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YSJ 231

1989 Lotus Excel

Black Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Aug 2026
Tests18 (14 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

88,254 mi
Last recorded88,254 miles
Recorded on24 Jul 2025
Typical for 1989 Lotus Excel61,805 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationYSJ 231
MakeLotus
ModelExcel
Year1989
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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

14 pass 4 fail
Pass 24 Jul 2025 88,254 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2024 84,841 miles

exhaust slightly blowing

oil leak

Pass 24 Jul 2023 35,397 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Jul 2022 81,974 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both Front Tyre's (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 5 Aug 2021 81,959 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2018 81,512 miles
Fail 15 Oct 2018 81,510 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Fluid leak, but not excessive coolant (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Jul 2014 81,207 miles

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 31 May 2013 80,882 miles
Fail 31 May 2013 80,882 miles

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

Pass 17 May 2012 80,450 miles
Fail 16 May 2012 80,434 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 29 Jul 2010 80,408 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2009 79,782 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2008 79,536 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2007 77,746 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2006 75,004 miles
Fail 30 Jun 2006 75,004 miles

Power steering pump leaking from a failed component (2.3.3b)

How Reliable is the Lotus Excel?

Based on 5,018 MOT tests across 458 vehicles.

75.4%
Pass Rate
606
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
458
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Steering rack gaiter split 218
Brake pipe excessively corroded 128
brake binding 126
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 118
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 113
Full Lotus Excel reliability report

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YSJ 231 is a 1989 Lotus Excel in Black with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

Across all 1989 Lotus Excel models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.3% with a typical mileage of 61,805 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Lotus Excel fails its MOT is steering rack gaiter split, accounting for 218 recorded failures. If you're considering buying YSJ 231, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Excel typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 37 years old, this Lotus Excel is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of YSJ 231?

You can check the full history of YSJ 231 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YSJ 231 registered?

YSJ 231 is a 1989 Lotus Excel, first registered on 1 August 1989.

Is YSJ 231 safe to buy?

The MOT history for YSJ 231 shows 18 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YSJ 231 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 YSJ 231. 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.