests, advisories repeatedly flagged both front suspension arms, the front sub-frame and the rear sub-frame as corroded, though never seriously weakened, and the 2021 test added the nearside rear suspension arm to that list. The latest recorded test on 2023-09-28 passed with no defects at all, which is a positive result, but it does not erase the four prior years of documented underbody corrosion; the trend suggests the deterioration was monitored rather than repaired, and the 2023 clean sheet may simply reflect that the corrosion had not yet crossed the threshold into a failure. There are no recorded failures in the eight tests shown, so the car has remained roadworthy throughout, but a buyer should treat the corrosion advisories as the central inspection point rather than the clean recent pass. The recorded mileage of 53,612 over roughly 21 years equates to around 2,553 miles per year, which is very low for a car of this age. The annual September test rhythm has been consistent with no significant gaps, so there is no evidence of long statutory off-road periods, but such modest annual use is entirely consistent with the corrosion pattern observed: cars that sit for extended periods, particularly outdoors, accumulate surface rust on subframes, suspension arms and brake discs faster than regularly driven equivalents. The recurring advisories for worn, pitted or scored brake discs, noted on the nearside front in both 2018 and 2022 and the offside rear in 2018, fit this low-use profile, as light surface corrosion on disc faces is a classic consequence of infrequent driving. For a viewing, the priority is a thorough inspection of the underside. Ask for the car to be put on a ramp and examine both front suspension arms, the rear arms, and especially the front and rear subframes, pressing and probing for flaking metal, deep pitting or any perforation rather than harmless surface discolouration. Pay particular attention to the areas around suspension mounting points and subframe attachment points, since corrosion there has structural implications and is what would convert a long-standing advisory into a failure. Given that four separate tests flagged these components, budget for the possibility that remedial work, such as wire-brushing, rust treatment and undersealing, or in a worse case replacement arms or subframe sections, may be needed to keep the car passing in future years. On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks from the front over uneven surfaces, which could indicate worn bushes or ball joints in the corroded suspension arms, and check that the car tracks straight without pulling under braking. Apply the brakes firmly from speed and feel for judder through the pedal or steering wheel, which would point to the pitted or scored discs noted in the advisories, and confirm the handbrake holds cleanly given the rear disc history. Also verify that the engine pulls smoothly through the rev range and that the gearchange is precise, as these are items the MOT record cannot speak to. Overall this is a low-mileage example with an unbroken pass record, but its value and future test prospects hinge almost entirely on the current state of that repeatedly flagged underbody corrosion.