I was servicing my sisters 54 plate last year when I noticed the crusty back axle.
We already knew the springs and dampers were shot through with rust, both front and rears.
It seemed the rears were being eaten upwards from the crusty pans, which suggested water was collecting there.
I gave the car a good going over and the rest of it appeared in good nic.
I couldn't find a flake of rust on the body or floor pan, I was quite surprised as it lives up in the Peak District and they salt the roads in the summer!
There are a few battle scars on it that you'd expect to start bubbling through, but it appeared solid.
It just seems one or two of the bolt on parts down below don't fair too well on our roads.
In regards to rust and MOT's
Corrosion
A vehicle can fail with respect to corrosion for:
• Excessive corrosion in a 'prescribed area' - within 30 cms of certain components, e.g. brakes, steering, suspension, seat belt mountings etc.
• Excessive corrosion in a 'prescribed area', but which is likely to adversely affect the vehicle's brakes or steering.
Note
'Excessive corrosion' can mean a hole or a significantly weakened structure.
30 cm covers virtually everywhere on a Panda!
And I think they can pull them up on rough body work if it appears jagged.
There's a bloke at work that gaffer taped over his rusty wheel arches of his old Astra and it past for years!