Is a VX220 with over 35000 miles good or bad?
Discussion
Hi I.ve seen a vx220 for sale with 36k on the clock, whats peoples opinions on this? Is the mileage too high, what should I look out for with a car like this? IS there any major service work it should have had at this mileage, cambelt etc?
Also a few other questions.
1. Are vx's undriveable in winter/snow/wet/slippery conditions, I've heard that TVR's are? If I buy it I will have to drive it home over about 100 miles!
2. Are VX's ok to leave outside in the cold/snow/rain etc. I have got a garage but I am thinking ahead to if I dont in the future!
3. What sort of money should a VX with this mileage be going for, I have seen a couple of lower mileage ones on VX220.org.uk for 10995!
4. What are the best tyres to get for the VX, ie. road tyres not track ones, the car will never be tracked! and how much on avaerage can you get a set for.
thanks guys, sorry about all the questions!
Also a few other questions.
1. Are vx's undriveable in winter/snow/wet/slippery conditions, I've heard that TVR's are? If I buy it I will have to drive it home over about 100 miles!
2. Are VX's ok to leave outside in the cold/snow/rain etc. I have got a garage but I am thinking ahead to if I dont in the future!
3. What sort of money should a VX with this mileage be going for, I have seen a couple of lower mileage ones on VX220.org.uk for 10995!
4. What are the best tyres to get for the VX, ie. road tyres not track ones, the car will never be tracked! and how much on avaerage can you get a set for.
thanks guys, sorry about all the questions!
The mileage shouldn't be that much of a problem as both VX engines seem to be reliable. In a lightweight car the stress on the engine isn't as great as on a normal car but obviously that depends on how it has been driven.
The VX can be tricky at this time of year but as long as you are careful you shouldn't have any problems. With the weight distribution being towards the rear then they are harder to drive in difficult conditions than a front wheel drive car but not undriveable.
Many VX owners leave their cars outside. This isn't a problem but you need to ensure that you've had a dealer modification installed in the rear engine bay to stop water getting into the spark plugs. This should be carried out under warranty by the dealer.
The price seems about right for the mileage.
Stick to Bridgestone RE040s but don't let the read go below 3mm at this time of year.
Get one with a full service history and you should be OK. Vauxhall servicing costs aren't too bad.
Oh and finally....check that the heater is working.
The VX can be tricky at this time of year but as long as you are careful you shouldn't have any problems. With the weight distribution being towards the rear then they are harder to drive in difficult conditions than a front wheel drive car but not undriveable.
Many VX owners leave their cars outside. This isn't a problem but you need to ensure that you've had a dealer modification installed in the rear engine bay to stop water getting into the spark plugs. This should be carried out under warranty by the dealer.
The price seems about right for the mileage.
Stick to Bridgestone RE040s but don't let the read go below 3mm at this time of year.
Get one with a full service history and you should be OK. Vauxhall servicing costs aren't too bad.
Oh and finally....check that the heater is working.
cheers guys, have been trying to register on the vx220.org forums but for some reason wont let me! Well at least I am armed with a bit more knowledge now.
Is there any options that the VX 'must' have in order for it to be classified as a good car. I assume leatehr seats are good? I haven't seen the car in the metal yet but am i correct in thinking that it will be a bit scuffed and worn inside and stone chips to the nose? Is there any way of telling whether its seen track work? Or is this not a worry?
cheers
Is there any options that the VX 'must' have in order for it to be classified as a good car. I assume leatehr seats are good? I haven't seen the car in the metal yet but am i correct in thinking that it will be a bit scuffed and worn inside and stone chips to the nose? Is there any way of telling whether its seen track work? Or is this not a worry?
cheers
Having owned both a TVR and a VXT they are both perfectly driveable in all conditions, it depends on your right foot...
I drove mine from Chester to Windsor the day I bought it in the pouring rain and it was absolutely fine.
Mine lives in the garage sometimes and on the drive sometimes, it doesnt leak, it doesnt have issue starting so no worries there. There is however a Vauxhall fix for water ingress in the plugs, its a metal cover underneath the mesh on the bootlid, make sure its fitted on any you look at.
