RE: Vauxhall VX220: PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
coldel said:
gofasterrosssco said:
mister kevlar said:
The one thing i would warn potential owners about is the owners forum - good luck on there, usually car forums are great places to chat and get knowledge of the cars etc, but the owners forum beware you will get jumped on if you ask anything - thats my experience and others to - a very unfriendly place.
Again, strange one as I think its one of the more friendly forums out there.. Many members always willing to help out and assist with issues. I suppose (like many forums) people get sick of answering the same questions, and new members who don't use the search to find answers. The search is pretty crap however, and Google works better.But it can be a touchy place until you are 'in' - a couple of mates also bought VXs and spoke to me about the forum and certain individuals that were giving them a hard time. Same people that did it to me also.
I've owned mine since 2010 and its been pretty reliable. The radiator exploded on day (they all do that when they get older) so upgraded to an all aluminium one. Other than that, just general maintenance. The chains (mines a 2.2) need doing every 10 years or 100k miles. It's a 2001 so they were done in 2011. I bought it on 62k miles and it's now on 96k miles. I supercharged it at around 90k miles and love it.
Lives in a garage so osmosis hasn't really been an issue yet. A friends elise has suffered quite badly that does live outside. It's just one of those things. Over time the car has been changed/modified. It's got quite a spec looking at it now:
TD1.2 wheels in 16/17 size with federal 595 RS-R tyres.
Pagid RS14 pads with cooling ducts to the front. Braided brake lines from the calipers all the way to the abs unit. ABS on off switch wired in and under the front bonnet.
Engine internally is standard and oil changed every year regardless of mileage. Supercharged and chargecooled to 250bhp. Using an ITG enclosed air filter to keep intake noise down. Tullet 4-1 manifold to standard decat to standard turbo back box. Less restrictive but not loud or droney.
Lightweight flywheel with short shift and new CS stage 2 clutch fitted at 80somethingk miles. Replaced the gearbox for low mileage unit, added new gearbox oil and gearbox breather.
Some cosmetic changes, diffuser, harnesses and harness holes. Some carbon interior parts. Largely standard bodywork.
Spitfire chassis to subframe shims fitted last year and mating surfaces cleaned and protected.
Latest spitfire toe links and rear subframe brace bar (to be fitted this winter).
car
Has been a labour of love making it. I enjoy the building part of it as much as the driving. I've done track days in it, I've done road rallies in it. My wife and I drove down to Monaco in it and people ran to take photos as it stood out compared to the other 'normal' stuff there. Did roughly 2500 miles and averaged about 45mpg on the trip! Not sure what it's worth but for me I've enjoyed owning it and it just sits there to be used whenever I fancy it. I don't think you can get a much more capable usable car for the money.
Lives in a garage so osmosis hasn't really been an issue yet. A friends elise has suffered quite badly that does live outside. It's just one of those things. Over time the car has been changed/modified. It's got quite a spec looking at it now:
TD1.2 wheels in 16/17 size with federal 595 RS-R tyres.
Pagid RS14 pads with cooling ducts to the front. Braided brake lines from the calipers all the way to the abs unit. ABS on off switch wired in and under the front bonnet.
Engine internally is standard and oil changed every year regardless of mileage. Supercharged and chargecooled to 250bhp. Using an ITG enclosed air filter to keep intake noise down. Tullet 4-1 manifold to standard decat to standard turbo back box. Less restrictive but not loud or droney.
Lightweight flywheel with short shift and new CS stage 2 clutch fitted at 80somethingk miles. Replaced the gearbox for low mileage unit, added new gearbox oil and gearbox breather.
Some cosmetic changes, diffuser, harnesses and harness holes. Some carbon interior parts. Largely standard bodywork.
Spitfire chassis to subframe shims fitted last year and mating surfaces cleaned and protected.
