Also while I'm here, can I ask what made you choose the vx over the elise? build quality, styling...?
Thanks for any info you can offer.
Rob.
Vx220 Specs
Started by
Guest_rob (Guest)
, Dec 24 2002 10:32 PM
14 replies to this topic
#1
Guest_rob (Guest)
Guest_rob (Guest)
Posted 24 December 2002 - 10:32 PM
Hi,
Can anyone give me anymore details on the vx turbo other than the limted info on vauxhalls site? Have any other changes been made to the turbo compared to the current model other than the power plant?
"maximum torque of 250Nm at 1950rpm" ?!! any ideas why the max torque is at so low rpms? What happens to it afterwards, sudden drop of or very gradual decrease? Or is that just a typo? btw what's 250Nm in good old English
Also while I'm here, can I ask what made you choose the vx over the elise? build quality, styling...?
Thanks for any info you can offer.
Rob.
Also while I'm here, can I ask what made you choose the vx over the elise? build quality, styling...?
Thanks for any info you can offer.
Rob.
#2
Ricky2772
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Posted 25 December 2002 - 10:05 AM
those are the same torque figures of a decent 1.9 TDI 110hp..."maximum torque of 250Nm at 1950rpm" ?!!
Also while I'm here, can I ask what made you choose the vx over the elise? build quality, styling...?
why VX over 'lizzie?
styling, you bet.
widespread Opel assistance.
2-3yrs warranty, full road assistance included. (vs. 1yr, no asst. in Italy)
much cheaper to buy and own/fix....go check the prices for elise's spares, like susp. arms, lights and bodyshells....about twice as much.
engine is miles better, bigger, bulletproof, easily tuneable.
gearchange is in another league too; rubbery and vague in the elise.
airbag+abs as a bonus (aside of all the ABS problems stemmed lately, both can be removed anyway)
bigger trunk
cons:
90/100kg heavier, a tad less sharp (stock), badge.
#3
Guest_rob (Guest)
Guest_rob (Guest)
Posted 25 December 2002 - 11:42 AM
thanks for the info Ricky.
I'm going to give the vx and lizzie the benefit of the doubt and test drive both back to back. I think all your points - pro and con - are pretty valid, that damn badge!!!
Anyone had their cars really tuned in the UK? There seems to be loads of tuning options readily available for the elise to really tweak it's motor. The only place that seems to be doing much VX wise is Regal down in Southampton (considerably far away from me!) How tunable is the ecotec really? It seems to me that a 2.2 should be able to knock out a fair bit more than 147PS without much effort. Are there major limitations with what can be achieved with the standard ECU? I know the elise S2 ecu is only much cop for around 160bhp before issues arise with emmisions etc.
Also, as it's christmas day and no doubt you're all very well disposed to reading my ramblings has anyone turbo/supercharged their 220 yet? Why not pip vauxhall to the post. Turbo Technics do a few variations for the elise with a supercharger and can get up to 260bhp for the fool hardy types!
Right best be orft, Merry Christmas to one and all and enjoy your driving!!
has anyone turbo/supercharged their 220 yet? Why not pip vauxhall to the post. Turbo Technics do a few variations for the elise with a supercharger and can get up to 260bhp for the fool hardy types!
Right best be orft, Merry Christmas to one and all and enjoy your driving!!
#4
Guest_Steve Crisp (Guest)
Guest_Steve Crisp (Guest)
Posted 25 December 2002 - 12:43 PM
I guess the 3-year warrenty gets in the way for tuning up the engine. I don't know about others, but I don't want to invalidate the warranty! The Ecotec engine (judging by the GM articles) is the most brillient engine ever. They have blown it up to 600 bhp with very little work other than a forged crank!
Steve
#5
Ricky2772
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Posted 25 December 2002 - 03:35 PM
deltamotor (Swiss) offers +13hp cams, and a 200hp supercharger.has anyone turbo/supercharged their 220 yet? Why not pip vauxhall to the post. Turbo Technics do a few variations for the elise with a supercharger and can get up to 260bhp for the fool hardy types!
I was flabbergasted at the track, spectating an elise mk1 180hp kompressor, semi-slick, keeping ahead of an heavily-tuned, slick-shod M3!
