1982 Lotus Esprit — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1982 perform at MOT as they age

44 years

Current Age

80.0%

Latest Pass Rate

314

Total Tests (All Years)

53,650 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1982 Lotus Esprit as it ages.

27 yrs57.1%

→ ↑8.8%

28 yrs65.9%

→ ↓20.2%

29 yrs45.7%

→ ↑14.9%

30 yrs60.6%

→ ↑15.2%

32 yrs75.8%

→ ↓6.4%

33 yrs69.4%

→ ↓9.4%

35 yrs60.0%

→ ↑13.5%

39 yrs73.5%

→ ↑6.5%

40 yrs80.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
27 yrs	57.1%	42
28 yrs	65.9%	41
29 yrs	45.7%	35
30 yrs	60.6%	33
32 yrs	75.8%	33
33 yrs	69.4%	36
35 yrs	60.0%	30
39 yrs	73.5%	34
40 yrs	80.0%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1982 Lotus Esprit pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2022 (40 yrs)	80%	30
2021 (39 yrs)	73.5%	34
2017 (35 yrs)	60%	30
2015 (33 yrs)	69.4%	36
2014 (32 yrs)	75.8%	33
2012 (30 yrs)	60.6%	33
2011 (29 yrs)	45.7%	35
2010 (28 yrs)	65.9%	41
2009 (27 yrs)	57.1%	42

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 42Avg Mileage 59,315Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%

2010

65.9%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 41Avg Mileage 60,590Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%

2011High Fail Rate

45.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 35Avg Mileage 68,138Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.1%

2012High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 33Avg Mileage 64,835Top Failure Brakes — 30.3%

2014

75.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 33Avg Mileage 84,659Top Failure Brakes — 51.5%

2015

69.4%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 36Avg Mileage 65,801Top Failure Brakes — 66.7%

2017High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 30Avg Mileage 57,886Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.3%

2021

73.5%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 34Avg Mileage 56,554Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 35.3%

2022

80.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 30Avg Mileage 53,650Top Failure Brakes — 46.7%

MOT results for 1982 Lotus Esprit by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	27	57.1%	42	59,315	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%
2010	28	65.9%	41	60,590	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%
2011	29	45.7%	35	68,138	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.1%
2012	30	60.6%	33	64,835	Brakes — 30.3%
2014	32	75.8%	33	84,659	Brakes — 51.5%
2015	33	69.4%	36	65,801	Brakes — 66.7%
2017	35	60.0%	30	57,886	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.3%
2021	39	73.5%	34	56,554	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 35.3%
2022	40	80.0%	30	53,650	Brakes — 46.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1982 Lotus Esprit, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

37.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

37.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

18.9%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

16.8%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	28.6% (27 yrs)	46.7% (40 yrs)	+18.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.4% (27 yrs)	20.0% (40 yrs)	-1.4%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Lotus Esprit page →

About This Data

This page shows how Lotus Esprit cars manufactured in 1982 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2022, covering 314 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.