techieboy Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 I'm toying with the idea of getting a car of some form, for some spring/summer weekend fun and probably for a few trackdays. Needs to be reasonably compact and bit of open air motoring would be quite nice. I'm liking the looks of the VX220 (much more so than the Elise and the Vauxhall support is handy) and wonder if anybody has/had one and what they're like? Budget is ideally £10-12k although I could probably go to £14k if necessary. Fromwhat I can see of the VX220's there's two main models, a 2.2 NA version and a 2.0 turbo'd version. The NA version is considerably cheaper than the turbo. Is it any good? Or would I forever be kicking myself for not getting the turbo? Any thoughts or any other cars I should be looking at? Cheers, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 Bazza used to have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 My Neighbour has one and they look pretty fast!! There is a huge gap to get in when you open the door and after a short ride in it i could feel the bottome of back hurting a bit. Also, speed bumps and rises on to public roads are not enjoyable with this car!! There a bump to leave the courtyard area where i live up and then down again to the road which has to be taken VERY slowely. But they do seem to be alot fun. I found the interior to be cheap but then if your in to out and out fun day car this has to be it. I have a Cobra, fuel costs are high....fun value EXTREMELY HIGH, track day fun is good and the huge tyres give you some support on the uneven road surfaces. Though again you will be more happy on the smooth road. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted February 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Bazza used to have one. [/ QUOTE ] Thanks DHA. Indeed. That's right, Ian_C mentioned that at the MK meet the other night but I'd forgotten who it was. Bazza, are you listening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted February 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 [ QUOTE ] There is a huge gap to get in when you open the door and after a short ride in it i could feel the bottome of back hurting a bit. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, I'd noticed the sill in the pictures I'd looked, it'll take a bit of getting used to. I can see myself getting in and out using the support of a hand on the road/pavement. [ QUOTE ] There a bump to leave the courtyard area where i live up and then down again to the road which has to be taken VERY slowely. [/ QUOTE ] Good point, same here. [ QUOTE ] But they do seem to be alot fun. I found the interior to be cheap but then if your in to out and out fun day car this has to be it. [/ QUOTE ] The way I'm looking at it is, there's only the stereo and the start button to go wrong in the interior. No idea how well built they are but it's very much a "back to basics" kinda thing. With the added benefit of an airbag and ABS. I can't envisage doing mega mileage in it maybe a couple of thousand through the summer and possible get rid of at that point? [ QUOTE ] I have a Cobra, fuel costs are high....fun value EXTREMELY HIGH, track day fun is good and the huge tyres give you some support on the uneven road surfaces. Though again you will be more happy on the smooth road. [/ QUOTE ] Ouch! That's gonna make a VX220 (even Milltek'd) sound a bit weedy. Must be great fun, weather and roads permitting? What's that 5-15mpg depending on how it's being driven? Need to find me a local Vauxhall dealer with one of these things in stock. Might well go off the idea when I've tried it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Bazza used to have one. [/ QUOTE ] Thanks DHA. Indeed. That's right, Ian_C mentioned that at the MK meet the other night but I'd forgotten who it was. Bazza, are you listening? [/ QUOTE ] He should be on his way soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 you called will be back shortly as this work thing keeps getting in the way today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 I'm pretty sure the VX Turbo has been the most fun car I've ever owned - and will probably be the fastest car I will ever own. After the minor tinkering (stage 1 from AmD) it was borderline silly Here's some pics and mini review - VX220 Turbo For comfort it doesn't score highly but at the same time its not that bad - I used my for a year as my daily runner - it managed the trip to LeMans, where in gear and from the toll booths it kept up with and outperformed cars costing several times its price On reflection driving it in the snow probably wasn't the best idea - the only real fault I found was that the brakes never quite felt on a par with the rest of the performance but there are plenty of ways to fix that, for a price If you have any question drop me a PM - the car is brilliant and I'd still have one any day over an Elise - the extra torque makes a huge difference - and in answer to your original question, yes - you would kick yourself forever if you didn't buy the Turbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted February 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 Thanks Bazza. Spot on with that review, exactly the kind of things I needed to know. I'm guessing that by the number of 's in the review I wouldn't be going too far wrong by getting one. Can't believe you actually drove it in the snow though..... Dealer in Luton has a couple, so might just pop down there at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 check out the dealers - but I warn you, if you take a testdrive there is a very high chance you will put down a deposit As for the snow pics..... Found it! Nice tracks... however, the VX made it where others didn't.