PH Buying Guide: Vauxhall VX220
'Vauxhall's Elise' is a great car in its own right. Here's all you need to know
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For the money, many thought they were simply being offered an Elise with Vauxhall badges (or Opel badges for the same car sold as the Speedster in Europe with left-hand drive). This could not have been further from the case as the VX shared only 10% of its components with the Elise, most notably the extruded aluminium chassis tub, bonded together to create a very torsionally stiff base. Even then, the VX differed from the Elise with a wheelbase that's 30mm longer and rear track 20mm wider than the Lotus.
Vauxhall also opted for 17-inch alloy wheels all round to give the VX a bit more presence, while Lotus stuck with 16-inch front wheels as it reckoned they improved handling balance. Either way, the VX impressed with its dynamic ability, helped by purpose-designed Bridgestone tyres. Other key changes were the Vauxhall's anti-lock brakes as standard and a driver's airbag, which the Elise did without.
The VX also distanced itself from the Elise with its engines. There was no way Vauxhall would condone a car in its line-up with a Rover K-Series engine, so the 147hp 2.2-litre aluminium motor from the Astra SRi was drafted in, helping the 870kg VX from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds and on to 135mph.
Vauxhall then added the VX220 Turbo in 2003 with another engine from the Astra range. This iron-blocked motor gave 200hp but upped the overall weight of the car to 930kg. Still, the VX Turbo fires off 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and hits 151mph, which earned it a supercar-humbling reputation.
Lotus turned out a total of 5,267 VX220s and 1,940 Turbos by the time production ended in 2005, but that didn't stop Vauxhall adding one last VX hurrah in 2004 with the VXR220. This lightened, more powerful model used the Turbo as a base but with a modified ECU to increase power to 220hp. Along with optional Ohlins suspension and Lotus-aping 16-inch front wheels plus Yokohama tyres, it was the ultimate VX220 and could cover 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds. Only 65 VXR220s were made, so it's a rarity today and you'll likely pay around £20,000 for a well cared for example. Much more affordable is the original normally aspirated VX that starts from around £6,000, while a Turbo will cost from the £9,000 mark.
Owner's view:
"If you can live with the downsides then you're guaranteed miles of smiles and lots of admiring looks."
Nige Franklin
Buying guide contents:
Introduction
Powertrain
Rolling chassis
Body
Interior
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Second time I've seen this on a PH VX220 article, care to point to a source?
And no mention of toe links that I can see? Make sure they're the latest service bulletin fine thread items at least for road tyred cars.
Most VX220 owners go for a 16/17 inch wheel combination then run the 195/45-17 fronts, there are a few die hard fans of originality that stick to the Bridgestones.
As for the hub bolts snapping. Not unique to the VX220 and the 8.8 can snap especially on a track day car with sticky tyres such as the Yokohama or Toyo. The change from the 8.8 to the 10.9 was in fact a Lotus originated fix and advised for all Elise/Exige at Lotus servicing and the bolt kit became a Lotus supplied part. I doubt you would notice that bolt slowly weakening over time and no warning is given whatever grade you use.
The VX220 has wider sills hence better side impact protection.
You could always go to www.vx220.org.uk if you want to learn facts about the VX220 rather than post incorrect information.
They're mechanically identical to the standard NA but were supplied with a body-coloured hard-top, leather seats and an individually numbered dashboard plaque - natch. While hard-tops are available for all VX's, these typically fetch around £600, so a Lightning Yellow edition saves this extra cash.
Generally a good buyers' guide, but as Cliffie says; the vx220.org.uk guide is more accurate.
I have owned 2 Elises in the past and also driven a few VX220s, so I speak from experience.
The biggest problem is that Vauxhall picked the wrong sized wheels - the 17s on the front are complete and utter rubbish and completely ruin the handling. I have no actual idea why, they just seem to. They also chose to fit ABS and the system used is terrible. Sort out those two (very minor) issues, and there is really nothing to choose between the cars except the engines. There are even VX220s running around with Elise clam-shells on.
I love the VX220 and would probably have bought one (with suitable modifications to get the handling and braking system up to scratch) if there was one available with an engine I liked.
The biggest problem is that Vauxhall picked the wrong sized wheels - the 17s on the front are complete and utter rubbish and completely ruin the handling. I have no actual idea why, they just seem to. They also chose to fit ABS and the system used is terrible. Sort out those two (very minor) issues, and there is really nothing to choose between the cars except the engines. There are even VX220s running around with Elise clam-shells on.
I love the VX220 and would probably have bought one (with suitable modifications to get the handling and braking system up to scratch) if there was one available with an engine I liked.
There is another school of thought that the Lotus test drivers drove the original VX220 2.2 NA (145BHP) round Hethel and came back saying that the VX was good, so good that it was better than the Elise (which was still a 1.8 K Series at the time) and the instructions came back that the VX must be pegged back as there was no way it could go up against the Elise in all the back to back magazine road tests that were going to happen. Thus the VX got softened and the Elise beat it in every comparison test (not by much I hasten to add).
What is fact is that the original VX came out of the factory with a softer geo, less focussed dampers/springs, higher ride height, 17" front wheels, naff ABS system and more weight.
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