CarVerify

Free Car Check

P197 VFH

1997 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires6 Sep 2021
Tests19 (13 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate68.4%

Mileage

61,364 mi
Last recorded61,364 miles
Recorded on7 Sep 2020
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Above 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

RegistrationP197 VFH
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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 6 fail
Pass 7 Sep 2020 61,364 miles
Pass 14 Jun 2019 61,283 miles

Offside Rear Outer Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Tie rod (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Jun 2019 61,283 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Rear Outer Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Tie rod (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 10 May 2016 61,168 miles
Pass 22 May 2015 61,088 miles
Fail 20 May 2015 61,086 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Pass 6 Jun 2014 60,899 miles

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has slight play in a pin bearing (2.4.G.2)

Fail 14 Apr 2014 60,879 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 2 Apr 2013 59,675 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear under tray bolts missing or insecure.

Wiper/windscreen contaminated,just clearing screen.

Pass 19 Mar 2012 58,613 miles
Fail 16 Mar 2012 58,612 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Pass 31 Mar 2011 54,148 miles

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Fail 17 Mar 2011 54,147 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 26 Mar 2010 50,862 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2009 45,725 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2008 44,873 miles

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

Fail 5 Jun 2008 44,864 miles

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

Pass 1 Jun 2007 43,049 miles
Pass 12 May 2006 41,101 miles

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

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

P197 VFH is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.4%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.3% with a typical mileage of 47,496 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 P197 VFH, 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 29 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 P197 VFH?

You can check the full history of P197 VFH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P197 VFH registered?

P197 VFH is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 1 February 1997.

Is P197 VFH safe to buy?

The MOT history for P197 VFH shows 19 tests with a 68.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P197 VFH 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 P197 VFH. 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.