Thinking about a Vauxhall VX220

[Cotty]

What I really want is a front engined rear wheel drive car with two seats a hard top, that is light, powerful and safe. Reasonable boot, "some" creature comforts like a heater, sterio, wind up windows.

The Ginetta G40 pretty much ticks all those boxes, but they have not yet released a road car, just the underpowered race cars for the junior championship.

So it got me thinking, what two seat sports cars are out there. Some of the alternatives are Lotus Elise, BMW Z3 both with hard tops. Exige, BMW Z3M coupe, Z4 M coupe.

Why not the Vauxhall VX220? Small, light, powerfull in the turbo virsion.
Ok not the turbo option but looks good
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1985744.htm

Any suggestions?

[Plotloss]

Cotty, Stage 2 tuned Turbo.

Simply more fun per pound than you should be allowed to have without an apple in your mouth.

[tommobot]

I'm a VX owner so I should be putting my input in for the VX, but if if I could afford to run and insure & Z3 Coupe then I'd be over into one without a moments hesitation!

But as Plotless said, a stage 2 Turbo is a very quick car. Just doesn't have much in the way of aural pleasure imo.

[Cotty]

tommobot said:

If I could afford to run and insure & Z3 Coupe then I'd be over into one without a moments hesitation!

Looked at them, just a bit too civilised inside. Might as well sell the E30 but I would then be back into the same sitiation of wanting a hard core sports car.

[Gad-Westy]

Thought about a ginetta g4? Maybe a little raw but they look like fun.

[Cotty]

Gad-Westy said:

Thought about a ginetta g4? Maybe a little raw but they look like fun.

Security an issue, no winding windows just that disk type thing in the window so easy access. Would be worried about leaving it anywhere or anything in it. Had a fleese and a map stolem from my TVR when I left the roof off in a supposed safe place.

[Herman Toothrot]

If you want front engine rear drive then the VX220 doesn't fit the bill. I'm sure you know what does

[Cotty]

Herman Toothrot said:

If you want front engine rear drive then the VX220 doesn't fit the bill.

I realise that so I am looking at options

Herman Toothrot said:

I'm sure you know what does

What? please don't say MX5. Under powered and looks crap with a hard top

[Yazza54]

Cotty said:

Herman Toothrot said:

If you want front engine rear drive then the VX220 doesn't fit the bill.

I realise that so I am looking at options

Herman Toothrot said:

I'm sure you know what does

What? please don't say MX5. Under powered and looks crap with a hard top

....and common as muck

[Torquey]

I assume the s2000 would also be too under powered.

Surely there's a big difference between the bmw's and a lotus/vx220...

[insanojackson]

i sold a mk1 mx5 3 weeks ago and treat myself to a n/a 2002 vx220 as my none daily driver. To be hoonest its quick enough and the handling in my opinion is streets ahead of the mx5, feels like its on rails during cornering. It is a little impractical though!!

[Boosted LS1]

I went in my friends VX yesterday. It's supercharged and does 0-60 in under 5 seconds. He couldn't find a better car for the money so decided to keep it.

It felt nippy. I also went in a tuned mazda rotary which had about 400 hp. That felt quick to.

[Herman Toothrot]

Just get a bigger engine z3 or 4 sounds like you wouldn't appreciate the smaller lighter cars.

[Rawwr]

I always felt the NA was a nicer drive than the turbo.

YMMV.

[Cotty]

Herman Toothrot said:

Just get a bigger engine z3 or 4 sounds like you wouldn't appreciate the smaller lighter cars.

To be honest I have never really been taken with the looks of the Z3 or Z4

I want something small and light as per my OP.

[kambites]

Obviously not front engined, but the Lotus Europa might be worth a look too?

If you don't mind going older, it might be worth trying to find a good RX-7?

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 24th August 13:06

[Herman Toothrot]

Cotty said:

Herman Toothrot said:

Just get a bigger engine z3 or 4 sounds like you wouldn't appreciate the smaller lighter cars.

To be honest I have never really been taken with the looks of the Z3 or Z4

I want something small and light as per my OP.

Man your making this hard! Your original post you mentioned the z3 and Z4. You said you wanted front engine rear drive. You want light weight - neither bmw's are light weight. An MX5 is light weight and front engine rear drive but to under powered and you don't like the looks. So your more interested in a VX220 that's as na is no more powerful than an mx5 and isn't front engined it is light weight though. You don't like the bmws after all.

So.. Really TVR's, Marcos, 968 Cabrio. I can't think of any other relatively lightweight front engine rear drivers.

The VX220 in turbo or if you don't mind modified, supercharged would fit light weight and powerful. However can you live with the access? I know lots of my friends can't believe I use mine daily, they hate getting in and out of it especially with the roof on.

[Cotty]

Thats the trouble, no one really makes what I want apart from Ginetta with the G40 but they have not yet released a road car and im not sure if I can justify dropping the equivalent of my mortgage on it.

Lotus Europa for around £20,000 or Lotus Elise S1 for around £10,000, then I rediscovered the VX220 and threw everything up in the air again. I just can't decide what to get.

Herman Toothrot said:

The VX220 in turbo or if you don't mind modified, supercharged would fit light weight and powerful. However can you live with the access? I know lots of my friends can't believe I use mine daily, they hate getting in and out of it especially with the roof on.

I would be keeping the E30 touring so not my only car. Access should not be an ussue

[Cotty]

kambites said:

Obviously not front engined, but the Lotus Europa might be worth a look too?

I have been looking at them

[VX Foxy]

Cotty said:

kambites said:

Obviously not front engined, but the Lotus Europa might be worth a look too?

I have been looking at them

Just a VXT for badge snobs

You keep going back to the VX so just go for it. What's the worst that can happen?