Vauxhall VX220 | Spotted
A classic British colour scheme for a classic British sports car!
Thanks in a large part to motorsport, there will always be certain colours associated with certain countries. In fact, that can probably be extended to inside-and-out colour combinations - silver over red for Germany, red over cream for Italy, white over red for Japan and so on. Whether hot hatch or hypercar, the pairings just seem to work that bit better with a nod to tradition. Of course, plenty of colour combos work, but sometimes the old ways really do work the best. What colour is your AMG Mercedes or Ferrari really going to be?
It works for Britain, too. Many have emulated British Racing Green over tan, but seldom does it work better than on cars built here. From Range Rover SUV to Aston Martin GT and Jaguar saloon to Morgan sports car, it suits a wealth of different applications. Bet you've never seen it on a Vauxhall before, though...
But here it is, a dark green VX220 with tan leather inside. Cool, isn't it? Certainly more mellow than the bright blues, yellows and reds we've come to associate with the little Vaux. Whether it complements the shape any more than those is up for some debate - typically BRG and tan is seen on larger, grander vehicles than a skeletal sports car - but it's certainly different. And that's enough to commend this VX220.
Vauxhall's interpretation of the Elise S2 has been raved about for long enough now, yet still doesn't quite command the same adulation as its Lotus sibling. Bad news for anyone banking on significant appreciation; good news for those after a great sports car for not much money. In 2018 a decent 60k one was £11,000; now an older but lower mileage VX220 is £14,995. At present you won't buy an Elise for less than £18k, and that's for one with 85,000 miles, the current situation surely encouraged by the buzz around production coming to an end. For a 50,000-mile Elise from a dealer, you're looking at £20k - or a third more than the Vauxhall. It's not green, either...
Leaving aside the colour for just a second, this looks a really decent VX. Accompanied by a two-inch think folder of history (including a recent timing chain replacement), it has some choice modifications over standard such as a Milltek exhaust, upgraded Bilstein dampers, a Piper manifold and AP Racing brake calipers. It'll be sold with a fresh MOT and service; the Brigestone Potenzas are said to be new as well. When spring arrives, it's hard to think of much better to have ready and waiting than a VX220.
Sure, it's not a Turbo, but the standard 2.2 still made almost 150hp when a base Elise just about mustered 125hp. With only around 800kg to shift, it'll be plenty fast enough for most, sprinting to 60mph in six seconds if required. Plus, of course, there are all the benefits of building a sports car around Lotus Elise architecture: it'll drive absolutely beautifully, and still do 30mpg. Just be prepared to wrestle your way in and out...
Pleasingly, more VX220s were registered on UK roads in 2021 than at any point since 2016, though it was still comfortably less than 500. There really can't be many sports cars out there as rare, stylish, and good to drive as the Vauxhall for £15,000. Which has been said before - and most likely will come out again - but surely not with a supermini price tag. And good luck finding another green one anytime soon...
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: 2001
Recorded mileage: 51,000
Price new: £22,809
Yours for: £14,995
Such a great fun little car - every time I think it might be time to move on (not very often) I jump in for a drive; never fails to re-ignite the fire.
I always liked these and thought them a really underrated car. It looks great in the green and I actually like the tan interior. As others have said, good value at £14k. Plenty left for fettling compared to a boggo Elise.
Always a could have been car, no doubt due to the tragic and utterly s
te advert with Griff Rhys Knobhead in his underpants. The marketing team, I hope, were taken out and shot. They don't handle as well as an Elise out of the box but it's easy enough to fix with a get of staggered wheels and some geometry tweaks. What's harder to fix is the awful ABS system (although I believe you can fit the four channel system out of the Toyota engined Elises with a bit of fiddling) and, as someone said above, the engine is a bit... lethargic standard tune.
No VX220 was ever anywhere near 800kg without substantial modification, though. Even early naturally aspirated cars about 880kg, later turbos were more like 950kg.
, here’s my turbo You can compare the visuals pretty well in this set of photos, Same angles and light etc: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUKch49Ibm7/?utm_mediu...
We've done a few track days together, Both on standard engines, VX is NA and the K series is cooking spec. The cars are incredibly even. The VX having the edge on the straights but the lighter Elise reeling the VX in under braking and carrying more speed through the corners.
His was about 2/3rds the price of my Elise! Would you pay the extra?
No, it wasn't that quick but by crikey, it was so much fun. Did a couple of trackdays in France with LoT and took it to LM a couple of times as well.
The folk on vx220.org were all a good bunch as well - many many fonts of incredible knowledge and amazing driveway spannering abilities (Slindborg, I'm talking about you
) Good times, fondly remembered
te advert with Griff Rhys Knobhead in his underpants. The marketing team, I hope, were taken out and shot. Lovely looking car that one, great colour combination and probably a reasonable investment too.
Still think it would have looked better with a Saab badge on the front…
Didn’t spot that it’s already been sold!
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