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J80 TUS

1998 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Oct 2026
Tests15 (13 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate86.7%

Mileage

70,381 mi
Last recorded70,381 miles
Recorded on6 Oct 2025
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ80 TUS
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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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 6 Oct 2025 70,381 miles
Fail 8 Dec 2022 70,349 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 7 Sep 2021 69,911 miles
Fail 7 Sep 2021 69,911 miles

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level significantly below minimum level (1.1.10 (d) (ii))

Electrical wiring insecure and connectors likely to become disconnected ecu in engine bay (4.11 (a) (ii))

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear reflector reflecting white to the rear (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

Nearside Steering locking device ineffective track rod end lock nut (2.1.3 (d))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Electrical wiring insecure and in contact with sharp edges arm fouling a wiring harness (4.11 (a) (ii))

Offside Steering locking device ineffective track rod end lock nut (2.1.3 (d))

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage insecure and impairing directional stability (5.3.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 16 Jun 2016 69,128 miles

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

both rear tyres wearing on edges

Pass 11 Jun 2015 62,657 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2014 59,952 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2013 57,569 miles
Pass 19 Jun 2012 54,282 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2011 49,262 miles
Pass 14 Apr 2010 46,059 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2009 41,727 miles
Pass 9 Apr 2008 37,923 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2007 33,787 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2006 33,332 miles

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

How Reliable is the Lotus Elise?

Based on 150,954 MOT tests across 12,302 vehicles.

81.8%
Pass Rate
1,309
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
12,302
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 3,173
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3,131
Headlamp aim too high 3,014
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 2,630
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 1,898
Full Lotus Elise reliability report

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J80 TUS is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 86.7%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.8% with a typical mileage of 48,523 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Lotus Elise fails its MOT is exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, accounting for 3,173 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J80 TUS, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elise typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 28 years old, this Lotus Elise is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J80 TUS?

You can check the full history of J80 TUS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J80 TUS registered?

J80 TUS is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 2 October 1998.

Is J80 TUS safe to buy?

The MOT history for J80 TUS 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 J80 TUS 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 J80 TUS. 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.