2004 Vauxhall VXR220 Review - More Than Just a Cut-Price Lotus Elise
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- Опубликовано: 30 авг 2023
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Today on the channel, I am driving the ultra-rare Lotus Elise-based Vauxhall VXR220. Known abroad as the Opel Speedster, the VXR was a UK-only variant of the VX220 and was the rarest, most powerful and possibly best of all - but is it better than an Elise?
#Vauxhall #VXR220 #OpelSpeedster
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I was the original owner of this car, as my brother Alan has mentioned in the comments. The V22VXV plate was first worn on the original normally aspirated version, then transferred to the turbo and finally the amazing VXR 220. I am thrilled to see that it still exists and remains unmodified. A pic of the car at Bedford Autodrome graces my Facebook home page. I had moved to the U.S. when I ordered it, but my brother garaged it in the UK. I came over to enjoy a few track days before reluctantly deciding to be sensible and let it go. A great car - 0-60 in 4.2 seconds and spectacular track performance. You ask how they saved weight between the regular turbo and the VXR. Simple, the VXR didn't come with a radio! By the way, V22VXV's "seasonal hard top" was originally silver - I had it paint-matched to the VXR's red. The other thing we did was to add some paint protection film to bonnet and a few other vulnerable areas. So thanks Jay for the memories and from one Michael to another, thanks for looking after my car - sounds like you are the ideal custodian!
Hi Mike great to hear from a previous owner I had a 220turbo when they first came out and traded it in to get the 355 Jay mentioned in the film its a fantastic car but doesn't give you the same thrills the vauxhall does so had to bite the bullet and get another vx. 😂
Hi Michael - I had all three models, one after the other! Started with the N/A normally aspirated version, then the turbo and finally the VXR. All wore the V22VXV plate :-) I've been lucky enough to drive some great cars over the years, but for raw fun, only a Caterham 7 comes close :-) I think you came up with the ideal solution by having the 355 AND the VXR :-) @@michaellangford8521
The VX220 was one of those “insider” cars; to the layman it was just a Vauxhall, but was actually a “if you know, you know” cars. And honestly, I’ve always liked the looks, I think it’s a handsome car.
They are super cool! I filmed a yellow one last month, so under rated!
My dad had a VX220 Turbo which he had modified to 250bhp by a company in Norfolk. Absolute rocket with amazing overtaking ability, although terrifying in the wet. He eventually replaced the VX with a Boxter S (as it was easier to live with) and was constantly complaining about how slow and heavy the Porsche felt in comparison. Great car!
To be honest, every car feels slow and heavy compared to an Elise or VX220. Only like a 7even or Caterham feels similar really.
I had a passenger ride in a 220 turbo when I was 19, it was like nothing else I’d ever experienced at that point
I also had a passenger ride in a 220 Turbo... it was at Bruntingthorpe airfield, during a charity day... the car gripped the track like velcro! We overtook a TVR on a bend and the TVR spun out 😂😂
You were still a virgin?
@@Lazy_Jay_Racingclassic TVR 😅
@@Lazy_Jay_Racingsounds about right 😂😂
@@Lazy_Jay_Racingyeah our car club used to do a charity day at bruntingthorpe with Asda - public passenger laps for a fiver!
I've always preferred the 220 personally. That more angular styling just hit right for me. I think I spent a lot of time in Metropolis Street Racer for the Sega Dreamcast because that had the 220 as its cover car. RIP Bizarre Creations.
Yeah i agree on the looks! Always thought it looked great
"RIP Bizarre Creations"
Indeed :(. What I wouldn't give for another PGR, or a PGR2 remaster.
They made 66, 61 red, 1 Yellow, 1 Grey, 1 Black and 1 Blue one which was numbered Number 65, I think number 00 is at he Vauxhall heritage museum. I owned the blue one for 4 years, worst decision i made was selling it for a Boxster, tried to buy it back 2 years ago but the owner was not prepared to sell and I offered him high silly money. Loved that car to bits
I had the VXR220 as an upgrade from the original 2.2 n/a. It originally ran on Yoko Advan A048 tyres and was fantastic to drive. Having previously owned an Exige S1 and an Elise Sport 190, I actually preferred the VXR and it was far quicker than the two Lotus on the road.
