New car....VX220 content...

[joebristolgym]

Well, I finally sold the 182 I had, and took the plunge into VX220 ownership - only got round to taking some proper pictures today as been out driving it so much!

Car is bright yellow, but the camera is only a phone one, and the colour hasn't come out that bright on it....enjoy.

 

[Dave..]

Nice looking car there, is it the turbo? How does it compare to the 182?

I'm sure I won't be the only one to say it, but it needs lowering by a foot.

 

[The Hoff]

Nice, not sure I could own a Banana wagon but they certainly get attention. Have fun in it, but be careful as hell in this weather (as I'm sure you know).

(Buy a warm coat, a hat and some wellies)

dave, it's an NA. There's no splitter, spoiler amongst other things. I personally wouldn't touch the ride height, they handle well enough in stock, put your 182 next to it and it'll look like a tractor.

 

[Dafthead]

Lovely!!

 

[Justin]

Mint!

 

[joebristolgym]

I don't think lowering the vx is really the point of the car, but I know what you mean - the front wheels do have a bit of an arch gap.

It's a 2.2 NA - the turbos were out my price range. Compared to the 182 it's much better off the line due to lightness and better traction, would think the Clio would come back at it in the higher speed ranges (over 80/90mph) as the engine could do with a bit more power, and some more revs. This is on the cards in the next 12 months though!

However, it's so much more fun to drive - you feel a lot more connected to the road, and it feels faster. Does get a lot of attention in the colour, butI don't mind that.

Rear end is actually surprisingly stable (got brand new 225/45/17 Toyo T1-R's on it), and only slides if you really provoke it...which I've been doing at every possible opportunity.

Got a ski jacket/gloves/hat already!

 

[Becca]

Very nice!

 

[The Hoff]

Aye get one with a Recco tracker in the sleeve, in case you do any off-roading heh. Be interested to hear how you're honestly coping with the car in a month or so. I'm not sure on your usage/milage, often fancied one myself but short of a second car I don't think I'd have the patience/nuts for winter ownership.

 

[Dave..]

I don't think lowering the vx is really the point of the car, but I know what you mean - the front wheels do have a bit of an arch gap.

I see where you're coming from, I too would much rather have my car handle brilliantly, than just be stupidly low. Properly set up coilovers are the way forward really. Best of both worlds.

 

[Justin]

One thing I didn't like about owning my VX/Exige, was they have made almost every other car feels like jelly on wheels.

 

[joebristolgym]

Well I've had the car about 3 weeks or so now - I cycle to work most days so haven't got to de-ice it every morning etc..I just brave the cold in my shorts instead on the racer!

It's not too impractical - the boot is surprisingly big considering the mid-enginedness - and the heater sort of works, albeit it's not the hottest.

The biggest ballsache is getting in and out when the roof it on - it's not a graceful or speedy exit. Best just to have the roof off whenever it's not wet/raining etc and wrap up warm.

Yes, I'm one of those c*cks you see driving round at night in the middle of winter looking like I'm about to go to the north pole all wrapped up warm with the roof off!

 

[joebristolgym]

The car has bilstein shock absorbers on it as standard, think Nitron shocks are the next step up from an S2 Elise, but not looked into that yet...

 

[The Hoff]

I see where you're coming from, I too would much rather have my car handle brilliantly, than just be stupidly low. Properly set up coilovers are the way forward really. Best of both worlds.

I had Konigsports on my 172, I'd never get coils for the road again. My car just became impractical, actually felt embarassed having to explain to my family/friends that the reason the car was so fking uncomfortable was because of my coilies. Oh and multi-storey car parks, I couldn't use them...tried once and nearly ripped my exhaust off.

Personally I regretted changing my Koni/Eibach setup for them, the impracticalities outweighed the benefits - maybe I'm getting old!

Back on topic

The VX sounds a good bet then fella, what bike you ride?

 

[R20 CWH]

looks spot on chief. Im sure once out of winter it will be a bit of a weapon on B road blasts!

 

[Christopher]

That's mint. I love VX's

The skinny front tyres look pathetic though... always thought they looked weird

 

[joebristolgym]

I had Konigsports on my 172, I'd never get coils for the road again. My car just became impractical, actually felt embarassed having to explain to my family/friends that the reason the car was so fking uncomfortable was because of my coilies. Oh and multi-storey car parks, I couldn't use them...tried once and nearly ripped my exhaust off.

Personally I regretted changing my Koni/Eibach setup for them, the impracticalities outweighed the benefits - maybe I'm getting old!

Back on topic

The VX sounds a good bet then fella, what bike you ride?

Ride a Cannondale Caad 9 105 2009 model in Liquigas. Was a bit sketchy in the snow this morning, but I'm hardcore lol.

 

[joebristolgym]

That's mint. I love VX's

The skinny front tyres look pathetic though... always thought they looked weird[/quote

Know what you are saying - that problem will be resolved in the next month or so - one of the tyres is very low on tread at the front so they're both being replaced with 195/45/17's instead of 175/55/17's. The wider tyres will fit on the same rim, and reduce the car's inbuilt tendency to understeer if you try to push on too hard too early in a corner.