Dunno about pricing on the NA, for a VXT with 20K odd you are looking at around £17K
Due to the front wheels being an odd size (certaintly on the VXT) then you really should stick with the Bridgestones. Around £400 for a set of 4 new boots.
£150 a service and the heater is crap in all of them but thats not the point...
I drove mine from Chester to Windsor the day I bought it in the pouring rain and it was absolutely fine.
Mine lives in the garage sometimes and on the drive sometimes, it doesnt leak, it doesnt have issue starting so no worries there. There is however a Vauxhall fix for water ingress in the plugs, its a metal cover underneath the mesh on the bootlid, make sure its fitted on any you look at.
Dunno about pricing on the NA, for a VXT with 20K odd you are looking at around £17K
Due to the front wheels being an odd size (certaintly on the VXT) then you really should stick with the Bridgestones. Around £400 for a set of 4 new boots.
£150 a service and the heater is crap in all of them but thats not the point...
It's very hard to say what the car should be priced at without more details - colour, age, spec?
To deal in generalities: 36k is no problem for a VX. However, it is "high" for the type of car, and you'd be able to find lower mileage cars without too much trouble. As a result, the price should reflect this.
Leather was an option on VXs, but pretty much all cars came with it specified and it's generally "expected". Once again, if a VX doesn't have it then the price should be lower than a car that does.
IIRC, the engine in the NA has a chain rather than a belt, so there's no cambelt change as such. The 3 year/36k mile service is around £150 from memory.
On to your questions:
1) No - they're perfectly drivable in the wet/snow, but you really have to be careful with the right foot. They stick like glue in the dry, and it often seems that newer owners expect it to do the same in the wet and get caught out (particularly if they're used to front wheel drive before).
2) I left mine outside, and it was fine - there may be a slight leak from the windows, but this can be fixed with the "turbo seals" (window seals from the VX turbo were changed when compared to the NA). The windows can also be adjusted to give a firmer fit. You'll find that a hard top in Winter is very useful...
3) This is a terrible time to sell VX's - as a result, the prices are lower than you might expect. Early cars from owners who *have* to sell are now being advertised in the 10-11k range, and still aren't shifting. It's not the price, but the time of year that's the problem. Hard to say how much the car you're looking at should be, as you've not listed any details.
4) There's only one set of tires for the VX in the standard size - Bridgestone Potenza (I think). They come in two speed ratings for the NA and VXT, and the VXT's tires are more expensive. Check my profile for running costs over the time I owned mine - I bought a full set of tires in the time I owned it. The price for mine is from Vauxhall - I'm sure you can get them cheaper elsewhere!
Good luck with the purchase - you won't regret it!
Dan
To deal in generalities: 36k is no problem for a VX. However, it is "high" for the type of car, and you'd be able to find lower mileage cars without too much trouble. As a result, the price should reflect this.
Leather was an option on VXs, but pretty much all cars came with it specified and it's generally "expected". Once again, if a VX doesn't have it then the price should be lower than a car that does.
IIRC, the engine in the NA has a chain rather than a belt, so there's no cambelt change as such. The 3 year/36k mile service is around £150 from memory.
On to your questions:
1) No - they're perfectly drivable in the wet/snow, but you really have to be careful with the right foot. They stick like glue in the dry, and it often seems that newer owners expect it to do the same in the wet and get caught out (particularly if they're used to front wheel drive before).
2) I left mine outside, and it was fine - there may be a slight leak from the windows, but this can be fixed with the "turbo seals" (window seals from the VX turbo were changed when compared to the NA). The windows can also be adjusted to give a firmer fit. You'll find that a hard top in Winter is very useful...
3) This is a terrible time to sell VX's - as a result, the prices are lower than you might expect. Early cars from owners who *have* to sell are now being advertised in the 10-11k range, and still aren't shifting. It's not the price, but the time of year that's the problem. Hard to say how much the car you're looking at should be, as you've not listed any details.
