2009 Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4L Petrol · ST09 LZX

The most recent DVSA test on 20 May 2026 returned a Pass, but it was accompanied by five advisories that, taken together with the surrounding history, point to an ageing vehicle requiring measured rather than headline expenditure. The trend across the last six recorded tests is one of steady, ongoing deterioration rather than acute failure: the 2024 test produced a Major defect for a leaking offside front shock absorber, the 2025 re-test still flagged reduced damping on the nearside rear unit, and the 2026 pass again records a binding offside front brake calliper alongside sub-frame corrosion and an exhaust noted as noisy. The fact that none of the recent defects have been repeated as Majors suggests prompt remedial work, but the persistence of suspension, braking, and corrosion advisories over consecutive tests indicates a vehicle that is being maintained reactively rather than restored to a fully sound condition. With a recorded mileage of 104,099 over approximately seventeen years, the car is averaging just over 6,100 miles annually, which is modest and broadly typical for a small Alfa Romeo of this vintage. This kind of usage profile tends to be kinder to the engine and drivetrain in terms of wear, but it does mean the car is likely to have spent extended periods standing, with the consequences that brings for brake callipers seizing, exhaust and underbody corrosion advancing, and rubber components perishing through age rather than mileage. The MOT record is entirely consistent with that pattern, and the buyer should be aware that low annual mileage can mask significant calendar-related degradation. A prospective purchaser should focus their pre-purchase inspection on the areas repeatedly flagged. The offside front brake calliper that was noted as binding on the 2026 test is particularly worth attention, as a seizing calliper will generate uneven pad and disc wear, pulling the car to one side under braking and producing a hot wheel or a smell of burning after sustained use, and given that a rear calliper was found leaking as recently as April 2025, the hydraulic system generally warrants a visual check for wetness around the caliper bodies, flexible hose condition, and fluid age. The front tyres were advised for both inner and outer edge wear in 2026, which can indicate worn suspension bushes or tired coil springs rather than simply a tracking issue, and the persistent sub-frame and suspension arm corrosion advisories from 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 suggest these areas should be inspected closely for any progression towards serious weakening, paying particular attention to mounting points and bush housings. On the road, listen for clonks or knocks over speed humps and uneven surfaces, watch for excessive body roll, and feel for vagueness or vibration through the steering. Beyond the recorded defects, age-appropriate checks remain essential on a 2009 car with this mileage profile. Even where the MOT history does not flag them, the tyres should be examined for sidewall cracking and perishing, the 12-volt battery should be tested for its state of health rather than assumed serviceable, and the brake discs, particularly at the rear where pitting was noted in 2021, may exhibit corrosion ridges or binding from standing. Coolant, brake fluid, and gearbox or clutch fluid should be considered for replacement on a calendar basis regardless of the odometer reading, and the exhaust system, which has produced advisories for noise, mounting defect, and a minor gas leak across several tests, should be inspected end to end for integrity. Service history stamps, timing belt or chain documentation, and any record of cambelt replacement on the relevant TwinAir or JTDM engine fitted to this model should be verified before purchase, as this is a critical age-related service item on a seventeen year old vehicle.