1987 Lotus Excel — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age

39 years

Current Age

87.0%

Latest Pass Rate

374

Total Tests (All Years)

50,336 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 1987 Lotus Excel as it ages.

22 yrs65.8%

→ ↑2.6%

23 yrs68.4%

→ ↓5.0%

24 yrs63.4%

→ ↑17.2%

25 yrs80.6%

→ ↓12.3%

26 yrs68.3%

→ ↓1.6%

27 yrs66.7%

→ ↓8.4%

28 yrs58.3%

→ ↑7.3%

29 yrs65.6%

→ ↑4.4%

30 yrs70.0%

→ ↑17.0%

37 yrs87.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
22 yrs	65.8%	38
23 yrs	68.4%	38
24 yrs	63.4%	41
25 yrs	80.6%	36
26 yrs	68.3%	41
27 yrs	66.7%	36
28 yrs	58.3%	36
29 yrs	65.6%	32
30 yrs	70.0%	30
37 yrs	87.0%	46

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1987 Lotus Excel pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (37 yrs)	87%	46
2017 (30 yrs)	70%	30
2016 (29 yrs)	65.6%	32
2015 (28 yrs)	58.3%	36
2014 (27 yrs)	66.7%	36
2013 (26 yrs)	68.3%	41
2012 (25 yrs)	80.6%	36
2011 (24 yrs)	63.4%	41
2010 (23 yrs)	68.4%	38
2009 (22 yrs)	65.8%	38

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

65.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 38Avg Mileage 53,960Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 23.7%

2010

68.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 38Avg Mileage 50,405Top Failure Steering — 18.4%

2011High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 41Avg Mileage 50,168Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 19.5%

2012

80.6%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 36Avg Mileage 51,597Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 11.1%

2013

68.3%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 41Avg Mileage 52,307Top Failure Brakes — 51.2%

2014

66.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 36Avg Mileage 50,421Top Failure Brakes — 30.6%

2015High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 36Avg Mileage 52,356Top Failure Suspension — 47.2%

2016

65.6%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 32Avg Mileage 51,772Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%

2017

70.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 30Avg Mileage 55,504Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.0%

2024

87.0%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 46Avg Mileage 50,336Top Failure Suspension — 30.4%

MOT results for 1987 Lotus Excel by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	22	65.8%	38	53,960	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 23.7%
2010	23	68.4%	38	50,405	Steering — 18.4%
2011	24	63.4%	41	50,168	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 19.5%
2012	25	80.6%	36	51,597	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 11.1%
2013	26	68.3%	41	52,307	Brakes — 51.2%
2014	27	66.7%	36	50,421	Brakes — 30.6%
2015	28	58.3%	36	52,356	Suspension — 47.2%
2016	29	65.6%	32	51,772	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%
2017	30	70.0%	30	55,504	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.0%
2024	37	87.0%	46	50,336	Suspension — 30.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1987 Lotus Excel, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

29.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

28.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

23.5%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

21.7%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

18.6%

↓ 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
Steering	15.8% (22 yrs)	13.0% (37 yrs)	-2.8%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	10.5% (22 yrs)	8.7% (37 yrs)	-1.8%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

← Back to Lotus Excel overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how Lotus Excel cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 374 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.