Metrocab Manual (1998)

276 real MOT outcomes analysed • 45% first-time pass rate

1998 Metrocab Manual

CarHunch analysed 276 real MOT records for the 1998 Metrocab Manual. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 35% below UK average
45%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
243,998
typical mileage
154,138–305,698 middle half
24.3%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.1
avg MOT failures per car
over 6 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 Metrocab Manual

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.
  • ⚠️ 24.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 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 Metrocab Manual

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%) 273 44.8% 2.1
Petrol (1%) 2 50% 2
LPG (0%) 1 66.7% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Metrocab Manual 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.

154,138
low mileage
243,998
typical
305,698
high mileage

Half of all 1998 Metrocab Manual vehicles fall between 154,138 and 305,698 miles.

1998 Metrocab Manual — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 11 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2016 (44% of peak).

25 11 2014 2016

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2016.

MOT History Averages

6
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.1
Avg failures per vehicle
3.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Metrocab Manual

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

  • 93.2%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 39.6%
    Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine
  • 36.7%
    Oil leak
  • 27.3%
    Service brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 23.2%
    Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair.
  • 22.1%
    Fuel pipe/s corroded
  • 18.8%
    Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort
  • 18.5%
    Brakes imbalanced across an axle

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Metrocab Manual?

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

UK

Other model years — Metrocab Manual:

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999