gavin18787
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Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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Anyone got any experiances or ownership?
Toying with the idea of one as now the Mrs is living with me we have a nice sensible fiat punto to use so the civic is now a drive for fun car only.
As much as I love the civic and its been a great car for four years I feel a need to scratch the RWD sports car itch. Although I am still not 100% as I do still have a soft spot for the civic.....
Main thing concerning me is if they are suitable for people that dont have a garage? Would be under a cover on a secure drive but not in a garage so to speak.
Also anywhere specialist for insurance? As my insurance is £380 FC all declared on a supercharged civic but my company want at least double....
Finally anything much between them? Will probably be an S2 elise or vx220
Drives supercharged Tec with torque  
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tom130691
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Registered: 13th Sep 08
Location: Daventry
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I had abit of experience with these when working at a race team,
should be fine out of a garage dont be surprised to find water in the cabin though, the roof and windows dont seal that well,
I prefer the elise all day long S2 with the toyota lump is heavier than the earlier ones,
The Vx's always found the paint was crap, and they never make the claimed power or so i was told while working there,
everyone prefered the elises
both have shot up in price 
[Edited on 05-06-2014 by tom130691]
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Nismo
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Registered: 12th Sep 02
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Having owned 2 S2's id say this will be more of a car that is a car (i.e boot space, carpets etc...) so could be used for day/weekend trips.
I like the other 2 and would probably go for a VX over an Elise S1, but maybe an Elise S2 over a VX, but thats purely based on looks.
Either way all 3 will leak at some stage 
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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Mid engined
Id deffo have one, oddly think I would prefer the Vx
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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http://www.vx220.org.uk/forums/topic/102782-are-vx220-prices-falling/
£7k for a 56k 2.2 in 2011
£7.5k for more miles today
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-02-REG-VAUXHALL-VX220-2-2i-16V-ROADSTER-/131197498950?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1e8bfaf646
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flybikeslee
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Registered: 2nd Jan 07
Location: Liverpool
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s2000 best of both worlds?
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chris_uk
Premium Member
Registered: 8th Jul 03
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Suppose i might be able to answer all your q's on the vx side...
I kept mine outside for years and never had a problem but just recently ive found some bubbling on the clam (all fibreglass cars suffer so dont think its just a vx trait) its to do with the frost getting in over the years.
Also the vx engines are bullet proof.. Like propperly bullet proof, after all they are a 2.2 and a 2.0 turbo we see everyday.. just yesterday a lad with a mint s2 had a head gasket failure and it wasnt that many miles on it. (Early s2 mind)
I suppose the main thing is .. What you gunna wanna spend, the best itteration of vx ive driven was a pretty standard 2.2 supercharged (250bhp) decent shockers and good tyres and had a blast of a time at lemans.. Standard turbos are ok and tuned ones are better but high tuned ones are god awful.. Power delivery is shite.
Living with these sorta cars are easy if you love the car, if you dont then you will start to pick faults which will do your head in.. Just remember they are a hand built light weight sportscar. They are noisey, they do rattle and they will piss you off but.. At the end of the day they give you so much pleasure driving them on and off the track it makes it all worth it (to me anyway)
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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I thought about getting one but the stories of water inside and no creature comforts at all put me off. It'd be a daily, after all.
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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Boxster.
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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I thought about it too. Hope that helps.
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tom130691
Premium Member
Registered: 13th Sep 08
Location: Daventry
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quote:
Originally posted by Ian
http://www.vx220.org.uk/forums/topic/102782-are-vx220-prices-falling/
£7k for a 56k 2.2 in 2011
£7.5k for more miles today
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-02-REG-VAUXHALL-VX220-2-2i-16V-ROADSTER-/131197498950?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1e8bfaf646
hmm,
the elises came down to 6-7k for an early s2 at one point, now they are 12k
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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quote:
Originally posted by John
Boxster.
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taylorboosh
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Registered: 3rd Apr 07
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I too have thought - id buy a z3m
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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Z3m is good, fantastic driving position and great engine. Very very chuckable with little weight over the rear wheels its easy to light up.
Wont be the precision tool that a Vx/Elise will be though. Good steering feel and IMO they look fantastic. I miss mine.
But I think the Boxster would be a better bet, better build quality, no Vanos worries etc.
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chris_uk
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Registered: 8th Jul 03
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U do get a drop or two pf water if you dont have the correct seals fitted but its easy to sort out, dont let that put you off but there are no creature comforts.. Radio and a heater is all your getting.
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corsadonk
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Registered: 4th Jul 09
Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire
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I'd go for the VX just because of the K-series in the early S2's. They are great fun to drive, but will bite harder than a Saxo when it goes.
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chris_uk
Premium Member
Registered: 8th Jul 03
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quote:
Originally posted by corsadonk
I'd go for the VX just because of the K-series in the early S2's. They are great fun to drive, but will bite harder than a Saxo when it goes.
not at all.. they are quite progressive and easy to read.. 
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corsadonk
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Registered: 4th Jul 09
Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire
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It was only a little dig at him crashing his Saxo. 
I've only driven and S1 111s and Exige S, both stepped out on me but was caught with a dap of opposite lock.
You can really feel everything going love them.
A VX is on my next car wish list. 
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chris_uk
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Registered: 8th Jul 03
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bloody hell.. you managed to get an exige to step out on you.. someone was driving hard LOL
i drove one on track at lemans and it was soooo boring.. my foot ached like a bitch being cable and not fly by wire.
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corsadonk
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Registered: 4th Jul 09
Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire
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It was a bit damp and it had normal tyres on it.
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chris_uk
Premium Member
Registered: 8th Jul 03
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Ah that would explain it then
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gavin18787
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Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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Cheers for all the input so far :-)
Didnt know they had gone up in value. But ive only just started looked so wouldnt have known.
although as long as they dont plummet in value as soon as I buy its no biggy.
was thinking something along the lines of this
http://www.vx220.org.uk/forums/topic/132070-black-na-for-sale/#entry1696177
Did find a nice silver s2 for 11k but cant find it now.
Only Thing confusing me with s2 elises are all the variants
11r 11s 1.8 etc etc
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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leon.
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Registered: 24th Jun 08
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I looked at buying an n/a vx220 a few years ago after test driving one and seeing how much of a pain in the arse it was to get in and out of, an how slow it was i quickly changed my mind.
Saying that i did come from a 400bhp audi s4 and the vx220 was a bad example pretty rough.
I opted for an s2000 which in my opinion is alot better all round car.
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RichR
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Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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How do you identify a K series from a Toyota engine S2? Looking at adverts rather than having a car in front of you.
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gavin18787
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 05
Location: Basildon, Essex
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Do like s2k but was going to go for a full on drivers car if I got one
as for the engine. Engine bay picture or ask the owner I would assume. Unless you have acsess to a data base and the reg
Drives supercharged Tec with torque
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