VX220's more reliable than and Elise?

[TaylotS2K]

I only ask as my bro-in-law has an Elise (02) plate and has had endless probs with his. His was brought from virtually new with only 4k on the clock.

[Strugs]

TaylotS2K said:

I only ask as my bro-in-law has an Elise (02) plate and has had endless probs with his. His was brought from virtually new with only 4k on the clock.

Depends what's gone wrong with the Elise.. underneath they're essentially the same car, but engine-wise quite different..

Both VX engines have seen many millions of miles service in countless hum-drum (and not so hum-drum) GM products and are in 'standard' tune, so (arguably) no extra stresses involved, and no significant problems. As an '02 Elise I'm guessing your bro-in-law might have a K-series engine?

[TaylotS2K]

Yes he does. The headgasket blew, coil pack needed replacing and he's just had a new radiator and all this after just 22,000 miles. As well as a few other minor niggles.

[pauljoecoe]

Coil pack can go on VX if water ingress shield is not fitted. Radiators certainly go on the VX (propbably not at 22K though, although its probably more age/use related not miles) and need replacing with a full alloy one...radiator replacement not cheap on VX/elise due to labour costs on remvong clam.

HG failure unlikly to happen on VX...also insurance/servicing is cheaper.

[Torquey]

You may get biased review asking in a VX forum but that is the sole reason I bought a VX over an elise.

Yes I could have afforded an elise. Oh - and the performance figures looked a little better on the VX...

[atgsambo]

Torquey said:

You may get biased review asking in a VX forum but that is the sole reason I bought a VX over an elise.

Yes I could have afforded an elise. Oh - and the performance figures looked a little better on the VX...

What this man said ^

[DanL]

Maybe, depends what you're expecting. Check my profile for my experience of running a VX, as I kept a decent amount of history. It was only 3 years old though - odds are that as they get older more things will go wrong. I understand engine mounts are a fave thing to renew.

Dan

[ahdguy]

On elise K series varients, worth paying the AA warranty which cover HGF which over a couple of years ownership is quite likely to happen, and not worth worriying about, alternatively take a chance and pay the 400-500 quid to fix it if it does (no great biggey). On the VX the week point apparently is the radiator occasionally goes (I would say comparatively much less chance than the HFG on the K), however this is a fairly straigh forward job to replace with no special tools although a specialist will charge 400-500 quid all in.

Perosnally the reason I chose the VXT was at the time a similar perfomance (0-60) elise was 25K plus for a high strung exige vs the 18K for a easily tuneable VXT (plus prefer the tubro power delivery).
However the K series is britsh engineering genius (light, innovative) and worth defending, just the implementation lets it down in some instances (mgf/landrover/lotus).

Am waffling - what was trying to say was, bottom line, drive the car you like and feels right for you, but in either case put a side £50 quid a month and dont worry about it, and that will cover just about all (un)expected eventualities for cars like these.