Vauxhall VX220 Turbo | PH Auction Block
A different sort of open-top perfection, in timewarp condition...
Lotus, we were told last month, is open for business. It very much wants other carmakers to come to Hethel and bask in the magnificence of its experience and engineering nous. Zenos has already taken up the offer. Of course, in reality, this was always the case: often behind the scenes, it has aided other OEMs large and small get the best out of their cars, a thriving sideline that helped with Lotus’s often gloomy bottom line. And when the latter was really gloomy, it retained the flexibility to go big on partnerships.
While there are several strands to the VX220 story, this is essentially how Vauxhall’s sports car came about. Lotus needed help; GM thought there might be money in some lively old rope. Win-win. Viewed from 2026, the remarkable thing is less the part Lotus played - indeed, if someone today offered to share in the Emira’s ongoing costs, the evidence suggests Hethel would probably take their arm off - and more Vauxhall’s role. Perhaps it is trite to say that today’s iteration of the firm would be more likely to build a moon rocket than a lightweight sports car - but that doesn’t make it less true.
The Vauxhall that introduced the VX220 at the turn of the century was a very different beast. Though on a downward trajectory (2000 was also the year it announced that Luton would cease building passenger cars), it still had easily enough skin in the game to think it could make a showroom success of a car that was very, very different to say, an Agila. Or a Signum. And it still had sufficient development muscle to decree that its version of the VX220 would feature a 2.2-litre Ecotec motor.
As ever with these things - it was obviously a facet of Elise ownership, too - some people thought the resulting model was very nice, but lacking in the kind of straight-line performance that would truly befit its striking looks. Thus the turbocharged Z20LET 2.0-litre engine, the same 200hp unit that featured in a host of fast Astras, was installed in a car that weighed less than a metric tonne. Suddenly the VX220 was capable of 0-62mph in under five seconds and a top speed of 150mph.
This arguably made the Turbo the one to have, though it was not automatically guaranteed the sort of lifetime TLC that so many Elises seem to earn. We’ve no doubt Vauxhall owners drove their cars with just as much brio - but when it came to regular maintenance, of precisely the sort that a fairly highly-strung British sports car needs - they were often found wanting, which means that all too many VX220s have descended to the point where they present more as bargain basement track nail than cherished open-top modern classic.
Which does make this one different. For one thing, it’s only covered 4,423 miles, which is impressively low for a two-decade life span. But it has not sat about unused or unloved; it has just spent a lot of time in a climate-controlled environment, and then been used sparingly and with what seems like great care. Even better, its previous owners have gone above and beyond with the mechanical upkeep, and it is only being sold now via PH auctions as part of an estate. Thus it is that rare thing: a late-model VX220 Turbo in the near-perfect condition its outlier reputation deserves. If you’ve ever considered it an itch to scratch, bidding kicks off next Monday.
These do seem like incredible value and I would guess their more softer approach makes them a bit more appealing than the more hardcore Elise.
I don't generally like turbo cars but this had tremendous shunt, which as somebody noted above is not the best in a lightweight rear weighted car!
But by god was it fun, fantastic steering feel and it came as standard with carpets, airbag and even electric windows (not sure about that last part) unlike the Elise which were all extras.
What put me off was reading the owners forums.
Apparently Vauxhall had set up 75 Vauxhall dealerships who were specialised in taking care of the car/VX brand with servicing and any issues but by God was it a total s**t-show of clueless dealerships who had no idea or next to no training about the car. I learnt then about "Marketing BS" and how it pervades every strata of an economy nowadays.
Still looks cool though.
I always thought it a tragedy they were never built in RHD.
See also "Saturn Sky" which was essentially the same car.
As for the VX220, really liked these too, especially the exhaust, reminds me of an 'over and under' shot gun
I don't generally like turbo cars but this had tremendous shunt, which as somebody noted above is not the best in a lightweight rear weighted car!
But by god was it fun, fantastic steering feel and it came as standard with carpets, airbag and even electric windows (not sure about that last part) unlike the Elise which were all extras.
What put me off was reading the owners forums.
Apparently Vauxhall had set up 75 Vauxhall dealerships who were specialised in taking care of the car/VX brand with servicing and any issues but by God was it a total s**t-show of clueless dealerships who had no idea or next to no training about the car. I learnt then about "Marketing BS" and how it pervades every strata of an economy nowadays.
Still looks cool though.
Owners were only ever going to use the Vauxhall network until the brief warranty period ran out. Given the 2.2 and 2.0 engines were vauxhall out of the box nothing really needed doing
Pretty basic cars to work on anyway!
It had a nice Turbo for back then, the fastest spooling Turbo I had till that day, but those were older.
pro, it felt rapid, fast spooling Turbo (for what I know back then) good steering, but not from 'neutral' position when not driving fast, then you had to push it a bit to get it out the middle, but maybe a better set up (wheel toe) could helpt that?
also when I wanted to park it backwards into my garage which stands next to the sidewalk in a not so wide street... I discovered ships... I had to do all movements twice to get it in and then there must not be a car parked in front of the garage/road...
so looked it up cause I thought huh? such short car... came out that turning circle is 11.6 meters, while all my say easy but a bit longer Z3 cars were between 10.4 (non M) and 10.6 meters M Z3 cars, those are easy for my garage.
so, that and the slow return from the gaspedal (rpm when letting the pedal go) for environment reasons grrrr that was very irritating, I decided after a few months, I sell it.
but a nice car, many people thought it was something Italian they did not see it even when there was a Opel badge on hahah, they never seen such sort Opel.
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