12 replies to this topic

[Captain Vimes]

So here goes. After 4.5 years of ownership and almost exactly 10k miles my VX is up for sale.

 

Car Details

• 61k miles (only 1.5k in the last 12 months)
• October 2017 vx calendar entry
• Owned by me since Jan 2013
• 6 former keepers
• HPI clear
• Stg 2 supercharged with 250bhp
• 12 Months MOT
• 2 keys and 2 fobs with Red card & ECU code
• The last 4 years of the cars history covered in project thread (see here)

Body work

• Europa Blue
• OEM Europa blue hardtop
• NEW Lotus soft top in blue, from the lotus motorsport auctions last year. Used once before putting hard top back on. Cost £1k+ from Lotus directly (apparently)

Interior

• Full leather interior with leather door cards, seats & centre consol
• Carbon fibre binnacle cover
• New heater from Lotus motorsport auction fitted in the last couple of years. It works well enough but don't expect normal car levels of air flow!

Wheels / Suspension

• Nitron Street series dampers. Fitted at 51k miles
• Currently running 525/425 spring rates but will supply 350/450 as well in case you want to drop back
• TD wheels with Avon ZZR tyres. Tyres were replaced last year and have done 2 track days. Cost £700 and plenty of life left
• Uprated toe links and HCB with high tensile bolts with threads correctly tapped and bolts torqued

Supercharger Conversion

• Converted at 54k miles in July-14 by me 
• ECU modified with dutch software
• Revs limited to 6800rpm
• 260bhp (best run on a cool evening) and the most linear torque of any vx SC conversion I've seen (see graph)
• Pro-alloy chargecooler rad and alloy main rad. Single fan to aid air flow
• Dual pass mod on charge cooler inlet
• VXR injectors (running sensible duty cycle)
• Turbo back box with pre-cat removed from NA downpipe
• 1-off SC Belt protector
• Poly engine mounts front and rear

Brakes

• 4-Channel ABS, purchased new from Lotus directly
• EP Ally Belled discs on the front, Brembo standard on the rear with <5k miles
• Pagid RS14 pads all round with plenty of life
• Brake cooling pipes to front discs

Servicing bits:

• Full details and log in my project thread but key bits below. I also have a fat folder with receipts and dates/mileage for all the work
• 6/17 - 60,803 miles, Oil and filter change (Shell Helix Ultra)
• 10/15 - 58k miles - Cam chain changed by vocky
• N/S wheel bearing recently fitted using Elise parts (FAG) bearing (less than 20 miles ago)
• 2/5/15 - All ball joints replaced and new rear wheel bearings (EP again). Also coated wishbones in hammerite and setup the suspension
• 01/16 - New bosch battery with 4 year guarantee
• 29/11/15 - Drive belt and tensioner
• 6/14  54k miles- Oil & filter change
• 9/12 - 51k miles - New steering rack from Lotus, nitrons fitted, setup, oil & fiter (have a £2.5k bill for this service.
•  

MOT mileage

• 2017: 60,747
• 2016: 59,207
• 2015: 56,398
• 2014: 53,882
• 2013: 51,902
• 2012: 49,290
• 2011: 42,386

 

 Bad Bits

• The drivers seat stitching has come undone between the back and the base. On the plus side the bolster is in good shape
• Rear O/S light needs re-sealing
• Brake calipers are different colours. I painted one rear red and I ran out of paint so used silver on the other side. Never got round to sorting it
• Usual stone chips to the bluff front but nothing unexpected for age/mileage 
•  

Very fast car that I've used for weekend fun and 3-4 track days per year. I've lapped Snetterton in 2:14 and Brands in 54.7s and regularly overtake all manor of other expensive machinery.

 

Price is £12.5k and car is located in Grays, Essex

 

I've always wanted a vx220 and have loved owning it and it's so much better with the supercharger.  It's been my weekend and track car but having purchased a Caterham to go racing I'm not using the vx on track so it's become just a weekend car. With 3 children and weekends busy with racing it's just not being used so it's time to say good bye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calendar shot:

 

Power Graph:

 

This was my last time out on track and the cars only done a couple of hundred miles since then. It gives you an idea of the cars pace vs the various Lotus offerings:

 

[g1977]

looks like a great car good luck with the sale Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk

[Strugs]

Great ad! Lot of car for the money, is that. And a top bloke to buy stuff from to boot!

 

GLWTS Captain!  

[SteveA]

Just as a reference, I've been on track with this car at two different Nationals and can attest to it being one of the quickest VX220's I've seen.

[Foxy]

I suspect that's a function of the driver, not the car! (and it's clearly a good car)

[SteveA]

I suspect that's a function of the driver, not the car! (and it's clearly a good car)

 

Absolutely, but the car under the driver has to be a good one to be really quick.

[james_ly]

I've been out in this car and the engine is very smooth, and not deafening like some other VX220s.

[Captain Vimes]

Thanks for the positive comments. As for not deafening... I tried a noisy exhaust and I must be getting too old as it was just annoying. I'm not sure these sc engines make a very nice exhaust noise. I think it's a perfect balance between road and track as it is - the kids fall asleep in the pax seat on longer journeys but I can also drive to a track and be at the sharp end of the pace. .

[MartinS]

Almost tempted back!.   That level of VX is just perfect. Its a good one and hope you have good luck selling it.

 

Martin S

 

Edited by MartinS, 05 July 2017 - 03:09 PM.

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

I can vouch for this VX I have worked on it in the passed, its a good example and well looked after.

 

Shame to see you selling

 

 

[Captain Vimes]

Sale agreed and deposit on route to my account. It'll be a sad day when it finally goes

[Dan r]

Looks like someone's got a good one there.

[Captain Vimes]

SOLD Finally gone to the new owner today... It's off to Europe to be converted to LHD and hopefully a long life retired in the sun.

Edited by Captain Vimes, 04 September 2017 - 06:44 AM.