 

[Leeshez]

Nice car

 

[jimmy-v6]

Nice car fella, sold mine 4 weeks ago loved every minute of it not so great this time of year but when the summer gets here it'll be ace....

 

[Englebert]

Looking good. Nice to see you're getting wider fronts, one thing i didn't sort whilst i had mine. Will make it more difficult to drive on the limit though...

Nitrons are a must! I had Sachs coilovers which were a bit too stiff, but then the car was very low. Ohlins are better yet but Nitrons are far easier to sell on as they're not as expensive. Motorsport ARB is worthwile too.

 

[joebristolgym]

Wider fronts are pretty much top of my list of things to do, along with a service, a new expansion tank (old one is cracked), and a full geo setup. It's been suggested that Lotus 340R settings are more aggressive and could be looked into? I've no idea if this is possible just yet, but will research that.

Going to take the car out round castle coombe in a few months time so want all the basics up to scratch before then.

If I did get some spare cash (toying with a 2nd job for say 10/15 hours a week) then I'd be after a 2.4 inlet manifold, a cat back exhaust and a remap from courtney. Already removed the pre-cat on the weekend just gone, and some more revs/higher end power would be nice.

 

[Englebert]

I'm sure a 340R setup is far more aggressive, but still not majorly aggressive compared to what i would have. Mine was super pointy, i like instant turn in.

The suspension makes such a difference to the handling/looks it would be the first thing i'd do. Having said that the brakes are diabolical, so perhaps Mintex and braided lines would be a good starting point. Know how much VXR abs units are going for these days?

 

[joebristolgym]

Not found the brakes that bad on mine tbh? Abs is generally ok, it just occassionally triggers when you aren't expecting it to, and find if I lift off, then get back on them they're fine.

Not faded brakes out, but then in this weather grip is at a premium so not pushing as hard as I could be. Fronts look like 2 pot AP racing calipers, so imagine with uprated lines, grooved discs and better pads they'd be pretty awesome. Apparently 1144's are ok but don't last long - been suggested somewhere that 1155 are harder and last longer, but aren't too bad from cold?

What geo settings did you have then if you had lower/stiffer settings?

I find the car pretty crashy over bumps already, but then occassionally it seems to wallow at speed - I think the springs are stiff enough, but the rebound damping perhaps isn't quite as well controlled as it should be.

 

[jonnyboy]

Mintex is a good idea. Dont waste your money on tuning though anything south of a supercharger is a waste of time. 2.4 inlet looks good on paper but its a lot of pissing about for sometimes no gain at all.

I would also be very very wary of changing suspension on the VX! Bear in mind that it is completely perfect as it is and the ride can only ever be compromised by fitting coilovers. The money you were going to spend on coilovers and tuning I would spend doing trackdays. On the road you would be hard pushed to get anywhere near properly extending the VX hence my opionions on tuning them. Doing trackdays will enhance your driving skills and your enjoyment of the car.

You see a lot of new owners going down the "tinkering" route and it is tempting but I've seen cars have £1000's spend on them without improving the overall car. If you want a fast NA, sell up in a year or two and get an exige!

 

[DebV6]

Great car, I love these! I've only driven the turbo version but it was great fun!

 

[ForceIndia]

I had Konigsports on my 172, I'd never get coils for the road again. My car just became impractical, actually felt embarassed having to explain to my family/friends that the reason the car was so fking uncomfortable was because of my coilies. Oh and multi-storey car parks, I couldn't use them...tried once and nearly ripped my exhaust off.

Personally I regretted changing my Koni/Eibach setup for them, the impracticalities outweighed the benefits - maybe I'm getting old!

Back on topic

The VX sounds a good bet then fella, what bike you ride?

Thats why I'll never get cheap coilovers.

 

[Ian_182]

Very nice and a commited purchase at this time of year

 

[joebristolgym]

Well, Geo setup is nearing the top of my list after service/tyres, so hopefully that'll improve the suspension set up - if it still feels a bit wallowy at times then going to go down the Nitron route- after all, Lotus supplied them as an upgrade didn't they for the Elise?

I've heard otherwise on the tuning front - while a supercharger conversion, or dropping in a turbo lump giv you a massive boost, quit ea lot of people on vx220.org have seen good power gains with the right modifications. Someone has rolling road printouts to show 215bhp without needing throttle bodies. Think the 2.4 manifold alone isn't worth much (you lose a little bit of mid-range torque but gain higher up horsepower, so if you don't rev your car hard then it's prob not worth the bother), but combined with the right exhaust, induction, cams, and the 2.4 throttle body it seems there's quite a bit of power to liberate from the 2.2 lump.

Although the Exige is quicker/stiffer etc, I wanted a convertible, so to have a car that is almost as impractible, but without a soft top is pointless for me!

 

[Englebert]

Jonny, sorry, you're wrong there buddy. The VX has ok suspension and the geometry is too safe as standard. It is a long way from being perfect!

