Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet?

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 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet?

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 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet?

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 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet reliable?

Based on MOT data from 126 vehicles, the 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet?

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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Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet (2000)

126 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.3% first-time pass rate

2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet

CarHunch analysed 126 real MOT records for the 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2000 Smart City Cabriolet has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.3%, notably below the UK average of 80%, which signals middling reliability for its age. With nearly one in five vehicles showing a dangerous defect history (19.8%), buyers should factor in the cost of addressing serious faults before purchase.

At 72,648 miles median, these cars are well-used for their age but not excessively so, yet they're still racking up an average of 3.08 failures and 7.7 advisories per test—suggesting age-related wear is catching up faster than average. Budget for regular maintenance and get a full pre-purchase inspection, paying particular attention to suspension, brakes, and electrical systems where small cars typically show their vulnerabilities.

We have limited data for the 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

70.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

19.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.08

Over 10.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

73k

Middle half: 51k–95k

For context

These stats describe 126 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

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 126 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet cars.

Before you buy a 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet

Based on MOT data from 126 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.8% 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 (97%)	122	70.1%	3.14

Mileage Distribution

Most 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet 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.

72,648

typical

51,341

low mileage

94,930

high mileage

Half of all 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet vehicles fall between 51,341 and 94,930 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,341 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.

✓ 51,341–94,930 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolets sit.

⚠ Over 128,155 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 30% of 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolets are still active.

Numbers are declining — 14 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (30% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

10.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.08

Avg failures per vehicle

7.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet: All City Cabriolet years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

See how the 2000 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on