Latest spitfire toe links and rear subframe brace bar (to be fitted this winter).
carHas been a labour of love making it. I enjoy the building part of it as much as the driving. I've done track days in it, I've done road rallies in it. My wife and I drove down to Monaco in it and people ran to take photos as it stood out compared to the other 'normal' stuff there. Did roughly 2500 miles and averaged about 45mpg on the trip! Not sure what it's worth but for me I've enjoyed owning it and it just sits there to be used whenever I fancy it. I don't think you can get a much more capable usable car for the money.
gofasterrosssco said:
coldel said:
gofasterrosssco said:
mister kevlar said:
The one thing i would warn potential owners about is the owners forum - good luck on there, usually car forums are great places to chat and get knowledge of the cars etc, but the owners forum beware you will get jumped on if you ask anything - thats my experience and others to - a very unfriendly place.
Again, strange one as I think its one of the more friendly forums out there.. Many members always willing to help out and assist with issues. I suppose (like many forums) people get sick of answering the same questions, and new members who don't use the search to find answers. The search is pretty crap however, and Google works better.But it can be a touchy place until you are 'in' - a couple of mates also bought VXs and spoke to me about the forum and certain individuals that were giving them a hard time. Same people that did it to me also.
itcaptainslow said:
I totally agree about SELOC-it’s very cliquey and it seems unless you’re a right wing IT consultant, your face won’t fit. However, to add balance, I’ve been to a couple of meets though where the majority of the faces were friendly and positive.
I thought SELOC was now a Porsche owners site?Many moons ago, I had an NA VX220 and it was an understeering pig. Once I had fitted some 17"/16" TD wheels with wider front tyres, Gaz coilovers with +200% on the back and +150% on the front, paid Hoffman's to set it up like the race cars (but 1cm higher ...) etc., it handled fantastically. A 2.4 inlet manifold and sports exhaust freed up a handful of bhp, made a nicer noise and a sportier power curve. As for the brake servo giving up on track ... well, I just learned to live with it and the rapid change to unassisted braking was a relief. The 2 channel ABS had to be disconnected due the way it would lethally go into ice mode on the track.
I bought an Elise 111R 3 years ago. Absolutely bog standard with pencil thin front tyres and has never seen a geo in it's life. It doesn't understeer, revs to 8,500rpm, has wonderful 4 channel ABS that essentially never gets triggered and is just fantastic to drive. It may even have gone up in value! I've only done one track day in it: Even in pouring rain round Llandow, it remained a delight.
I defended the VX220 to the hilt when I had it but it didn't take very long in Lotus ownership to realise why the VX220 gets knocked. It's a car that definitely needs modding whereas it's optional with the Elise.
To any potential buyers reading this, I would say not to be put off a sensibly modded one but rather to be encouraged by it!
I bought an Elise 111R 3 years ago. Absolutely bog standard with pencil thin front tyres and has never seen a geo in it's life. It doesn't understeer, revs to 8,500rpm, has wonderful 4 channel ABS that essentially never gets triggered and is just fantastic to drive. It may even have gone up in value! I've only done one track day in it: Even in pouring rain round Llandow, it remained a delight.
I defended the VX220 to the hilt when I had it but it didn't take very long in Lotus ownership to realise why the VX220 gets knocked. It's a car that definitely needs modding whereas it's optional with the Elise.
To any potential buyers reading this, I would say not to be put off a sensibly modded one but rather to be encouraged by it!
I was so close to buying an imported VXT a couple of months ago, but after a quick look in the front wheel well i noticed a really sketchy welded suspension mount in the chassis, so I bailed out. To bad because it really is great to drive, enough power and a very plyful car i general. To bad a 111R is so much more money, it kind of prices itself out of the radar. looks much better though 
coldel said:
There are a couple of good individuals on there, a chap came along and viewed a car with me and really knew his onions. I learned a lot of what to look for just watching him go about his business looking over it.