"THE" problem with speedy/VX (and elise mk2)is: no semi-slick are available in stock size, so any possible power mod won't be exploitable on track other than in straight line.....potenzas only cope that much.
since all those mods are quite $$$$, in the meanwhile I might have some cams built by a local tuner, that happens to be a very good friend of the pads factory guy that is "sponsoring" my needs....
#6
Guest_rob (Guest)
Guest_rob (Guest)
Posted 26 December 2002 - 12:38 AM
600 bhp, caramba!! Probably a little bit tooooo much to handle around townThe Ecotec engine (judging by the GM articles) is the most brillient engine ever. They have blown it up to 600 bhp with very little work other than a forged crank!
something around the 200bhp mark would better suit the bill, no need to touch brakes, clutch etc.What's the deal with induction kits for the vx? There only seems to be the K&N57i being regularly mentioned, there's plenty of options for the elise, more expensive than K&N but all sealed units with piping down to the side air intake vent to get the most cold air. Typical quick mod on the elise is swap the airbox for a decent induction kit (huricane or ITG very popular, even doing a DIY mod to the standard air box to add a larger diameter intake pipe plus better panel filter does a good job) then adding a larger throttle body (52mm trophy 160 rather than 48mm). Difficult to measure performance increase on rr but make better noise and improves throttle response. Any similar quick start mods going for the vx?
cheers,
rob
oooo toooooo much turkey!!!!
#7
Teatowel
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Posted 26 December 2002 - 01:04 AM
Why choose the VX over the Elise? For me it was simple. ABS and an airbag.
People say that a good driver doesn't need ABS and that may be true. Fact of the matter is that very few people are that good IMHO, and I am not one of them often enough. Airbag? I couldn't care less about what the Lotus dealer was saying about adding weight. As someone who has seen a fair number of chest injuries on steering wheels and severe neck injuries in accidents where there was only a seatbelt, adding a few kgs for an airbag is worth the negligible loss in performance.
Just my 2c!
Before I forget, the VX is also much better looking
#8
Ricky2772
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Posted 26 December 2002 - 09:48 AM
induction sys. make sense for 2 main reasons:What's the deal with induction kits for the vx? There only seems to be the K&N57i being regularly mentioned,
better sound
better airflow IF similar work is performed by the exhaust side; otherwise you might end up LOOSING hp's.
I have a BMC cda airbox, very similar to the hurricane...it sounds awesome and I think has now a role in the big difference I experienced when I removed all the catalitics.
it's very light too, costs about 200 euros and I posted its pic in the yahoo forum.
KN is cheaper, but seats too close to the hot engine unproected, and the little "air flow" hose doesn't help much....
#9
Guest_rob (Guest)
Guest_rob (Guest)
Posted 26 December 2002 - 06:57 PM
thanks again ricky, looks like a very good product. where you able to source a kit that was specific to the vx or did you mod one for a similar engine? I've found this retail site:
http://www.passionmo...soleairmenu.htm
http://www.passionmo....co.uk/BMC7.htm
not really sure how similar the vectra/astra 2.0dti setup is to the vx though.
cheers,
rob
http://www.passionmo...soleairmenu.htm
http://www.passionmo....co.uk/BMC7.htm
not really sure how similar the vectra/astra 2.0dti setup is to the vx though.
cheers,
rob
#10
Ricky2772
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Posted 26 December 2002 - 11:37 PM
dunno the code...all you need to ask is the required size....that is "70-150" (diameters).
it comes with all the needed hoses/clamps.
installing it is a breeze for a decent DIY'er
#11
Ricky2772
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Posted 26 December 2002 - 11:38 PM
dunno the code...all you need to ask is the required size....that is "70-150" (diameters).
it comes with all the needed hoses/clamps.
installing it is a breeze for a decent DIY'er
http://www.bmcairfil...ish/pagina1.htm
it comes with all the needed hoses/clamps.
installing it is a breeze for a decent DIY'er
http://www.bmcairfil...ish/pagina1.htm
#12
Thorney
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Posted 27 December 2002 - 09:09 AM
Seems strange that only Regal have made much headway into VX tuning? If there is anyone else out there I think we'd be keen to hear.
