bazza_g Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 Thought it was about time I put down a few words about the VX220 Turbo - its been nearly 3 months and 3k miles since I picked up on that cold winters day ! First thing I promised myself was that I would take time to get to know this car before doing anything to it - moving from a R32 with Haldex, traction control, front wheel drive to pretty much the opposite was a big move! ...not sure getting it remapped after just 10 days of ownership was sensible but I blame AmD entirley for them having a winter sale !!! Exterior I think it certainly looks the part - phat with a P, especially with the roof off and the windows down - I can't wait for summer to arrive ! Even the wheels have started to grow on me - they were the first thing I was going to change but know they are staying ! I'm glad I went for black - I've seen most of the other colours on the road now am sure I made the right choice - smart and subtle. Again, like the R32 the colour looks great after a good clean - but, as you know, keeping a black car clean is a pain ! Interior What can I say, its purposeful - nothings there that doesn't 'need' to be there ! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't missing my luxuries like air-con and a hifi you can hear over 50mph ! I hope the new owner of my R32 is enjoying the Bass Box I left in the boot ! The contents of the interior do the job well - plenty of bare aluminium and a very funky comfortable MOMO steering wheel Performance The BIG plus point for this car is its performance, it was designed from the wheels up to go stupidly quick (0-60 is 4.7 seconds in standard form) - the steering it ultra direct and it handles not unlike a go-kart. Accelleration in 1st, 2nd and 3rd is nothing short of silly - license losing silly so lots of willpower and respect needed. These winter months, with what feels like constant damp, greasy roads have made me very wary of that power through the rear wheels with no traction control. Not sure how long the rear tyres are going to last but I've only had one proper scare when pushing it (touch wood). The brakes are good but not amazing, I'll be looking to change the setup to PAGIDS when these need replacing. In addition to the AmD stage 1 wich gave a nice boost to just under 220bhp and very healthy 240ft/lb torque it's been had the 'Scared Stiff' setup from Gugliemi Motorsport to create a more over-steer biased drive - it now bites into roundabouts with much more conviction that before. Practicality Tricky subject !! What practicality ? It only holds 2 people, luggage space is a minimum, the heater is useless, it steams up instantly then takes an age to clear! Getting in and out is an 'art' - nearly mastered it but can still end up looking like a plum when I get it wrong. Due to the length of the doors its very easy for people to park to close and I can't get in the drivers side and have to climb over or remove the roof to get in ! Don't get me started on lorries not seeing me, especially LHD ones from the continent - nearly been squashed several times over xmas. Now Lady T's Cooper S is the 'practical/shopping' car - she's very happy to be in and driver the VXT but when we're going into town for the weekend she's not too happy having bags on her lap etc after getting dressed up to go out ! With a 30-something litre tank - its possible, with a heavy right foot, to get the fuel light on after just 120 miles ! But used carefully its possible to get 210 miles from a tank, which I thinks pretty good ! Insurance is also only £200 more than the R32 - including the AmD stage 1. Overall I felt the need to have a silly, fast, impractical car before I've got to buy a 4X4 or a MPV - approaching 30 with a gf of 6 years the family thing may not be too far around the corner! The VXT fits this description perfectly! The performance still makes me giggle everytime I put my foot down - it's FAST! No doubt its going to be brilliant fun over the summer but I can't say I'm looking forward to next winter ! Then again, I may have something totally different by that time ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 Nice review and a lovely looking car to go with it. I've admired them from day one,something different in amongst the fairly common Elises.I've often thought it was what the Renault Sport Spider should have been if they'd bothered developing it further. Looks lovely in black too-the only Vauxhall I would love to own.Let's hope you have many fun,sunny days in it before chopping it in on the Zafira!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 I think you already know my thoughts on the Vax, Bazza. If I was looking in that price range and didn't have kids, I'd have one like a shot. I think they are seriously good value for money just because they carry an unfashionable badge. Keep enjoying it and I look forward to a demo at a meet when the evenings are a little lighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 Bazza nice write up of a car I like but cannot get in! I must say it does look very good in black, actually I think thats the first black one I've seen. I followed a VX t up the M1 today (in a Vivaro Van which is plenty quick enough!) and boy those things shift. His was a 54 plate and every time he got a gap/space he booted it and it went off like a rocket. I'd love to have a go in one, I've tried a mk1 elise but as you say the lorries scared the sh1t out