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lottiefox Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 I *followed* one the other day on the A roads down by Gaydon, well, I didn't really follow it. I sort of drove behind it for a while then caught it up at the next roundabout in traffic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobGTi Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 Been pointed here by a friend who frequents TSN more than I do now that I have the VX and TSN doesn't have a plastic Voxhorl section Right, where to start? A good place would probably be pointing you in the direction of www.vx220.org.uk. That is a site run by one of the major players in the VX field, Throney Motorsport and it is the main forum for vx drivers Whatever you do dont ask which is better Turbo or NA There are countless debates about that, none of which coming to a conclusion other than the fact that the Turbo is the car you want if you want a more comfortable (comparatively speaking) and faster straight line car, but the NA outhandles the Turbo as the turbo engine is a bit heavier, along with the extra sound proofing/central locking etc. I drive an NA and love it. The reason i bought an NA in the first place was mainly because I couldn't afford the Turbo (purchase price and insurance) at the time, and to be honest I haven't regretted it for a moment Especially when on my first track day in the VX I was right with a Turbo, even being held up in places NA's generally start at around £10k for a slightly older one, with newer, lower mileage ones going for up to £13k. Turbo's generally start at around £14k up to £20k for a brand new one (£6000 off list price ) There is a limited edition version called the VXR. Only 65 were made. These are based on the Turbo but with 220bhp, different suspension, wheels and interior. Upgrades wise, there are lots. Generally people upgrade the brakes just with some Mintex 1144's on standard discs for normal use, or spend big bucks on 4 pot AP upgrade Tuning the NA is limited for large power gains unless you go down the supercharger route (from Courtenay Motorsport), or Thorney (TMS) are developing Throttle bodies for the NA. However, apparently a stage 1 remap makes it much nicer to drive, even though the power gains aren't huge (around 10 BHP) This is next on my list, having just ordered a Larini exhaust Tuning the Turbo is far easier, with FAR greater gains. Anywhere from just a Stage 1 remap, to a stage 5 which gives in the region of 375 BHP but also empties your wallet Sorry I've rambled on for a while there, any more questions, just ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted February 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Nice tracks... [/ QUOTE ] Crikey. If I get one of these it's unlikely to venture out if I see rain in the forecast, let alone snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted February 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 Thanks for taking the time to re-visit TSN and post that reply, Rob. Very useful. I've got a real itch now that I can see is only going to relieved by taking a test drive, or two. Great news that Thorney are the main men for XV's, they're only 20 minutes away. Broached the subject with the missus again tonight and whilst she can't understand the need she didn't dismiss it entirely. Some flowers tomorrow should seal it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blaa Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 Can't you people drive in the snow??? Nothing beats rwd and snow surface.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted February 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 Mate, I couldn't drive in the snow in my quattro the other day. Managed to put the car into the kerb less than 100 metres from home. Ooops. Hopefully only damaged the alloy and nothing worse! We just don't get enough snow to get used to it. Not down here anyway. Very light car, RWD and snow - only in nice large empty carparks for me! I got the quattro doing some nice donughts in the snow after the dropping the wife off at the train station though. Hooligan behaviour but needed to get it out of my system, managed to stop it before I killed car though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobGTi Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 Not a problem, I do visit from time to time anyway If you are ever down in the Hertfordshire area I wouldn't mind showing you around mine and taking you out for a drive If you go onto the VX forum I'm sure there will be a turbo owner in your area that will do the same too They are a friendly bunch. If you are prepared for a car that rattles, and has niggling faults then I am sure you will love it as there is nothing that comes close to the performance and driver involvement for the money. Well, except for an older, rover engined Elise The servicing is another thing that is very cheap, a normal service is about £150, and consumables aren't too bad either, (the discs are the same as a Vectra, but we'll keep that between us ) Best of luck with your search, and now is the time to buy one, there are some real bargains at the mo, and the prices will be rising in the next couple of months!! The only problem I can see you having is not wanting to sell it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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