Is a VX220 an all year round/everyday car?

[Stu G]

I was at Cars In The Park at the weekend and got the chance to look at a few VX220's that attended. It's got me seriously considering picking one up (I currently drive an Astra VXR). Unfortunately I can't afford to run two cars so the VX would be my daily drive. I was just wondering what these are like to drive through the winter months on wet roads and in snowy conditions. I will be fitting some winter tyres to get through the worst of the winter months, but still wondered if anyone on here uses their VX220 all year round and how did you find the past two winters with all the snow we got?

I'm going to be looking for either an SC or Tuby VX220.

Thanks for any help
Stu

[insanojackson]

I dont use mine all year round as my main driver, I still keep it taxed/insured during the winter though and use it on cold clear days. I cannot see why it couldnt be used as a daily driver though. assuming the standard next to useless heater has been sorted.

I also wish you luck getting some winter tyres to fit the standard front wheels.

[steveavxt]

They can be used as an all weather car and many do but I wouldn't want to. Mine has heated seats and a heater that is quite good and it's still not a nice experience driving in the snow/freezing cold.

I once got stuck in a snowy car park and had to be pushed out, it was in a place where my Focus would have driven out easily.

The worst part is other people, in the snow some people drive like the conditions haven't changed at all. A small knock into a VX will see it written off. I tend to leave mine in the garage in bad weather.

Also, not sure of your experience of rear wheel drive powerful cars but in bad conditions it can swap ends very easily if you are not very careful. As this link shows;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOQpV1NmYgE

Edited by steveavxt on Tuesday 13th September 12:07

[Stu G]

thanks for the responses guys. food for thought regarding winter driving. I may have to put off any purchase for a bit and save up for a cheap winter run about to go with the VX220. Just didn't really want to run two cars.

[cstrachan]

The VX220 is fine in the snow / winter conditions if driven sensibly. The only real problems you would have is the crap heater and froozen locks. The heater can be fixed so that is not a big deal, the constant need to blow job the locks when froozen is not so easily fixed.

[Stu G]

cstrachan said:

The VX220 is fine in the snow / winter conditions if driven sensibly. The only real problems you would have is the crap heater and froozen locks. The heater can be fixed so that is not a big deal, the constant need to blow job the locks when froozen is not so easily fixed.

Are the frozen locks an issue on cars with Central Locking fitting? I read somewhere that it wasn't as much a problem with cars fitted with c/l

[exigepete]

Ran a VX220 Turbo for two years as a daily driver and did 17k in sun , rain, snow etc, never had any problems. Just a bit of respect in the wet and ice with the right foot! Ran Bridgestone Potenza RE040's which I found very good in all weathers. Never had any problems with the locks, but I did have remote C/L. Cold handrake and gearknob's tho in the winter!

[tommobot]

I use mine all year round, and just when it gets cold just take it very easy...It does get stuck quite easily in snow but is also great fun ... at low speeds in the snow

As somebody else pointed out just be very wary of other drivers driving normally in snowy conditions etc..

I plug in a small heater to the ciggy plug in mine when it gets cold and the heater sits on the dash, its not brilliant but takes away some of the initial coldness and can actually demist / defreeze the window on the inside when it gets cold, if you waited for the heater you'd be there till the summer!

[VXED]

I drove my vx all year round through 3 winters and it was erm.... shall we say interesting!
There were winter wheels made specifically for the opel speedster, 15" i think, which you could get new on ebay a few months back when i was contemplating whether to put myself through another winter of it or not.....

[ben922]

I use mine all year, the only worry I have is other people sliding into me due to the icy conditions

[tail slide]

Suggest you drive one for 10 mins on a twisty road - you'll be hooked, and either put up with the minor issues or solve them fairly easily if a few choice upgrades haven't been done to yours.

Winter tyres can be fitted, 185's will fit the skinny front 17" rims, they just soften the steering feel - one here but run-flat; http://www.camskill.co.uk/m97b0s5755p0/Winter_-_Sn... Other winter advantage is that being aluminium, the body has no problem with salt.

Bought mine as a temp runabout 4 yrs ago, so much fun that I've driven it all year round since (on Eagle F1 tyres) often in preference to the other 3 interesting cars I'm fortunate to have. You just don't feel as involved in the action as much in anything else, even if they're quicker.

[NDT]

I drove an S1 Elise every day for two years - often doing a 65 miles each way commute. So yes!
Have just bought a VX220T too!