The VXR220 sold on collecting cars was number 52, I was the first owner of that car, I was tempted to buy it back until I saw it had been modified. I had done many enjoyable track days in the car before moving on to an Elise race car. I recollect that there was on black VXR220,. From memory the extras on the VXR was uprated turbo, Ohlin shocks, drilled brake disks, bigger wheels and the better interior. I am pretty sure they were the same weight as the regular VX220. They are much more powerful than the Elise but also much heavier, the S1 Elise is by far the nicer car to drive on track. All these cars require the right setup to be properly enjoyed.
i now own number 52. It would be good to get in touch with you Ken as i dont have a lot of details from your initial ownership
@@AdamWallace27 happy to chat, let me have your contact details
I daily drove a VX220 for many years, the sweet spot for these is a 2.2 that has been upgraded with a supercharger to approx 260bhp they are fantastic and its a fairly cheap, easy and reliable upgrade and a lot have gone this way. I think i owned it for about 8 years and sold it for 1k less than i bought it, prices have since gone up. Downside to these are they are miserable in the winter, the heaters are crap even with upgrades and they dont have aircon so although i miss it im happy to have moved on to several Evora's 90% the fun but a whole other level in comfort.
The lost Lotus you speak of, is the 340R. Seriously do none of your contacts know anyone with one??
My favourite lotus is the 340r. I'd LOVE to see an episode with one of those!!
If memory serves me well he in fact did a video on a 340R, in the same week he tested a 2-11 and a 3-11 🤔
@@harald.370 Are you suuuuuuure? I’ve been saying to him for ages he needs to test one of them due to his association with Lotus having been a previous owner….. how long ago are you talking?
Being a petrolhead and already owning an Ariel Atom, I always say to people, the best sports car I have ever driven is the Vauxhall VX220 Turbo ( I have never driven the VXR). Supple chassis, incredibly powerful and fast. Exciting & Involving. So much better than the Elises I test drove at the time. All set to purchase but the owners forum full of build quality, poor reliability and atrocious customer service form "specialised" dealerships... who had never heard of the car in most cases. The Atom is a level 10/10 car but you have to go helmeted and wear wet weather gear for a drive 99% of the time. And I don't typically like turbo cars for the reasons you mention but it seemed to work well in the VX220!
I’ve never owned the same car more than once - that was until I bought a VX220. In total I’ve owned three, one NA and two turbos. They are a horrible daily’s and need the right maintenance to keep them working as they should.... But for a car to teach you how to drive and what feel is, for the budget they can’t been beaten. I really miss not owning a VX and would love to have one again for those special drives. If you ever get the opportunity to own one just do it, make sure you know a specialist that knows their weak points and then just relish the miles. God I miss mine 😢
I've always loved the VX220 for its quirkyness. I've always bought MG Rover products since I started driving in 2010. But I've had a few customers (as a car dealer) in the last few years that have owned one, and they've raved about them. I've wanted an Elise for a few years but this review changes that. Even a standard VX220 is an option now
I'm an owner of a XRX 220, i bought it three years ago, with a blown engine, intended to get it sorted to use this summer, but things came up, so never got round to getting it fixed. Hopefully I'll get the time this autumn, winter and have it ready for next spring, summer. So finding this interesting, my friend who was MD at a Vauxhall dealer, had one new, i borrowed it for a weekend, what an incredible car
Good luck with the car I look forward to another vxr220 being alive and kicking the More of these amazing cars on the road the better 👍
Great video, highlighting a highly underrated sports car. I tried one back in the day and afterwards my E46 M3 felt slow in comparison. A great car (and way better than the Toyota-engined Elise).
