Weekend Toy: VX220 V's Chimaera
Discussion
Whittled the list down of cars that come in budget down to these two. There are obviously loads of other cars to consider, but as it's a weekend toy, it really comes down to heart over head thinking, so Boxters, S2000's Z3's/Z4's, M3's etc etc have been ruled out. I've been through the classifieds a few times to be sure I'm not missing anything!
£8-9k gets you a Good Version of each (The VX being the 2.2 NA version).
VX is slower, but then the drive feels more raw, however the TVR is much heavier to drive, and therfore I imagine harder to drive at pace.
VX is newer so "technically" should be less trouble than the TVR, however both have their pitfalls.
TVR is Retro, but then the VX is becoming a Rare sight on the road, so potentially heading towards a modern classic.
TVR wins hands down on sound, but then VX wins on looks.
I'm not fussed about going near a track in either, but just fancy something a bit different for the weekend that will put a silly Grin on my face - It's been too long since I've owned a car that I truely loved owning enough to give me that "must turn round and have another glance at it as I'm walking away" feeling.
Just wondering if anyone else has found themselves in the same position and which way they went!
As it stands, It's a case of playing the waiting game to see which provides "the right one" first.
£8-9k gets you a Good Version of each (The VX being the 2.2 NA version).
VX is slower, but then the drive feels more raw, however the TVR is much heavier to drive, and therfore I imagine harder to drive at pace.
VX is newer so "technically" should be less trouble than the TVR, however both have their pitfalls.
TVR is Retro, but then the VX is becoming a Rare sight on the road, so potentially heading towards a modern classic.
TVR wins hands down on sound, but then VX wins on looks.
I'm not fussed about going near a track in either, but just fancy something a bit different for the weekend that will put a silly Grin on my face - It's been too long since I've owned a car that I truely loved owning enough to give me that "must turn round and have another glance at it as I'm walking away" feeling.
Just wondering if anyone else has found themselves in the same position and which way they went!
As it stands, It's a case of playing the waiting game to see which provides "the right one" first.
Really it's just a matter of how you like to drive and no-one else can really tell you that. For me the VX220 was a much better car, but I can fully understand why someone would choose the TVR.
For what it's worth, I ended up buying an S2 Elise (although probably on a slightly higher budget, by the sounds of it).
For what it's worth, I ended up buying an S2 Elise (although probably on a slightly higher budget, by the sounds of it).
Vx220 fan here.
The vx220 will be cheaper to maintain, not only because it is newer but also it has fairly standard engine/ mechanicals - especially compared to the TVR.
The vx may well be slower but i found it an extremely rewarding drive and never 'felt' slow. I sold mine almost seven years ago, and still miss it. Unfortunately life has taken me in a different direction (kids!)
Only thing missing will be the noise and interior comfort over the tvr. The vauxhall sports exhaust will improve things (plus various aftermarket options) but it will never match the tvr. Not much you can do about the interior though. It is based described as functional. Vx220.org.uk is a great resource and owners forum - some vary knowledgable peeps over there.
They will assure you that £5k spent on supercharging your NA is the best way forward in a couple of years.
Mike
The vx220 will be cheaper to maintain, not only because it is newer but also it has fairly standard engine/ mechanicals - especially compared to the TVR.
The vx may well be slower but i found it an extremely rewarding drive and never 'felt' slow. I sold mine almost seven years ago, and still miss it. Unfortunately life has taken me in a different direction (kids!)
Only thing missing will be the noise and interior comfort over the tvr. The vauxhall sports exhaust will improve things (plus various aftermarket options) but it will never match the tvr. Not much you can do about the interior though. It is based described as functional. Vx220.org.uk is a great resource and owners forum - some vary knowledgable peeps over there.
They will assure you that £5k spent on supercharging your NA is the best way forward in a couple of years.
Mike
jules_s said:
£8-9K is right at the top end of the NA market and the bottom of the VXT
I'd spend £6-7k on an NA and SC it
I'm really looking at a VX in the 6-8 bracket, or a chim in the 7-9 bracket, but as you say there are a few Turbo's that drop into tthe top of the budget so they're being looked at too when they come up, but they're few and far between - A turbo is realistically 10-11k for a good one I'd spend £6-7k on an NA and SC it
Both great cars but think I'd have to opt for the V8. The TVR will also feel more special just sitting in it or cruising at 30mph. However I suspect the TVR will have more niggles and be more frustrating at times. Also the VX is going to be a lot better on fuel. The RV8 is capable of 24mpg'ish. But make use of the revs and it'll easily be in the teens.
300bhp/ton said:
However I suspect the TVR will have more niggles and be more frustrating at times.
Hmm, TVR vs Lotus... neither exactly fills you with confidence in their build quality. 
I actually think the N/A VX220 is a better car than the turbo anyway; the turbocharged engine doesn't suit the character of the car at all, IMO. It needs an engine that wants to be thrashed and gives instantaneous response to the throttle. I think the turbo has different suspension calibration too, it certainly feels softer.
300bhp/ton said:
The TVR will also feel more special just sitting in it or cruising at 30mph. .
Agree with most of what you said, but the vx does feel special when sat so low, filthy great big sill on one side, passenger almost sat on top of you the other side, the view out of the windscreen at the front haunches, stripped interior and poor rear visibility. It certainly feels different to a bog standard motor...... Therefore special?Mike
The Rover V8 TVR's (Chimaera and Griff) are cheap as chips to maintain (relatively speaking). I know the hourly rate I pay my specialist isnt anything like as high as dealer or even mainstream garage rates and mechanically they are very simple compared to something modern like a VX. I'm not particularly handy with the spanners but even I have managed to complete quite a few jobs on my Chim that I wouldnt attempt on any of my more modern cars.
