70 replies to this topic

[coldel]

...just in the process of selling my current project/baby



Maybe sold tomorrow if the buyer comes good.

Then I am left with the dilemma, I want an open top so have got it down to:

1. Play safe and get an S2000
2. Get a named car, a Lotus Elise, budget stretches to S1 only me thinks
3. Get more car for the money in a VX, maybe even a VXT which would be amazing

I am looking at about £8k budget, as you can see above I like to tinker and modify but not in an out there manner, much more subtle is my approach.

Am on the Lotus forum chatting to a few guys, they actually gave the thumbs up to a VX for my budget so here I am! I tried reading the newbie threads, there is a link to a buying guide in a sticky but it didnt actually lead anywhere but a 404 failure page?

Hope you dont mind if I post up questions (will try search them first) and maybe also ask advice of prospective cars.

Ta

Col

[CHILL Gone DUTCH]

Go for a n/a, I'm sure there will some on here who prefer turbos, Debate on

[FAST_aD13]

I currently have a very well speccd NA for sale that's within your budget. Is in the cars for sale thread

Edited by FAST_aD13, 12 August 2012 - 01:37 PM.

[Hark]

Hiya Well done for finding us. If you only want to spend £8k I'd either buy a mint NA or a ropey one and then spend the cash getting it up to spec and saving for a SC conversion. Doubt you'll get a VXT for that money, stretch to £10k and you might. Nothing wrong with the NA, still faster than the 118bhp elise they were talking about.

[coldel]

Thanks guys, will check out the for sale threads shortly. Just tempted to go turbo at the moment, the Zed all 300bhp of it was NA and I missed having a bit of boost (Im no boy racer by any stretch!) and just feel like a change.

[coldel]

..the cost of the SC conversion? For parts only? My whole family are car mechanics so fitting is fine, presume there is some ecu programming to do though?

[Wolfstone]

Joe_589 and LeeVX2.2 do SC conversions for members and charge about £3,500 parts and labour. Nelly on here did his own SC and talking to him yesterday I think the parts, mapping and RR time came to about £2,500.

[rob999]

You'll get a real dog of a VXT if you could find one for 8k.

[turboluca]

Welcome , you can get a vxt for 8k but it will be a cat d or c, nothing wrong with them . I had loads , got 2 in the middle of repair .

[turboluca]

And I forgot iv had 4 s2000 cars, love the s2k but a turbo vxt wins hands down.

[coldel]

Vx220 N/A vs S2000?

[JohnTurbo]

In a drag race...would see the vx lose, but ive been on track with 5-6 s2k now and am yet to find one thats quick. Im sure there are some out there.

[coldel]

Thanks John, nice to get a feel for comparisons, will go to a few garages and test drive a few cars as it is a toss up between S2000 VX and Elise. I want a convertible which is a bit of fun and a bit different (use my current car as a guide on how I like to create a nice looking car!)

[fezzasus]

In a drag race...would see the vx lose, but ive been on track with 5-6 s2k now and am yet to find one thats quick.

Im sure there are some out there.

Tell that to the guy in the S2000 I surprised. The NA is faster off the line to about 100, above that I'm sure the S2000 would beat it on pure bhp numbers.

[turboluca]

I'm not sure on the na against the s2000 . But the s2k is very tame until u scum the tits off it , literally you got be right up there to get it going. Very very juicy , compared to my stage 4 vxt. For comfort the s2k wins, but for most fun and involvement a vx alday long

[coldel]

I am thinking the NA VX wont have what I am looking for, if I got for something that lacks all the comforts then I expect it to have more pace than the heavier car. Do love the idea of a VXT but probably (and as per the other newbies post on here) really scraping the barrel at 8k-10k .

[turboluca]

Your best bet try na vx, turbo vx, then an s2000. Were you from you welcome to come out in mine.

[rob999]

And go out in a SC VX...then if you get an NA you'll know what's achievable.

[coldel]

Not really wanting to spend circa £4k on top of an NA car, also insurance tends to get a bit crazy about it all. Thanks for the offer Turboluca, unfortunately I am in west london in Richmond, if any other members near there...?

[Goosenka]

You can supercharge for a lot less and in most cases insurance does not go too mad. Richmond would be fine. Maybe Fiveoclock mark can confirm as he lives near there and had a supercharged VX. I am in Canary Wharf with a supercharged if you are ever nearby

Edited by Goosenka, 13 August 2012 - 10:39 AM.