In certain conditions, the Sachs coilovers i had meant a better ride. The vastly reduced ride height just meant it was fidgety over some surfaces because the dampers held such tight control. I think Nitrons with a more subtle drop would produce a great ride/handling compromise.

Lotus do Ohlins upgrades, which are good but still a long way from a proper Ohlins kit (the TTX damper).

People talk about this 'miraculous' suspension development from Lotus but i would never say the VX220 or Elise has a pleasant ride.

 

[joebristolgym]

Looks like I could have start a heated debate here lol.

Think there is room for improvement on the suspension - it defintely isn't as nailed down as it could be - the back end over high speed bumps doesn't fill me with confidence. I'll see how it is after a geo setup, and may have the undertray off to inspect the bushes on the rear suspension too.

I know someone I play hockey with who has a 58 plate S2 supercharged Elise - hopefully getting a drive in that soon so will see how that compares (apart from being blindingly faster in a straight line) handling wise.

 

[Englebert]

Not sure who you're near but i've been using Plans Motorsport for a few years and they know how to setup a car. Its amazing how playful they can set up the cars, a world away from what they are from the factory.

Just don't think they are these sort of no expense spared cars, they are built to a cost. No car is perfect from the factory, and yours has covered enough mileage to start wearing out bushes, dampers etc. I ultimately only changed my dampers because i was forced too.

 

[joebristolgym]

I'm based in Bristol, but don't really know who I'm near that does geo setup. I have a local place called protyre who have laser setup equipment - last time I took a car there they showed me how it worked and they could do tracking/camber/castor etc so a very accurate level. Not sure if I went there with the spec I wanted whether they could do it...I'd prob be better off going somewhere motorsport related though. I'll have to look into it.

Heard that the VX didn't have anywhere near as much time in the facotry as an Elise having the suspension setup etc, and the settings are more compromised for safe understeer then the elise anyway.

Mines done 36k, so not too high mileage - I'd hope the dampers were still reasonable, but bushes may well be worn/have seen better days. Heard Plans were good, and several other places were worth a look.

 

[Englebert]

Yes, it was setup to be a 'Vauxhall' not a Lotus. The wheels were a marketing decision also.

Mine had slightly lower mileage and had leaking dampers, despite never seeing the track...

 

[joebristolgym]

That fills me with confidence then....thought Bilstein were meant to be good?

Vauxhall were worried about the amount of S1 Elises going backwards through hedges weren't they - hence the narrow tyres and safe suspension settings?

17's on the front were for looks too weren't they - my friend's Elise has 16's, although they are only 175 wide too.

 

[Englebert]

Yes, you're right. Mid-engined, short wheelbase, asking for trouble when there is so little to correct a slide so narrow tyres definitely help there. Of course, helps with parking and steering feel too...

A cool mod would be Lotus hubs (weaker 4 stud but lighter) and some Motorsport wheels... which conveniently i have available

 

[joebristolgym]

Good try...but bottom of my list right now lol!

I like the look of the standard wheels, even though they are a bit heavy, and I'm not up for changing hubs in this weather - took my hours to remove the pre-cat from the car on saturday...

Looked at Plans motorsport website, fills me with more confidence then the TMS one on suspension setup.

Also looked at engine tuning, and it seems courteney may be better with the 2.2 lump then TMS too.

 

[leeds_182]

Mint motor mate. I had one around 5 years ago and they are a totally different driving experience!

 

[Englebert]

TMS are crap, end of!

 

[jonnyboy]

Jonny, sorry, you're wrong there buddy. The VX has ok suspension and the geometry is too safe as standard. It is a long way from being perfect!

Hmm its a bit of a myth that actually. A lot (if not most) of the standard cars come with crap GEO as there was not the time allowed in production that the Elises got. Standard GEO is totally fine on the VX. Mines been done to factory spec and delivers the perfect understeer to oversteer on the throttle you'd expect from a mid engined car. Mines been done by the previous owner but I would say its deffo worth having checked out although I wouldnt go for an agressive setup myself again as you have to think weather your spoiling the overall balance of the car.

Re The ride if you have comprimised ride quality in the VX its worth checking for things like leaking shocks which are fairly common but the standard bilstein setup is really very good. If the cars mainly used on the road coilovers are just a waste of money. The Ride is superb and much better than my megane F1 obviously the lower weight alows use of softer springs. Sure its noisy and you still weave around potholes but to me its not such a bad setup that I would spend a grand (or 8 trackdays) of funds on.

Theres a lot of depth to the VX and I would at least give it a few months before changing anything. As I said before there are a lot of tinkerers in the VX fraternity but usually those are the guys that get all the aggressive geo/suspension/diffusers but then are too scared to go on track!

 

[andyroo]

I had a 340r geo and it was fine for driving about in. Coupled with TD 1.2s, it had nice sharp turn in with a tad of understeer which could easily be broken with more right foot into progressive oversteer. Never driven a standard one mind. Never tracked it neither, but the wider 16s on the front made a hell of a difference over the skinny 17s, and definately gave me a lot more confidence with the increased feedback.