RE: PH Carpool: Vauxhall VX220

[Andy_sx]

Love mine, have had it for just under a year and done nearly 20k in it. All its needed is brake pads all round and tyres all round, general wear and tear parts!

Not the most practical, but being a short arse I have no issuse with it, and cant drive it enough! Huge fun without being too quick for what it is.

Fair play for getting one at 20, I would have loved to be able to do that, i had to wait a few more years!

MOT for mine tomorrow, then its tme to look at making it a weekend toy

[tommy vercetti]

Blanchie said:

thewheelman said:

It seems many 220s listed for sale are cat c or cat d.

Thats because they're mid engined RWD no traction control and when it gets damp they need talent and careful throttle control.

Awesome cars!!

Had a Black 2.2 from new, loved it to bits, best driving position ever and a real joy to own.
Even took it for 3 weeks round Spain and Portugal, the small fuel tank did get to me after a while but not before the backside went numb!!
It's great no one really knows what it is and its been called a Lambo by a proud Spainish boy who had his picture taken with it

Enjoy it!!

Edited by Blanchie on Monday 11th June 12:49

Top lurking!!

Great read, and your car looks really nice too, especially in red.

[Blanchie]

tommy vercetti said:

Top lurking!!

Great read, and your car looks really nice too, especially in red.

too bloody right!!! lol

[mr2mk1chick]

Lovely car. Glad you got a red one rather than silver.
We love our Mandarin VX220 NA.

[gonzales_turbo]

I'm soon going into my 8th year of ownership of the continental version of that little beast, the Opel Speedster Turbo. Bought it new a week before they stopped taking orders, and hope to keep it although family is growing. Apart from a fragile radiator (a well-known, easy, but very expensive fix) that gently leaked water two years ago, it's been as raw and trouble-free as possible. I'm into turning the key, pushing the button, hitting the road, into the physical experience, and definitely not into spending time and money in upgrades. The boot is big enough for long holidays, with a small additional feat: you need not ironing your clothes because you'll have to twist your (necessarily soft) bag to get it in. I don't know why but this point is seen in a bad light by the missus
Best car for the money at that time, and holding up well!

[gonzales_turbo]

Blanchie said:

too bloody right!!! lol

Damn I'm beaten by a fellow owner. I only got to 60 months or so... Strange coincidence. VX220 = lurkers??

[Seb.F]

anything fast said:

Mate.. do NOT supercharge it!

Trade in in for the Turbo model.. you can easily tweak the Turbo lump and have the pace to scare a 911! That will be so much easier and cheaper in the long run.

I have driven a standard Turbo and off the mark it left an e36 M3 trailing in a woosh of Turbo boost.

Great fun rollerskate

The S/C will do just the same and is exactly the same speed as a Stage 2 Turbo (a recent discussion on the owner's club has resulted in that being said). So I would say stick with it.

Good write up though, nice to see people saying good things. They are fantastic cars. I would say that however, now being on my 4th. Also having had an S2 Elise.... meh, the VX is better.

[Lordbenny]

I sold my Lightning Yellow N/A VX220 last year to buy my 2nd Westfield. I must admit that there's things about it I miss (It was one of the best N/A's in the land IMO) but I wanted something less practical and a bit quicker! they are VERY good cars though.

[tommy vercetti]

Lordbenny said:

I sold my Lightning Yellow N/A VX220 last year to buy my 2nd Westfield. I must admit that there's things about it I miss (It was one of the best N/A's in the land IMO) but I wanted something less practical and a bit quicker! they are VERY good cars though.

That looks great

[JFReturns]

It's not often you hear a VX220 owner say they want something less practical

[Lordbenny]

JFReturns said:

It's not often you hear a VX220 owner say they want something less practical

Don't need doors, don't need a roof, don't need a boot.

[g60racing]

ED209 said:

Bob_Defly said:

Too nice to use in bad weather?!? What do you mean?

I used my Exige daily for 2 years, rain, snow, whatever the weather.

I am not as hard as you sir.

I bought ED209's back in March, driven it daily ever since. Awesome car makes me smile every day come rain or shine. Even done a trackday now didn't miss a beat and was ontrack all day. It can do it all, just remember to wrap up warm as come cold weather its cold.... Freaking cold but its so worth it. Definitely not a car for the masses only the dedicated petrol head.

[zac753]

lovely car been looking at them myself was at pv this weekend and saw some lovely ones, wish was as lucky as you im 20 and only in a corsa c 1.8

[TVR MAN]

Just beating me. I had just turned 21 when I got mine earlier this year. They are surprisingly good when it comes to insurance! And fuel economy is good too.

I love mine but I've spent a decent chunk since I got it sorting lots of little niggles, every time saying that it's done!

I think NAs are a bargain at the moment especially when you look at the price of Elises.

[TomTVR500]

Very nice car mate, particularly for a 20 year old. Enjoy it.
I would love to know who you are insured with. My only excuse for a relatively poor car history:

Focus 1.8 petrol
106 Rallye 1.3
Focus 1.8 TDCI (had to do lots of motorway)
Clio 182 Cup (current car)

is bloody insurance companies and outrageous quotes. I pay more for my 182 now at 20 with 2 year NCB than you are currently paying on the VX.

[TomTVR500]

I think a TVR Chimaera for the new year is on the cards, they are very cheap and my best driving memories are either driving on track or as a passenger on the road in various TVR's thanks to the TVR club and my dad.

[Jimbo_vx]

Tuscman took this picture of mine recently



Still the best looking Elise chassied car

[VEX]

Bugger thats the selling price of them going up again.

Pistonhead hacks do that to this car every couple of years, just when I am thinking of getting another one!!!!!!

Sod off and the these little cars alone, all of you.

V.

[ED209]

g60racing said:

ED209 said:

Bob_Defly said:

Too nice to use in bad weather?!? What do you mean?

I used my Exige daily for 2 years, rain, snow, whatever the weather.

I am not as hard as you sir.

I bought ED209's back in March, driven it daily ever since. Awesome car makes me smile every day come rain or shine. Even done a trackday now didn't miss a beat and was ontrack all day. It can do it all, just remember to wrap up warm as come cold weather its cold.... Freaking cold but its so worth it. Definitely not a car for the masses only the dedicated petrol head.

I have just nicked some of your pics of my old car for my facebook, hope you dont mind! Glad your enjoying the car, some days i really regret selling it.

Im not sure about the blue stuff you have put on the front though?

[ianhatten]

This review is why I have had mine since March 2001, since new, and as long as I can manage to clamber in and out I will be keeping it. I am lucky, insurance is less than £200 for me.