VX220 Turbo Daily users
Discussion
Hi Chaps,
I didn't see this section 'til I posted a question in General Gassing today. I have seen a few of you have had sports cars before your VX220's. I would like to use one daily, as my
vectra SRi is soooo boring, and I can't use the Horse daily or park it anywhere. Not that I'm expecting great mpg, but how many miles do you get out of a tank? and how much is insurance. Oh sorry, lots of questions 
I'm getting excited already. I like the idea of a hardtop for winter. Maybe we could meet up ? I'll bring the 456 GT, we'll compare notes.
Thanks
G.
I didn't see this section 'til I posted a question in General Gassing today. I have seen a few of you have had sports cars before your VX220's. I would like to use one daily, as my
vectra SRi is soooo boring, and I can't use the Horse daily or park it anywhere. Not that I'm expecting great mpg, but how many miles do you get out of a tank? and how much is insurance. Oh sorry, lots of questions I'm getting excited already. I like the idea of a hardtop for winter. Maybe we could meet up ? I'll bring the 456 GT, we'll compare notes. Thanks
G.
Hi Prancing,
I've only got the N/A version, but I know the answers to some of your questions as they're FAQ's on the VX board.
People generally get 150-200 miles per tank, but the tank's tiny (costs me £15-20 to fill up). Call it 180 miles as a reported average from owners.
Insurance varys, and I'm probably not the one to answer that as mine'll be cheaper.
Hard top: makes a HUGE difference in Winter - it's so much warmer, it's almost not funny.
Dan
>> Edited by DanL on Sunday 22 February 22:35
I've only got the N/A version, but I know the answers to some of your questions as they're FAQ's on the VX board.
People generally get 150-200 miles per tank, but the tank's tiny (costs me £15-20 to fill up). Call it 180 miles as a reported average from owners.
Insurance varys, and I'm probably not the one to answer that as mine'll be cheaper.
Hard top: makes a HUGE difference in Winter - it's so much warmer, it's almost not funny.
Dan
>> Edited by DanL on Sunday 22 February 22:35
Hi Prancing.
I have a VXT, and I can echo what DanL says. Basically, the car does about 170miles to a full tank in my hands, and most of that isn't on the motorway. I would say that at a steady 80 on a Motorway would probably see 200miles.
I don't have the hardtop, and use the car most days, and I have found it OK over the winter. Admittedly if I had to do a lot of mandatory miles in it in the winter, I would probably consider one for the extra quiet and extra warmth.
Insurance? This year, in a low risk Postcode, with 3 years No Claims bonus, @ 29, I would expect just over £600.
Hope this helps.
Steve
I have a VXT, and I can echo what DanL says. Basically, the car does about 170miles to a full tank in my hands, and most of that isn't on the motorway. I would say that at a steady 80 on a Motorway would probably see 200miles.
I don't have the hardtop, and use the car most days, and I have found it OK over the winter. Admittedly if I had to do a lot of mandatory miles in it in the winter, I would probably consider one for the extra quiet and extra warmth.
Insurance? This year, in a low risk Postcode, with 3 years No Claims bonus, @ 29, I would expect just over £600.
Hope this helps.
Steve
Thanks Guys,
Steve, you have a Turvo VX, £600 to insure sounds fantastic, I'm 31 with 10 yrs NCB and no points (amazingly) living in a WD postcode. Being quoted £850 to £1100 quid Fully Comp Protected. Who are you with? limited miles or tracker?
Thanks for the help, I'll browse the Vx220 Site.
G.
Steve, you have a Turvo VX, £600 to insure sounds fantastic, I'm 31 with 10 yrs NCB and no points (amazingly) living in a WD postcode. Being quoted £850 to £1100 quid Fully Comp Protected. Who are you with? limited miles or tracker?
Thanks for the help, I'll browse the Vx220 Site.
G.
Prancing.
I am currently with Admiral, Directline didn't seem that good for me. My NCB isn't protected (since I don't have enough at the moment).
I will probably not renew with Admiral, since I am intending to mod the car, and I believe they will hit me very hard for any mods. I will probably take a small hit on the premium this year to not be stung for the mods that I will probably make later.
Whatever you do, keep away from the tuning threads on the VX site. It'll cost you a fortune otherwise.
I am currently with Admiral, Directline didn't seem that good for me. My NCB isn't protected (since I don't have enough at the moment).
I will probably not renew with Admiral, since I am intending to mod the car, and I believe they will hit me very hard for any mods. I will probably take a small hit on the premium this year to not be stung for the mods that I will probably make later.
Whatever you do, keep away from the tuning threads on the VX site. It'll cost you a fortune otherwise.
Hi
I'm also interested to know about this car for an everyday hack......
I need a reliable car which does good mpg (not like the 13mpg for my Ultima) and can cope with motorway miles.
The shortlist is currently a BMW 330d, Lotus elise and VX220na.
Now I think the BMW is the sensible choice and that the Lotus may not be reliable enough, and having driven a VX220turbo on track I know I like the car and could live with it, but apart from acceleration how different are the old na and new turbo models?
