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R956 ORU

1998 Lotus Esprit

Orange Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Aug 2026
Tests23 (19 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate82.6%

Mileage

65,074 mi
Last recorded65,074 miles
Recorded on28 Jul 2025
Typical for 1998 Lotus Esprit48,579 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

RegistrationR956 ORU
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1998
ColourOrange
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,506cc

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

19 pass 4 fail
Pass 28 Jul 2025 65,074 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2024 64,310 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2023 63,924 miles

metal clutch pipe to slave cylinder corroded

Pass 29 Jul 2022 63,614 miles

Clutch/brake pipe at clutch slave cylinder area is corroded but not excessively

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Pass 23 Jul 2021 63,276 miles

Metal brake pipe/clutch pipe for clutch slave cylinder is corroded but not excessively

Pass 21 Aug 2020

Clutch hydraulic pipe to slave cylinder is corroded

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Pass 2 May 2019 61,002 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Metal hydraulic fluid pipe for clutch above lambda sensor is corroded

Fail 2 May 2019 61,001 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits Average reading between both exhausts is 0.36, left exhaust failed, right passed but average calculated overall failed (8.2.1.2 (a))

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Coolant pipe at over flow tank is split

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Metal hydraulic fluid pipe for clutch above lambda sensor is corroded

Pass 19 Aug 2017 59,437 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2016 57,984 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2015

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

front and rear brake discs slightly corroded

Pass 9 May 2014 57,283 miles

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

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

Fail 4 Apr 2014 57,270 miles

Nearside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

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

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

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

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

Pass 27 Feb 2013 56,191 miles

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

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

Pass 9 Mar 2012 55,006 miles
Pass 28 Feb 2011 53,603 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2010 53,187 miles
Pass 26 Jan 2009 52,072 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 6 Dec 2007 49,435 miles

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

Nearside Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

Fail 6 Dec 2007 49,416 miles

Offside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Offside Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

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

Nearside Front brake disc slightly scored (3.5.1h)

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

Pass 12 Dec 2006 46,851 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 6 Dec 2005 43,717 miles
Fail 16 Nov 2005 43,671 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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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R956 ORU is a 1998 Lotus Esprit in Orange with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.6%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 R956 ORU, 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 R956 ORU?

You can check the full history of R956 ORU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R956 ORU registered?

R956 ORU is a 1998 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 23 February 1998.

Is R956 ORU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R956 ORU shows 23 tests with a 82.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R956 ORU 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 R956 ORU. 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.