47 replies to this topic

[YawningHippo]

Hello Everyone Newbie here saying hello! I was wondering what you opinions are regarding the best route towards owning and keeping a VX220? As the title suggests, I was wondering if it would be best to buy a NA version with about 50-60k on the clock for around 7-9k and then turbo charge it (I would prefer this over a SC) or just spend around 3-5k more and just go for the turbo from the off? having played with Renault 5 GT Turbos for over 10 years I am used to the modifying seen although the GT is very simple to work on with very little cost involved. The wife wanted to convert our garage so the GT no longer had a home so sadly I had to sell it. However I still want a toy and the VX220 looks like something that I can enjoy everyday with out having to worry about it rusting. The GT spent 80% of its time in the garage which basically meant it was pointless for me to own anyway! I just want something reliable that I can enjoy whenever I feel like it. My father owns a Caterham which he lets me drive every now and then. I think that this is an amazing car also and I am considering one of these as an option but having owned GT Turbos, I do enjoy the boost so the VX220 is my preference (besides, I do have access to a Caterham anyway :-)) Please let me all know your thoughts along with any information regarding how hard or easy these things are to work on or to get them worked on. Regards, Rob Ps - if anyone has one that may fit the bill then please let me know. I am not I any rush (yes I know the price of these are slowly rising) but as I am intending on keeping the car I want to be sure that I am getting the right one for me and in really good condition. Cat D is an option providing the price reflects this.

[WrightStuff]

http://www.vx220.org...to-turbocharge/

[YawningHippo]

http://www.vx220.org...to-turbocharge/

Thank you for the link. How much would it cost to Turbo Charge or SC a NA? I have owned a supercharged car before, a Toyota Corolla Compressor. I was not overly impressed with it as I could not really notice it! Maybe a VX with a supercharger on it would be a whole different animal.... I have done some reading and it does appear that using a SC is the way forward but if the cost to turbo charge one is only 1k -2k more, I would still rather that...

Edited by YawningHippo, 15 February 2015 - 03:13 PM.

[Dollon]

 

http://www.vx220.org...to-turbocharge/

Thank you for the link. How much would it cost to Turbo Charge or SC a NA? I have owned a supercharged car before, a Toyota Corolla Compressor. I was not overly impressed with it as I could not really notice it! Maybe a VX with a supercharger on it would be a whole different animal.... I have done some reading and it does appear that using a SC is the way forward but if the cost to turbo charge one is only 1k -2k more, I would still rather that...

 

 

Having been in the same position as you, I currently have an NA car, I intended to turbo it before I purchased it.

 

My last car was a mitsubishi Evo VII and I'm impressed with the performance of the VX, it doesn't have the same kick but it's nippy.

 

The way the car is, it would benefit more from a supercharger than a turbo IMO, and this is now what I intend to do to my car over this year.

 

Cost involved in charing are vastly different from what I had invisinged given my experience with them in the past.

If you are capable of doing most of the work yourself. You can turbo or supercharge for circa £1200-1500 + mapping. (this is what my research has led to me find)

 

If you intend to have someone else do the work, it's a different ballpark

 

Hope I helped

[Ormes]

I would say it ultimately boils down to your end game... if you would rather end with a TCed VX, then buy a Turbo... if you would rather end with an SC then buy an NA, get used to the mid-engined RWD layout and then SC if you desire.  I personally wouldn't faff around TCing a 2.2 as it would ultimately be cheaper in the long run to buy a Turbo in the first place.  Ask local members for a passenger ride in both to decide.

 

Again, CAT Ds will save you money and you won't necessarily be getting any less of a motor, as long as the repairs are well documented.

 

Welcome

[YawningHippo]

thanks Dollon and Ormes for your input, much appreciated. I think that it is a good idea to have a ride in both, especially as I do not think that there are any local to me for sale! is there anyone from Kent who fancies taking me for a spin? There will be a bacon sandwich in it for you!

[pete-r]

Maybe I'm missing a trick but what would the advantage be of turbocharging a 2.2 over an OEM turbo? Just seems like a huge amount of ball ache for the same delivery as the turbo. You could buy a turbo and tune that, never seen a twin turbo VX...? Regarding the sc difference to the NA, it's massive in terms of pace but it's not got lag obviously. It just feels like it's got a bigger cc engine fitted and apart from the mega whine you'd never know.

[YawningHippo]

Maybe I'm missing a trick but what would the advantage be of turbocharging a 2.2 over an OEM turbo? Just seems like a huge amount of ball ache for the same delivery as the turbo. You could buy a turbo and tune that, never seen a twin turbo VX...? Regarding the sc difference to the NA, it's massive in terms of pace but it's not got lag obviously. It just feels like it's got a bigger cc engine fitted and apart from the mega whine you'd never know.

Hello. No there is no missed trick, I was just looking to maybe edge myself in gradually. Also improving the power as you go along continually feels like a new car. :-) On Paper the performance of the turbo in my opinion is quite enough! I highly doubt that I would seek more but then again, everyone says that I bet. Thank you for the input, maybe I would just be better off looking for a turbo and just enjoy it. Hopefully there will be a kind member who will take me as a passenger...

