My new Opel Speedster

My new Opel Speedster

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Johnny 89

Original Poster:

824 posts

152 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
The weekend just gone I bought my first mid-engine car. It's a 2001 Opel Speedster which is of course the Opel version of the Vauxhall VX220. These cars were built by Lotus at Hethel and are based on the Elise S2.

It's a 2.2 n/a car and so far I am loving it. As you can see, it's had a couple of modifications, namely s/s exhaust, K&N induction kit with re-map to suit, Spax coil overs and lightweight alloys with Toyo R888s, turbo side scoops and spoiler.

It has a bit of history as it was the first Speedster sold in Ireland.

Some photos:













This car compliments my Chimaera nicely I think :-)

BlueHave

4,651 posts

108 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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The only car I think looks much better debadged

The tax must be a bit of a pain for these in Ireland

Johnny 89

Original Poster:

824 posts

152 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
BlueHave said:
The only car I think looks much better debadged

The tax must be a bit of a pain for these in Ireland
I agree.. It's somehow more cohesive without the badges.
Yeah, annual tax is €951 which is madness. I justify it by telling myself that a 1.9 diesel is still €710 on the old system.
It's also partly why my Chim is currently off the road as tax is a whopping €1,809 :-(

Paul S4

1,183 posts

210 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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Is it me or does the Opel badge ( or in this case...the lack of !) give your car so much more kudos than a Vauxhall...

An Opel sounds so much cooler !

lukeharding

2,947 posts

89 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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love these! awesome cars to drive. Though for me I'd keep the badges, even just for the look on people's faces when they realise its a Vauxhall

Vitorio

4,296 posts

143 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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Paul S4 said:
Is it me or does the Opel badge ( or in this case...the lack of !) give your car so much more kudos than a Vauxhall...

An Opel sounds so much cooler !
Not here on the continent (at least, not to me)

Johnny 89

Original Poster:

824 posts

152 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Vitorio said:
Paul S4 said:
Is it me or does the Opel badge ( or in this case...the lack of !) give your car so much more kudos than a Vauxhall...

An Opel sounds so much cooler !
Not here on the continent (at least, not to me)
I tend to agree. Here in Ireland Opel is perceived the as Vauxhall is in the UK. It's all about perspective. If something is rare or not available it often appears more exotic.

However, you are correct that if you had an Opel Speedster in the UK it may appear cooler than the VX to the public

Quickmoose

4,494 posts

123 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Great car!
Does look better without the fussy chrome badging.
But why anyone would think they're 'cooler' for having/not having a Vauxhall/Opel badge is beyond me.
why on earth would you care what anyone else thinks?

I'd be more bothered if it were a bad car.
If it's a good car, who cares what words it has written on it?

Johnny 89

Original Poster:

824 posts

152 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Quickmoose said:
Great car!
Does look better without the fussy chrome badging.
But why anyone would think they're 'cooler' for having/not having a Vauxhall/Opel badge is beyond me.
why on earth would you care what anyone else thinks?

I'd be more bothered if it were a bad car.
If it's a good car, who cares what words it has written on it?
Absolutely agree. I'm really not bothered by badge and had it came with them I would have left them. I do like the current look though.

I guess just sometimes a rarity can appear more interesting, even if it's not.

jt racing

561 posts

174 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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Very cool man! Saw it on done deal and was drooling! Congrats and well wear!

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

179 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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Paul S4 said:
Is it me or does the Opel badge ( or in this case...the lack of !) give your car so much more kudos than a Vauxhall...

An Opel sounds so much cooler !
The unfamiliarity makes it sound more exotic

Either way, nice car OP! I'd love one