2009 Lotus Elise 1.8L Petrol · SN59 BSZ

The 2009 Lotus Elise presents a clean bill of health on its most recent MOT, passing on 17 April 2025 at 50,788 miles with zero defects recorded. This marks a notable improvement from the preceding years, where tyre wear advisories appeared consistently. The maintenance trend is therefore resolving, suggesting the current or most recent keeper has addressed the recurring rear tyre wear issue. No structural, mechanical, or safety-critical defects have been flagged in the last five years, indicating a stable and well-maintained vehicle overall. The mileage pattern tells a story of very light use. Between the December 2020 test at 46,623 miles and the April 2025 test at 50,788 miles, the car covered just 4,165 miles over roughly four years and four months. That equates to fewer than 1,000 miles per annum in the most recent period, which is exceptionally low. The annual average across the full seventeen-year history sits at approximately 2,988 miles, confirming this has always been a sparingly driven vehicle. Such low mileage can preserve mechanical components but raises the question of prolonged standing, which can cause its own issues with seized brakes, perished rubber bushes, and stale fuel. The recurring theme in the MOT history is rear tyre wear, flagged as an advisory in three consecutive tests. On 4 December 2021 at 48,289 miles, the nearside rear tyre was recorded at 1.7mm, dangerously close to the 1.6mm legal minimum, with the offside at 2.5mm. The same advisories appeared on 4 March 2023 at 48,855 miles and again on 16 February 2024 at 49,345 miles. This pattern suggests either a persistent alignment issue, worn suspension bushes, or simply that the previous owner was deferring tyre replacements until the last possible moment. The clean pass in April 2025 implies the tyres were finally renewed, but a buyer should still have the rear suspension geometry and wheel alignment inspected to confirm no underlying fault is causing uneven or accelerated wear. Beyond the tyre history, a low-mileage sports car of this age warrants careful inspection of components that deteriorate with time rather than use. A buyer should examine the condition of brake discs and calipers for surface corrosion and seizure, rubber bushes and gaiters for perishing, and the chassis and subframes for any signs of corrosion, particularly around mounting points and suspension pickup areas. The exhaust system and its mountings should also be checked for corrosion. Given the clean recent MOT and resolving defect pattern, the vehicle appears fundamentally sound, but a pre-purchase inspection focused on these age-related items would be prudent.