VXT - newbie advice required
Discussion
Hi guys,
I'm on the lookout for a weekend car and really fancy a VXT as for the money, you can't get much quicker with some sort of practicality. Anyway, I test drove a 55 plate VXT last weekend at my local Vauxhall dealer and was really impressed apart from the intrusive wind noise, especially in the passenger seat. It seemed to mainly come from the wiper which was actually not working due to a broken switch. Do they all do this or was it because it hadn't retracted fully?
Any other buying information gladly welcomed
Thanks,
Mark.
I'm on the lookout for a weekend car and really fancy a VXT as for the money, you can't get much quicker with some sort of practicality. Anyway, I test drove a 55 plate VXT last weekend at my local Vauxhall dealer and was really impressed apart from the intrusive wind noise, especially in the passenger seat. It seemed to mainly come from the wiper which was actually not working due to a broken switch. Do they all do this or was it because it hadn't retracted fully?
Any other buying information gladly welcomed
Thanks,
Mark.
Wind noise isn't really something I notice in mine... so either it's something you're preternaturally sensitive to, or the car you tried had a problem.
Wind noise normally comes from the window front corner seal, if it's coming from the windscreen wiper then there should be an easy fix.
Things to check - there have been a bunch of recalls (some safety-related), so ensure they've been done. If you store it outside (like me) then you'll want it to remain dry and leak-free... so check that the windows have been adjusted to overlap the hardtop seals (window height has to be different between hard and soft tops). Mine hadn't, and the window glass didn't quite reach the hardtop seal, resulting in irritating water ingress. A properly adjusted VX220 Turbo with hardtop won't leak, I'm told.
Do the same integrity checks you would on an Elise - check for underfloor damage and anything that would suggest the car's hit a kerb at some point (like Elises, they can spin with muppets at the wheel, and a clout of the kerb can at a minimum put the geometry out, and at worst shag the suspension).
The car should be a lot more civilised than an S1 Elise - it's half way between the Elise and the Noble in my book - it should also feel proper quick on boost in 3rd gear, so if it feels average then it's either a poorly example or you're used to bikes / Caterhams / etc.
Check that the tyres are proper all round, sizes are odd and expensive so there's a chance someone would have put cheaper substitutes on which affect the handling.
Check out some of the stuff on www.vx220.org.uk - the recalls and other buyer's guide info is handy and free to read.
Wind noise normally comes from the window front corner seal, if it's coming from the windscreen wiper then there should be an easy fix.
Things to check - there have been a bunch of recalls (some safety-related), so ensure they've been done. If you store it outside (like me) then you'll want it to remain dry and leak-free... so check that the windows have been adjusted to overlap the hardtop seals (window height has to be different between hard and soft tops). Mine hadn't, and the window glass didn't quite reach the hardtop seal, resulting in irritating water ingress. A properly adjusted VX220 Turbo with hardtop won't leak, I'm told.
Do the same integrity checks you would on an Elise - check for underfloor damage and anything that would suggest the car's hit a kerb at some point (like Elises, they can spin with muppets at the wheel, and a clout of the kerb can at a minimum put the geometry out, and at worst shag the suspension).
The car should be a lot more civilised than an S1 Elise - it's half way between the Elise and the Noble in my book - it should also feel proper quick on boost in 3rd gear, so if it feels average then it's either a poorly example or you're used to bikes / Caterhams / etc.
Check that the tyres are proper all round, sizes are odd and expensive so there's a chance someone would have put cheaper substitutes on which affect the handling.
Check out some of the stuff on www.vx220.org.uk - the recalls and other buyer's guide info is handy and free to read.
Things they don't tell you:
The heater is rubbish.
The fuel tank is tiny (c.200mile range)
Every passenger will slam the doors
The roof is really quick to take on and off (although you need to get out to put it on)
The passenger seat is fixed. It doesn't slide and anything that you drop under it will have to stay there.
Nothing goes around roundabouts quite as fast.
They are very easy to lose in the wet.
You could get 40mpg out of it
But you wont.
Simon
The heater is rubbish.
The fuel tank is tiny (c.200mile range)
Every passenger will slam the doors
The roof is really quick to take on and off (although you need to get out to put it on)
The passenger seat is fixed. It doesn't slide and anything that you drop under it will have to stay there.
Nothing goes around roundabouts quite as fast.
They are very easy to lose in the wet.
You could get 40mpg out of it
But you wont.
Simon
So true - just buy it, they are fantastic. Just sold mine - no other car quite measures up to a VXT and it's an amazing track car too.
markcp said:
Hi guys,
I'm on the lookout for a weekend car and really fancy a VXT as for the money, you can't get much quicker with some sort of practicality. Anyway, I test drove a 55 plate VXT last weekend at my local Vauxhall dealer and was really impressed apart from the intrusive wind noise, especially in the passenger seat. It seemed to mainly come from the wiper which was actually not working due to a broken switch. Do they all do this or was it because it hadn't retracted fully?
Any other buying information gladly welcomed
Thanks,
Mark.
I'm on the lookout for a weekend car and really fancy a VXT as for the money, you can't get much quicker with some sort of practicality. Anyway, I test drove a 55 plate VXT last weekend at my local Vauxhall dealer and was really impressed apart from the intrusive wind noise, especially in the passenger seat. It seemed to mainly come from the wiper which was actually not working due to a broken switch. Do they all do this or was it because it hadn't retracted fully?
Any other buying information gladly welcomed
Thanks,
Mark.
You need to find out if the Dealership has a good VX technician and if so, make sure that he looks after the car and not any of the other untrained guys. You will also need to find where your nearest speacialist is, (possibly TMS in Milton Keynes).
(TMS are also an authorised Vauhall dealer, so can stamp your book).
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