[Ormes]

 

Maybe I'm missing a trick but what would the advantage be of turbocharging a 2.2 over an OEM turbo? Just seems like a huge amount of ball ache for the same delivery as the turbo. You could buy a turbo and tune that, never seen a twin turbo VX...? Regarding the sc difference to the NA, it's massive in terms of pace but it's not got lag obviously. It just feels like it's got a bigger cc engine fitted and apart from the mega whine you'd never know.

Hello. No there is no missed trick, I was just looking to maybe edge myself in gradually. Also improving the power as you go along continually feels like a new car. :-) On Paper the performance of the turbo in my opinion is quite enough! I highly doubt that I would seek more but then again, everyone says that I bet. Thank you for the input, maybe I would just be better off looking for a turbo and just enjoy it. Hopefully there will be a kind member who will take me as a passenger...

 

 

Ha ha

 

I said I was happy with the standard car when I bought it, and that it would stay as a daily driver... Now it is a weekend car and has 50 more horses and load of other little tweeks such as suspension and brake pads etc... The other advantage of a Z20LET over a turbo'd 2.2 is that the origins of the engine (Astra GSI) mean that there are loads of "off the shelf" mods available.

 

 

[speedster]

ITBs might be an option for a upgrade path

[CHILL Gone DUTCH]

 

Maybe I'm missing a trick but what would the advantage be of turbocharging a 2.2 over an OEM turbo? Just seems like a huge amount of ball ache for the same delivery as the turbo. You could buy a turbo and tune that, never seen a twin turbo VX...? Regarding the sc difference to the NA, it's massive in terms of pace but it's not got lag obviously. It just feels like it's got a bigger cc engine fitted and apart from the mega whine you'd never know.

Hello. No there is no missed trick, I was just looking to maybe edge myself in gradually. Also improving the power as you go along continually feels like a new car. :-) On Paper the performance of the turbo in my opinion is quite enough! I highly doubt that I would seek more but then again, everyone says that I bet. Thank you for the input, maybe I would just be better off looking for a turbo and just enjoy it. Hopefully there will be a kind member who will take me as a passenger...  

  Ha ha   I said I was happy with the standard car when I bought it, and that it would stay as a daily driver... Now it is a weekend car and has 50 more horses and load of other little tweeks such as suspension and brake pads etc... The other advantage of a Z20LET over a turbo'd 2.2 is that the origins of the engine (Astra GSI) mean that there are loads of "off the shelf" mods available.    

I was also very happy with my standard NA 147hp now I own a 320+ hp Harrop SC which I'm also happy with but might cost me my marriage

[pete-r]

If you buy a turbo and want more there are lots of upgrades to keep you interested.

[vocky]

don't build what you can already buy, especially when it comes to a vx220 

 

Hardly any turbo converions have been done to the z22se engine, whereas the z20let has a huge following and turbo tuning goodies.

 

z22se and SC - that is the way to go 

[Nev]

I think it boils down to what final power you want, if you want 250 BHP then a S/C vx is the way ahread, if you want 300 then a TCed Vx.

 

good luck.

[Bumblebee]

Depends what power delivery you prefer. I'm a bit biased as I have a turbo but I'm happy I went for the Turbo as I'd miss the "punch" that you get from a turbo'd car which I find makes it more fun. Especially with 300hp and 345lbft torque If going for a turbo Vx I'd personally want it 240hp at least as I find a standard turbo Vx feels very flat

Edited by Bumblebee, 15 February 2015 - 06:41 PM.

[YawningHippo]

Thank again people, some really useful information here. So my two option are to either get a NA and supercharge it in the future or go straight out a buy a Turbo. If I was to pay a tuner for a SC conversion, how much would that set me back? How much should I look at paying for a NA or a turbo with 60k or less on the clock? There are a few on eBay (NA) for under 7k but they look a bit worn. There is a nice blue one for closer to 9k. The Turbos are around 12k on there. Ideally I would like to buy a low owner, below 60k miles from a trusted member on here if possible (standard for Turbo) but there do not appear to be many available....

[turboluca]

Depends what power delivery you prefer. I'm a bit biased as I have a turbo but I'm happy I went for the Turbo as I'd miss the "punch" that you get from a turbo'd car which I find makes it more fun. Especially with 300hp and 345lbft torque If going for a turbo Vx I'd personally want it 240hp at least as I find a standard turbo Vx feels very flat

Hit the nail on the head there aimy !

[Bumblebee]

There's been a few Renault 5's/Renaults in my family ;)you won't regret a turbo Vx as there certainly a lot of fun like a r5

Edited by Bumblebee, 15 February 2015 - 06:51 PM.

[smiley]

So my two option are to either get a NA and supercharge it in the future or go straight out a buy a Turbo. If I was to pay a tuner for a SC conversion, how much would that set me back?

 

Here´s an indication of the costs.

(Joe and Lee do conversions also for a lot less then a tuner)

 

[YawningHippo]

There's been a few Renault 5's/Renaults in my family ;)you won't regret a turbo Vx as there certainly a lot of fun like a r5

Now that is a fine set of cars! Is that a Renault Turbo or a Turbo 2?

Yeah my GT Turbo really took off when the boost kicked in. It was only 170bhp but it only weighted 830kg! If the VX turbo is anything like the GT with how it delivers it's power, it will be fantastic fun! I really do need to get in one ASAP to see...