Are VX220 owners welcome in the Elise forum?
Discussion
Yep... Tho doubtless you'll be forced to admit elises are better than vxs at some point.
Also try www.seloc.org. Bit of ribbing there for vx owners too... But then again, it no worse fir you guys than it is for s2 elise owners
Also try www.seloc.org. Bit of ribbing there for vx owners too... But then again, it no worse fir you guys than it is for s2 elise owners
Thats great, I was put off the vx220 forum as the 1st page of discussion topics seems to be kids discussing how super hard VX's are to drive in the wet and spinning them into walls is normal at 20mph. This also needed translation from "text speak" as well. 
I put a deposit down on a 2002 VX220 n/a 42,000miles full service history etc and it all looked very good I collect it on wednesday
I put a deposit down on a 2002 VX220 n/a 42,000miles full service history etc and it all looked very good
I collect it on wednesday SeanyD said:
As far as I'm concerned yes, we're all related after all. Always a bit banter over which is best etc, but mostly just harmless fun.
I always flash/wavey vx's out there on the road too, always a welcome sight.
+1 - Lots of Opel's version in Europe too, so always wave. I always flash/wavey vx's out there on the road too, always a welcome sight.
Nice to have you on board !
Herman Toothrot said:
Thats great, I was put off the vx220 forum as the 1st page of discussion topics seems to be kids discussing how super hard VX's are to drive in the wet and spinning them into walls is normal at 20mph. This also needed translation from "text speak" as well.
I put a deposit down on a 2002 VX220 n/a 42,000miles full service history etc and it all looked very good I collect it on wednesday
Try www.type116.com it's the grumpy old man's vx forum.I put a deposit down on a 2002 VX220 n/a 42,000miles full service history etc and it all looked very good
I collect it on wednesday 
Well I'm still here...
They're all the same car IMO, just different engines, different suspension settings, different clams and, in the case of the VX220s, different badges.
I absolutely loved my VXT and still claim that, even though I'm now fortunate enough to own an Exige S. Certainly won't ever look back in derision, it was a great car. There are aspects to the Exige where I still think 'I wish it was more like the VXT' - all of them to do with the engine, incidentally
Try the Lotus on Track club as well. Yes, there was that incident with the VXs being made unwelcome in the series, but that allegedly had less to do with the cars than with the teams. And given that Chris Randall is doing rather well in the LoT series in a rebadged VX220 turbo (aka Lotus Europa), it's not an issue with the turbo engine having too much torque (unless Randy gets banned!!!)
I've seen plenty of VXs turn up on LoT track days, and I haven't noticed any 'them and us' mentality in the paddock. There are a few 'comedians' who will stir the pot online, and fewer cocks who actually believe the BS that is written and take it too seriously (on both sides, leading to nastiness), but out in the real world with real cars and real people, I've only really ever experienced friendliness. This means > 80% of Lotus drivers waving at my VXT on the road, which is around the same hit rate I get now I've got a similarly bright yellow Exige.
Best bet is to listen to those who have owned both Lotus and Vauxhall variants of the Elise - at the end of the day, they are the same car and in my weird world, choice comes down to engine delivery / character, spec, shape / colour, and tuneability / maintainability / reliability. All other factors (all cars being Elises) can be modified - you can give a VX220 the same tyre sizes and suspension settings as an Exige and it will perform similarly, for example.
For most other people, cost, exclusivity and the dreaded 'badge' come into play too - each to their own, and if decisions based on 'taste' were subject to objective absolute judgement then the world would be a very boring place
Incidentally, the downsides to the VX220 aren't what you'd expect... virtually all of the misinformation spouted off about VXs (like how heavy they are, how soft, how they don't handle, etc.) is largely garbage these days now that Lotus' flagship aggressive variant actually weighs more than the VXT (with the legendary 'boat iron' engine). You can get a VXT handling very well by changing the settings to Lotus spec. And most Lotus-badged cars don't handle to their potential because the settings are all over the place from the factory (hence the recommendations to 'do the geo'). The big problems with the VXs these days stem from how rare they are, and because bodywork isn't made for them any more. Little things like light clusters cost a fortune, and if you have the misfortune to crack a clam, then you can be off the road for months or written off
Anyway I think they're great, don't let the haters put you off. If you prefer torquey engines to revvy screamers, and want something a bit different, then you'll enjoy the VX220 (largely because the engines were so much better - and I risk getting a flaming from the K series fans here...). And if you need a set of Turbo wheels or a virtually unused soft-top, email me as I've got them for sale in the classifieds (sorry for the plug)
They're all the same car IMO, just different engines, different suspension settings, different clams and, in the case of the VX220s, different badges.
I absolutely loved my VXT and still claim that, even though I'm now fortunate enough to own an Exige S. Certainly won't ever look back in derision, it was a great car. There are aspects to the Exige where I still think 'I wish it was more like the VXT' - all of them to do with the engine, incidentally
Try the Lotus on Track club as well. Yes, there was that incident with the VXs being made unwelcome in the series, but that allegedly had less to do with the cars than with the teams. And given that Chris Randall is doing rather well in the LoT series in a rebadged VX220 turbo (aka Lotus Europa), it's not an issue with the turbo engine having too much torque (unless Randy gets banned!!!)
I've seen plenty of VXs turn up on LoT track days, and I haven't noticed any 'them and us' mentality in the paddock. There are a few 'comedians' who will stir the pot online, and fewer cocks who actually believe the BS that is written and take it too seriously (on both sides, leading to nastiness), but out in the real world with real cars and real people, I've only really ever experienced friendliness. This means > 80% of Lotus drivers waving at my VXT on the road, which is around the same hit rate I get now I've got a similarly bright yellow Exige.
