1985 Lotus Esprit — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

90.0%

Latest Pass Rate

908

Total Tests (All Years)

48,954 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 1985 Lotus Esprit as it ages.

24 yrs71.2%

→ ↓4.0%

25 yrs67.2%

→ ↑4.5%

26 yrs71.7%

→ ↑0.4%

27 yrs72.1%

→ ↓3.7%

28 yrs68.4%

→ ↑15.8%

29 yrs84.2%

→ ↓14.2%

30 yrs70.0%

→ ↑14.9%

31 yrs84.9%

→ ↓1.3%

32 yrs83.6%

→ ↑4.6%

33 yrs88.2%

→ ↓3.2%

34 yrs85.0%

→ ↓3.7%

35 yrs81.3%

→ ↓5.4%

36 yrs75.9%

→ ↑5.1%

37 yrs81.0%

→ ↑7.5%

38 yrs88.5%

→ ↑1.5%

39 yrs90.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	71.2%	66
25 yrs	67.2%	61
26 yrs	71.7%	60
27 yrs	72.1%	61
28 yrs	68.4%	57
29 yrs	84.2%	57
30 yrs	70.0%	60
31 yrs	84.9%	53
32 yrs	83.6%	55
33 yrs	88.2%	34
34 yrs	85.0%	40
35 yrs	81.3%	32
36 yrs	75.9%	58
37 yrs	81.0%	42
38 yrs	88.5%	52
39 yrs	90.0%	120

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Lotus Esprit pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	90%	120
2023 (38 yrs)	88.5%	52
2022 (37 yrs)	81%	42
2021 (36 yrs)	75.9%	58
2020 (35 yrs)	81.3%	32
2019 (34 yrs)	85%	40
2018 (33 yrs)	88.2%	34
2017 (32 yrs)	83.6%	55
2016 (31 yrs)	84.9%	53
2015 (30 yrs)	70%	60
2014 (29 yrs)	84.2%	57
2013 (28 yrs)	68.4%	57
2012 (27 yrs)	72.1%	61
2011 (26 yrs)	71.7%	60
2010 (25 yrs)	67.2%	61
2009 (24 yrs)	71.2%	66

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

71.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 66Avg Mileage 47,112Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.2%

2010

67.2%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 61Avg Mileage 43,840Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%

2011

71.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 60Avg Mileage 50,375Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.7%

2012

72.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 61Avg Mileage 56,573Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 11.5%

2013

68.4%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 57Avg Mileage 47,963Top Failure Brakes — 31.6%

2014

84.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 57Avg Mileage 50,500Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.8%

2015

70.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 60Avg Mileage 53,078Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.0%

2016

84.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 53Avg Mileage 45,995Top Failure Brakes — 9.4%

2017

83.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 55Avg Mileage 56,459Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%

2018

88.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 34Avg Mileage 52,255Top Failure Brakes — 26.5%

2019

85.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 40Avg Mileage 49,878Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.0%

2020

81.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 32Avg Mileage 52,329Top Failure Brakes — 40.6%

2021

75.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 58Avg Mileage 52,348Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 19.0%

2022

81.0%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 42Avg Mileage 46,697Top Failure Brakes — 21.4%

2023

88.5%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 52Avg Mileage 47,371Top Failure Brakes — 7.7%

2024

90.0%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 120Avg Mileage 48,954Top Failure Brakes — 18.3%

MOT results for 1985 Lotus Esprit by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	71.2%	66	47,112	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.2%
2010	25	67.2%	61	43,840	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%
2011	26	71.7%	60	50,375	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.7%
2012	27	72.1%	61	56,573	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 11.5%
2013	28	68.4%	57	47,963	Brakes — 31.6%
2014	29	84.2%	57	50,500	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.8%
2015	30	70.0%	60	53,078	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.0%
2016	31	84.9%	53	45,995	Brakes — 9.4%
2017	32	83.6%	55	56,459	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%
2018	33	88.2%	34	52,255	Brakes — 26.5%
2019	34	85.0%	40	49,878	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 25.0%
2020	35	81.3%	32	52,329	Brakes — 40.6%
2021	36	75.9%	58	52,348	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 19.0%
2022	37	81.0%	42	46,697	Brakes — 21.4%
2023	38	88.5%	52	47,371	Brakes — 7.7%
2024	39	90.0%	120	48,954	Brakes — 18.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Lotus Esprit, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

22.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

19.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

13.3%

— Consistent

Suspension

10.0%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

9.5%

↓ Decreases 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	15.2% (24 yrs)	18.3% (39 yrs)	+3.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	3.0% (24 yrs)	1.7% (39 yrs)	-1.3%	⚪ —

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 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 908 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.