Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1995 Proton Sl?

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 1995 Proton Sl?

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 1995 Proton Sl?

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.

Is the 1995 Proton Sl reliable?

Based on MOT data from 458 vehicles, the 1995 Proton Sl has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1995 Proton Sl?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1995 Proton Sl are: Oil leak (21.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (18.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1995 Proton Sl?

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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Proton Sl (1995)

458 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.1% first-time pass rate

1995 Proton Sl

CarHunch analysed 458 real MOT records for the 1995 Proton Sl. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 458 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1995 Proton SL is a seriously unreliable car by any measure—just 17.9% pass first time compared to the UK average of 80%, meaning four out of five will fail their MOT. The good news is that dangerous defects are rare at 0.9%, so while these cars are old and decay-prone, they're not inherently unsafe.

At an average mileage of 78,109 for a nearly 30-year-old vehicle, these are relatively low-mileage survivors, yet they still rack up 0.33 failures and 0.7 advisories per test on average. If you're considering one, assume you'll need to budget for significant repairs before and after each MOT—these cars need an honest pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with 1990s Asian imports, because age and parts availability will be your real enemies.

The 1995 Proton Sl has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.1% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

First-time pass

73.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

0.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.33

Over 1.8 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

73k

Middle half: 63k–92k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

These stats describe 458 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 458 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 21.3%

Oil leak · Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · …

Tyre wear 19.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 10.8%

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Exhaust & emissions 10.1%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive

Lighting 9.4%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1995.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 458 Proton Sl cars.

Before you buy a 1995 Proton Sl

Based on MOT data from 458 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	457	73.1%	0.33

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,376 Proton Sl vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 26.9%

370

Green 19.5%

268

Red 11.7%

161

White 10.7%

147

Grey 8.1%

111

Brown 7.3%

100

Gold 7%

Silver 5.3%

Purple 2.8%

Black 0.7%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1995 Proton Sl vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

72,701

typical

62,696

low mileage

92,053

high mileage

Half of all 1995 Proton Sl vehicles fall between 62,696 and 92,053 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 62,696 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 62,696–92,053 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1995 Proton Sls sit.

⚠ Over 124,271 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.33

Avg failures per vehicle

0.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Proton Sl: All Sl years → Which year to buy? →

1994 1996

Or browse all models: Proton →

Compare with another model

See how the 1995 Proton Sl stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on