2012 Vauxhall Astra 1.6L Petrol · WN12 MTY

The vehicle remains roadworthy, though the maintenance history indicates a trend of reactive rather than proactive upkeep. The most recent test on 3 July 2026 at 80,880 miles passed with a persistent but non-excessive oil leak, which has appeared in three consecutive annual tests. While the car currently meets the minimum requirements, the failure in July 2024 due to a fractured offside rear coil spring and thin rear brake pads suggests that mechanical components are only addressed once they reach failure state. The mileage profile is consistently low for a 14-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 5,700 miles per year. There is a spike in usage between July 2023 and July 2024, where the car covered 10,000 miles, compared to the more modest increase of roughly 1,300 miles in the following year. This low-frequency use correlates with age-related degradation, as seen in the 2017 record where both rear tyres and the fuel cap seal were found to have perished due to time and environmental exposure rather than tread wear. A buyer should inspect the engine bay specifically to identify the source of the recurring oil leak, as it has persisted for three years without resolution. Given the 2024 failure involving a broken coil spring, a thorough check of the suspension bushes and dampers is necessary to ensure no further structural fatigue has developed elsewhere. The history of worn tyres and thin brake pads indicates the previous owner neglected basic consumable items, so a physical inspection of the current brake disc condition and tyre manufacture dates is essential to avoid additional costs.