Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Honda Concerto?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1989 Honda Concerto?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1989 Honda Concerto?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1989 Honda Concerto?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Honda Concerto (1989)

228 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63.4% first-time pass rate

1989 Honda Concerto

CarHunch analysed 228 real MOT records for the 1989 Honda Concerto. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 16.6% below UK average

63.4%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

103,732

typical mileage

79,055–129,721 middle half

13.2%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

1.78

avg MOT failures per car

over 4.8 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Honda Concerto

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 Honda Concerto

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection

Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying →

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Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Honda Concerto 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.

79,055

low mileage

103,732

typical

129,721

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Honda Concerto vehicles fall between 79,055 and 129,721 miles.

MOT History Averages

4.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.78

Avg failures per vehicle

3.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Honda Concerto

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

21.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
20.7%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
20.6%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
16.9%

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
16.8%

Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
16.2%

Oil leak
14.5%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
14.2%

Nearside Stop lamp not working

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Honda Concerto?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

Other model years — Honda Concerto:

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994