of me. It felt like I was really venerable and was about to be squashed! Stil a great car though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Excellent review, Bazza! I`d choose a VX over an Elise every time, that`s a great car you have there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Nice write up Bazza, I have thought about doing the same thing but gf said no way. Doh. Still might get a track car that she doesn't have to go around in and I do do a fair amount of driving that a VX just could cope with. Or is it me that couldn't cope with it. Enjoy the sun coming out more and the roads being dryer ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted February 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Cheers guys - roll on spring/summer ! If I'm honest I'm still coming to terms with the Vauxhall badge myself, of course I'd love it to say Lotus on the front but what the heck ! The Elise was considered before going down the VXT route - but was ditched due to the lack of torque. Coming from a torquey R32 and expecting to cover about 15k miles a year I didn't really fancy a car that I had to rev the nuts off to get it going anywhere rapidly ! Anyone at the Windsor meets is always welcome for a spin, though hopefully not literally as TOK nearly found out at the Jan meet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 The Vauxhall badge isn't something to be ashamed of. These days they make good cars. Or to look at it another way; you`ve bought the VX because it`s the better car, not because it had a "desirable" badge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Good review Bazza, and you will have a BLAST with it in the summer! If you think its fun now you aint seen nuffin! It'll all be worthwhile, of that I'm certain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Very nice car Bazza. Riz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOK Posted February 21, 2005 Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 Good write up mate, didnt realise you could string so many sentances together!! next you'll be saying you can do joined up writing have to say after being in yours its one of those cars that keeps a grin on your face when planting the boot...summer with the roof off will be fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted February 21, 2005 Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 [ QUOTE ] didnt realise you could string so many sentances together!! [/ QUOTE ] That's 'sentences'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOK Posted February 21, 2005 Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] didnt realise you could string so many sentances together!! [/ QUOTE ] That's 'sentences'. [/ QUOTE ] Come on!! that was at 7.30am I'm barely awake let alone in spelling mode Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted February 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] didnt realise you could string so many sentances together!! [/ QUOTE ] That's 'sentences'. [/ QUOTE ] Come on!! that was at 7.30am I'm barely awake let alone in spelling mode [/ QUOTE ] <<ha ha graemlin>> - and how did you know I can't do joined up writing ?? <<confused graemlin>> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted February 21, 2005 Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 Will hold you to that Bazza if weather and you attending is permitted ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted February 21, 2005 Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 Interesting write-up bazza! Not sure I'd fancy one myself - too quick for me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted February 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2005 Ritey - no worries <<thumbsup smilie>> DM - too fast ??? not sure I get it ? ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 whats it been like to own ? any probelms ? whats the price of servicing etc? im thinking of one as my next car, something just out of warrenty and getting it done at my local garage, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 [ QUOTE ] whats it been like to own ? any probelms ? whats the price of servicing etc? im thinking of one as my next car, something just out of warrenty and getting it done at my local garage, [/ QUOTE ] Its been great to own so far - though I'll be glad to see the end of the winter ! When coldest it really was a case of coat and gloves on in the car but the heater appears to have found a new lease of life Apart from a respray of the front clam, which due to its shape gets quite a few stone chips (Armourfend anyone ?), the only reason its been in the garage has been to sort out an oversensitive alarm and to reprog a new key&blipper. Not had to pay anything yet for servicing but I'm told its the same as a Vauxhall Astra 10k/1year service which is about £170 One thing I have been warned about is that the VX dealers charge a fortune for brakepads replacement - a job that is easily done at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 does not sound to bad at all im going to get myself one (even non turbo) when they are down to 10k for a good one , they are a bit steep at the moment, but thing is they are much better than the elise for the money , had a look at getting one before i got my t sport but did not feel it was worth the money, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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