VX220 Turbo - Are They Really This Bad ?
Discussion
Hi guys, deliberately posting here rather than on the VX forum as I think I'll get less biased views.
I borrowed a mate's VX220 Turbo which running 260bhp as I was considering buying one.
Frankly I thought it was terrible but I'm wondering if it's just a very poor example are the following "normal"
Jiggly crashy ride (I'm used to a much modified MX5 and it was still shocking poor) apparently it's on Mk2 Elise Bilsteins - I have driven Mk1 and Mk2 Elises and I remember them being much better than this.
The steering seemed slower (lock to lock) and less communicative than my MX5, it also weighted up a LOT on tight corners.
The accelerator seems to talk to the engine via satellite.
No matter what you did to the accelerator the car's position during a corner didn't change.
Terrible gearchange feel
I felt like I was wearing wellies, gloves and sitting on a cushion - I couldn't feel what was going on at all.
I was expecting it to be like a more civilised Westfield and it just didn't compare to one in any way.
If the Turbos are this bad - are the NA or supercharged conversions better ?
Thanks
I borrowed a mate's VX220 Turbo which running 260bhp as I was considering buying one.
Frankly I thought it was terrible but I'm wondering if it's just a very poor example are the following "normal"
Jiggly crashy ride (I'm used to a much modified MX5 and it was still shocking poor) apparently it's on Mk2 Elise Bilsteins - I have driven Mk1 and Mk2 Elises and I remember them being much better than this.
The steering seemed slower (lock to lock) and less communicative than my MX5, it also weighted up a LOT on tight corners.
The accelerator seems to talk to the engine via satellite.
No matter what you did to the accelerator the car's position during a corner didn't change.
Terrible gearchange feel
I felt like I was wearing wellies, gloves and sitting on a cushion - I couldn't feel what was going on at all.
I was expecting it to be like a more civilised Westfield and it just didn't compare to one in any way.
If the Turbos are this bad - are the NA or supercharged conversions better ?
Thanks
Edited by redgriff500 on Saturday 25th August 23:28
Shouldn't have felt like that all.
They are 10 year old cars. Set up and what condition it is in are sure to play a part.
Recent Geo? Knackered dampers? Turbos apparently have a flat spot, but if it's running 260bhp this should have been mapped out.
They do feel 'jiggly' over bumps, freaked me out on my first testdrive. You feel everything.
They are 10 year old cars. Set up and what condition it is in are sure to play a part.
Recent Geo? Knackered dampers? Turbos apparently have a flat spot, but if it's running 260bhp this should have been mapped out.
They do feel 'jiggly' over bumps, freaked me out on my first testdrive. You feel everything.
bad car, perhaps.
if you'd said it squeaked and rattled then i'd agree. What tyres / pressures was it running?
i've never been convinced by the swapping out of shocks from and elise / exige so maybe this is causing part of the issue? IMO the oem shocks are actually very good for fast road use. Fall down somewhat on track though.
turbo delivery takes a bit of getting used to on partial throttle with a modified car, but its obvious what is happening once you experience it a couple of times.
6 years of ownership and I can honestly say it sounds like you are talking about a different car to the one I drive daily
if you'd said it squeaked and rattled then i'd agree. What tyres / pressures was it running?
i've never been convinced by the swapping out of shocks from and elise / exige so maybe this is causing part of the issue? IMO the oem shocks are actually very good for fast road use. Fall down somewhat on track though.
turbo delivery takes a bit of getting used to on partial throttle with a modified car, but its obvious what is happening once you experience it a couple of times.
6 years of ownership and I can honestly say it sounds like you are talking about a different car to the one I drive daily
I used to drive a VXT and while it was completely devoid of any mod-cons, you're buying supercar perfornmance for E46 M3 money. It's not a daily driver - the suspension is hard, and the gear change can be a bit lacking. Steering should be pinpoint-sharp and the car should dance if you play with the accelerator (too much play and it'll pirouette).
I echo the other opinions that you're driving a dud VXT. Test drive a normal one and see if you experience the same with it.
I echo the other opinions that you're driving a dud VXT. Test drive a normal one and see if you experience the same with it.
I haven't forgotten about your PM Al. I'm on holiday at the mo but I'll be able to put a few words down next week for you.
It had a lot of money spent on it a few years ago but he's done nothing in 2yrs other than servicing.
Can dampers / Geo really affect it this much ?
It wears the tyres evenly, I cant remember the make but he's on the VX forum and they are a decent make.
Can you adjust the back with the throttle ?
I know it doesn't have PAS but I've driven lots of old cars without it and none changed the weighting as much as this (geo ?)
Logically they can't all be like this one as they'd never have sold any.
Can dampers / Geo really affect it this much ?
It wears the tyres evenly, I cant remember the make but he's on the VX forum and they are a decent make.
Can you adjust the back with the throttle ?
I know it doesn't have PAS but I've driven lots of old cars without it and none changed the weighting as much as this (geo ?)
