2017 Abarth 595 1.4L Petrol · WP17 DVR

The most recent MOT, conducted on 27 April 2026 at 57,979 miles, resulted in a pass, but the advisory items reveal a vehicle that is now entering a phase of accelerated consumable wear. Front brake pads were flagged as wearing thin on both sides, and the front brake discs were noted as worn, pitted, or scored. Both front tyres were worn close to the legal limit and on their edges. This combination of advisories, appearing together at the most recent test, suggests the maintenance trend is currently stable but approaching a point where multiple front-end consumables will require simultaneous replacement in the near term. The mileage progression indicates a fairly consistent but slightly increasing annual usage pattern. Between the November 2023 failure at 27,282 miles and the May 2024 pass at 30,014 miles, the car covered roughly 2,700 miles in six months. From May 2024 to April 2025, it added approximately 17,200 miles, and from April 2025 to April 2026, a further 10,750 miles were recorded. This is broadly typical for a nine-year-old vehicle averaging around 6,400 miles per year, though the spike in 2024-2025 suggests heavier use during that period, which may have contributed to the current wear pattern on brakes and tyres. A prospective buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension and steering components. In the May 2024 test at 30,014 miles, the nearside front suspension arm pin or bush was flagged as worn, and both front shock absorber top bushes were noted as slightly worn with play. These items were not flagged in the 2026 test, but the absence of a repeat advisory does not confirm replacement; it may simply reflect that the tester did not re-flag them or that the wear has not yet progressed to a testable threshold. A physical inspection of the front suspension bushes, shock absorber top mounts, and ball joints is advisable to confirm their current condition. The braking system warrants particular scrutiny. Front pads and discs were both flagged in April 2026, and rear pads were noted as wearing thin back in May 2023. The rear exhaust was also flagged for corrosion in 2023, and the November 2023 failure included an exhaust emissions Lambda reading outside specified limits, which could point to a deteriorating catalytic converter or lambda sensor. A buyer should inspect the full exhaust system for corrosion, check the rear brake condition, and verify that the engine management light is operational and that emissions remain stable under load. The recurring tyre wear advisories, particularly uneven inner edge wear, also suggests the wheel alignment and tracking should be checked to prevent premature replacement of new tyres.