I’ve driven a good variety of cars now and I can say the lotus Elise is by far one of the most communicative cars with the best feedback I’ve driven so far
Loved my Turbo, it was my first properly fast car. Careful mods will enhance it - uprated discs, Milltek exhaust, Nitrons and a Thorney remap to 295bhp. It was a very driveable little rocket. Jay you're right about it being a baby Noble - that's what I got next, but still miss the VX.
THANK YOU. I did a test drive on the standard turbo when they were new and loved it. You’re typically quite hard but fair on cars, so that fact you give it praise cements my thoughts on this car all those years ago. You actually don’t see many on the road. Great video thanks for taking the time to make it.
Lotus and GM. They have a magnificent record together!
Lotus Carlton and the VX/VXR!
This was on my shortlist in 2006. I went with a Smart Roadster Brabus and loved it for 9 years until we needed a larger family SUV. Saw a blue VX Turbo at a car show this last weekend and would add one to my fleet if I had the space. Looks so much better in person.
James, thank you for finding and reviewing this car. I’ve always been curious about these Vauxhall, Elise based cars, especially being in America. Such a cool thing! Also, do the 575 vs 550 video!
As an owner of a 2.2 NA, keep up the good work reminding people of these and push those values up!
Please, not so quick! I want to buy mine first. 🤫
Just commented, I've got one, but mine has a blown engine, hopefully I'll get it fixed this winter, ready for next spring
I'd have one of these over an Elise all day - just on looks alone.
The VXRs were good, I've driven all but the Monaro and VXR220, only sat in those. I miss the VXR track days at Thruxton and Brands. Hot passenger laps with BTCC drivers was a fab bonus, and driving cars you'd otherwise not get the chance to.
Those VXR track days were ace weren’t!
The magic of RUclips's algorithm, just a few hours ago it suggested me top gear's test of the 220 turbo, then your previous drive of the VX and now this came out
I am seven shades of green with envy right meow. I would LOVE to have a VX 220. Especially the 2.2 version. Alas I live in the states. Great video sir. Keep up the excellent videos. And maybe come stateside some day?
I was on a driving trip through Scotland a few years ago near Fort William on the A830 and over a course of a couple miles saw about 40 of the 220's. Obviously an owners club event. Looked an absolute blast! Unfortunately, I don't fit :(
Always loved these used to see one on my commute as someone used to daily there VX220 Turbo would go speeding past most days.
Always loved these!
Hi James, would love to see you do a review of the Golf 8 GTD and answer the question if Diesel still can be fun? Cheers!
Could this channel be the greatest RUclips car channel ever? If you ask me: YES.
My mate had one of these a while back and it exploded... still says it's the best car he had
Great car. Much want. I nearly bought a base VX220 7 years ago but was put off by the thought of clamshell and aluminium tub repairability, or lack thereof, in the event of a shunt. I know they're supposed to be better behaved that the Elise S1, and the S2 even, but many journalists spun them at a launch publicity event on a track...
Oh and my dream VX220 variant is the Ecospeedster! Remember that one?
I've been banned from driving for health reasons since March 2023, but I should normally get my license back in January, so I'm seriously considering treating myself to a fun car. And this is a very, very serious contender! Thanks for the review!
It's awesome fun I've had the standard turbo before I owned this vxr it's still 9.8 of the vxr fingers crossed as regards the licence and hope you love getting back behind the wheel of whatever you end up in👍
@@michaellangford8521 Thank you, much appreciated. I WILL get my license back - I'm very determined ;)
Thank you for sharing your experience James, they really are great cars.
This Michael chap sounds interesting, I like his taste in cars at least. Definitely very interested in seeing a 550v575 video.
Out of curiosity, would you be interested in visiting Ireland to test/review some cars?
