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R144 PJW

1998 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Mar 2027
Tests19 (17 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate89.5%

Mileage

71,000 mi
Last recorded71,000 miles
Recorded on28 Feb 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Esprit48,579 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR144 PJW
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,506cc

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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

17 pass 2 fail
Pass 28 Feb 2026 71,000 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2025 68,838 miles
Pass 2 Feb 2024 67,758 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2023 66,101 miles
Pass 9 May 2022 66,003 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2021 65,628 miles
Pass 14 Feb 2020 65,604 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2015 65,530 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 22 Feb 2014 64,292 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2013 63,306 miles
Pass 4 Oct 2011 62,351 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2010 60,462 miles
Fail 13 Sep 2010 60,462 miles

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

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

both front tyres worn on inner edges.

Pass 16 Sep 2009 59,337 miles
Pass 25 Sep 2008 56,332 miles
Fail 25 Sep 2008 56,330 miles

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

o/s/f tyre worn on inner edge.

Pass 27 Sep 2007 53,771 miles

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

front and rear tyres wearing on inner edges.

Pass 24 Oct 2006 51,130 miles

o/s turbo leaking oil

Pass 28 Oct 2005 48,586 miles

Both front tyres worn badly, nearside ON LEGAL LIMIT!.

Various steel brake pipes, front and rear corroding!.

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

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R144 PJW is a 1998 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 89.5%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.0% with a typical mileage of 48,579 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 R144 PJW, 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 28 years old, this Lotus Esprit is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R144 PJW?

You can check the full history of R144 PJW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R144 PJW registered?

R144 PJW is a 1998 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R144 PJW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R144 PJW shows 19 tests with a 89.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R144 PJW 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 R144 PJW. 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.