Leyland Daf 200 Series City Special D (1989)
1989 Leyland Daf 200 Series City Special D
CarHunch analysed 177 real MOT records for the 1989 Leyland Daf 200 Series City Special D. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1989 Leyland DAF is a serious reliability concern: only 2.3% pass their MOT first time, compared to the UK average of 80%, meaning almost every test finds something that needs fixing. The diesel variant (which makes up 176 of the 177 vehicles analysed) performs identically poorly at 2.4%, so fuel type offers no escape route here.
At an average mileage of 93,901 miles for a 35-year-old vehicle, these buses have actually been used relatively conservatively, yet they're still racking up 0.1 failures and 0.5 advisories per test on average—suggesting age and design rather than abuse is the culprit. If you're considering one, treat the MOT as an annual rebuild project, not a formality, and budget accordingly for whatever breaks next.
What to check before buying a 1989 Leyland Daf 200 Series City Special D
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 Leyland Daf 200 Series City Special D
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (99%) | 176 | 2.4% | 0.1 |
| Petrol (1%) | 1 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1989 Leyland Daf 200 Series City Special D 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 1989 Leyland Daf 200 Series City Special D vehicles fall between 46,429 and 134,439 miles.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Leyland Daf 200 Series City Special D?
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