4) There's only one set of tires for the VX in the standard size - Bridgestone Potenza (I think). They come in two speed ratings for the NA and VXT, and the VXT's tires are more expensive. Check my profile for running costs over the time I owned mine - I bought a full set of tires in the time I owned it. The price for mine is from Vauxhall - I'm sure you can get them cheaper elsewhere!
Good luck with the purchase - you won't regret it!
Dan
I have the reg of the car if anyone knows it that would be cool to know its previous history
RF51 DFD
1 previous owner!?
Europa Blue, 36000 miles, got some bad stone chipping to the doors which I have been told will be resprayed, didn't know that doors got stone chipped!!!!?
Black leather
Thats all I know, any more info from anyone that knows the car would be appreciated
RF51 DFD
1 previous owner!?
Europa Blue, 36000 miles, got some bad stone chipping to the doors which I have been told will be resprayed, didn't know that doors got stone chipped!!!!?
Black leather
Thats all I know, any more info from anyone that knows the car would be appreciated
dank said:
Hi I.ve seen a vx220 for sale with 36k on the clock, whats peoples opinions on this? Is the mileage too high, what should I look out for with a car like this? IS there any major service work it should have had at this mileage, cambelt etc?
There aren't any major service items, annual service is around £120 - £160. There have been some recall stuff, find yourself a friendly Vauxhall dealer and they should be able to check the reg against their database to see if there's anything outstanding.
BTW, it's not a cambelt, it's a chain. Change interval is hugely higher.
dank said:
1. Are vx's undriveable in winter/snow/wet/slippery conditions, I've heard that TVR's are? If I buy it I will have to drive it home over about 100 miles!
I owned mine for three years and didn't have a problem. Drive sensibly and you won't have a problem. Take your time and learn it's limits especially if you've never driven a lightweight RWD car before.
dank said:
2. Are VX's ok to leave outside in the cold/snow/rain etc. I have got a garage but I am thinking ahead to if I dont in the future!
Mine lived outside for 3 years with only a slight leak in the heaviest rain. I bought a shower cap for it and that solved it
dank said:
3. What sort of money should a VX with this mileage be going for, I have seen a couple of lower mileage ones on VX220.org.uk for 10995!
I sold p/ex'd mine for £10k with 45k on the clock. Unless the car has racked up more than 12k to 15k per year it won't really affect the price. IMHO, it certainly won't affect the reliability.
I think you'll be very lucky to find a VX for less than £10k and be aware that prices will rise slightly as Spring approaches.
dank said:
4. What are the best tyres to get for the VX, ie. road tyres not track ones, the car will never be tracked! and how much on avaerage can you get a set for.
To keep the same brand all round, the only ones that will fit are Bridgestone RE040s.
vx220.org.uk is a mine of information. Post the registration over there and someone might know the car and be able to supply some history.
Does anyone on PH know the moderators of vx220.org.uk, no matter what computer I log in from it wont let me post any reply or start a new topic on any forum!!!!??? I have even started 2 accounts to see if that helps and it deosn't, what is going on or is it just me thats bloacked from the site 
You really shouldn't be having a problem. Are you sure you've signed in? Have you given a "proper" e-mail address? I've a feeling you've got to click a link that’s sent to you to confirm that your e-mail address is valid before it'll let you post...
Much like PH, I've never had any junk mail from or through vx220.org.uk, so you're quite safe giving them your address.
Dan
Much like PH, I've never had any junk mail from or through vx220.org.uk, so you're quite safe giving them your address.
Dan
dank said:
Does anyone on PH know the moderators of vx220.org.uk, no matter what computer I log in from it wont let me post any reply or start a new topic on any forum!!!!???
I'm a moderator
As DanL says, you need to give a "proper" email address when you register as you will be sent a verification email. In that email there will be a link you need to click in order to verify that you gave a valid address. Your "dank" username on vx220.org.uk is listed as "validating" which (I assume) means that you have yet to click on that link.
I give up! I have tried to re-register several times with different variations on my username, with valid email addresses ( home and work ) and on different computers, and it keeps coming up saying an error has occured!!! AGGGHHHHH!!! surely its not that hard to register for! What is going on?? I am very confused........I haven't received any emails to activate the account either.....
help.....
help.....
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