Lotus Eclat Excel Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Lotus Eclat Excel car check
Is the Lotus Eclat Excel reliable? We analysed 1,344 real MOT tests across 153 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Lotus Eclat Excel? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Lotus Eclat Excel is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering rack gaiter split, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lotus Eclat Excel.
Lotus Eclat Excel Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Lotus Eclat Excel. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Lotus Eclat Excel MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Lotus Eclat Excel to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Lotus Eclat Excel Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Lotus Eclat Excel fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Lotus Eclat Excel Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Lotus Eclat Excel owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Lotus Eclat Excel MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lotus Eclat Excel year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 168 | 80.4% | 17,443 | 56,212 | 76,692 |
| 1989 | 165 | 81.8% | 42,983 | 63,284 | 86,958 |
| 1988 | 167 | 76.0% | 20,542 | 42,652 | 59,683 |
| 1987 | 236 | 77.1% | 18,334 | 41,058 | 76,844 |
| 1986 | 182 | 75.3% | 42,969 | 68,226 | 81,553 |
| 1985 | 128 | 76.6% | 18,852 | 63,940 | 83,876 |
| 1984 | 144 | 75.0% | 21,269 | 58,580 | 80,084 |
How Long Does a Lotus Eclat Excel Last?
Based on 153 Lotus Eclat Excel vehicles on UK roads.
Lotus Eclat Excel Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Lotus Eclat Excel MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Lotus Eclat Excel
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
81.8% MOT pass rate from 165 tests
75.0% MOT pass rate from 144 tests
The best year to buy a used Lotus Eclat Excel is 1989, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.8% across 165 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Lotus Eclat Excel Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Eclat Excel THIS CAR | 77.8% | 1,344 | 54,264 mi | 42 yrs |
| Lotus Elise | 81.8% | 150,954 | 38,576 mi | 30 yrs |
| Lotus Elan | 77.4% | 51,097 | 68,432 mi | 59 yrs |
| Lotus Esprit | 80.6% | 25,410 | 52,661 mi | 50 yrs |
| Cupra Leon VZ3 TSI S-a | 88.4% | 525 | 26,081 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Lotus Elise (81.8% pass rate) and the Lotus Elan (77.4% pass rate), the Lotus Eclat Excel sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Lotus Eclat Excel you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Lotus Eclat ExcelShould you buy a used Lotus Eclat Excel?
The Lotus Eclat Excel has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.8% across 1,344 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Lotus Eclat Excel are steering rack gaiter split (49 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (48), and brake pipe excessively corroded (39). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Lotus Eclat Excel owner drives around 698 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Lotus Eclat Excel models stay on UK roads for around 42 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.