Has anyone tried the VX220?
Discussion
My name is Rick and I am a TVR driver! Having got that out the way, I've test driven both the Elise and the VX220 (the VX today) and as Adrian G says, they don't compare.
With the Elise I very quickly decided I couldn't live with its peaky power delivery, and the harshness of the engine when it gets anywhere close to delivering any power (ie anywhere above 3500 RPM).
By comparison, the 2.2 vauxhall unit is a delight, having reasonably good low down torque and still giving an increasing surge when you floor it. It has the ability to provide huge amounts of fun, but also has the tractability to be driven lazily in a high gear without the need for constant changes. Absolute night and day compared to the Elise. The brakes are also a big improvement and don't require you to put your foot through the floor to stop quickly! In terms of handling both were excellent, but as I drove them on different roads in different conditions I could not judge between them.
I sensed frustration from the Vauxhall salesman who said "everyone who drives the VX says it is a better car than the Lotus, but they still go away and buy an Elise for the badge"
He's right. If the VX had a Lotus badge (or even perhaps an Opel badge), it would be a winner. Despite that, the VX attracted more attention on the road than any TVR or Lotus - nobody knows what it is.
Incidentally I also drove an Audi TT 225 Roadster today, but I suspect readers of this column are more interested in Sports cars - 'nuff said!
>> Edited by rick.e on Saturday 20th April 17:52
>> Edited by rick.e on Sunday 21st April 12:27
With the Elise I very quickly decided I couldn't live with its peaky power delivery, and the harshness of the engine when it gets anywhere close to delivering any power (ie anywhere above 3500 RPM).
By comparison, the 2.2 vauxhall unit is a delight, having reasonably good low down torque and still giving an increasing surge when you floor it. It has the ability to provide huge amounts of fun, but also has the tractability to be driven lazily in a high gear without the need for constant changes. Absolute night and day compared to the Elise. The brakes are also a big improvement and don't require you to put your foot through the floor to stop quickly! In terms of handling both were excellent, but as I drove them on different roads in different conditions I could not judge between them.
I sensed frustration from the Vauxhall salesman who said "everyone who drives the VX says it is a better car than the Lotus, but they still go away and buy an Elise for the badge"
He's right. If the VX had a Lotus badge (or even perhaps an Opel badge), it would be a winner. Despite that, the VX attracted more attention on the road than any TVR or Lotus - nobody knows what it is.
Incidentally I also drove an Audi TT 225 Roadster today, but I suspect readers of this column are more interested in Sports cars - 'nuff said!
>> Edited by rick.e on Saturday 20th April 17:52
>> Edited by rick.e on Sunday 21st April 12:27
i agree, its badge snobbery and i dont know why they did not sell it has a Opel?
It was quite good fun (not as raw as the elise - not always bad at 7:20 when driving to work) and it has abs...
The Vx would have been a lot easier to live with and i was quite tempted by it (i use my elise as an only car...), in the end the deprication was the main thing which put me off.
Looks wise (i will get flamed for this) i liked it, deffinately prefered it to the S2 (personal taste, i found it a lot more aggressive looking).
In the end i got a S1 (saved myself a few quid and i actually prefer its shape
I do end up wondering why so many Elise owners slag it off tho.
It was quite good fun (not as raw as the elise - not always bad at 7:20 when driving to work) and it has abs...
The Vx would have been a lot easier to live with and i was quite tempted by it (i use my elise as an only car...), in the end the deprication was the main thing which put me off.
Looks wise (i will get flamed for this) i liked it, deffinately prefered it to the S2 (personal taste, i found it a lot more aggressive looking).
In the end i got a S1 (saved myself a few quid and i actually prefer its shape
I do end up wondering why so many Elise owners slag it off tho.
Sjp,
Far from flaming you I agree with you about the shape. It seems to be a more evolved version of the S1 and if anything looks more 'solid' and robust. I would even go to say it has more road presence than the Elise S2.
I wouldn't say existing Elise buyers slag it off, I just think it has a bit if an image problem. Buyers view the sports car marque as important as the car itself, even the people at the Lotus factory didn't seem too interested in it and if anything dismissed it as a contender to their Elise!
It is badge snobbery and I for one try not to do it (although if Skoda ever did a sports car) however when the VX220 stops production and becomes a classic it will always be remembered as a Lotus.
Far from flaming you I agree with you about the shape. It seems to be a more evolved version of the S1 and if anything looks more 'solid' and robust. I would even go to say it has more road presence than the Elise S2.
I wouldn't say existing Elise buyers slag it off, I just think it has a bit if an image problem. Buyers view the sports car marque as important as the car itself, even the people at the Lotus factory didn't seem too interested in it and if anything dismissed it as a contender to their Elise!
It is badge snobbery and I for one try not to do it (although if Skoda ever did a sports car) however when the VX220 stops production and becomes a classic it will always be remembered as a Lotus.
Personally I think the VX220 was stuffed the moment they put a Vauxhall badge on it and then conducted that cretinous advertising campaign featuring Griff Rhys Jones.
As has already been said, if they'd put an Opel badge on it then things might have been a lot different.
Badge snobbery, perhaps. But come on, a Vauxhall?
