Mot Advisories on a car i'm thinking of buying

colino

You clearly haven't looked underneath your own car then if you think there aren't, "modern cars with rust". It is probably superficial corrosion and of no worries, as in the OPs case, but if it is made out of mild steel, from the very second it was formed into that car component, even with paint or other protective covering, it has been mixing with the air and oxidising.
Those people with anything from Kas to X Type Jaguars will swear testament to that.

arcon5

What's wrong with "modern cars" rusting? Okay, nobody wants any car to rust, but why's it so bad for a "modern" car to rust?
They can still be plated as well as older cars. And bodywork experts can certainly work wonders with smashed up modern vehicles, let alone toughing up a sill where the new meets old metal.

If you're not even too fussed about the cleanup, welding can actually be pretty cheap. It does though seem to be one of those things that frighten people. My current car had two spots corroded excessively and fixed for £60. Okay, they didn't waste too much time knocking the area in, filling it and painting it - but even with an extra hours labour to do a basic finish you're talking less than a water pump.

AdrianC

"Knocking the area in" is a bodge. You're still leaving the rusted - and rusting - metal in place. It's a short-term fix. Doing the job properly involves cutting all the affected metal away, welding new in, then properly protecting BOTH sides of the repair.

colino

It is so bad because manufacturers had come to a point of excellent quality, knowing how to treat exposed metal to a very good degree, substituting mild steel where appropriate, then realising they could be reducing future profits. Right across the board, From Ford Ka to Mercedes, penny-pinching or future sales oriented manufacturers appeared to forget everything they had learned overnight. While only Dacia appear to be supplying comedic, pre-rusted cars to new buyers, there really isn't an excuse for suppliers to be creating plating work for first MOTs nowadays.

InsideInsurance

To go off topic slightly, how well supervised are MOT testing places?

With my last car it never failed an MOT (other than once for having an empty screenwash bottle) but for two years in a row I had an advisory of tyres being worn and near limit. Just before its third test I decided to get them replaced as they'd have done 10-15,000 miles since the first advisory (front wheels on a FWD car) and the fitter that replaced them said there was still plenty of tread left and am I sure I wanted the new ones fitted.

Made me think that the VW garage was possibly trying to drum up more business but I dont know if the pass/ fail is monitored or if it goes as far as advisories etc.

Johnmcl7

InsideInsurance wrote: »

To go off topic slightly, how well supervised are MOT testing places?

With my last car it never failed an MOT (other than once for having an empty screenwash bottle) but for two years in a row I had an advisory of tyres being worn and near limit. Just before its third test I decided to get them replaced as they'd have done 10-15,000 miles since the first advisory (front wheels on a FWD car) and the fitter that replaced them said there was still plenty of tread left and am I sure I wanted the new ones fitted.

Made me think that the VW garage was possibly trying to drum up more business but I dont know if the pass/ fail is monitored or if it goes as far as advisories etc.

As far as I'm aware, advisories aren't in any way regulated so there can be quite a bit of variance there. The Mazda garage MOTing my car (it was under warranty so gave it one service/MOT there) warned me beforehand that my tyre tread was dangerously low and may not pass the MOT - I pointed out it was over 2.5mm tread and would pass absolutely fine which it did but they put it as an advisory.

John

gerkin

scotsbob wrote: »

The Mazda 323 and the Mazda 3 are known to have rust problems.


I would suggest you look at the owners forum and ask there. You may find a knowledgeable owner in your area who would have a look at it for you.


http://www.mazda3forums.co.uk/index.php?board=73.0

I had a Mazda 323 for 10 years and absolutely no rust issue whatsoever. I then bought a Mazda Premacy and within a couple months the side of the car above the tyres started to rust and the paint bubbled. I am guessing this could be the second hand dealer doing a botched repaint job. Anyway, the first MOT was fine but the second MOT failed due to rust near suspension and costed me 350 quid to fix. I could not wait to get rid of that one.

AdrianC

InsideInsurance wrote: »

With my last car it never failed an MOT (other than once for having an empty screenwash bottle) but for two years in a row I had an advisory of tyres being worn and near limit. Just before its third test I decided to get them replaced as they'd have done 10-15,000 miles since the first advisory (front wheels on a FWD car) and the fitter that replaced them said there was still plenty of tread left and am I sure I wanted the new ones fitted.

But, of course, you knew that since you check your tyres yourself weekly, along with fluid levels and lights... Right?

InsideInsurance

AdrianC wrote: »

But, of course, you knew that since you check your tyres yourself weekly, along with fluid levels and lights... Right?

Just as I always say grace before eating and never toast with an empty glass.

patman99

Some MOT testers put-down some really silly advisories.
For instance, when I looked at the car I now have, the maindealer MOT tester had put the following advisories down -

Unable to check rear N/S seatbelt due to childseat fitted.
Unable to check upper engine due to cover fitted.
Unable to check underside of engine due to cover fitted.

The place I have had the last 2 MOTs done encountered the last 2 issues, but used their loaf and didn't even mention them as advisories.

As for rust, it really depends on where the previous owner/s lived.
In my kneck of the woods, it is common knowledge that you do not buy any vehicle that comes from Mersea Island as the Strood which links it to the mainland floods at high tide, but this doesn't stop the locals ploughing through the salt-water to get on/off the Island.