2018 Abarth 595C 1.4L Petrol · WM18 EUR

The 2018 Abarth 595c presents a generally stable mechanical picture, though the record reveals a pattern of deferred minor items rather than serious structural neglect. The most recent test on 2 February 2026 at 31,860 miles passed cleanly aside from an advisory for thin rear inner brake pads on both sides. That advisory is a consumable wear item, not a failure, and the car has covered only 5,610 miles since the previous January 2025 test. The January 2025 pass at 26,250 miles was entirely clean, suggesting the car sat largely unused for much of the intervening period. The maintenance trend is broadly stable, with no recurring structural or safety-critical failures, but the history shows a tendency for small electrical and suspension faults to appear and then be rectified before the next annual test. Mileage accumulation is notably low for an eight-year-old vehicle. Between the October 2022 test at 17,927 miles and the December 2023 test at 23,350 miles, the car covered 5,423 miles in roughly fourteen months. From December 2023 to January 2025, it added just 2,900 miles over thirteen months, and then only 5,610 miles in the following thirteen months to February 2026. Annual averages sit well below 4,000 miles. Such low use can preserve consumables and bodywork, but prolonged standing periods risk dried suspension seals, flat-spotted tyres, and moisture ingress into brake and exhaust systems. The gap between the failed test on 18 January 2025 at 26,133 miles and the passed test ten days later on 28 January 2025 at 26,250 miles indicates a pre-test repair visit, likely addressing the shock absorber bushes, repeater lamps, and engine MIL fault that caused the initial failure. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the rear suspension and braking components. The January 2025 failure flagged excessively worn upper shock absorber bushes on both rear corners, a fault that can cause vague rear-end handling and uneven tyre wear if left unattended. Although repaired for the retest, the condition of those bushes and the shock absorbers themselves warrants close examination for fresh replacements or signs of a quick bodge. The rear brake pads have appeared as advisories in both the December 2023 and February 2026 tests, suggesting the car's rear braking circuit works harder than expected for a low-mileage vehicle, possibly due to caliper drag or a binding handbrake mechanism. A thorough check of rear caliper slide pins, disc condition, and handbrake cable operation is advisable. The inoperative engine MIL and faulty repeaters from the 2025 failure point to an electrical issue that was resolved, but a diagnostic scan for stored fault codes would confirm no lingering engine management concerns. Given the low mileage and short test intervals, a compression test and underbody inspection for corrosion around suspension mounting points and exhaust hangers would round out a prudent pre-purchase assessment.