But it can be a touchy place until you are 'in' - a couple of mates also bought VXs and spoke to me about the forum and certain individuals that were giving them a hard time. Same people that did it to me also.
Glad it's not just me then that's noticed it, i started on the forum way back about 2007 and it was much nicer place friendly and helpful people I met some people who were really nice through the forum.But it can be a touchy place until you are 'in' - a couple of mates also bought VXs and spoke to me about the forum and certain individuals that were giving them a hard time. Same people that did it to me also.
Forward to 2017/18 and its a very different place some of the original people are still around and yes very helpful.
Interesting the prices are all over the shop and I have no doubt the forum tries to heavily influence the market they have a vested interest after all - dont go on and poke the bear - if you do its at your own risk!
I think a lot of the VX220s get bought by people thinking they'll be cheap to run and easy to live with as they are a Vauxhall when the reality is they aren't.
A lot of Elises will be maintained by specialists where as the vxs will (would) go to more mainstream garages and as such suffered. When I bought mine I think they were at their lowest (6.5k for a 60ishk mile standard HPI clear car) and have risen since. People would buy them, own for 6-12 months and then sell leading to a lot of owners and missed servicing/maintenance.
A lot of Elises will be maintained by specialists where as the vxs will (would) go to more mainstream garages and as such suffered. When I bought mine I think they were at their lowest (6.5k for a 60ishk mile standard HPI clear car) and have risen since. People would buy them, own for 6-12 months and then sell leading to a lot of owners and missed servicing/maintenance.
keith2.2 said:
Got one a 2.2 yucked away with about 15k on the clock having done no more than 2k miles in the last 5 years - most of the miles being to go and get its 'stage 2' breathing and remap and reglar servicing at Thorney Motorsport in MK.
Really fun little car but I preferred my S2000 (until the engine went pop)
How did you manage to break an S2000 Engine>>? Really fun little car but I preferred my S2000 (until the engine went pop)
Baron von Teuchter said:
Awesome things.
I wrote one off in 2005, it was rebuilt though. Anyone know SW53 HSO?
Its still around according to the DVLA enquiry, MOT next due next June.I wrote one off in 2005, it was rebuilt though. Anyone know SW53 HSO?
My missus, who isn't really a petrolhead has always really fancied one of these. I've always preferred an Elise if I'm honest.
Had one for a bit 15 years ago - remember it being great at the time, but not the most reliable car I'd ever owned! Full costs, etc. can be found under my profile... I can only assume these will have got less reliable over time, sadly, but perhaps the issues I encountered will have been resolved by uprated components by now.
Maybe I should drop in on the old forum and see what it's like now. Was quite clique-y even in 2003/4, and people would often be told to use the search function when asking common questions...
Maybe I should drop in on the old forum and see what it's like now. Was quite clique-y even in 2003/4, and people would often be told to use the search function when asking common questions...
Sford said:
I think a lot of the VX220s get bought by people thinking they'll be cheap to run and easy to live with as they are a Vauxhall when the reality is they aren't.
A lot of Elises will be maintained by specialists where as the vxs will (would) go to more mainstream garages and as such suffered. When I bought mine I think they were at their lowest (6.5k for a 60ishk mile standard HPI clear car) and have risen since. People would buy them, own for 6-12 months and then sell leading to a lot of owners and missed servicing/maintenance.
Basic maintenance can really be done by anyone - they're very simple cars. The problem is that to keep them driving properly they need other work as well. Geometry adjustment is a good example - I do the geometry every year on my Elise and despite the fact that I can't feel it going out throughout the year, it's amazing how much better it feels each time after I've done it. Same with the suspension refresh - I replaced the bushes a couple of years ago and despite the originals looking and feeling fine and certainly being nowhere near the point where the MoT man would notice play, the difference in how the car drove after the replacement was huge. A lot of Elises will be maintained by specialists where as the vxs will (would) go to more mainstream garages and as such suffered. When I bought mine I think they were at their lowest (6.5k for a 60ishk mile standard HPI clear car) and have risen since. People would buy them, own for 6-12 months and then sell leading to a lot of owners and missed servicing/maintenance.
