RE: Vauxhall VX220: PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
Number_Six said:
One of the best experiences was going out for breakfast then coming back to the car and finding a bunch of Americans clustered around it trying to work out what it was 
Any Americans I've spoke to (e.g. when buying parts in the US) seem a bit miffed they never got a GM-badged Federalised version of the Speedster, as there's a significant amount aftermarket tuning available for the Ecotec engine and around other GM stuff..I'm sure a few will end up across the pond after the 25 year mark has arrived..
The turbo I had was reliable as anything and I dailied it for years in all weather, even snow (which was interesting).
It needed a few wear and tear items, from memory an engine mount, turbo recirc DV, a radiator and a coolant bottle (until I covered it with a 'sun hat'). But nothing which ever left me on the side of the road. Engine parts are cheap as chips because it's just an Astra lump. I had one or two paint bubbles but they didn't really bother me. Piece of piss to work on the car too, I did the rad myself and the biggest PITA was just getting the clam off.
I sold it and went out to get a reliable family car because I had twins on the way, and in true PH man maths style I returned with an Alfa 147 GTA which cost me a small mortgage to maintain and broke down every 8 seconds.
It needed a few wear and tear items, from memory an engine mount, turbo recirc DV, a radiator and a coolant bottle (until I covered it with a 'sun hat'). But nothing which ever left me on the side of the road. Engine parts are cheap as chips because it's just an Astra lump. I had one or two paint bubbles but they didn't really bother me. Piece of piss to work on the car too, I did the rad myself and the biggest PITA was just getting the clam off.
I sold it and went out to get a reliable family car because I had twins on the way, and in true PH man maths style I returned with an Alfa 147 GTA which cost me a small mortgage to maintain and broke down every 8 seconds.
Without a doubt the best car I've ever owned. I only sold it as I was moving abroad and couldn't justify having that money sat around for two years. What a mistake, because in that time the prices have gone up.
I owned mine for 10.5 years, joined the forum before buying and met some great people (many names I know well from this thread). In the main at the time (2005) it was a pretty good place with lots of people happy to help out. In fact when I got one I was nervous about getting it on my drive as I have a bit of a rise to the road. One owner brought his car round to my house so we could test the ground clearance (I'm now Godfather to his oldest son).
When I got mine I initially looked at the S1 Elise, I had a budget of £13k at the time. For that money I could get a T Plate Elise with 65k on the clock, or the VX I bought, which was a 51 plate with 30k, no brainer really. Plus when I test drove a few Elise's they were far more rattly than the VX. When I bought my VX it was completely standard with the exception of having a cone air filter fitted. The worse thing about it was that it had 5 previous owners. The reason being that people buy these cars and then in many cases struggle to live with them as a daily.
In the time I owned it, I had to replace the coolant bottle and the engine mounts. That was basically it. I had an accident which resulted in the need for a new front clam and headlight but no problems at all other than that. The heater never really worked very well, but the grin it gave me made me not care about being warm!
I eventually got bitten by the track day bug and started tracking it. As the car was my pride and joy and as I knew if anything happened on track she'd probably be written off I followed a few strict rules. Such as plenty of braking space (sooner than really necessary) and didn't rev it above 5500 (redline's about 5800). As such the brakes lasted well, as did the tyres as although I lent on it in the corners, it was never sliding or screeching, just smooth fast driving.
The only upgrade I did, was to fit drilled/grooved disks, mintex 1144 pads, braided lines and racing blue brake fluid. I reckon I probably got 12-15 trackdays in that car and only needed new tyres and pads once in that time. I guess I wasn't pushing hard enough though!
I had to sell the car in 2016 and as I wanted it to go to an enthusiast I gave myself plenty of time to sell, I didn't want to have to get rid of it last minute for peanuts. A chap from Wales bought it for £6750, it was one of the oldest ones available at the time. Although, he did say that it was the nicest one he'd seen. No bodywork problems at all and very well looked after having spend every minute in the garage when not being driven.
He took it away, (I was gutted) and supercharged it, then sold it a year later to a chap in Southampton apparently. A friend of mine recognised it at Castle Combe a few months ago and sent me pics.
I miss that car and would love to buy it back, but it's now financially out of reach, at least for the moment. For the money, a VX is probably the best drivers car you can get. In standard form it's sublime, and (at the time I bought mine) quicker than the standard Elise.
They already are an appreciating classic and as our "trader friend" has mentioned finding really good ones is getting harder. Mine was a really good one.
I owned mine for 10.5 years, joined the forum before buying and met some great people (many names I know well from this thread). In the main at the time (2005) it was a pretty good place with lots of people happy to help out. In fact when I got one I was nervous about getting it on my drive as I have a bit of a rise to the road. One owner brought his car round to my house so we could test the ground clearance (I'm now Godfather to his oldest son).
When I got mine I initially looked at the S1 Elise, I had a budget of £13k at the time. For that money I could get a T Plate Elise with 65k on the clock, or the VX I bought, which was a 51 plate with 30k, no brainer really. Plus when I test drove a few Elise's they were far more rattly than the VX. When I bought my VX it was completely standard with the exception of having a cone air filter fitted. The worse thing about it was that it had 5 previous owners. The reason being that people buy these cars and then in many cases struggle to live with them as a daily.
In the time I owned it, I had to replace the coolant bottle and the engine mounts. That was basically it. I had an accident which resulted in the need for a new front clam and headlight but no problems at all other than that. The heater never really worked very well, but the grin it gave me made me not care about being warm!
I eventually got bitten by the track day bug and started tracking it. As the car was my pride and joy and as I knew if anything happened on track she'd probably be written off I followed a few strict rules. Such as plenty of braking space (sooner than really necessary) and didn't rev it above 5500 (redline's about 5800). As such the brakes lasted well, as did the tyres as although I lent on it in the corners, it was never sliding or screeching, just smooth fast driving.
The only upgrade I did, was to fit drilled/grooved disks, mintex 1144 pads, braided lines and racing blue brake fluid. I reckon I probably got 12-15 trackdays in that car and only needed new tyres and pads once in that time. I guess I wasn't pushing hard enough though!
I had to sell the car in 2016 and as I wanted it to go to an enthusiast I gave myself plenty of time to sell, I didn't want to have to get rid of it last minute for peanuts. A chap from Wales bought it for £6750, it was one of the oldest ones available at the time. Although, he did say that it was the nicest one he'd seen. No bodywork problems at all and very well looked after having spend every minute in the garage when not being driven.
He took it away, (I was gutted) and supercharged it, then sold it a year later to a chap in Southampton apparently. A friend of mine recognised it at Castle Combe a few months ago and sent me pics.
I miss that car and would love to buy it back, but it's now financially out of reach, at least for the moment. For the money, a VX is probably the best drivers car you can get. In standard form it's sublime, and (at the time I bought mine) quicker than the standard Elise.
They already are an appreciating classic and as our "trader friend" has mentioned finding really good ones is getting harder. Mine was a really good one.
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