Austin Metro V/plas (1988)
1988 Austin Metro V/plas
CarHunch analysed 2,436 real MOT records for the 1988 Austin Metro V/plas. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1988 Austin Metro V/Plas is in severe decline: just 1.8% pass their MOT on first attempt, compared to the UK average of 80%, making it genuinely unreliable by any measure. Only 0.6% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, so the failures are mostly annoying rather than unsafe, but the sheer scale of non-compliance is the real concern here.
At around 50,000 miles on average, these Metros are light-use survivors, yet they're still generating frequent faults—averaging 0.06 failures and 0.1 advisories per test. If you're considering one, treat it as a project car requiring serious mechanical commitment, not daily transport, and budget for professional pre-purchase inspection to identify which systems are about to fail.
What to check before buying a 1988 Austin Metro V/plas
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Austin Metro V/plas
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 2,434 | 1.8% | 0.06 |
| Diesel (0%) | 2 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1988 Austin Metro V/plas vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1988 Austin Metro V/plas vehicles fall between 33,494 and 64,799 miles.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Austin Metro V/plas?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.