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R701 XRB

1998 Lotus Elise

Silver Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Aug 2026
Tests20 (18 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate90%

Mileage

17,311 mi
Last recorded17,311 miles
Recorded on13 Aug 2025
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 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

RegistrationR701 XRB
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourSilver
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

18 pass 2 fail
Pass 13 Aug 2025 17,311 miles
Pass 30 Jul 2024 17,302 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2023 17,272 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2022 17,255 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2021 17,233 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2019 17,161 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2018 17,118 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2017 16,926 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2016 16,809 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2015 16,707 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2014 16,558 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2014 16,554 miles

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

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 25 Jun 2013 16,502 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2012 16,137 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2011 15,952 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2011 15,952 miles

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

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 7 Jun 2010 15,472 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2008 14,279 miles
Pass 18 May 2007 13,570 miles
Pass 2 May 2006 12,704 miles

The whole of underside of vehicle is covered by shields, restricting inspection

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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R701 XRB is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Silver with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.8% with a typical mileage of 48,523 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 R701 XRB, 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 28 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 R701 XRB?

You can check the full history of R701 XRB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R701 XRB registered?

R701 XRB is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 16 April 1998.

Is R701 XRB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R701 XRB shows 20 tests with a 90% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R701 XRB 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 R701 XRB. 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.