2004 MG TF 1.8L Petrol · YX54 XJD

The 2004 MG TF presents a stable but chronically flagged roadworthiness profile. The most recent test on 13 December 2022 at 73,058 miles passed, yet the tester again noted corrosion on both the front and rear sub-frames, albeit not seriously weakened, alongside worn, pitted, or scored rear brake discs. This repeats a pattern visible across multiple prior tests, indicating the car has been kept on the road through minor repair rather than thorough preventative restoration. The trend is neither sharply worsening nor resolving; it is stable in the sense that defects are recurring at a consistent, manageable level rather than escalating into dangerous failures. Mileage accumulation is notably low for a 22-year-old sports car. Between the 2017 test at 69,509 miles and the final 2022 test at 73,058 miles, the car covered only 3,549 miles across five years, averaging roughly 710 miles annually. The 2021 test at 72,427 miles and the 2020 test at 71,564 miles confirm this pattern of very light use. Such low mileage reduces consumable wear but raises the risk of deterioration from standing, particularly for rubber suspension bushes, brake components, and structural corrosion, which aligns precisely with the defects the MOT records repeatedly highlight. Buyers should treat the underside as the primary inspection priority. The sub-frame corrosion advisory first appeared in 2019 and persisted into the 2022 test, meaning the structural condition has been monitored but not remediated. A thorough inspection of the front and rear sub-frame mounting points, jacking points, and inner wing seams is essential to confirm the corrosion has not progressed beyond surface or moderate scaling into perforation. The rear brake discs have been flagged as worn, pitted, or scored in four consecutive tests from 2020 through 2022, suggesting either a long-term caliper issue or simply that the same discs have remained in service well beyond their optimal service life. A binding rear caliper or handbrake mechanism should be ruled out on a road test and physical inspection. Suspension wear is another area to verify. The 2019 test flagged worn front upper suspension arm pins or bushes on both sides, yet this did not reappear in later tests, so it may have been addressed. Still, given the car’s age and low mileage, perished rubber bushes and degraded dampers are likely. A close check of all suspension bushes, ball joints, and coil springs for cracking or sag is advisable. Overall, the MOT record describes a car that has been lightly used and consistently passed, but with recurring minor structural and braking advisories that a buyer should verify have not worsened since the December 2022 test, especially if the vehicle has stood unused since then.