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R252 FTW

1997 Lotus Elise

Yellow Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Jun 2027
Tests22 (21 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate95.5%

Mileage

66,747 mi
Last recorded66,747 miles
Recorded on3 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR252 FTW
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourYellow
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

21 pass 1 fail
Pass 3 Jun 2026 66,747 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both front anti roll bar mounting bushes slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated track arm outer dust cover split (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 12 May 2025 66,088 miles

Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front mounting bushes slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 20 May 2024 65,471 miles

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

Pass 15 May 2023 64,883 miles

Stop lamp(s) with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning 2 LEDs not working on high level brake light (4.3.1 (a) (i))

Pass 23 May 2022 64,300 miles
Pass 17 May 2021 63,734 miles
Pass 27 May 2020 63,148 miles
Pass 31 May 2019 62,572 miles
Pass 9 May 2018 61,955 miles
Pass 24 May 2017 61,315 miles
Pass 11 May 2016 60,671 miles

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

Pass 3 Jun 2015 59,819 miles

1 bulb out high level brake light

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 19 May 2014 59,006 miles

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

both front tyres slight tread cracking and slight inner edge wear

Pass 10 May 2013 57,720 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

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

slight perishing to offside front tyre

Fail 10 May 2013 57,720 miles

Steering wheel retaining device insecure (2.1.6)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

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

offside front wheel bearing slight noise

slight perishing to offside front tyre

Pass 6 Jun 2012 56,191 miles

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

Pass 11 Jul 2011 53,728 miles

Anti-roll bar synthetic mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 23 Aug 2010 53,110 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2009 52,258 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2008 49,162 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2007 46,846 miles

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

nearside front wheel bearing slight noise

Pass 21 Jun 2006 43,560 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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R252 FTW is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Yellow with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 95.5%.

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 R252 FTW, 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 R252 FTW?

You can check the full history of R252 FTW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R252 FTW registered?

R252 FTW is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 14 October 1997.

Is R252 FTW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R252 FTW shows 22 tests with a 95.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R252 FTW 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 R252 FTW. 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.