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R121 CUA

1997 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Sep 2026
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

28,575 mi
Last recorded28,575 miles
Recorded on1 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR121 CUA
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourRed
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

17 pass 8 fail
Pass 1 Oct 2025 28,575 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2024 28,531 miles

Nearside Hole in lower sill

Fail 15 Aug 2024 28,528 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Hole in lower sill

Pass 5 May 2023 28,461 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2022 27,569 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2021 27,385 miles

Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 5 Jul 2019 27,305 miles
Fail 5 Jul 2019 27,305 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 13 Oct 2017 26,801 miles

Nearside Rear Outer lower body sill damage

Pass 15 Aug 2016 26,665 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2015 26,461 miles
Fail 7 Apr 2015 26,441 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)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 10 Feb 2014 26,059 miles
Fail 10 Feb 2014 26,059 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 13 Oct 2012 24,183 miles

Offside Front Brake hose slightly damaged (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 2 Sep 2011 23,729 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2010 23,384 miles
Fail 14 Aug 2009 22,622 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 14 Aug 2009 22,622 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2008 22,248 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2007 20,972 miles
Fail 10 Jul 2007 20,947 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)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

All tyre wear.

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 21 Jun 2006 19,693 miles
Fail 19 Jun 2006 19,688 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)

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

Fail 15 Jun 2006 19,671 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)

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

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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R121 CUA is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

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 R121 CUA, 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 R121 CUA?

You can check the full history of R121 CUA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R121 CUA registered?

R121 CUA is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 23 October 1997.

Is R121 CUA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R121 CUA shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R121 CUA 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 R121 CUA. 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.