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R705 XRB

1998 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Feb 2027
Tests24 (21 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87.5%

Mileage

61,391 mi
Last recorded61,391 miles
Recorded on19 Feb 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR705 XRB
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
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

21 pass 3 fail
Pass 19 Feb 2026 61,391 miles
Pass 20 Jan 2025 60,492 miles
Pass 17 Jan 2024 59,929 miles
Pass 3 Oct 2022 58,856 miles
Pass 21 Oct 2021 57,917 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 3 Nov 2020 57,243 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2019 56,355 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2018 55,249 miles
Pass 11 Jul 2017 53,869 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2016 52,490 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2015 51,199 miles
Pass 14 Jul 2014 50,205 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2013 49,000 miles
Pass 10 Dec 2012 48,042 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2011 46,398 miles
Pass 15 Dec 2010 45,217 miles
Pass 17 Dec 2009 43,962 miles
Fail 15 Dec 2009 43,960 miles

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)

Pass 17 Dec 2008 41,973 miles
Fail 1 Dec 2008 41,911 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 Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

both front track rod end covers slightly deteriorated

cover underneath front of vehicle

cover underneath rear of vehicle

front number plate slightly damaged

Pass 19 Dec 2007 39,190 miles
Fail 18 Dec 2007 39,185 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Dec 2006 36,515 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2006 24,987 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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R705 XRB is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87.5%.

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 R705 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 R705 XRB?

You can check the full history of R705 XRB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R705 XRB registered?

R705 XRB is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 6 May 1998.

Is R705 XRB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R705 XRB shows 24 tests with a 87.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R705 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 R705 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.