Logically they can't all be like this one as they'd never have sold any.
just a few psi in the tyres too much / too little makes a huge difference in these cars, i'd check the pressures as its free!
servicing only shouldn't affect anything really. Geo can go out of whack, and cheap to get re-done. if its done a lot of miles, the shocks could be nackered, especially if they came off another car with unknown previous mileage
edit - adjusting the back end on the thrtlle in a mid engined car can very easily catch you out (esp on a turbo) but is easy enough, and especially on worn tyres...
servicing only shouldn't affect anything really. Geo can go out of whack, and cheap to get re-done. if its done a lot of miles, the shocks could be nackered, especially if they came off another car with unknown previous mileage
edit - adjusting the back end on the thrtlle in a mid engined car can very easily catch you out (esp on a turbo) but is easy enough, and especially on worn tyres...
Edited by vxsmithers on Sunday 26th August 00:09
If it's had a bit cash splashed on it, I'd expect it to be good. Perhaps it was set up for ultimate performance rather than feel? Some cars set up for total grip and unflappable balance car feel a bit wooly, but they stick to the road like a fly on s
t, it's just the lack of feel that makes you think it's limit is much lower than it actually is.
Alternatively, it could just be really badly set up. Bad geometry settings can really screw a car up.
t, it's just the lack of feel that makes you think it's limit is much lower than it actually is.Alternatively, it could just be really badly set up. Bad geometry settings can really screw a car up.
If you are used to an NA then maybe your experienced a tidgy bit of lag, though the small turbo on the VXT has a very fast response (in terms of lag) compared to most other turbo charged cars I've ever driven.
It does sound like you drove a bad example to me. Come and drive mine and you'll see what 'snappy' response is
It does sound like you drove a bad example to me. Come and drive mine and you'll see what 'snappy' response is
When I bought my na it weighted up badly turning. I swapped to Exige spec wheels and tyres plus had the geometry set to a more aggressive track setup by Trackclub and the weighting up vanished completely and the car felt amazing.
Standard damping was very good and the car very comfortable not at all jiggy I think it sounds like he downgraded the suspension. Or just slapped it on without having the geo done.
Standard damping was very good and the car very comfortable not at all jiggy I think it sounds like he downgraded the suspension. Or just slapped it on without having the geo done.
Ok sounds like I ought to try another.
But to be clear it wasn't the turbo lag I meant, it was the delay caused by the electronic throttle my 328 E46 BMW suffered the same issue and a friends 320D E46 has at least a 1 second delay in throttle response which may not sound a lot but it ruins the car.
But to be clear it wasn't the turbo lag I meant, it was the delay caused by the electronic throttle my 328 E46 BMW suffered the same issue and a friends 320D E46 has at least a 1 second delay in throttle response which may not sound a lot but it ruins the car.
Worth pointing out that there is one rarely seen sport spec of Bilstein S2 dampers which is utterly, utterly horrible on the road. If it has those I would expect it to be awful.
Not sure about the steering, it should be good, could be geo and tyre pressures.
As for the engine being slow and unresponsive that sounds like an issue.
Not sure about the steering, it should be good, could be geo and tyre pressures.
As for the engine being slow and unresponsive that sounds like an issue.
redgriff500 said:
Ok sounds like I ought to try another.
But to be clear it wasn't the turbo lag I meant, it was the delay caused by the electronic throttle my 328 E46 BMW suffered the same issue and a friends 320D E46 has at least a 1 second delay in throttle response which may not sound a lot but it ruins the car.
That's my abiding memory of driving one a number of years ago - felt "semi-detached"But to be clear it wasn't the turbo lag I meant, it was the delay caused by the electronic throttle my 328 E46 BMW suffered the same issue and a friends 320D E46 has at least a 1 second delay in throttle response which may not sound a lot but it ruins the car.
A 1 sec delay seems a little extreme. I electronic throttle shouldn't be any slower than a cable one really. There can be a little turbo delay if off boost but I find very little delay at all if you keep it in the 'zone' and on boost.
The gear change is rough but i think its quite precise. Don't forget there is a long cable from the gear stick to the gearbox at the back.
Rattely and rough ride. Certainly and is worse on aftermarket shocks. Also I use Toyo 888 tyres whcih make it worse. Also depending on the geo setup the steering can tramline and follow the camber or ruts in the road a lot.For me thats all part of a having a fairly hard core track biased car. I am suprised at yo comments on the steering though. As a non PAS car I would have thought the VX was pretty direct. It certainy is more dorect than ay car I have experienced.
Adjustablity at the rear? Well its not designed for drifting. A decently set up VX will have loads of grip at the rear and getting the back to lose a bit of traction will mean you are trying very hard and at that level things could (and often do) go horribly wrong. This certainly is not a MX5 in this area.
I dont feel as though I am sitting on a cushion. More like a go kart with no suspension and hard plastic seats!
The gear change is rough but i think its quite precise. Don't forget there is a long cable from the gear stick to the gearbox at the back.
Rattely and rough ride. Certainly and is worse on aftermarket shocks. Also I use Toyo 888 tyres whcih make it worse. Also depending on the geo setup the steering can tramline and follow the camber or ruts in the road a lot.For me thats all part of a having a fairly hard core track biased car. I am suprised at yo comments on the steering though. As a non PAS car I would have thought the VX was pretty direct. It certainy is more dorect than ay car I have experienced.
Adjustablity at the rear? Well its not designed for drifting. A decently set up VX will have loads of grip at the rear and getting the back to lose a bit of traction will mean you are trying very hard and at that level things could (and often do) go horribly wrong. This certainly is not a MX5 in this area.
I dont feel as though I am sitting on a cushion. More like a go kart with no suspension and hard plastic seats!
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