I am sure you are right about testers. Our longterm Astra had a string if advisories that came and went without any remedial work being done. Sometimes the same advisory was on for a couple if years then went, never to return. My theory is that it reflected the "favourites" of different testers so what we were seeing was the result of testers moving jobs.

Often see remarks on this forum that advisories for items such as brakes, infer a lack of proper maintenance.

My last MOT had the following advisory: Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Wasn't expecting that, as I check my brakes and pads twice a year (when I change from summer to winter wheels and vice versa).

I fitted new disks and pads myself. The old disks had no pitting and no scores. They were also less that half worn. Old disks were just over 22mm thick. New disks 23mm. Minimum thickness (stamped on disk) 21mm.

It was a Ford dealer that did my MOT. Can't help feeling they advised this in the hope they would get the job of changing them at the next service.

Sometimes we can read too much into advisories!

I've made many car buying mistakes over the years and continue to make them. However, one mistake I don't make is buying cars with expensive damage that I'll have to fix once I become the owner.

I once went to look at a Vauxhall Belmont many years back; the "Mk1 Astra with a boot". The letters SRI got my juices flowing, so I turned up at the garage and the salesman showed me round the car. I opened the boot and it was immediately obvious that it had been shunted from the rear."It'll be OK", said the salesman without great enthusiasm, and his boss came over to give similar reassurance.

Of course, I did the right thing and walked away, and if the above car IS still available, I think you should do the same, metaphorically speaking.