Elise vs VX220
Discussion
Frankly the old Elise v VX has been done to death. This is Lotus forum so I suspect you're going to get a Lotus bias in the responses. Use the search function to see past threads on this.
It opens up a can of worms and gets a bit bad tempered anyway. I'd recommend that you try it on general gassing where you can get a less partisan view.
And the answer is Elise, obviously
Can open, worms everywhere......
It opens up a can of worms and gets a bit bad tempered anyway. I'd recommend that you try it on general gassing where you can get a less partisan view.
And the answer is Elise, obviously
Can open, worms everywhere......
If you can stretch to a short roofed S2 Elise, then it's the Elise for me every time. Otherwise I'd just be sat counting the worms forever 
How about a balanced view.
Drive them all.
Drive a 10k S1 Elise.
Drive a 10k VX220.
Drive a 10k S2 Elise (if you can find one).
They're all the same car unless you have a big thing about image and badge. The difference is wheel size and suspension, and engine character. If you like torque, get a VX220 N/A. If you like ultimate light weight, get an S1 Elise. If you want a compromise between the two with better quality build, get an S2 Elise.
Many of the usual suspects here slagging the VX off for 'being a Vauxhall' are rich lads who can afford Exiges and Honda conversions and the like. That is a *whole* different ball game.
For £10k, the question is a lot more valid. The VX is better built and (with Exige sized front wheels) handles as well IMO as the normal S1. The S2 is more understeery but has the build quality improvements from the VX factory experience.
I've owned a B&C Super 160 S1 Elise, an M100 Elan, my current VXT and have driven numerous S2 Elises (apart from the expensive engine-converted ones). I am badge and label-agnostic, 'designer' brands mean nothing to me - the VX was built by Lotus and uses a Lotus chassis, but a Vauxhall engine. The Elise was built by Lotus, uses a Lotus chassis, but a Rover engine. And now a Toyota engine.
If the badge means something to you then drive both the S1 and S2 - they are rather different in character. The VX N/A is a mix between the two really. The VXT is a whole different kettle of fish but not in a £10k budget.
Hope this is a nice balanced response, I can't be bothered with keyboard warriors or aggression about what badge you choose on your car.
Two last things. One - the biggest problem with the VX is that you need Elise / Exige sized front wheels (16" because that will make it handle *just like an Elise S2* - believe me. Secondly, I'm no VX zealot. If money was no object (as Boggy caught me mentioning at the Brands LoT race 
) then I'd have an S2 Exige with an Audi turbo engine.
Buy the best you can afford on condition, and try them all. The S1 in particular is a LOT more raw than the VX or S2.
Drive them all.
Drive a 10k S1 Elise.
Drive a 10k VX220.
Drive a 10k S2 Elise (if you can find one).
They're all the same car unless you have a big thing about image and badge. The difference is wheel size and suspension, and engine character. If you like torque, get a VX220 N/A. If you like ultimate light weight, get an S1 Elise. If you want a compromise between the two with better quality build, get an S2 Elise.
Many of the usual suspects here slagging the VX off for 'being a Vauxhall' are rich lads who can afford Exiges and Honda conversions and the like. That is a *whole* different ball game.
For £10k, the question is a lot more valid. The VX is better built and (with Exige sized front wheels) handles as well IMO as the normal S1. The S2 is more understeery but has the build quality improvements from the VX factory experience.
I've owned a B&C Super 160 S1 Elise, an M100 Elan, my current VXT and have driven numerous S2 Elises (apart from the expensive engine-converted ones). I am badge and label-agnostic, 'designer' brands mean nothing to me - the VX was built by Lotus and uses a Lotus chassis, but a Vauxhall engine. The Elise was built by Lotus, uses a Lotus chassis, but a Rover engine. And now a Toyota engine.
If the badge means something to you then drive both the S1 and S2 - they are rather different in character. The VX N/A is a mix between the two really. The VXT is a whole different kettle of fish but not in a £10k budget.
Hope this is a nice balanced response, I can't be bothered with keyboard warriors or aggression about what badge you choose on your car.
Two last things. One - the biggest problem with the VX is that you need Elise / Exige sized front wheels (16"
because that will make it handle *just like an Elise S2* - believe me. Secondly, I'm no VX zealot. If money was no object (as Boggy caught me mentioning at the Brands LoT race ) then I'd have an S2 Exige with an Audi turbo engine.Buy the best you can afford on condition, and try them all. The S1 in particular is a LOT more raw than the VX or S2.
cyberface said:
Sensible things
Agree with all of the above. I'm In a similar position to the OP. Started off with an £8k budget, which more or less limited me to standard s1's so there was no real choice.
Eventually considered upping the budget and VX's came into play. The more I read about them the better they seemed so I took one for a test drive. They're a little more civilised than S1's but the driving experience isn't hugely different. Maybe a little less sharp, but we're talking fractions here. The engine in the VX is better all round and is meant to be stronger as well. Also fairly tuneable for not much outlay if that's important. Out of the box, there wasn't much to pick between them performance wise, although I drove them on different days, maybe I'd notice a difference testing them back to back. I understand the front 17" tyres are only available from one manufacturer which is one of the reasons many switch to 16" fronts. On the face of it they look like very good value. You'll likely get a newer, lower mileage VX for the same price as an S1. The only concern I had with them is what effect the Vauxhall badge will have on future values. I have no idea what the answer is to this but I'm guessing a £10k elise will be worth more than a £10k VX in three years time, but that really is just a guess. You might want to offset this against lower insurance and servicing costs though. Didn't really give a stuff about the badge and I really like the look of the VX, possibly more than the S1 and definitly more than the S2 but its all rather subjective.
I never really looked into S2's much in all honesty. There don't seem to be many uncrashed cars at the £10k end of the market.
I found a VX lightning at the right price but unortunately it sold before I had a chance to see it. In the end, everything was timed perfectly for me to buy my friend'd S1 111s at a really good price so that's what I'm going for, in fact I should get it this weekend, which I'm rather excited about.
VXs are much rarer than Elises and values aren't crashing as you'd expect with a specialist Vauxhall - the enthusiasts know what they are now.
But however much of a bargain you think one is, you'll be disappointed when getting back in after driving an Exige or Elise with 16" fronts and sticky tyres.
If you can budget in a set of proper sized wheels and decent tyres into your VX purchase then you'll love it.
I'm still driving mine in the cold and wet on Exige width R888 trackday stickies - yes it's a bit twitchy but it's **so** much fun
One last point. If waterproofing is an issue, try to get a VX with an OEM (Vauxhall) roof - they actually fit. The aftermarket roofs just don't, and leak into the car.
But however much of a bargain you think one is, you'll be disappointed when getting back in after driving an Exige or Elise with 16" fronts and sticky tyres.
If you can budget in a set of proper sized wheels and decent tyres into your VX purchase then you'll love it.
I'm still driving mine in the cold and wet on Exige width R888 trackday stickies - yes it's a bit twitchy but it's **so** much fun
One last point. If waterproofing is an issue, try to get a VX with an OEM (Vauxhall) roof - they actually fit. The aftermarket roofs just don't, and leak into the car.
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