Vauxhall VX220: Spotted
There are still tidy-looking VX220s available for £10k - what's stopping you?
What with the PSA takeover of Vauxhall, the demise of Australian Holden production and the wider industry's current obsession with crossovers, it's hard to imagine interesting cars emerging from Luton any time soon. Certainly nothing as intriguing as the little VX220, which stands as a beacon of excitement in the rather ordinary history of 21st century Vauxhalls.
Actually, that's not entirely fair. In the early 2000s there was sufficient stuff to get excited about, with Astra Coupes dominant in the BTCC (and spawning potent road cars), the bonkers Zafira GSI being launched, and the Aussie V8s not far away. However, the VX220 remains perhaps one of the most desirable products to have ever been produced by Vauxhall, even if prices still don't quite reflect that.
Sure, you'll well know that a chunk of the car (and therefore the appeal) is Lotus-based, although this was a far more extensive rework than plonking a Griffin badge on a Monaro. It was a Vauxhall design, with a Vauxhall engine and Vauxhall set-up - indeed just 10 per cent was said to be shared with the Lotus, chiefly that extruded aluminium tub.
With both naturally-aspirated and eventually turbocharged engines, the VX220 proved a hit when new. What's happened now, with even the very newest VXs at 13 years old, is that the run-out VXR220s are much in demand, a good Turbo isn't far behind and many have been recorded as Cat C or Cat D write offs. Damage to the front or rear clam is very expensive to replace, hence the oft-seen classification.
What's left as a result is a batch of standard 2.2-litre cars that still look rather good value. We're no longer talking of the scandalously cheap £6k cars that were around a few years ago, but £10k still secures a nice VX220 - much like this one. It's a totally standard silver car with 62,000 miles, with the added benefit of four new dampers, a set of fresh Bridgestones, a fluid flush plus all discs and pads done at 60k. Despite the design first being seen on the Speedster concept car more than 19 years ago, the VX220 still looks contemporary enough and is guaranteed to deliver the kind of driving experience that makes a mockery of many more expensive sports cars. After all, Elises are still lauded for exactly that, aren't they?
Ah yes, the Lotus question. There is of course no way to avoid it when 220s are in discussion, though there's also no way to avoid the fact that an equivalent Elise will still cost you a good chunk more. See for example this Sport 135 which, despite being more powerful than standard, is still down against the Vauxhall. Its mileage is fractionally higher too, and is on offer from a private seller, yet costs £3,000 more. The Lotus badge certainly has its allure, but it's difficult to ignore the value for money presented by the Vauxhall.
And as we seem to say more often than not in these classifieds-based features, this sort of car won't happen again. Yes, Lotus is still making an Elise, though it's a more expensive sports car prospect than it's ever been. As the world moves away from genuine no-frills, pared back motoring, those who do yearn for exactly that will surely be after cars like the VX220 more desperately than ever. Which sounds like great news for the buyer of this one; even more appealing though, surely, is the prospect of keeping the VX220 you bought for £10k for as long as is humanly possible.
SPECIFICATION - VAUXHALL VX220
Engine: 2,198cc, 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 147@5,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 149@4,000rpm
MPG: 33
CO2: 205g/km
First registered: 2002
Recorded mileage: 62,000
Price new: £22,809
Yours for: £10,995
See the original advert here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od-kenmFD_I
They also offer more room for improvement. I bought mine for 8K while a similar S2 Elise was 16K. I've upgraded everything and its now supercharged. An Exige wouldnt see which way it went.
Its horses for courses but if you want a car you can mod easily, is slightly less seen and offers better value for money you cant go far wrong.
Does have a s
t badge though 
In the meantime, many cars have come and gone, but nothing really compares to the Vauxhall for the money.
3 European trips, about 30 track days, 40k miles and 14 years later and i have absolutely no intention of selling it.
Best of all, they are so cheap to run and it has depreciated very little, even since then.
Just a shame i don't get chance to use it more often now with two little 'uns
it was a cracking little car, and the marketing department used what must have been one of the worst campaigns ever. No moody low level footage as it sped past, tobacco filtered aerial shots and delivering an aspirational product that could re-energise the brand.
Instead they had a mediocre bearded comedian in his underpants.
The CMO at Vauxhall must have been a Lotus stooge.
They haven't learned - that "pyjama mama" campaign for that porridge SUV makes my teeth itch.
They arent cheap but they arent more than a Lotus clam.
So you're paying an extra £3250 for the Lotus badge and perhaps a tiny bit more chassis polish, although the £12250 Elise is a Mk1 and as I recall some of the motoring press gave the nod to the VX220 over the S1, which I am sure was partly why the S2 came out shortly after and edged back in front....
I'd be happy with either! The Lotus will appreciate more in the future, but I'd argue the Vauxhall is the better value buy right now.
Mind you the heater was s
t, in deepest winter I'd be wearing a thick coat, hat and gloves even with it on full blast, and it could barely demist the screen. My wife hated it, my bigger mates could barely get in and out, and the visibility was terrible. On the road though it was all worth it. For the looks and the rarity I'd probably still pick one over a similar age Elise.The Vauxhall badge hasn't put me off being on my 4th one though!
Mind you the heater was s
t, in deepest winter I'd be wearing a thick coat, hat and gloves even with it on full blast, and it could barely demist the screen. My wife hated it, my bigger mates could barely get in and out, and the visibility was terrible. On the road though it was all worth it. For the looks and the rarity I'd probably still pick one over a similar age Elise.
Always lusted after the red and black VXR220, but these still have aged really well and I feel like even with It being a Vauxhall, that 10k is an investment and the cars will only become more sought after.
There is a actually one thing I don't like, the wheels... but the fella above with the Speedlines has got it spot on.
I remember being invited to the factory by the Lotus dealer as I was interested in an Elise at the time but I tried the 220 and preferred it, largely due to the better engine and box.
Worth noting the VX220 is slightly bigger inside than a S1 Elise so worked for me at 6ft5, I don't think I could have driven the Elise I sat in at the showroom.
Incredible fun to drive, I always thought the 2.2 lacked a little mid range grunt to make overtaking easy on B-roads, and the ABS could play silly games, but generally was amazing in every other way.
I ran mine as a 2nd car for a year then thought selling it and my daily drive and buying a 350z as a daily was a good idea at the time, although it broke my heart to watch it drive away. However I was wrong, I only kept the 350z for 6 months and I still miss the Vx220 10 years later on
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff