CarVerify

Free Car Check

C698 AEX

1986 Lotus Excel

Blue Petrol 2174cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Apr 2027
Tests18 (16 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate88.9%

Mileage

84,247 mi
Last recorded84,247 miles
Recorded on28 Apr 2026
Typical for 1986 Lotus Excel53,530 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationC698 AEX
MakeLotus
ModelExcel
Year1986
ColourBlue
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

16 pass 2 fail
Pass 28 Apr 2026 84,247 miles
Fail 1 Apr 2026 84,227 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing significantly weakened cut from edge greater than 2mm seat belt webbing frayed, burnt to 3mm from edge (7.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Track rod end seriously misaligned loose in hub (2.1.3 (e))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Nearside and Offside upper arm Stud/bolt thread only just reaching past nylock of nut

brake pedal travel increased from servo action, Service Brakes Lock on rollers

Pass 30 Mar 2021 84,195 miles
Pass 11 Mar 2020 84,175 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2019 84,156 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Mar 2018 84,098 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2017 84,074 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2016 84,033 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2015 84,010 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Oil leak

Pass 12 Mar 2014 83,903 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2013 83,863 miles

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Pass 31 Mar 2012 83,745 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2011 83,718 miles
Pass 2 Oct 2009 83,543 miles

offside rear fibre glass support corroed

Fail 2 Oct 2009 83,543 miles

Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure (3.3.B.1a)

offside rear fibre glass support corroed

Pass 15 May 2008 83,465 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2007 83,291 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 3 Apr 2006 83,223 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Excel?

Based on 5,018 MOT tests across 458 vehicles.

75.4%
Pass Rate
606
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
458
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Steering rack gaiter split 218
Brake pipe excessively corroded 128
brake binding 126
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 118
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 113
Full Lotus Excel 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

C698 AEX is a 1986 Lotus Excel in Blue with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 88.9%.

Across all 1986 Lotus Excel models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.7% with a typical mileage of 53,530 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Lotus Excel fails its MOT is steering rack gaiter split, accounting for 218 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C698 AEX, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Excel typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 40 years old, this Lotus Excel is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C698 AEX?

You can check the full history of C698 AEX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C698 AEX registered?

C698 AEX is a 1986 Lotus Excel, first registered on 21 February 1986.

Is C698 AEX safe to buy?

The MOT history for C698 AEX shows 18 tests with a 88.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C698 AEX 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 C698 AEX. 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.