CarVerify

Free Car Check

E38 PAJ

1988 Lotus Excel

Blue Petrol 2174cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires6 Sep 2023
Tests13 (8 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

67,427 mi
Last recorded67,427 miles
Recorded on7 Sep 2022
Typical for 1988 Lotus Excel56,451 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationE38 PAJ
MakeLotus
ModelExcel
Year1988
ColourBlue
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

8 pass 5 fail
Pass 7 Sep 2022 67,427 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 7 Jul 2021 66,528 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Bottom ball joint (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Rear exhaust corroded

Fail 6 Jul 2021 66,525 miles

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

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Stop lamp(s) not working All rear (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Bottom ball joint (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Rear exhaust corroded

Pass 8 Nov 2019 66,419 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2019 66,413 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 18 Dec 2017 66,029 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded both fronts (3.6.B.2c)

Brake pipe slightly corroded both rears (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 6 May 2015 65,989 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 6 May 2015 65,989 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2013 65,927 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2013 65,927 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Nearside Front brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Nearside Rear brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Offside Front Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Offside Front brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Pass 12 Oct 2012 63,151 miles

all metal brake pipes surface rust

tyres starting to crack on sidewalls

Fail 12 Oct 2012 63,151 miles

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

all metal brake pipes surface rust

tyres starting to crack on sidewalls

Pass 12 May 2011 62,442 miles

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

E38 PAJ is a 1988 Lotus Excel in Blue with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

Across all 1988 Lotus Excel models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.4% with a typical mileage of 56,451 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 Excel fails its MOT is steering rack gaiter split, accounting for 218 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E38 PAJ, 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 38 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 E38 PAJ?

You can check the full history of E38 PAJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E38 PAJ registered?

E38 PAJ is a 1988 Lotus Excel, first registered on 6 January 1988.

Is E38 PAJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for E38 PAJ shows 13 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E38 PAJ 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 E38 PAJ. 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.