[jr795]

Hi, the TF I'm looking at buying has a couple of gaps in it's MOT history. The first is from October 2021 until a few days ago, the dealer has put a new MOT on it. In that time it's only covered 30 miles so I'm assuming somebody bought it and didn't really use it at all, then sold it on.

The other gap is much larger, from 2007 through to 2016 the car didn't have an MOT. The mileage increased from ~30k to ~40k in that gap. The car has only covered around 1200 miles a year since and only missed 2022.

Should I be concerned? Looking around online it seems it could have been used abroad e.g. at a second home in France or something like that. I've run checks to ensure it hasn't been written off or stolen or anything like that and everything came back fine. I'm buying from an F/TF specialist so hopefully it should be a good car

 

[dert]

I wouldn't be concerned at all there can be a large number of reasons why it could have been laid up ranging from bereavement to just needing work, I've a number of F's and TF's some which have been off the road since 2014 other which had been off the road which I've then just decided to take for an MOT to drive.

 

[jr795]

I wouldn't be concerned at all there can be a large number of reasons why it could have been laid up ranging from bereavement to just needing work, I've a number of F's and TF's some which have been off the road since 2014 other which had been off the road which I've then just decided to take for an MOT to drive.

Thanks, I knew I was probably overthinking it

 

[deepfat]

I wouldn't worry about the first gap anything that could go wrong from that probably happened long ago. The car going overseas is very probable unless the PO had a very large garden (HRH?). In my personal experience even if the car has a personal plate and then reverts to the original the MOT history follows the car not the plate.
The second gap is not that excessive, does it drive OK, no clonking from the suspension, brakes work well with no pulling?. Rust is normally the killer on TFs so check the sills (esp the ends), front wing where it meets the bumper, wheel arches and if you can get under it (you should) the subframes and mountings. If you have any reservations get a pro to give it a once over. As your buying from a dealer I would insist on some form of warrantee (free) if he wont agree maybe he knows something you don't.
Good luck and you will enjoy driving it.

 

[jr795]

I wouldn't worry about the first gap anything that could go wrong from that probably happened long ago. The car going overseas is very probable unless the PO had a very large garden (HRH?). In my personal experience even if the car has a personal plate and then reverts to the original the MOT history follows the car not the plate.
The second gap is not that excessive, does it drive OK, no clonking from the suspension, brakes work well with no pulling?. Rust is normally the killer on TFs so check the sills (esp the ends), front wing where it meets the bumper, wheel arches and if you can get under it (you should) the subframes and mountings. If you have any reservations get a pro to give it a once over. As your buying from a dealer I would insist on some form of warrantee (free) if he wont agree maybe he knows something you don't.
Good luck and you will enjoy driving it.

Thanks for that, as it's from a dealer I get the usual 3 months warranty. I'm buying from a reputable specialist so they've gone through the car and tidied up any spots of rust, gone over the paint/bodywork and given it a head gasket/timing belt/water pump and fixed any other mechanical issues. Head gasket comes with a 1 year warranty as well. I'll check for any obvious bits and the things you mention but they seem to have a good reputation so I wouldn't expect any issues (hopefully!)

 

[EllisoJo]

Worth asking the dealer if HE can explain the first 9year?? gap in the MOT history. It is a perfectly reasonable question, so he cannot object, even if he has no answer. Make sure you engage your Bullsh1t detector before he answers! As others have said, looking underneath will tell you more than almost any other examination. The dealer should be happy to put it on a lift and let you have a look.

 

[deepfat]

Let me guess Trophy Cars, if so your paying top dollar make them work for it, I have no problem with them other than their prices Ouch

 

[jr795]

Worth asking the dealer if HE can explain the first 9year?? gap in the MOT history. It is a perfectly reasonable question, so he cannot object, even if he has no answer. Make sure you engage your Bullsh1t detector before he answers! As others have said, looking underneath will tell you more than almost any other examination. The dealer should be happy to put it on a lift and let you have a look.

Yeah I will ask, I suppose the question then is if I believe his answer

Let me guess Trophy Cars, if so your paying top dollar make them work for it, I have no problem with them other than their prices Ouch

Yeah that's the one, their prices are a higher than buying privately but for me it's worth the premium for a certain amount of peace of mind/hg work etc. I've never really done any work on a car I've owned but I hope to learn with the TF

 

[Austin2297]

This will sound pessimistic, but in many respects the F and TFs are not the cars to learn mechanical skill on if you are starting from a point of low knowledge. Honing skills already attained ? Yes.
Having said that, good luck with it and enjoy it.
Although I can understand your logic, buying from this source at a premium price doesn’t not guarantee freedom from issues or guarantee it’s better overall condition.
For me, I would prefer to buy from an enthusiastic private owner, but….