As has already been said, if they'd put an Opel badge on it then things might have been a lot different.
Badge snobbery, perhaps. But come on, a Vauxhall?
IMHO the Elise S2 shape is far superior than the VX220. Don't get me wrong, I like the VX220 alot, but the styling of the S2 with its agressive front and Ferrari esque bum to me its the winner.
As far as badge snobbery goes, I would have to agree that I wouldn't have been able to part with £26K for a Vauxhall :-)
Stupid I know.
As far as badge snobbery goes, I would have to agree that I wouldn't have been able to part with £26K for a Vauxhall :-)
Stupid I know.
As some will know, I have a Elise S2. I considered a VX220, and tried to get a test drive, but at the time, found salesman unable to get their paws on one. I think the VX220 is a fine car. The badge is the biggest problem. It's why Vauxhall haven't sold nearly as many as they'd hoped, and are now doing them with 0% finance to shift them before they launch a Turbo version. I've seen them at a car supermarket (can't remember which one - advertises in Autocar) for £18999 new. Which is one hell of a whack off the list price!
Well, I must admit that badge is important to me... And I don't feel bad or shallow because of it.
It's not to the extent where I would buy somthing obviosly crap, but it's probably one of the more important things in my descision on what sports car to buy.
The history of the company, the car, and the people that make up the community _are_ very important to me, and it's what really motivates me to buy what would otherwise be just another cool looking little sports car.
I haven't got an Elise yet (I'm 16% of the way there), and I still plan test driving a whole range of cars, but I must say that it's pretty much a case of driving somthing else just to know how they compare. I'm sold already.
It's not to the extent where I would buy somthing obviosly crap, but it's probably one of the more important things in my descision on what sports car to buy.
The history of the company, the car, and the people that make up the community _are_ very important to me, and it's what really motivates me to buy what would otherwise be just another cool looking little sports car.
I haven't got an Elise yet (I'm 16% of the way there), and I still plan test driving a whole range of cars, but I must say that it's pretty much a case of driving somthing else just to know how they compare. I'm sold already.
quote:
I've seen them at a car supermarket (can't remember which one - advertises in Autocar) for £18999 new. Which is one hell of a whack off the list price!
That place is trade sales (i work there
) we have 4 in all and they have taken along time to sell, they are badged as opels a look much better from the front the the UK v-grill. >> Edited by Umar B on Tuesday 23 April 17:26
quote:
seen a VX220 for 16K already.....will give it 2 years or so then will buy one too!
12K sounds about right. Then I might just have one. There again...I'd have an Elise (1) at 8K sometime soon and it'd do the same job..perfect for the track and if you stuff it the car you go to work in is still just fine...etc etc
Hi everyone,
I won an Opel speedster (VX220) in France last year and I had a lot of fun to drive it (much more than my bmw Z3...). I think it's a very good car to drive but it's very bad quality. I think worse than an Elise...
Mine came with all options (worth more than 25K...) I kept it for 4 months only and It was really difficult to sell (I sold it for 17K...) because nobody knows it and those who like it don't like the brand (Opel is very bad in France...) I think the best way to sell it is the german market : they like Opel and they are crazy for this car !
Last February I won a Lotus Elise S2 (still by playing video games
.../ I ordered last week - Silver one) But I never saw any Elise S2 and I hope it's not that bad to drive compare to the Opel Speedster....
I will have my Elise S2 at the end of the year. I hope I did the right choice (I hesitated with selling it and buying a Boxster...)
Bye.
I won an Opel speedster (VX220) in France last year and I had a lot of fun to drive it (much more than my bmw Z3...). I think it's a very good car to drive but it's very bad quality. I think worse than an Elise...
Mine came with all options (worth more than 25K...) I kept it for 4 months only and It was really difficult to sell (I sold it for 17K...) because nobody knows it and those who like it don't like the brand (Opel is very bad in France...) I think the best way to sell it is the german market : they like Opel and they are crazy for this car !
Last February I won a Lotus Elise S2 (still by playing video games
.../ I ordered last week - Silver one) But I never saw any Elise S2 and I hope it's not that bad to drive compare to the Opel Speedster.... I will have my Elise S2 at the end of the year. I hope I did the right choice (I hesitated with selling it and buying a Boxster...)
Bye.
RIGHT, c-y GAMER, won by your imagination ????? or something. Indeed, I have just recently handed in my notice and now spend my days sat in front of the playstation with the curtains drawn and Dominos on speed dial – unfortunately all I seem to have gained so far is an X tattooed on my right thumb and cataracts...however, I do have the advantage of telling the insurance company that I am co-habiting with Lara Croft.
This is going off topic, but you can (if you are good) make a reasonable living being a "professional" gamer.
Korea and the US have quite large cash prizes up for grabs.
Please remember how good a pro gamer really is, the odd game of counterstrike does not count.
They sprnd 12-14 hours praticising each day, and there is a lot of skill involved
Having said that, i was not super great, and my total winning amounted to about £500.
Korea and the US have quite large cash prizes up for grabs.
Please remember how good a pro gamer really is, the odd game of counterstrike does not count.
They sprnd 12-14 hours praticising each day, and there is a lot of skill involved
Having said that, i was not super great, and my total winning amounted to about £500.
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