I'm fairly sure I'll be modding mine but primarily the suspension and (maybe) brakes fro track work but I'll take a suck it and see attitude I think.
#13
Guest_rob (Guest)
Guest_rob (Guest)
Posted 27 December 2002 - 02:45 PM
I've also been checking out Courtney Sport - http://www.courtenay....uk/default.htm -, nothing VX specific but evidently well up on vauxhall tuning. Alas both Regal and Courtney are bloody miles away from me, at least Macclesfield has two very good exhaust builders - JP and Tube Torque - I'd be interested in seeing what their interpretations for a sports box would be like. I've currently got a JP exhaust on my TVR and it's seriously anti-social 
It seems like between Regal and Courtney there's options available for doing pretty serious power mods either keeping it normally aspirated or going turbo. Defintely makes buying an £18K car and spending £2-3k on mods a pretty reasonable option.
BTW I've been reading slightly unpleasant things about the ABS system, has there been any real solution to this from Vauxhall? I'd be happy to go with disabling the system like Ricky has but my girlfriend would very much prefer to have a working ABS as she recently rear-ended a guy when her Ka brakes locked at some traffic lights - oops, a mere £2k worth of damage for a 15mph shunt - nice!!
On the suspension front, I haven't really looked into whats available, I believe there's a Spax kit and possibly Koni. I'd imagine Avo would be able to get something together, I've currently got their fully adjustable shocks on my TVR and they're much better than standard fit. Probably the top of the range would be some Nitrons, I know they've got a kit for the Elise but I believe the rear shocks differ slightly on the VX, I doubt that would be a problem as Nitrons are all custom built.
Most people in Elise land seem to think the standard brakes are pretty good when you upgrade the pads, Pagid or Mintex being prefered, increasing disc and/or calipers is of course possible but adds that unwanted weight, may very well be necessary though if you really want to increase the turbos power!
It seems like between Regal and Courtney there's options available for doing pretty serious power mods either keeping it normally aspirated or going turbo. Defintely makes buying an £18K car and spending £2-3k on mods a pretty reasonable option.
BTW I've been reading slightly unpleasant things about the ABS system, has there been any real solution to this from Vauxhall? I'd be happy to go with disabling the system like Ricky has but my girlfriend would very much prefer to have a working ABS as she recently rear-ended a guy when her Ka brakes locked at some traffic lights - oops, a mere £2k worth of damage for a 15mph shunt - nice!!
On the suspension front, I haven't really looked into whats available, I believe there's a Spax kit and possibly Koni. I'd imagine Avo would be able to get something together, I've currently got their fully adjustable shocks on my TVR and they're much better than standard fit. Probably the top of the range would be some Nitrons, I know they've got a kit for the Elise but I believe the rear shocks differ slightly on the VX, I doubt that would be a problem as Nitrons are all custom built.
Most people in Elise land seem to think the standard brakes are pretty good when you upgrade the pads, Pagid or Mintex being prefered, increasing disc and/or calipers is of course possible but adds that unwanted weight, may very well be necessary though if you really want to increase the turbos power!
#14
Guest_paulh (Guest)
Guest_paulh (Guest)
Posted 27 December 2002 - 11:30 PM
I only bought my VX a week or so ago, so I can tell you my reasons. I did consider the Elise and came under quite a bit of pressure from friends to by one, but that was entirely down to badge snobbery. My choice was easy in the end;
a. The VX is a rare care and that makes its special; the same can't be said of the Elise
b. Virtually identical performance but a slightly more relaxed delivery than the Elise, makes the car easier to live with in the longer term.
c. The VX looks (for me) are more masculine and also better/more eye catching
d. While i accept that the Elise probably has marginally better handling on a track, I was never going to really notice the difference.
e. 3yr warranty and better support combined with cheaper insurance and running costs clinched it.
#15
Guest_paulh (Guest)
Guest_paulh (Guest)
Posted 27 December 2002 - 11:32 PM
ps. I forgot to add that the build quality of the VX is noticeably better than the Elise (in general), and i put my hands on both and had a real good look
Paulh
Paulh
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