 

[jr795]

This will sound pessimistic, but in many respects the F and TFs are not the cars to learn mechanical skill on if you are starting from a point of low knowledge. Honing skills already attained ? Yes.
Having said that, good luck with it and enjoy it.

Yeah the engine access is of course particularly limited. I have an uncle that used to be a mechanic specialising in MG Rover cars so I can call on him for help (he once owned a trophy 160)

Although I can understand your logic, buying from this source at a premium price doesn’t not guarantee freedom from issues or guarantee it’s better overall condition.
For me, I would prefer to buy from an enthusiastic private owner, but….

This is true, however your consumer rights buying from a dealer are a lot stronger. If there are undisclosed issues with the car I can reject it within the first 3 months as the law believes the dealer should have been aware. Buying from a private seller means they aren't classified as an 'expert', and therefore aren't expected to know of any issues

Luckily for this particular car the price is actually not much higher than buying privately. It's only about £800 extra, but of course Trophy Cars will do the hg timing belt and water pump which makes up most of that. It's also (supposedly) had a new set of alloys, plus bodywork, any rust repaired, etc. It got a clean MOT yesterday so that lends some credence to it being a solid car

 

[Chris T]

I have never used the Car Vertical App but I’ve seen good things about it and would use it in the future, the app and web site seem to be able to gather a lot of information from around the world to give a clear picture of the car’s history. For example, the gap in the MoT could mean that the car was used in another country for 9 years. carVertical – VIN Decoder & Car History Report

 

[jr795]

I have never used the Car Vertical App but I’ve seen good things about it and would use it in the future, the app and web site seem to be able to gather a lot of information from around the world to give a clear picture of the car’s history. For example, the gap in the MoT could mean that the car was used in another country for 9 years. carVertical – VIN Decoder & Car History Report

Yeah I ran a check with CarVertical to make sure all was good, there was nothing listed on there in terms of overseas use or any problems with anything. I would assume it was just on SORN for a while, maybe somebody was storing it or something like that

 

[D4KGP]

Hi, the TF I'm looking at buying has a couple of gaps in it's MOT history. The first is from October 2021 until a few days ago, the dealer has put a new MOT on it. In that time it's only covered 30 miles so I'm assuming somebody bought it and didn't really use it at all, then sold it on.

The other gap is much larger, from 2007 through to 2016 the car didn't have an MOT. The mileage increased from ~30k to ~40k in that gap. The car has only covered around 1200 miles a year since and only missed 2022.

Should I be concerned? Looking around online it seems it could have been used abroad e.g. at a second home in France or something like that. I've run checks to ensure it hasn't been written off or stolen or anything like that and everything came back fine. I'm buying from an F/TF specialist so hopefully it should be a good car

I take it that you searched the MOT history on the GOV website? Some people don't!.

 

[jr795]

I take it that you searched the MOT history on the GOV website? Some people don't!.

Yeah that's where I looked. Totally clean apart from two track rod ends on it's first mot in 2005

 

[D4KGP]

Yeah that's where I looked. Totally clean apart from two track rod ends on it's first mot in 2005

As others have said don't worry too much about it. Just enjoy driving it if you decide to buy it.

 

[IanMc]

When cars get to this age, a valid/clean MOT and its general condition / how it presents are better indicators than anything in my opinion.

In other words, if the car made it this far, its been fairly well looked after at least...

 

[Man in the Car]

I am afraid that in my experience the prescence or absence of faults and advisories on an MOT Test record is more of an indication of the thoroughness of the MOT tester - a long string of clean sheets is not necessarily an indication that a car has been well maintained and carefully treated/looked after. There are plenty of cars that are sent for 'annual maintenance' prior to the MOT test and have a long list of faults and damage rectified prior to being submitted for a test.

I wouldn't worry about Trophy Cars either - they may be expensive, but they choose the cars they take in carefully, and give them a very thorough mechanical 'going over'. Buying from them (or any other F/TF specialist) isn't on the same level as buying from any other used car dealer who may have polished the paintwork and only paid lip service to any mechanical work needed.

 

[jr795]

I wouldn't worry about Trophy Cars either - they may be expensive, but they choose the cars they take in carefully, and give them a very thorough mechanical 'going over'. Buying from them (or any other F/TF specialist) isn't on the same level as buying from any other used car dealer who may have polished the paintwork and only paid lip service to any mechanical work needed.

Thanks, that's reassuring. They do seem to do very good work, I originally went to view the car when it had only just come in so hadn't been prepped, but there was another 160 they had that was finished and looked like new

 

[jr795]

To close off this thread: I went to view the car today, after an interesting test drive and handover I decided to have it, it's now parked in my garage having completed the 250 mile drive back home with no issues. Photos to follow soon for those interested (and a few questions I'm sure). Thanks everyone for your help