Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Lotus Exige?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Lotus Exige?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Lotus Exige?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2016 Lotus Exige reliable?

Based on MOT data from 109 vehicles, the 2016 Lotus Exige has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Lotus Exige?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Lotus Exige are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (28.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (26% of vehicles), COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION (12.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Lotus Exige?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Lotus Exige (2016)

109 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.6% first-time pass rate

2016 Lotus Exige

CarHunch analysed 109 real MOT records for the 2016 Lotus Exige. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2016 Lotus Exige is a genuinely reliable proposition: its 90.9% first-time MOT pass rate sits well above the UK average of 80%, and only 12.8% of vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is reassuringly low for a performance car. This suggests the model is fundamentally sound and well-engineered for its class.

These cars are racked up lightly at around 15,100 miles on average, which is unusually low for eight-year-old vehicles, so you're likely looking at cherished weekend warriors rather than hard-driven daily drivers. With less than one failure per vehicle on average and three advisories typical, the maintenance burden is modest—but do budget for a pre-purchase inspection by a Lotus specialist, as these are precision engineering machines and generic servicing can easily cost you later.

We have limited data for the 2016 Lotus Exige — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

92.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

12.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.51

Over 6.5 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

14k

Middle half: 9k–21k

For context

These stats describe 109 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 109 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 28.8%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 12.8%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements

Brake wear 6.8%

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Exhaust & emissions 5.5%

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Suspension & steering 4.6%

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 109 Lotus Exige cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Lotus Exige

Based on MOT data from 109 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Lotus Exige vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

13,715

typical

9,150

low mileage

20,757

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Lotus Exige vehicles fall between 9,150 and 20,757 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,150 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 9,150–20,757 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Lotus Exiges sit.

⚠ Over 28,021 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Lotus Exige — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Lotus Exiges are still on the road.

Strong survival — 87 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 92% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

6.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.51

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Lotus Exige: All Exige years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2014 2015 2017

Or browse all models: Lotus →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Lotus Exige stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?