Living with a VX220 everyday.

[NightDriver]

Hi Guys,

Due to a bit of a change in circumstances (got a proper job instead of working for myself ) means I'm looking for something a bit fun which I can also use to commute.
At the moment I have a BMW 3series diesel which is nice and practical and great for the high mileage I did but its not really want I would call fun .

So, with a daily commute of 15 miles would a VX be a suitable choice?? What are the servicing intervals and costs like and are there any real reliability issues? I'm sure it would be an fantastic car for the summer but not sure how it would handle those cold, dark winters evenings which are fast approaching.

I've been looking at 03/04 turbos if that makes any difference.

Any input/advice/reccomendations would be greatly received!

Cheers

[Silent1]

I've got an N/A and i do 50 miles a day in it, it's really easy to use every day because the engine is really unstressed, in the rain you just have to be sensible and be prepared for the heater to not be great in the depths of winter.

As for a Turbo, i'm sure cyberface will be able to give you a good run down as he uses his a lot in all weathers

[vxsmithers]

15 miles a day is nothing in a vx - you'll probably take the long route home.

I've used my turbo as a daily ride for the last year - 80 mile round trip a day with no problems except the usual vx niggles. I now have a shed as I found it less enjoyable as a daily ride for an hour and a half in each direction in rubbish traffic - ruins the enjoyment when you just plod in traffic for me

I've done 12k in a year, and the only main things to happen have been a burst rad, (within the first 1k miles) and broken engine mounts at 23k miles. both anticipated problems on the vx and the mounts are cheap to fix.... the rad was about £600 all in.

cheap as chips to run really for the performance you get - £150 for a service and about £400 for the 3 year service from memory. it drinks less fuel than any hot hatch i have owned as well - golf gti, 205 gti, R5 GTT, Type R...

just be careful with tyres with anything less than 3mm in the winter as they can bite you hard - very easy to write one off due to the price of clams and light clusters

see vx220.org for all the niggles and warmth issues youll have!

[Joe-turbo]

As the other guys have said, The vx is more then practical enough for a 15 mile commute.

I also used to do 70 miles a day for a year an a half an gotta agree thats the car can cope with it no problem but when your in it for that period of time EVERYDAY the little niggles an stuff start to annoy and you start to lose the love.

I now have it as a weekend toy and totaly enjoy every minuite out in it.

would be an idea to mention where about your from as owners are normally happy enough to take newbies out for a quick spin/chat

[NightDriver]

Thats exacltly what I was hoping to hear! I'm not too bothered with a bit of discomfort in the winter, I used to drive a track prepared mk1 fiesta as my everyday car so I learnt to without the luxery's.

I'm still no sure whether to go turbo or N/A... My brain says get an N/A first as it will be cheaper and the insurance wont too bad, however my heart still says get a turbo! I'm going to have test drive in both in the next couple weeks and go from their I think.

I'm going to be living just outside Woking in Surrey, so to any owners round there

[Silent1]

All the boocks that you hear about the N/A being a better ride is exactly that, boocks

I've got an N/A and drove a turbo yesterday and TBH both me and the turbo owner couldn't sense any real difference

[p4cks]

The turbo suspension is softer and the car is heavier, course there's a difference.

[wmg100]

p4cks said:

The turbo suspension is softer and the car is heavier, course there's a difference.

+ the tubby is slower around a track, and there are some cheap performance upgrades for the na now.

[Silent1]

Not a perceptible difference, unless you're on the ragged edge and then it'll only be on track, where they batter you out of the corners.

Yes i have an N/A

[tangerine_sedge]

Silent1 said:

All the boocks that you hear about the N/A being a better ride is exactly that, boocks

I've got an N/A and drove a turbo yesterday and TBH both me and the turbo owner couldn't sense any real difference

That's because you don't know how to drive it properly (wheres the toungue in cheek smiley?)

Personally I've never driven a Turbo, but come the annual newbie slaying season, I'm sure it's normally turbos not NAs being written off?

I think for 9/10s road driving, then the difference is negligible. Although the turbo obviously has more straight line grunt.

[Silent1]

tangerine_sedge said:

Silent1 said:

All the boocks that you hear about the N/A being a better ride is exactly that, boocks

I've got an N/A and drove a turbo yesterday and TBH both me and the turbo owner couldn't sense any real difference

That's because you don't know how to drive it properly (wheres the toungue in cheek smiley?)

Personally I've never driven a Turbo, but come the annual newbie slaying season, I'm sure it's normally turbos not NAs being written off?

I think for 9/10s road driving, then the difference is negligible. Although the turbo obviously has more straight line grunt.

Rich coming from the man who hasn't driven one

I'd put the crashes down to the extra power and the boost spike causing some proper wheelspin action leading to a tank slapper, whereas in an N/A you have to be driving like a proper tit to not be able to catch it when it steps out.

[stevenandalex]

I have owned na and vxt and I would rather use a vxt as a daily driver. It is worth finding one with central locking, as this saves alot of trying to find the hole at night (oh er misses) The ride on the vxt is alot smoother although with a set of niton's you can have what ever ride/handling balance you want. Check out wwwvx220.org.uk for cars for sale and useful info or type116.com for less tms biased answers to tuning questions.

[crackthatoff]

get a lotus ! waaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :runs for cover:

[Rosso Rebel]

crackthatoff said:

get a lotus ! waaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :runs for cover:

No don't, the VX is much better as a daily drive

Personally i'm more than happy with the turbo as it's just as happy on the motorway as the twisties - perfect for a daily drive!

[Denno B]

Turbo's much quicker,nitron suspension will sort out the handling.As been said n/a is the better handling car as standard,not enough grunt after 60mph in my opinion though.Vxt obviously easier to live with as an everyday drive due to the softer suspension.

[simonrockman]

I did 140 miles a day for a year or so, then work moved and I did 90 miles a day. It was fine, often fun. Hmm 10 points of fun.

Now my usual way to commute to work is an MD81 or the tube depending on which office so the car sits at home doing nothing.

I was expecting to trade it in for something dull but if you are interested mail me. 03 VXT, 40k miles.

http://www.auto-journals.com/content/vx220t1.html

Simon