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R169 CUA

1997 Lotus Elise

Green Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Apr 2027
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

32,743 mi
Last recorded32,743 miles
Recorded on1 May 2026
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

RegistrationR169 CUA
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 1 May 2026 32,743 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Outer Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 10 Apr 2025 31,696 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Apr 2024 31,664 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2023 31,507 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Aug 2021 30,992 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Sep 2020 30,815 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Aug 2019 30,664 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2019 30,664 miles

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

Pass 21 Aug 2018 30,482 miles

Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Pass 24 Aug 2017 29,988 miles
Pass 25 Aug 2016 29,853 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2015 29,609 miles
Fail 30 Jul 2014 29,566 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 30 Jul 2014 29,566 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2013 29,294 miles
Fail 19 Jul 2013 29,294 miles

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 1 Aug 2012 28,967 miles

Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 20 May 2011 28,708 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 22 May 2010 27,655 miles

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 27 May 2009 26,623 miles

unable to check brake pipes fully as routed out of sight

Pass 12 May 2008 26,163 miles
Pass 18 Apr 2007 25,481 miles

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

unable to check brake pipes fully due to covers

Fail 17 Apr 2007 25,476 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

unable to check brake pipes fully due to covers

Fail 12 Apr 2006 24,834 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 12 Apr 2006 24,834 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

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R169 CUA is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Green with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 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 R169 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 R169 CUA?

You can check the full history of R169 CUA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R169 CUA registered?

R169 CUA is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 14 November 1997.

Is R169 CUA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R169 CUA shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R169 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 R169 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.