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E870 TEW

1988 Lotus Excel

Red Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Feb 2027
Tests9 (7 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

23,495 mi
Last recorded23,495 miles
Recorded on20 Jan 2026
Typical for 1988 Lotus Excel56,451 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

RegistrationE870 TEW
MakeLotus
ModelExcel
Year1988
ColourRed
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

7 pass 2 fail
Pass 20 Jan 2026 23,495 miles

Coil spring corroded All front and rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 3 Feb 2025 23,421 miles

Coil spring corroded All front/rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 30 Jan 2025 23,406 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive limit 3.5 (8.2.1.2 (b))

Coil spring corroded All front/rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 1 Feb 2024 23,140 miles

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

Fail 19 Jan 2024 23,135 miles

Nearside Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

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

Windscreen washer not working Both (3.5 (a))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive Sump plug (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Jul 2009 22,871 miles
Pass 15 May 2008 21,970 miles
Pass 16 May 2007 21,852 miles
Pass 25 May 2006 20,961 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

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E870 TEW is a 1988 Lotus Excel in Red with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 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 E870 TEW, 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 E870 TEW?

You can check the full history of E870 TEW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E870 TEW registered?

E870 TEW is a 1988 Lotus Excel, first registered on 29 January 1988.

Is E870 TEW safe to buy?

The MOT history for E870 TEW shows 9 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 E870 TEW 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 E870 TEW. 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.