I do love these!! I had a VX220T ( wish they had called the Speedster) and is without doubt the one car i wish i kept. Mine had been modified by the previous owner with a VXR turbo, uprated intercooler and Nitron Suspension mated Yokohama A08's and boy would it fly!! The Steering was unbelievable, the power was shocking!! There was literally no car, at the time( barr a Noble) which was this quick and this enjoyable. The only problem was using without thrashing it, which was very worrying for my Licence, as on a private test road 160mph waa attainable😮😅
Enjoyed the video, thank you. I own a supercharged VX, they are fab cars with a great following. Some Lotus owners have a real issue with them which always makes me laugh.
Great video, I recently filmed with a yellow VX220 up in Stirlingshire. I couldn't believe how wide the cills were and the level of skill required to get into the car with the roof on.
This takes me back to when I see two race spec cars at the college I was at 🎉
I just love it when someone that knows what they are talking about come on this youtube thing and don't talk sorry but CRAP Well done sir yet another great up load and full of great information ... Thats another pint you owe me
"just joking a bottle od whiskey would be better "
Lovely to see, thanks.
AWESOME CONTENT THANK YOU!
Thanks for the cool video as always! I have an Elise S2 rover engine and would like at some point to try the turbo version of as you say the same car.
Great review and interesting to hear your comments regarding 'Don't Need To Modify' - I totally agree and as I've been an owner for almost 20 years 😄of a completely standard VXR, it still is as good to drive today as it's always been and with the boot you can even do a weeks holiday in it without running out of clothes !!! And then you tell me it's worth about the same as I paid for it then even better. There were numbers up to 65 and one Yellow, Grey, Black & Blue then the rest were Red
i've never been your biggest fan jay, but i think i was wrong; this review is absolutely superb (although they're not all red :P) subbed
I remember the top gear test. Clarkson was very keen to point out that although the car wears griffin badges, it doesn't actually say Vauxhall on it anywhere.
I was looking for mention of badge snobbery
Great review as always - nice to hear your comments on what is a fantastic raw driving experience.
Every time I drove mine it was a real thrill, which makes it a particular thrill to see you driving my old car!
Its even more af a thrill to see you driving it on roads it knows very well - I live 5 miles from your test road and that car knows its way round every bend.
So glad to hear Michael has kept the car stock - I think it works so well as it is and more power would only really work on a track.
I sold it as I really wasn't driving it as much as I wanted to and the wife flat refused to get in after a first ride!
A wonderful road legal go-kart - wonderful to see it again and best wishes to Michael - a real car nut...
Hi thanks for the comments I am thoroughly enjoying owning your old car I bought a standard 220 turbo new when they first came out. I traded it in to get the 355 Jay previously reviewed and have missed it ever since
Hi Michael. Not sure what happened to my reply to your reply - its gone! I have found your original car mats so please get in touch if you want them...@@michaellangford8521
Hi Simon thanks for replying I'm loving the car it would be great to get the carmats not sure of the best way to get in touch with you is 🤷♂️
Thanks for getting in touch i hope you're well it would be great to have the mats. I'm thoroughly enjoying every moment of owning the car. I will hopefully be up that way again soon with James so maybe we could meet up then🤷♂️
Chavvy black wheels apart, this is a lovely wee car - once you're in it. I think the video highlight for me would have been to see you get out of it, but we didn't get to see that.
I loved the look of these at the time, though they are a bit dated now. I still associate them with Metropolis Street Racer ok the Dreamcast, where it was the car on the cover, and in the intro video.
I feel they have aged much better in the looks dept than the s1 elise
Would really love to see the videos on the 355 F1 and 575 F1.
Would also LOVE to drive any VX or VXR220. Of course we never got them here in the US.
Stay blessed and don't give up! Things are tough right now, but if I can get through this. You can get through this. Just keep your head up and keep moving forward. God is with you every step of the way. Don't give up on your dreams. Keep fighting for what you want. Believe in yourself. You can do anything you set your mind to.
@Jay Emm On Cars, just a correction regarding the VX220 being built on the same chassis as the Elise S2. That'll not exactly true. The VX220 chassis, which incidentally is shared with the Lotus Europa S, has a slightly longer wheelbase by 30mm and lower door sills. I owned a Europa S about 10 years ago and own an Elise S3 now, and the Elise sills do seem higher to me.