Best bet is to listen to those who have owned both Lotus and Vauxhall variants of the Elise - at the end of the day, they are the same car and in my weird world, choice comes down to engine delivery / character, spec, shape / colour, and tuneability / maintainability / reliability. All other factors (all cars being Elises) can be modified - you can give a VX220 the same tyre sizes and suspension settings as an Exige and it will perform similarly, for example.
For most other people, cost, exclusivity and the dreaded 'badge' come into play too - each to their own, and if decisions based on 'taste' were subject to objective absolute judgement then the world would be a very boring place
Incidentally, the downsides to the VX220 aren't what you'd expect... virtually all of the misinformation spouted off about VXs (like how heavy they are, how soft, how they don't handle, etc.) is largely garbage these days now that Lotus' flagship aggressive variant actually weighs more than the VXT (with the legendary 'boat iron' engine). You can get a VXT handling very well by changing the settings to Lotus spec. And most Lotus-badged cars don't handle to their potential because the settings are all over the place from the factory (hence the recommendations to 'do the geo'). The big problems with the VXs these days stem from how rare they are, and because bodywork isn't made for them any more. Little things like light clusters cost a fortune, and if you have the misfortune to crack a clam, then you can be off the road for months or written off
Anyway I think they're great, don't let the haters put you off. If you prefer torquey engines to revvy screamers, and want something a bit different, then you'll enjoy the VX220 (largely because the engines were so much better - and I risk getting a flaming from the K series fans here...). And if you need a set of Turbo wheels or a virtually unused soft-top, email me as I've got them for sale in the classifieds (sorry for the plug)
Herman Toothrot said:
Thats great, I was put off the vx220 forum as the 1st page of discussion topics seems to be kids discussing how super hard VX's are to drive in the wet and spinning them into walls is normal at 20mph. This also needed translation from "text speak" as well.
I put a deposit down on a 2002 VX220 n/a 42,000miles full service history etc and it all looked very good I collect it on wednesday
I guess you mean the VX220 ORG Website. There have been some classic entertaining threads on their website. From the hunt for the guy who filmed himself speeding on you tube, which subsequently got published in the Sun newspaper and the total dismay of the VX forum community. The VXR-16 thread was classic. It was to forums, what the 6th sense was for cinema. I put a deposit down on a 2002 VX220 n/a 42,000miles full service history etc and it all looked very good
I collect it on wednesday Generally they are a good honest bunch that do not suffer fools gladly, yes see the replies to the guy who reportedly wrote off his VX slipping on Horse crap going through a wall up hill backwards, when only doing 20mph. Me Loti woda done it @ 10mph m8.
I do not see why someone that owns a VX cannot join a Lotus forum. At the end of the day the VXNA is more of a Lotus than an Elise.
All very good then, I'll take a look at the Elise forums
From my research it seemed that all that separated the VX from the Elise was a badge, more reliable engine, silly wheels and the price. Not being a badge snob and being happy to buy a different set of wheels it seemed daft to go for anything in my budget other than a VX
Tell me, why is it such a problem if you crack a clam? Is it not just like any other GRP that a bit of resin and know how can fix? Over the years i've seen many a chavs body kit get obliterated by a speed bump only to reappear a week later looking like new after a bit of resin application, smoothing and repainting. Obviously a big crash could be a problem but just cracks from muppets reversing into them etc is easily fixed?
From my research it seemed that all that separated the VX from the Elise was a badge, more reliable engine, silly wheels and the price. Not being a badge snob and being happy to buy a different set of wheels it seemed daft to go for anything in my budget other than a VX
Tell me, why is it such a problem if you crack a clam? Is it not just like any other GRP that a bit of resin and know how can fix? Over the years i've seen many a chavs body kit get obliterated by a speed bump only to reappear a week later looking like new after a bit of resin application, smoothing and repainting. Obviously a big crash could be a problem but just cracks from muppets reversing into them etc is easily fixed?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
just checking you know about the VX forum.......
just checking you know about the VX forum.......
bencollins said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
just checking you know about the VX forum.......
Its all "VX" vauxhalls though just checking you know about the VX forum.......
Astras etcHerman Toothrot said:
Not being a badge snob
Tell me, why is it such a problem if you crack a clam? Is it not just like any other GRP that a bit of resin and know how can fix? Over the years i've seen many a chavs body kit get obliterated by a speed bump only to reappear a week later looking like new after a bit of resin application, smoothing and repainting. Obviously a big crash could be a problem but just cracks from muppets reversing into them etc is easily fixed?
Welcome, most are friendly round here! I always wave to VX's, just like i do to any 'proper' sports car driver. (MX5's unfortuantley aren't included!)Tell me, why is it such a problem if you crack a clam? Is it not just like any other GRP that a bit of resin and know how can fix? Over the years i've seen many a chavs body kit get obliterated by a speed bump only to reappear a week later looking like new after a bit of resin application, smoothing and repainting. Obviously a big crash could be a problem but just cracks from muppets reversing into them etc is easily fixed?
A VX makes great sense, however does stating you're not a badge snob not imply all lotus drivers *are* badge snobs????
Anyway, my personal feelings on the clams is that yes, they can be nearly always be repaired. i have the privilege of repairing all of my wifes parking damage. Currently 3 chunks out of the chin at the base of the front clam, and a crack in the rear clam. Nowt that can't be fixed with either filler, or if it's a proper crack, some layered glass on the inside.
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