Top 10 MOT Heroes

The Truth about the First Timers

After last weeks revelations that first time MOT survivors were made up of lots of mainstream models and the odd electricity cars here is the positive flip side. Quite possibly these are the motors that you should buy, or more accurately you need to follow these owners.

Let’s get back to the MOT stats, there is a bit of repetition in the next paragraph for the purposes of explaining where these came from and how we are going to use them.

As I explained last time, From time to time I do get involved with an outfit (DataNews Ltd) that does some freedom of information requests with our mates down at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. For all sorts of reasons that have delayed it’s appearance (should have arrived in 2024) here are the stats that relate to a full year of MOTs for 2023. Now ancient history I know, but as you will learn, still incredibly relevant to what’s going on right now. Seems a shame to waste this information, so here it is. Incidentally, the sample size is realistic as there must have been at least 2,000 of each model to go down the MOT line and get a poke from the inspector’s screwdriver.

Last week was the really bad news, telling you what fairly new cars to avoid possibly. Well actually, so long as you look after them like a normal caring owner, mostly you shouldn’t have a problem. Basics like tyres and lights is something we could all keep tabs on.

Here we are at the other end of the MOT scale the vehicle and the revelation that the vehicle that has the best pass rate was the Honda Jazz, with other cars from Japanese manufactures doing well.

Interestingly, Popular makes of cars that do not appear in the top or bottom 10 include the Ford Focus (12.2% failed), Nissan Qashqai (9.5%), Volkswagen Polo (10.8%), Mini Cooper (9.0%), BMW 118 (10.0) and the Mercedes Benz A-class (10.7%).

With these best performers it is still the triumph of caring private owners who buy quality cars and quite rightly do not tolerate small niggling issues that could turn into a inconvenient, if not potentially dangerous, MOT failure.

The Honda Jazz is the typical small car buy, so no surprise to see a couple of models showing strongly and also the Yaris. When more space is needed then that accounts for the apperance of the fairly soft road CR-V and HR-V.

Combining Japanese reliability and a degree of luxury explains Lexus SUVs near the top. Otherwise we have clear evidence of what is still regarded as premium and desirable, the Germans. Hence the appearance of the Porsche and Audi whether bought as company cars, or on a PCP.

CARS THAT DID NOT FAIL THEIR MOT FIRST TIME

By way of explanation, there’s the Make and sometimes Model, followed by the number of Tests, the number of Fails and the % of Fails. Then let’s find one for sale.

Honda Jazz EX I-MMD CVT 2,903/141/4.9

Here we go to John Banks Honda where we find the hybrid model that is a 2020 i-MMD at £17,995 for cash or £134.75 a month. It has done just 16,414 miles so chances are a low mile old age driver like me could have been punting it around for a few years. Three Slogs because these are all relatively new not especially Bangernomic, even if they are jolly reliable and unlikely to fail their second or third MOT.

Lexus UX 4,022/206/5.1

Inevitably another Japanese built motor that is fashionably SUV shaped from an Arnold Clark outlet in Nottingham. This is a 2020 Lexus UX 250h 2.0 F-Sport CVT and a Premium Plus which means there is no point listing the giant specification. It has seen a bit of life too with 98,092 miles under its wheels. The sale price is £15,998 presumably we are in the middle of a January offer where we can save £500.

Lexus NX 4,227/239/5.7

Another Lexus, another SUV and another letter in the alphabet. This NX is a 2020 2.5 300h Hybrid E-CVT with a full service history covering 37K miles at a Mazda dealer and up for £24,500

Honda HR-V 3,775/228/6.0

Back with Honda, but this time an SUV in the shape of HR-V Hybrid, yes yet another partial electricity car. This time an EX from 2018 that has covered 22K miles. Located at Letchworth Honda via Car Wow and on offer at £16,995.

Honda Jazz 4,824/292/6.1

Yet more Jazz and the first non hybrid, but still shopping at main agents, In this case the Renault Retail Group in Enfield where there is a 1.3 i-VTEC Sewith 33K miles is up at £9,992 or £146 /mo (PCP) £218 /mo (HP)

Audi Q3 S Line 2,768/170/6.1

This makes a change, we are now in Germany, well Bolton (Carsa) actually and looking at an Audi Q3 35 TFSI S Line at Carsa in Bolton that has coverredwhich comes with a Comfort+Sound Pack] having covered 51K miles and yours for £19,802

Toyota Yaris Design HEV CVT 2,849/177/6.2

Back in Japan and with the main Toyota brand this time and their smallest offering, their equivalent of the Jazz, this 2020 Yaris is a 1.5 Hybrid Design 5dr CVT Auto which has been reduced to £14,841from what, I don’t know, but there is also a £52 per month deal I quite liked the sound of. It’s done 18,500 Miles and Toyota dealer Waylands have it on their Approved scheme.

Porsche Macan 3,897/250/6.4

First time MOTs suddenly got more interesting with the arrival of a Porsche Macan 3.0T V6 S PDK. It’s a one owner car with full main dealer service history. It’s in Hertford Xclusive Xports Ltd via Pistonheads. It’s up at £29,950 and has covered a creditable 96K miles.

Porsche Cayenne 2,446/161/6.6

Look more Porsches, here’s a 30K mile 2020 Cayenne 3.0 V6 E-Hybrid 14.1kWh Tiptronic S 4 (3.6kW Charger) which is on 21” alloys, a CHRONO PACK, Moonlight Blue with Black Leather Interior for £47,000 being sold by Saxton 4 x 4 in Essex.

Honda CR-V 5,669/377/6.7

And finally let’s finish off with another Honda that’s a bit bigger than a Jazz. In this case a 2020 Honda CR-V 1.5 VTEC TURBO SE on sale at Ford dealer TC Harrison in Huntingdon at £17,333, a saving of around £1000.

See you next time.

Please note that all images are copyright of the selling garage, no recommendation is made for any vehicle featured and ideally it is best to go and check for yourself.

Just reading my stuff is very much appreciated, which is why it will always be free. I would be grateful if you would buy the odd book. If you want real ones that you can have and hold then it is the Evil Amazon empire which has them.

For a really cheap PDF and some physical books go to my Flyscreen site which has a proper shopping cart. https://www.flyscreenqueen.co.uk/special-offers/bangernomics-books.html

If you have read all the books and do want to donate then that is very kind and do so here: https://jamesruppert.substack.com/donate.