CarVerify

Free Car Check

C308 VLF

1986 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 2174cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Jul 2026
Tests15 (13 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate86.7%

Mileage

55,385 mi
Last recorded55,385 miles
Recorded on16 Jul 2025
Typical for 1986 Lotus Esprit53,759 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationC308 VLF
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1986
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

13 pass 2 fail
Pass 16 Jul 2025 55,385 miles
Pass 12 Jul 2024 54,255 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2023 52,967 miles
Fail 17 Jul 2023 52,967 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Pass 22 Sep 2022 52,719 miles

cv boots weaping at clips

fan belt loose

hand brake high

hand brake high

horn intermittant

oil leaks

slight flicker on brake lights

water residue on coolant pipes

Pass 16 Sep 2021 52,241 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2020 50,953 miles

cv boots slight weap

fan belt squeak

hand brake travel high

oil leaks

water residue on coolant pipes

Pass 9 Sep 2019 50,189 miles

Rear Inner slight weap on c v boot clip

engine oil leaks

hand brake travel high

Pass 7 Sep 2018 49,494 miles
Fail 7 Sep 2018 49,494 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Pass 26 Sep 2017 48,523 miles

Offside Rear brake binding

Rear Inner cv boots slight weap

Pass 12 Sep 2016 47,658 miles

Offside Rear brake slight bind

Pass 5 Oct 2015 46,617 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2013 46,454 miles
Pass 30 May 2007 46,349 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Esprit?

Based on 25,410 MOT tests across 2,324 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
515
Miles/Year
50
Year Lifespan
2,324
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 624
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 464
brake binding 455
parking brake recording little or no effort 332
Headlamp aim too low 326
Full Lotus Esprit reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

C308 VLF is a 1986 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 86.7%.

Across all 1986 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.2% with a typical mileage of 53,759 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Lotus Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C308 VLF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Esprit typically stays on UK roads for around 50 years. At 40 years old, this Lotus Esprit is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C308 VLF?

You can check the full history of C308 VLF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C308 VLF registered?

C308 VLF is a 1986 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 1 June 1986.

Is C308 VLF safe to buy?

The MOT history for C308 VLF shows 15 tests with a 86.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C308 VLF have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on C308 VLF. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.