And should it go wrong (not often you'll be surprised to hear) the parts as mostly cheap as chips.
I budget £1k a year to insure, tax and service my TVR. Some years its less, others more, it usually evens out.
Yes there are some gotchas (outriggers being the main one) but most can be fixed cheaply - or you buy a car where they've already been done.
I would have thought the VX being a very rare car that parts would be hard to come by / expensive ? I did hear that vauxhall werent making some of the parts any more.... whereas the TVRs have a thriving aftermakret supply chain for just about everything.
And should it go wrong (not often you'll be surprised to hear) the parts as mostly cheap as chips.
I budget £1k a year to insure, tax and service my TVR. Some years its less, others more, it usually evens out.
Yes there are some gotchas (outriggers being the main one) but most can be fixed cheaply - or you buy a car where they've already been done.
I would have thought the VX being a very rare car that parts would be hard to come by / expensive ? I did hear that vauxhall werent making some of the parts any more.... whereas the TVRs have a thriving aftermakret supply chain for just about everything.
Benbay001 said:
From what ive read the chim will cost much much more to maintain.. surely these budgets should be the other way around?
I think it depends how handy you want to get with the spanners - they do and will have niggles or "character" as it seems the owners refer to them as :lol:. As long as the chassis is fairly sound to start with, then there's not much else to go wrong that's costly. The engines seem pretty solid and the rest of the running gear is a ford/rover mash-up. It's mainly how many of the "characteristics" stop the car from being driven/get annoying.MPG will be around 20, but @ 3-4000 miles a year it won't be a major issue over 30mpg.
One thing I'm surprised at is that servicing on the TVR seems horrific for a Rover V8 that needs an oil and filter change every 6k miles - I've seen a few independant dealers receipts with £3-400 on them! Hopefully there's a bit more to it than a simple service - either that or they've gone all Audi :S.
mike9009 said:
Agree with most of what you said, but the vx does feel special when sat so low, filthy great big sill on one side, passenger almost sat on top of you the other side, the view out of the windscreen at the front haunches, stripped interior and poor rear visibility. It certainly feels different to a bog standard motor...... Therefore special?
Mike
I agree the VX is special. The TVR is just a little more flamboyant. The big leather sweeping dash and the funky centre mounted door release. Both are fantastic but I think the Tiv edges it slightly on this front. Mike
My Chimaera 450 has a 6K and 12K service schedule so alternative years (I don't do the mileage) costs are:
6K = £350 plus VAT
12K = £395 plus VAT
There will be extras to add in such as fuel pipe replacement every few years, pads and discs according to use and driving style etc, etc. I budget for £600 each time it visits Dom for a service and MOT as I know he will do a few things he spots during the service as it is a "bumper to bumper" job and he replaces clips, hoses, fuses, relays etc when he sees wear that may not last another year. Never reached £600 in the past 2 years for basic servicing and MOT so am happy so far.
A good friend of mine had a very nice VX which I enjoyed driving but once he bought a Chim 450 I had to get one
It is an easy car to poodle around in and can be pushed on quite hard now it has had decent suspension fitted and set up properly.
I suggest you try to drive both on the same day and see how they stack up to you and what you want of a weekend car.
6K = £350 plus VAT
12K = £395 plus VAT
There will be extras to add in such as fuel pipe replacement every few years, pads and discs according to use and driving style etc, etc. I budget for £600 each time it visits Dom for a service and MOT as I know he will do a few things he spots during the service as it is a "bumper to bumper" job and he replaces clips, hoses, fuses, relays etc when he sees wear that may not last another year. Never reached £600 in the past 2 years for basic servicing and MOT so am happy so far.
A good friend of mine had a very nice VX which I enjoyed driving but once he bought a Chim 450 I had to get one
It is an easy car to poodle around in and can be pushed on quite hard now it has had decent suspension fitted and set up properly.I suggest you try to drive both on the same day and see how they stack up to you and what you want of a weekend car.
kambites said:
Hmm, TVR vs Lotus... neither exactly fills you with confidence in their build quality.
I actually think the N/A VX220 is a better car than the turbo anyway; the turbocharged engine doesn't suit the character of the car at all, IMO. It needs an engine that wants to be thrashed and gives instantaneous response to the throttle. I think the turbo has different suspension calibration too, it certainly feels softer.
Needs a bit of K20 action in there. I actually think the N/A VX220 is a better car than the turbo anyway; the turbocharged engine doesn't suit the character of the car at all, IMO. It needs an engine that wants to be thrashed and gives instantaneous response to the throttle. I think the turbo has different suspension calibration too, it certainly feels softer.
Id go for the TVR personally. If i could live with it not starting once in a while.
mike9009 said:
...but the vx does feel special when sat so low, filthy great big sill on one side, passenger almost sat on top of you the other side, the view out of the windscreen at the front haunches, stripped interior and poor rear visibility. It certainly feels different to a bog standard motor...... Therefore special?
Totally agree - having the engine sat behind your head whilst bouncing down the road makes it feel pretty special and different to anything I've ever been in before.I think the VX Turbo is set up to be softer than the N/A and the engine probably isn't too fitting with the chassis. That said, The last 3 cars I've had have been turbo Hatches (the latter a tuned Derv), so a big wedge of torque is something I've got used to enjoying. The difference being they were everyday cars so the torque made motorway driving pleasurable.
Parts for the VX are easy to come by - eBay seems to be full of bits anyway!
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