Thursday 30th October 2003

PCOTY

Which sportster won the Car Magazine Performance Car of the Year Award?

---

Vauxhall’s VX220 Turbo has taken a top accolade, beating supercars from Aston, Porsche and Ferrari to win the Performance Car of the Year award from Car magazine.

The £25,995 Vauxhall VX220 Turbo was judged to be "a well designed, well engineered driver’s car that is guaranteed to spark a warm glow of anticipation every time you reach for the keys ," said Car.

According to Car it was also the most solid all round performer in testing in Wales. The Vauxhall sports car beat the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari’s 360 Challenge Stradale, BMW’s new Z4, the Nissan 350Z and Porsche’s 911 GT3.

CAR’s editor, Angus Mackenzie, said the VX220 won "because it fulfilled every criteria better than any other car on test ."

The introduction of the 200hp, 151mph turbo version in the spring has seen VX220 sales almost double over the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year. "This important award demonstrates vividly Vauxhall’s commitment to driving excitement and innovative design ," warbled brand manager David Pugh.

[zumbruk]

Pity they tested it in Wales. Suprised they didn't all get done by Brunstrom's Scameras.

[robert farago]

Good point.

What's the point of selling cars like the VX in the UK when there's an army of cops and a wall of cameras waiting to take your licence away at the first sniff of exhuberance?

Again, one of you guys needs to run for office.

[stevenrt]

... thats why cars like the Smart Roadster make such sense. You can drive them vigorously, have enormous fun doing so, and yet when you look at the speedometer you will still be below the speed limit!

My next car hopefully.

How about a test report Robert?

[cyberface]

stevenrt said:

... thats why cars like the Smart Roadster make such sense. You can drive them vigorously, have enormous fun doing so, and yet when you look at the speedometer you will still be below the speed limit! My next car hopefully. How about a test report Robert?

Hmmmm. My Smart convertible (not roadster) has a nasty habit of blasting between 20 and 50 mph very quickly. It's meant to be a pure city car, but it's really very easy to end up way over 30 mph when you're not trying.

I presume the Roadster is even worse with the bigger engine.

On the open road, I agree with you. But the Smart is for town and it's not slow enough to be foolproof (not that I care, more boost please!!!!!)

[mal999]

Yes it is a great car. I've had 2 elises and its what the mark 2 should have been. Replacing the weakest link - a bored out 1.4litre!
Economy is great, we're talking 200 brake and upto 40 mpg!

BUT....
1. I'm 6'3" and can't see top of speedo "sorry officer...."
2. With the seat back my head hits the rest and it's not soft. Question can't be removed?
3. The boot doesn't lock! Who designed that then?

I've heard rumours they will or have stopped making them....?

If you do buy one...and why not, then amazingly you can get good discounts, just ask!