My brother, also a Michael, bought this car brand new having previously also had the non turbo and turbo versions, both of which were yellow. All three cars had this number plate, V22 VXV. When my brother moved to America, he left the car here and I looked after it for him and he would fly over to do the odd track day. Incidentally, one thing you said is incorrect, although the vast majority were red, there were a few in other colours, from memory, blue, yellow and black.
Always liked these
YES WE WILL SEE THAT VIDEO
Man, seeing what cars are great deals across the pond makes me jealous - picking one of these up in Canada sure isn't the bargain it is over there (if you can find one).
If I had a time machine and influence, I'd build a variant of this, call it the Pontiac Fiero, and sell it in the US! Surely it would've greatly benefited Lotus.
TY J, shame there aren't more around! 🙏🙏
I bought a supercharged 2.2 last week after not been able justify price for a lotus. 230 bhp and cost half the price. Great little car
Is the supercharger setup based on the OEM setup out of an Cobalt SS?
@@hedonisticvanity yes it is 😃
Yes we wanna see that video.
Sad the US market never got these.
Was discussing failed marketing campaigns with a friend recently following a question he'd had at a job interview. Best example I could give was the awful VX220 advert featuring Griff Rhys Jones in his underpants. It killed any chance the car had the moment it aired. You can find it on RUclips but make sure you have the eye bleach handy for afterwards. Don't say you haven't been warned.
Think it's aged well looks wise and prefer it to the 4C with its budgie beak front end.
Very true. Hard enough for a MoR company to sell a sports car but even harder when they shit the marketing bed
The only reason anyone outside of Europe knows about this car is because of need for speed Hot pursuit 2
I'd go for the 2.2 and supercharge it because when the Z20 is mapped, you tend to get a big thump of torque when the turbo comes up to boost.
Having driven a mates 220 Turbo, I thought it was excellent apart from the fact it has the wrong type of engine. Certainly effective enough but it's all about the mid-range and doesn't make the best of noises. I can't help feel the K series and Toyota engine in the Elise is much more appropriate, even if not as fast outright.
Saw one on the road this week!
Reminds me uf the saturn sky redline in many ways. Pretty cool little car this is
Yes please.
We all want to see a 550 vs 575 show.
A long time ago, I saw a Lotus 62, the grandfather of what you have here.
I liked these cars from back in the day
Really nice yellow turbo k trader at the moment for 17.5 someone has to buy it, lovely car for that money
Yes, I would like to see a 550 vs 575 video please!
My neighbour had both versions! He sold his Elise, for silly ££££'s and his VXR is still his fave. summer daily D!
PS. The VXR is no as pretty, but quicker and a far better drive!
I used to have a 2.0Tubby when i was 20, jesus 16 years ago, but what a car this was, ive had some beautiful cars since but I will always truely miss my VX220. Debating on an Exige cup or Evora 430 for the weekends at the moment but my god both are great cars and I just cant decide which one I want
I went from a supercharged vx220 to an Evora S, i now have an Evora GT410 sport and i love it, still miss the VX sometimes though, the 430 is a beast do it
Yes! I would love to see the 550 vs 575 😃
Love the VX220, I hope James can bring it on with the Ferrari's video. 🏎🏎
Need more like this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A mate of mine briefly had a VX220 Turbo, until an old duffer in a Micra turned in front of it and wiped the whole driver's side off it.
It was amazing. The harder you drove it, the better it was.
One of the few cars which had ISE.
Instant Somewhere Elseness.
i've always wanted to drive one of these
This is the car I'm aiming for. Probably the 2.2 NA at first. Insurance is still high for me, so I'm happily sticking with another of Martin Smith's designs - the glorious Tigra Twintop 1.8. Same indicator stalks as a VX, so that and the rooflessness are two parts of the VX220 experience I am already getting 😏
That's it look at the up side 😉👍 you'll have one one day mate
I had a NA and currently have a heavily modded turbo - and I'd argue I had more fun in the NA - was just more more drivable for your average driver. So you won't be disappointed with an NA
@@jamesraisonx well, I've since found I can fit the inlet mani and throttle body from a GM A24 engine to my Z18XE and later, to the Z22 of an NA VX220, so that's my current A plan. Glad to hear your input, reaffirming :)
sadly never made it to Oz. Thanks for the video.