Andy
I'm also interested to know about this car for an everyday hack......
I need a reliable car which does good mpg (not like the 13mpg for my Ultima) and can cope with motorway miles.
The shortlist is currently a BMW 330d, Lotus elise and VX220na.
Now I think the BMW is the sensible choice and that the Lotus may not be reliable enough, and having driven a VX220turbo on track I know I like the car and could live with it, but apart from acceleration how different are the old na and new turbo models?
Andy
It seems a strange choice as a daily car!
The heater isn't great, leaks can be expected, on icy/wet roads it can be a handful and fuel consumption is pretty poor.
When the weather is ok I tend to use my VX rather than my Vectra, and it does make most drives a lot more interesting. When the weather is shit it's nice getting into the Vectra with it's stability control, air-con, etc.!
The heater isn't great, leaks can be expected, on icy/wet roads it can be a handful and fuel consumption is pretty poor.
When the weather is ok I tend to use my VX rather than my Vectra, and it does make most drives a lot more interesting. When the weather is shit it's nice getting into the Vectra with it's stability control, air-con, etc.!
What are you on about B4D?!
It's my daily drive and helps cheer me up nicely on the way to the office.
MPG is only poor if your foot's too heavy. But the range IS poor (esp. compared to a bmw oil-burner). OK, heating is, um, inconsistent, but not really a major problem.
Andy, the biggest differences between na and T (I have the na) are, as you'd expect, the T is much quicker on the straights and is generally a less raw experience than the na. Many of us prefer the na and have no plans to downgrade to the T. But others have made the switch and prefer their new Ts. It's down to personal preference really - have a drive in an NA and see what you think.
Oh, and the buyer's guide on www.vx220.org.uk will help you - but the site is out of action today.
James
It's my daily drive and helps cheer me up nicely on the way to the office.
MPG is only poor if your foot's too heavy. But the range IS poor (esp. compared to a bmw oil-burner). OK, heating is, um, inconsistent, but not really a major problem.
Andy, the biggest differences between na and T (I have the na) are, as you'd expect, the T is much quicker on the straights and is generally a less raw experience than the na. Many of us prefer the na and have no plans to downgrade to the T. But others have made the switch and prefer their new Ts. It's down to personal preference really - have a drive in an NA and see what you think.
Oh, and the buyer's guide on www.vx220.org.uk will help you - but the site is out of action today.
James
I've driven the VX Turbo on track and I loved the handling very chuckable......... I'm not that worried if the NA is a little slower, thats what the Ultima is for.
This car would replace my modded cossie and 916 as the sensible commute. I'm much more worried about the experience than comforts.
Any chance of an idea of the MPG of the 2.2 is it high 30's/low 40's?
Whats the other running costs like? (ie will they be much the same as my cossie?)
This car would replace my modded cossie and 916 as the sensible commute. I'm much more worried about the experience than comforts.
Any chance of an idea of the MPG of the 2.2 is it high 30's/low 40's?
Whats the other running costs like? (ie will they be much the same as my cossie?)
andycanam said:
Any chance of an idea of the MPG of the 2.2 is it high 30's/low 40's?
Whats the other running costs like? (ie will they be much the same as my cossie?)
I get somewhere between 20 and 30 mpg dependent on my right foot. Normal driving it's around 27.
Running costs...
Annual service £120ish
4 tyres £400ish
4 brake pads £80ish
Have a look at my profile to see what I've spent over the last year on mine.
Ignore B4D VX, he drives like a girly.
As an everyday car, if you can stretch the budget slightly, I would go for a used VXT, not because its a better car but because the ride is so much better, it rides the bumps better and has fewer rattles, and its not really a false ecconomy as it will always be worth slightly more than the N/A.
If someone was looking for a weekend toy or a track car I would tell them the oposite, the thing to remember is that the VX220 2.2 doesn't really have enough power to get you into trouble, you can give it full throttle comming out of a bend and it wont really break traction, the turbo can get a lot of people in the hedge as it does have enough, but then comming from an Ultima (my dream car by the way) or a Ferrari you are used to that power and will show it a little respect so I think the VXT is the way to go for both of you.
Wayne.
P.S you can get a good used VXt with all the options, including a hard top, touring pack, remote c/locking and MP£ with 4 speakers from as little as £22495 now from some good dealers.
As an everyday car, if you can stretch the budget slightly, I would go for a used VXT, not because its a better car but because the ride is so much better, it rides the bumps better and has fewer rattles, and its not really a false ecconomy as it will always be worth slightly more than the N/A.
If someone was looking for a weekend toy or a track car I would tell them the oposite, the thing to remember is that the VX220 2.2 doesn't really have enough power to get you into trouble, you can give it full throttle comming out of a bend and it wont really break traction, the turbo can get a lot of people in the hedge as it does have enough, but then comming from an Ultima (my dream car by the way) or a Ferrari you are used to that power and will show it a little respect so I think the VXT is the way to go for both of you.
Wayne.
