Does anyone have any first hand experience of the above? More specifically the turbo version of the VX220?

The reason for my question is that I really miss my S2000 and I would like another 2 seater toy so I was looking at either another S2000 or a VX220 turbo and would like to know how they compare?

I would use the car weekends only and a few trackdays.

 

Robin, speak with Stevesc2 as I believe his sister has one.

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Last time at was at Oulton, there was one parked behind the paddock... well, had been towed off the track, revealing substantial crash damage. Classic tank slapper at Druids. Tricky cars so I believe, but actually rewarding if you learn to drive it. A lesser powered Elise is supposed to be better, more balanced.
Roofs leak (alot!) and you can get woes with water annoying the wiring loom/plugs. Just down to design flaws from Vauxhall, which is expected. The engine, although torquey, lacks character of 6 pots and VTEC. But by god its a car that pushes on. (I used to sell them years ago when I worked for Vauxhall).
The non-turbo is worth a look, the 2.2 sounds pretty meaty for a 4 pot but I guess it might not set you pants on fire if you want a blower rasping behind you.
I feel they are extremely overpriced, and you pay for the weird design & speed. But... its an interesting Q-car roadster

 

Someone on here had a black turbo , black wheels. He raved about it

here's his thread

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/386...1#entry7628364

 

The 2.2 is supposed to be the better balanced version due to wheel size and respond well to ITBs. Speed wise the stock 2.2 is similar to an Integra type R.

 

One of the few cars I've tracked. I really liked it on the road and on the track. Trouble is, most seem to have led a pretty hard life and lots have been crashed. I like them a lot but would do a lot of checks before parting with the cash. They're also not THAT good and are getting on a bit so some asking prices are a bit ambitious.

 

I can't comment on what they're like to drive, only been a passenger in one, can only comment on the engines.

Don't bother with the Z22SE if you are wanting to chase power, very little scope for improvement unless you S/C it, and the gains aren't that fantastic either... as standard 136bhp...

Turbo Z20LET, much more scope for improvement, chuck about 2-3 grand at it and you're looking at a safe 300bhp....

Problems as with all Z20LET's is turbo seals fail, valve stem oil seals fail, Piston no 3 tends to lose a lot of compression due to the design of the turbo and retaining a lot of heat. Engine mounts fail particularly in mapped vx220's

 

I must say I have been looking at these the past few days. There is an N/A one with 170bhp for sale on PH

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...70-bhp/1264433

I think it'll be a bit of a let down TBH.

 

I'd plump for an early S2 or S1 elise if it were my money. I like them, but it was always be viewed as the poor relation to the Loti imo and for a 'no compromise' car... it is a little compromised.

I had a good session with one at Castle Coombe, it was quite heavily modded (turbo) and running around 250bhp (according to the owner), running on Nitrons with R888's... when we got back to the paddock, he asked what tyres I was running (RE050) and if my S was stock (it was) as he couldn't understand why he could not shake me off and even struggled to stay in front

I put it down to the driver.

 

I'd pay alot of attention to this kind of unreliability... worth noting and factoring in whether its worth a purchase. For track though Robin, i'm sure you've encountered a few owners that have one? Get a passenger in one
For the record, the 2.2 is 148ps (145bhp) and plenty quick enough for a countryside blat.