It would be cool to see Lotus make Esprit again..
I remember booking in demo drive with a view to buying one many years ago. Driving to the otherside of london 1 hr away. But I just could not get my legs inside it or under the steering wheel. I tried everything for 10 mins. Even trying the passenger seat without pedals or a steering wheel in the way was difficult. Im 6ft 3in, if Lotus added a few cm between the pedals and seat then 6ft + drivers could fit inside.
I have a supercharged 220 , about 240 bhp, and its fast lol,love them
Very good looking car IMO. Only issue are those plastic looking mirrors.
Do I see a little of the T.V.R. concept creeping in here ????
Why didn't lotus use Honda vtec for series 2
Yes for 575 v 550. Just before Covid I nearly bought a 575 for 42k that looked excellent value, just a funny light blue colour and LHD. If I’d only pulled the trigger. My back went and had an operation instead.
I suspect that the tramadol has transported you to another planet. Fly high.
I still love my Speedster!
4:00 - I like the looks of the VX220 too. Elise III is great, but VX better than I or II...
I live not too far from Lotus and over the years have know and chatted with many of their employees . Early 2000's Whilst talking to a member of the management team it was revealed to me that Vauxhall were being extremely difficult over quality control of the VX's insisting on levels even higher than their own factory could churn out the consensus of opinion at Lotus was that teetering on the verge of bankruptcy Vauxhall were doing their best to push them over the edge a rather typical American business model did GM regret selling off Lotus???? What ever I think both Lotus and their customers were to benefit in the long run as their general standards did quite dramatically improve.
I went on a tour of the Lotus factory when both were being made. The VX220 went through a booth where they were checked over by the RAC who had been contracted by Vauxhall to undertake final quality control.
@@darrenpeters1566 What year was that?
@@davidprocter3578 About 2000
@@darrenpeters1566 thanks Darren my memory not so hot anymore I also met a bloke from Lotus who had been brought in from another manufacturer in quality control dont really remember what he had to say other than they were wrestling quite a lot of issues trying to keep up with vauxhalls expectations. but dont rember the year had to have been pre 2005.most likely 2002 or 3.
Yeah, thanks for this 🙄 (....rush to Autotrader) these really appeal to me for some reason - love them
The VXR220 is far more attractive than the Elise. Only 6 years until we can import these bad boys. We got something similar in the USA called the Pontiac Solstice (based on the Opel GT called the Saturn Sky over here)..
The Kappa platform has nothing in common with the Elise platform. Vaguely similar styling between the Sky and the VXR, but that's about it. I currently own an S1 Elise and a Solstice GXP in the states.
Every car should be like this car or the MX5
Can't remember the last time I saw one. Rare as hens teeth. They always seemed to be yellow coloured when I saw one.
This was one of the dream cars from NFS Hot Pursuit 2. Wish I could get one in the US ):
As from 2026 you can import.
This VXR 220 looks like the platform that GM sold under the Saturn division here in the US as the Sky. And sold under the Pontiac division, Note: Saturn Pontiac & Oldsmobile GM division's are now defunct.
The Opel GT was the badge engineered version of the Sky/Solstice. While vaguely similar styling, the Kappa platform and Elise platform are completely different. I currently own an S1 Elise and Solstice GXP in the states.
nobody dislikes this mans videos
a VX220 would be the only vauxhall i could ever see myself buying
Try a CDTI Vectra.
They were fun.
We had the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky, which I believe were versions of this car in North America.
No, the engine is at the other end.
The new Opel GT was based on the Solstice/sky platform, but that was released after the vx220/speedster.
This one was Europe only.