The good thing for second-hand buyers is that none of that lack of maintenance actually damages the car so how it's been maintained in the past is pretty irrelevant. You can buy a car which drives like a dog and with a few hours or work (or a few days if the bushes need doing) get it driving exactly as it should.
3yardy3 said:
keith2.2 said:
Got one a 2.2 yucked away with about 15k on the clock having done no more than 2k miles in the last 5 years - most of the miles being to go and get its 'stage 2' breathing and remap and reglar servicing at Thorney Motorsport in MK.
Really fun little car but I preferred my S2000 (until the engine went pop)
How did you manage to break an S2000 Engine>>? Really fun little car but I preferred my S2000 (until the engine went pop)
Either the rings 'pick up' and shear a conrod, or a valve retainer fatigues, drop the valve, which pokes a hole in the piston. And that shears the conrod...
Why the former happens to a few is not entirely clear.
Roberty said:
I had one and would not recommend one at all!
Having previously had an Elise I thought this would be a great alternative to upgrading to an S2. Having the same chassis but a better engine thought I t would be fun. Turned out to have all the issues of any Elise and more and without the same levels of fun to compensate.
The lack of reliability, poor build quality, awful service and inflated parts costs from the main dealers together with its complete lack of practicality meant it had to go. The Elise is also entirely impractical but it’s such good fun to drive you can forgive it. In the VX the Poor build, reliability brought the lack of practicality into sharp focus taking the fun out of it.
The 2.2 Vauxhall Engine is far more powerful than the S1 Elise's old Rover lump but lacks the character the K-series has and is no where near as good as the Toyota VVTLi unit in the newer Elise S2's.
Mods can Sharpen the handling and add power but at far to high a cost for my liking. Osmosis of the GRP bodywork is a real serious issue and costs a fortune to solve properly. Many thought it was a kitcar.
I wouldn't recommend one over an Elise, in fact I wouldn't recommend one at all possibly one of the worst cars I've owned.
I guess it comes down to personal experience. I had the VX Turbo and absolutely loved it. The clutch return spring went ping a few times but with a head torch and 10 mins of your own time, you could replace these in the drivers foot well without a trip to the garage. Having previously had an Elise I thought this would be a great alternative to upgrading to an S2. Having the same chassis but a better engine thought I t would be fun. Turned out to have all the issues of any Elise and more and without the same levels of fun to compensate.
The lack of reliability, poor build quality, awful service and inflated parts costs from the main dealers together with its complete lack of practicality meant it had to go. The Elise is also entirely impractical but it’s such good fun to drive you can forgive it. In the VX the Poor build, reliability brought the lack of practicality into sharp focus taking the fun out of it.
The 2.2 Vauxhall Engine is far more powerful than the S1 Elise's old Rover lump but lacks the character the K-series has and is no where near as good as the Toyota VVTLi unit in the newer Elise S2's.
Mods can Sharpen the handling and add power but at far to high a cost for my liking. Osmosis of the GRP bodywork is a real serious issue and costs a fortune to solve properly. Many thought it was a kitcar.
I wouldn't recommend one over an Elise, in fact I wouldn't recommend one at all possibly one of the worst cars I've owned.
Edited by Roberty on Thursday 15th November 06:42
The can was great on the road and track and looked better in the flesh than in the pics IMHO.
I had plenty of time in an elise S2 prior to buying the VX and definitely preferred the VXT....however aware it's horses for courses.
In terms of mods...I replaced the OEM exhaust with a Milltek and had a stage 1 (I think) remap which showed 236BHP on the dyno.
Definitely one of my favourite cars. Can't comment on how they feel after all these years but I've never been able to drive a car so hard with so much confidence.
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