VX220 any good?

Author
Discussion

Umar B

Original Poster:

1,484 posts

274 months

Thursday 24th January 2002
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The company i work for has just received a Opel Speedster (vx220) and when i st down in it, it felt like it was going to fall apart in my hands, everything felt like is was made of paper, but on the plus side it had a superb driving position and took off rapidly.

I then though for the price you could buy a lot better, couldn't you?

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 24th January 2002
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I've seen one in a Dealer and no more than two on the road, over the last 2 years.

Given the choice, a Lotus has more of a sporting Heritage than Vauxhall, (which is what the VX220 is based on), so that's probably why more people have Elises and than VX220S.

Don't know how many Vauxhall have sold, would be interesting to find out.

Umar B

Original Poster:

1,484 posts

274 months

Thursday 24th January 2002
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But both these cars have 1 common fault, you can not get in or out with out looking like a you totaly p155ed! i had to literally crawll out on to the pavement!

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Thursday 24th January 2002
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I don't think they're selling very well.

olly2000

291 posts

282 months

Friday 25th January 2002
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I've only seen one vx compared to countless Elise S2s on the road - so I agree with Ted - they don't seem to be selling well. You can get out of both cars without looking drunk...it just takes practice...

ADParker

175 posts

276 months

Friday 25th January 2002
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I almost bought a special edition yellow VX220 just before Xmas. It was great fun to drive and handled brilliantly. Managed to reduce the price from £24995 to £21495 via £1k dealer discount and £2500 GM points. What put me off was that 1) there are so many for sale on the Network Q website which suggest they are just not selling, even though only 1000 are being produced per year 2) the car is just too impractical 3) the lack of enthusiasm for the car on a specialist Vauxhall web forum and 4) the Opel equivalent Speedster can be boughtfor immediate delivery for only £17995!!

domster

8,431 posts

277 months

Friday 25th January 2002
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I wouldn't buy a VX220. There are some good reasons, but I can't mention them here.

None of them are to do with superb looks, handling etc. Or to do with 'drunken' ingress/egress.

If you already have a VX220, don't worry until it goes out of warranty.

I'm trying not to sound like a naysayer, but be careful if you are thinking of one.


olly2000

291 posts

282 months

Friday 25th January 2002
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Domster,

You cannot leave us hanging like that. Please elaborate slightly more...and is this a vx only issue or should elise owners beware also ???

domster

8,431 posts

277 months

Friday 25th January 2002
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I can't elaborate on the list, but owners/prospective owners can email me at evoli@europe.com.

This affects only the VX220, not the Elise S2 AFAIK.

I believe that Lotus are aware of the problem, but it is not in the public domain.

anonymous-user

61 months

Friday 25th January 2002
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i'm sorry if this may offend anyone but i think its the fact at the end of the day, its a vauxhall.

we saw the car at the motor show and at the time my father was seriously looking at a roadster of some description. we looked a the vx220 for a long time but the fact that they had a picture of ghrff rhys-jones (in his pants ala the advert) above it somewhat put me off.

sadly it was the fact that it was a vauxhall was the underlying factor, yes it may be snobbery but i'm sure my father would hold his hands up and say that was a factor in the (non) purchase!. For the record we looked at the MR2 with the sequential box which I liked but he didnt like the appearence. In the end he settled for the Z3, reliable, good build quality and a non-leaky roof!.

adeewuff

567 posts

277 months

Friday 25th January 2002
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I'm surprised to hear that people aren't see the VX220 on the road. Down here on the south coast I've seen a fair few about and also a couple cruising around the M25.

When I went to Hethel in October Lotus seemed to be making as many VX220s as they were S2s. I find it hard to believe GM would push for the cars to be made and not sold. Maybe that reflects the European demand rather than us in the UK.

As for any people who are stuck between buying a VX220 and an Elise. I'll quote what one of the Lotus Engineers said to me when I asked him which one he would buy himself.

"That's a stupid question mate" he said while leaning back onto an blue S2.

smeagol

1,947 posts

291 months

Friday 25th January 2002
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Vaxhaul didn't do themselves any favours by using Griff-Rhys Jones in Y fronts and a stupid beard to advertise the car. I know several people that said "I'm not buying a car thats advertised by a pr@"

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

283 months

Saturday 26th January 2002
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Given the choice, a Lotus has more of a sporting Heritage than Vauxhall, (which is what the VX220 is based on), so that's probably why more people have Elises and than VX220S.

Lotus certainly has a more obvious sporting heritage but lets not discount Vauxhall's which is certainly much longer, Prince Henry, VX490 (not the Victor based one),TT Vauxhalls, Vauxhall Villiers, thru Bertha, Baby Bertha, Old Nail and myriad other Magnums, Chevette HS & HSR, need I go on? Lotus certainly had sufficient respect to use a substantially Vauxhall engine in the Europa racer whilst they developed their own slant 4.

On a personal note I remember my old Blydenstein Magnum having substantially quicker in gear acceleration than the contempory 911 (ask Autocar if you dont believe me).

Having said all of that I'd prefer the Elise if I could get into either.

anonymous-user

61 months

Saturday 26th January 2002
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I know what you mean, Vauxhall/Opel did quite well in the 80's with the Ascona & Manta 400 aswell.

Vauxhall didn't have any really high profile wins though.

Lee.

Fatboy

8,088 posts

279 months

Sunday 27th January 2002
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Vauxhall's biggest problem selling the VX220 is that having the Vauxhall badge on the front immediately associated it with the rest of their range, especially the god-awful Vectra - I bet if it had of been badged the Opel Speedster it would have sold much better?