RE: Vauxhall VX220: Spotted

[Actus Reus]

Mine’s now on Elise size wheels so I used Camskill for 205/16s and 225/17s - currently Federal 595 RSRs which seem good.

[SidewaysSi]

Actus Reus said:

Likewise East Hertfordshire if anybody wants a seat in mine.

And agree about the badge comments above - by the by I have never owned a car that turns heads as much as my VXT. Young kids in particular love the look of it and, with a Larini backbox, it sounds alright too. Arguably a bit too loud for some tracks, though.

I have a Larini Clubsport and carbon induction on my Elise and can just get onto Bedford. Love the exhaust!!

[Actus Reus]

Off to Bedford for the first time in a few weeks - my home meter reads 97 - 98db at 5k rpm which is probably a little high so hoping i’ll be ok. The turbo acts like a muffler a bit.

[SidewaysSi]

I can't remember the static threshold but mine snuck under by a couple of Db. Had to hold at 4k revs I think.

I love Bedford - hoping to get over there soon to try out my new trick bits on the Lotus (LW flywheel, race clutch, Quaife LSD and ultra close ratio gearset) which are being fitted this weekend. Can't wait!

[98elise]

Krikkit said:

When you're not far off an S1 Elise at this kind of money, why would you?

Its a very different car to the S1 Elise.

I'd have either for different reasons.

[Actus Reus]

SidewaysSi said:

I can't remember the static threshold but mine snuck under by a couple of Db. Had to hold at 4k revs I think.

I love Bedford - hoping to get over there soon to try out my new trick bits on the Lotus (LW flywheel, race clutch, Quaife LSD and ultra close ratio gearset) which are being fitted this weekend. Can't wait!

101db for the day i’m on so should be ok I hope.

Sounds like a lovely spec - and therein is. Slight advantage of Elise over VX, as there are more parts and more companies producing stuff for the Lotus.

[SidewaysSi]

Actus Reus said:

SidewaysSi said:

I can't remember the static threshold but mine snuck under by a couple of Db. Had to hold at 4k revs I think.

I love Bedford - hoping to get over there soon to try out my new trick bits on the Lotus (LW flywheel, race clutch, Quaife LSD and ultra close ratio gearset) which are being fitted this weekend. Can't wait!

101db for the day i’m on so should be ok I hope.

Sounds like a lovely spec - and therein is. Slight advantage of Elise over VX, as there are more parts and more companies producing stuff for the Lotus.

Thanks. Getting some proper seats and harnesses for it too. Nitrons are a smidge too firm but that can be sorted. Otherwise these are cracking cars.

If you haven't, I also highly recommend a faster steering rack - makes a world of difference. Mine is 2.4 turns lock to lock and it is so much more direct.

[Johnny 89]

I'm considering selling mine at the moment but I'm unsure what I would replace it with. Also, I've developed a bit of an attachment to it. It gets a lot of attention.
It's my main car but I don't drive every day so don't mind something not too practical

[p4cks]

doogle83 said:

Q Car said:

p4cks said:

Fantastic cars (I had seven of them) and I really miss my Turbo.

I'm now in an Evora which is not even half as much fun

Hmm, that’s an interesting comment p4cks. I was considering an Evora as the next weekend car, but if it’s not half as much fun as the VX?....

+1 on that. I'm doing man maths on S2 Elises as a second car (R56 JCW as the daily) or an Evora as a do it all daily but 'fun' is the number 1 requirement

It isn't in my opinion. The VX is very nimble, and a modified turbo variant is simply blistering performance wise.

I'm not saying that the Evora isn't fun but in comparison to a VXT it's nowhere close.

kambites said:

However good the Evora is to drive (and it really is very good), nothing is going to hide the fact that it's half a tonne heavier than a VX220/Elise.

This pretty much hits the nail on the head. The Evora very much a GT car by comparison

[drgoatboy]

Killboy said:

Okay, that's it. How are these for tall drivers? I'm 6 ft 7

Im 6ft5 (and a bit) and fitted suprisingly well but getting in and out can be fun! Takes some practice...
It would be marginal but you might just squeeze in

[edwheels]

Always liked these - a bit different...

Not been in a position to have a weekend / fun car now for sometime (both financially and logistically) but if I ever reach those giddy heights of extravagance again this is definitely one which would be on the list.

Vauxhall could have made so much more out of this car - starting with a decent advertising campaign of course - what were they thinking?

I think they look tremendous and that interior is just so functionally perfect. I have never driven one but I know it would be superb based on what I have read over the years.

Good to see it featured here.

[gazzarose]

Why didn't Lotus use the VX engine in any of the Elise'. They were obviously pretty friendly with VX to make the 220 and use VX switch gear but then used MG/Rover engines. I'm not up on my Lotus history so did they already have an engine deal with Rover? The Toyota engine then seems like an odd choice as well.

[DanL]

gazzarose said:

Why didn't Lotus use the VX engine in any of the Elise'. They were obviously pretty friendly with VX to make the 220 and use VX switch gear but then used MG/Rover engines. I'm not up on my Lotus history so did they already have an engine deal with Rover? The Toyota engine then seems like an odd choice as well.

No clue, but from memory they actually designed the engine that was in the VX220.

As a side note, I loved mine when I had it.

[DoubleD]

I would imagine that they could get engines cheaper from Rover than from Vauxhall

[SidewaysSi]

A well set up K Series is a joy. And probably a bit lighter than the VX unit too.

[Q Car]

drgoatboy said:

Killboy said:

Okay, that's it. How are these for tall drivers? I'm 6 ft 7

Im 6ft5 (and a bit) and fitted suprisingly well but getting in and out can be fun! Takes some practice...
It would be marginal but you might just squeeze in

I'm 6ft 4 and it was and still is the most comfortable car I've ever sat in. I also had the seat one click forward from the rearmost setting. Getting in and out on the other hand....

[RoadRunner220]

I may be slightly biased, but these are great cars, I love mine.

[SykesAJ]

gazzarose said:

Why didn't Lotus use the VX engine in any of the Elise'. They were obviously pretty friendly with VX to make the 220 and use VX switch gear but then used MG/Rover engines. I'm not up on my Lotus history so did they already have an engine deal with Rover? The Toyota engine then seems like an odd choice as well.

I seem to think the Europa S used the VX220 Turbo engine, but that the change to Toyota power in the Elise came after the VX. I think the Rover engine suits the character of the Elise in the S2, a much revvier and racier feel than the VX 2.2.

[p4cks]

Yep. The Europa were made from the unsold VX220 Turbos.

[TheAlastair34]

doogle83 said:

+1 on that. I'm doing man maths on S2 Elises as a second car (R56 JCW as the daily) or an Evora as a do it all daily but 'fun' is the number 1 requirement

A good combination!

Ive got a R55 JCW Clubman and a 111r S2 Elise both great cars, i have also considered getting rid of both for an Evora but the potential running costs and lack of practicality in the Evora put me off