P.S you can get a good used VXt with all the options, including a hard top, touring pack, remote c/locking and MP£ with 4 speakers from as little as £22495 now from some good dealers.
I second the VXT option, but can you find used ones?
Beg to differ, but the N/A does have enough power to get drivers not experienced on the track into trouble. I have seen them eat the motorway on-ramp railing.
It does have a lot of rattles in the doors and a squeaky hard top.
The VXR would be better -- even if for the black rubber trim around the front windscreen. I paid £300 just to replace it for the black.
But, as the previous poster said, Ultima is IT -- and I am happy with mine!
Beg to differ, but the N/A does have enough power to get drivers not experienced on the track into trouble. I have seen them eat the motorway on-ramp railing.
It does have a lot of rattles in the doors and a squeaky hard top.
The VXR would be better -- even if for the black rubber trim around the front windscreen. I paid £300 just to replace it for the black.
But, as the previous poster said, Ultima is IT -- and I am happy with mine!
i have a 2.2 - tuned 175bhp and geo setup by Gugelhime(?) motorsport 
In the dry you would have to be doing some serious (and stupid) hooning to loose the back end. Not a problem in the wet, you have to be fast with the opposite lock too.
Turbo is similar - should be setup by someone who knows what they are doing. There have been some shocker stories of how badly the geo was set up on some VX's.... You would think lotus would make a better job
In the dry you would have to be doing some serious (and stupid) hooning to loose the back end. Not a problem in the wet, you have to be fast with the opposite lock too. Turbo is similar - should be setup by someone who knows what they are doing. There have been some shocker stories of how badly the geo was set up on some VX's.... You would think lotus would make a better job
Oi stop the abuse!
I can understand how people can live with a VX as their only car, the hassles that come with it will all be forgotten when you go for a proper drive in it at the weekend.
But to buy a VX as a week car as you've got something special for the weekend.......just seems a weird choice.
Wayne - and drive like a girl? I resent that, after you've had to put up with Vicki driving you, anyone would seem like a girl!
I can understand how people can live with a VX as their only car, the hassles that come with it will all be forgotten when you go for a proper drive in it at the weekend.
But to buy a VX as a week car as you've got something special for the weekend.......just seems a weird choice.
Wayne - and drive like a girl? I resent that, after you've had to put up with Vicki driving you, anyone would seem like a girl!
jneill said:
MPG is only poor if your foot's too heavy. But the range IS poor (esp. compared to a bmw oil-burner). OK, heating is, um, inconsistent, but not really a major problem.
I get about 12-15mpg driving my VXT hard, and about 20mpg if I take it steady. Not great, and a lot thirstier than my NA was.
Heating doesn't bother me, but if it's below freezing, etc. then it's an issue!
12-15mph is what I get from my 500bhp+ Ultima...... unless its on track but I expect the VX drops on track also.
Seems the VX is particularly thisty.
Dare I say it but I'm getting the vibe that the elise may me a much better motorway muncher due to the mpg alone..... still can't get past their use of a tempramental rover engine though.
BTW I do have a family car (chrysler voyager) so my cars don't need to be sensible, just need to be sensible money to run.
Seems the VX is particularly thisty.
Dare I say it but I'm getting the vibe that the elise may me a much better motorway muncher due to the mpg alone..... still can't get past their use of a tempramental rover engine though.
BTW I do have a family car (chrysler voyager) so my cars don't need to be sensible, just need to be sensible money to run.
I've just got back from a run. Tintern to Birdlip - pretty hard driving for the most part.
I got 150miles from 31 litres of fuel: 22mpg.
Normal day to day thrashing round here I get ~25mpg
Doing a steady 80/90 on a run back from Blackpool to here, I got just over 38mpg.
On track (Silverstone / Hethel) I got ~11/12 mpg.
This is all for the NA - and I do drive quite hard most of the time.
HTH
I got 150miles from 31 litres of fuel: 22mpg.
Normal day to day thrashing round here I get ~25mpg
Doing a steady 80/90 on a run back from Blackpool to here, I got just over 38mpg.
On track (Silverstone / Hethel) I got ~11/12 mpg.
This is all for the NA - and I do drive quite hard most of the time.
HTH
I currently have a round trip commute of 180 miles (mostly motorway) and I average somewhere between 38 and 42 mpg.
As with Bengie, that's with a cruising speed of around 85 without being stupid. Being stupid, mpg can drop to the mid 20's.
Again, that's for a 2.2, but VXT figures shouldn't be too different.
Comfort is ok, too. I can hear the (standard) radio perfectly and can talk on a bluetooth headset if I raise my voice a little. It's fairly warm and doesn't leak anymore.
Go for it ...
As with Bengie, that's with a cruising speed of around 85 without being stupid. Being stupid, mpg can drop to the mid 20's.
Again, that's for a 2.2, but VXT figures shouldn't be too different.
Comfort is ok, too. I can hear the (standard) radio perfectly and can talk on a bluetooth headset if I raise my voice a little. It's fairly warm and doesn't leak anymore.
Go for it ...
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