Elise to VX220T?
Discussion
Hi guys
I have owned my S1 Elise for a while now and love it to bits but I'm really in need of a bit more power. i also want to use to do around 10k miles a year so son't really fancy a quick S1. The prices of VXT's are looking pretty attractive at the moment so i was wondering if anyone here has changed an S1 elise for a VXT.
If so can you offer any comparisons? Obviously i'm expecting a big jump in performance, but is it any more comfortable to use everyday? I'm hoping the servicing will be a bit less too! I'm going to try and find one and have a go this weekend i think.
Please help me loose my badge snobbery!
Ben.
I have owned my S1 Elise for a while now and love it to bits but I'm really in need of a bit more power. i also want to use to do around 10k miles a year so son't really fancy a quick S1. The prices of VXT's are looking pretty attractive at the moment so i was wondering if anyone here has changed an S1 elise for a VXT.
If so can you offer any comparisons? Obviously i'm expecting a big jump in performance, but is it any more comfortable to use everyday? I'm hoping the servicing will be a bit less too! I'm going to try and find one and have a go this weekend i think.
Please help me loose my badge snobbery!
Ben.
I have never been in an S1 but I have heard that the suspension on the VXT is softer then the N/A and S1, not sure about S2. I used to drive my VXT 70 miles a day with no problems.
As for servicing, normal service is around 150-200, 40k service is around 400-500 (cambelt change)
Your be more then welcome to post on the vx220.org.
If your local to anyone im sure they wouldnt mind letting you have a look or give you a passenger ride.
cheers
Joe
As for servicing, normal service is around 150-200, 40k service is around 400-500 (cambelt change)
Your be more then welcome to post on the vx220.org.
If your local to anyone im sure they wouldnt mind letting you have a look or give you a passenger ride.
cheers
Joe
If you're still here.... I had a B&C Super 160 S1 Elise, and now have a VXT.
Let's put it this way - I absolutely love the VXT, but simply couldn't live with the S1's rawness and faults.
30 miles in the S1 nearly killed me, whereas 450 miles in one day in the VXT is a breeze. The S1 was far too loud, bloody uncomfortable, unreliable and I utterly hated the K series engine. Mine is not the best example to compare with, since it had some stupid exhaust and a cone airfilter, along with a carbon fibre unlined hardtop that resonated all the noise in the cabin.
It handled brilliantly (as expected) but was a one-trick-pony - must have been someone's track slag before I bought it. Funnily enough I tried a bog-standard S1 at B&C before choosing the 160, and dismissed the standard car due to the intense lack of power, anodyne engine note, desperate brakes and pudding-basin gearshift. My M100 Elan was faster in a straight line! (yeah I know Elises aren't about straight lines... but I like a bit of push)
So you can conclude I bought the wrong Elise. However I never forgot the sublime handling, and after finding a Noble a bit too expensive to run I came across the idea of a VXT...
Basically the VXT is more like the S2 Elise than the S1 Elise. There's more soundproofing, the steering wheel has an airbag, the build quality is better (2 QA processes were performed on each VX compared to one on each Elise), but the biggest difference is in the handling.
Basically the Elise is mid-engined and feels it. Neutral and the S1 can be a tad snappy. Standard S2s have narrower front rubber to induce understeer and reduce the number of stacked cars. The VXT has an iron-block Z20LET engine in the back and this moves the weight distribution backwards - it drives more like a 911 with that rear-drive feel and traction out of bends. The turbo torque is more Noble-like than Elise-like - most fast Elises have no torque but loads of high-rev power.
So assuming no badge snobbery, the decision comes down to whether you like mid-engine or rear-engine handling, and whether you like high-rev-screamer or turbo-torque engines. Simple as that. I went for the VXT and love it, you may prefer otherwise. TRY THEM BOTH!!!!
Let's put it this way - I absolutely love the VXT, but simply couldn't live with the S1's rawness and faults.
30 miles in the S1 nearly killed me, whereas 450 miles in one day in the VXT is a breeze. The S1 was far too loud, bloody uncomfortable, unreliable and I utterly hated the K series engine. Mine is not the best example to compare with, since it had some stupid exhaust and a cone airfilter, along with a carbon fibre unlined hardtop that resonated all the noise in the cabin.
It handled brilliantly (as expected) but was a one-trick-pony - must have been someone's track slag before I bought it. Funnily enough I tried a bog-standard S1 at B&C before choosing the 160, and dismissed the standard car due to the intense lack of power, anodyne engine note, desperate brakes and pudding-basin gearshift. My M100 Elan was faster in a straight line! (yeah I know Elises aren't about straight lines... but I like a bit of push)
So you can conclude I bought the wrong Elise. However I never forgot the sublime handling, and after finding a Noble a bit too expensive to run I came across the idea of a VXT...
Basically the VXT is more like the S2 Elise than the S1 Elise. There's more soundproofing, the steering wheel has an airbag, the build quality is better (2 QA processes were performed on each VX compared to one on each Elise), but the biggest difference is in the handling.
Basically the Elise is mid-engined and feels it. Neutral and the S1 can be a tad snappy. Standard S2s have narrower front rubber to induce understeer and reduce the number of stacked cars. The VXT has an iron-block Z20LET engine in the back and this moves the weight distribution backwards - it drives more like a 911 with that rear-drive feel and traction out of bends. The turbo torque is more Noble-like than Elise-like - most fast Elises have no torque but loads of high-rev power.
So assuming no badge snobbery, the decision comes down to whether you like mid-engine or rear-engine handling, and whether you like high-rev-screamer or turbo-torque engines. Simple as that. I went for the VXT and love it, you may prefer otherwise. TRY THEM BOTH!!!!
I've not had the Elise experience but had a VX220 NA and drove it every day plus about 5 big european trips covered 44k in nearly 4 yrs - traded up to VXT. The base model is quite a bit more powerful and a bit more refined than the NA. I have done nearly 20k in it and about 12k in 3 big euro trips last year including the Furball5000. I've done 1000km in a day and still been happy to get back in her the next day and do another full day so that should tell you something. I have had some improvements on mine including VXR upgraded turbo, VXR full miltek exhaust, pre cat removed, ecu remap stage 2 + by TMS, uprated break discs and pads. Go for it!
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