Test drove a VX220 turbo today

eidolon said:
Yeah, Williams Lotus is only a couple of miles from my house. I'll try to get there tomorrow and see if I can test drive the Elise.

I've just had a good look around the VX forums and most people seem to love the gearbox, it just sounds like the one I test drove was dodgy. As for the engine, well it wasn't slow by any means but I was expecting it to be quicker than it was. I guess I was expecting something that would feel noticably faster than the MR2 which is a bit of a tall order to be fair (unless we're talking real supercars!) It looks like the 250BHP remap would be necessary to keep me happy :)
Click to expand...

it doesnt actually feel fast at all, its too dam smooth !

bare in mind... VXT money is also S1 Exige money...
 
I prefer the VXT over the Exige to be honest, I like my open top motoring. What I really want is a 111R with all the gadgets, and a turbo :)

For £20k if possible ;)
 
eidolon said:
I prefer the VXT over the Exige to be honest, I like my open top motoring. What I really want is a 111R with all the gadgets, and a turbo :)

For £20k if possible ;)
Click to expand...

pop 20k an the 3:30 at newbury then.... :p
 
Heh, I also drove a Turbo this weekend with an eye to purchase but decided I want to try the NA before comitting as the Turbo is a fair bit more to insure for me. Which, for a second car, is a fairly large consideration.
 
My house mate has just bought a VX220 Turbo last weekend. It's got a stage 3 upgrade from Thorney Motorsport and runs approx 280bhp

It's certainly quick, probably as fast as mine or maybe even a little quicker.
The turbo is a bit small for decent power though, 17psi for 280bhp is a bit much so I think an uprated one will be in order soon.
 
Sounds crummy to me, I wouldn't get it. If you want a "raw" car that handles nicely get an Ariel Atom and at least then you're under no pretenses ;)
 
I reckon the VX is a fairly depreciation proof purchase if you buy now and sell with a month or so of sun left. That's my plan, anyway.
 
As you say, it really needs to be remapped and a new exhaust for it to really come alive.

If you thought the Turbo was raw, it is possitively comfortable and quiet compared to the 2.2!

I found the gearbox in the turbo nowhere near as good as the 2.2 but it still pretty good so you may have driven a duff one. There is a lot of noise, there's no getting away from it, did you try it with the roof off?
 
I was waiting for you to post in this thread Muncher :)

How do you find the noise on motorway journeys and stuff? I had the roof on but I still had to shout to the passenger. I think that I just drove a bad example though which was probably worse than most. I haven't been put off buying one though, I'm just gonna try to drive a better one.
 
eidolon said:
I was waiting for you to post in this thread Muncher :)

How do you find the noise on motorway journeys and stuff?
Click to expand...

To be honest I don't find it to be a problem, bearing in mind mine is a lot louder than a standard Turbo. Maybe part of that is because it's fun to listen to the engine sounds, with it being right behind your head with little insulation it is quite unique.

For long journeys I don't find it a problem, it's one of those things you just get used to. I do find it extremely comfortable doing long journeys in it, more so than most other cars I have driven. I did 300 miles it it yesterday and did not ache at all.

It's one of those features of the car that if you are really put off by the noise and want something quieter it's probably not the car for you. In any case, if you've come from doing 100+ for a long period of time with the roof off and put the roof on you suddenly get a really quiet car :D As you have access to another car I don't think it would be a problem for you anyhow.
 
How many miles per year do you do in the VX? I'll probably only do 3000 miles per year as I either use the CTR or cycle so I'm thinking that I should be able to live with the VX as my fun car.

Have you been in a VXT with the Milltek? Is it much louder than standard (I noticed that the standard exhaust was a bit droney, is the Milltek like that?)
 
eidolon said:
How many miles per year do you do in the VX? I'll probably only do 3000 miles per year as I either use the CTR or cycle so I'm thinking that I should be able to live with the VX as my fun car.

Have you been in a VXT with the Milltek? Is it much louder than standard (I noticed that the standard exhaust was a bit droney, is the Milltek like that?)
Click to expand...

I did 12k in the VX last year.

I've driven a VXT with full Milltek, I wouldn't say it was that loud actually, at least that was not the impression I got. The Milltek is by no means a loud exhaust it is of average volume. Ask on the VX220.org forums as there will no doubt be someone near you who has a full Milltek on a Turbo who I'm certain will show you what it sounds like. I wouldn't say the Milltek was droney though.
 
I've got the NA version like Muncher, had mine for 6months and done 6,500miles in it, including 2,800miles to the south of france and back (in 2weeks) and love it more now than when I bought it.

With regards to you "twitchy steering comment" you have to let the car feel it's way down the road, rather than fight the steering. A few more drives and you will soon learn to appreciate it's road footing.

Mine is pretty loud, I've got the ITG Maxogen and the Vaux Sports Exhaust, so noisier than most, but still passes the Bedford 101dB track limit.

There are 3 noise levels, those with roof off, soft top on and hard top on. Each has a different sound/feel to it, I find the hardtop quietens the noise, but adds more echo for example.
 
Stonedofmoo, did your mate buy the black VXT on 18's by any chance?

I've arranged a passenger ride in another VXT this weekend so I'll get to see if the silver one was just a knackered example.
 
Yes he did :)

It's on the driveway right now. He's scared to take it out in the wet lol

Also I believe the 18's are going. He went to Bristol at the weekend to secure a set of standard VXT wheels. The 18's are going to a friend and he's going back to standard wheels
 
Last edited:
18s won't do the handling any favours, on the VX forums I don't know anyone with 18s. The most common change is to 17" rears and smaller 16" but wider fronts.
 
I considered that car as the Stage 3 must've cost £3.5k but I really don't want yet another black car (stupid reason I know but I really want Coral Blue :))

I actually much prefer the standard VX NA alloys over the turbo ones so if I decide to get one I'll be on the lookout for the NA alloys (easier to clean too!)
 
eidolon, the noise really does become much less of an issue once you are used to it. I've covered ~13000 miles in the last year including driving 500 miles to Le Mans in a day and regular 280 mile trips to Newcastle. Whilst the car is noisy I just turn the radio up and enjoy myself.

On the trip down to Le Mans I drove for the best part of 9 hours often at a steady 140kph (88mph) with the roof off and I didn't find the car too noisy. That's with a Janspeed exhaust and Hurricain induction kit fitted. I've only spent a decent amount of time in my friends 2.2 VX (standard) and that feels really refined in comparison. Could be worth giving one of them a go, you keep the handling of the VX (which if it's anything like my Elise just gets better and better the more you drive it) but without compromising on noise levels.
 
Del - The Turbo is a bit more refined than the 2.2.

The turbo was built with daily driving in mind and to be quick down undulating B roads.


The 2.2 was built for going quick round a track and is more at home on smoother track like surfaces.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom