Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Tgb 304?

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 2008 Tgb 304?

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 2008 Tgb 304?

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 2008 Tgb 304 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 114 vehicles, the 2008 Tgb 304 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Tgb 304?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Tgb 304 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (33.1% of vehicles), Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey (21.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion (19.5% 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 2008 Tgb 304?

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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Tgb 304 (2008)

114 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.1% first-time pass rate

2008 Tgb 304

CarHunch analysed 114 real MOT records for the 2008 Tgb 304. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2008 TGB 304 passes first time at 79.1%, fractionally below the UK average of 80%, suggesting reliability broadly in line with other vehicles of this age, though the 10.5% rate of dangerous defects is worth noting for safety-conscious buyers. Diesel and petrol variants show similar performance, so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

These cars are running at just 13,756 miles on average—genuinely low for a 16-year-old vehicle—which explains the modest 1.09 failures per test and 3.0 advisories per vehicle you'd expect from lightly-used machines. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake systems and suspension components, as these typically account for the advisory clusters in this age group, and check the service history carefully given the low mileage may indicate long storage periods.

We have limited data for the 2008 Tgb 304 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

79.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

10.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.09

Over 4.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

13k

Middle half: 9k–17k

For context

These stats describe 114 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 114 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 33.1%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm

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

Exhaust & emissions 21.1%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Suspension & steering 19.5%

Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Rear shock absorber has a light misting · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 18.8%

Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Roller brake test indicates a binding brake · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit

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

Lighting 10.5%

Wheel alignment slightly misaligned. · Exhaust slightly deteriorated · Headlamp aim too high

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 114 Tgb 304 cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Tgb 304

Based on MOT data from 114 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.5% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Tgb 304 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.

13,310

typical

9,337

low mileage

17,350

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Tgb 304 vehicles fall between 9,337 and 17,350 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,337 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.

✓ 9,337–17,350 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Tgb 304s sit.

⚠ Over 23,422 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Tgb 304 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2008 Tgb 304s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2018 (23% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2018.

MOT History Averages

4.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.09

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Tgb 304 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?