7 replies to this topic

[Purebob]

I had a long final test drive booked in a VX 220 this morning to decide for sure that the VX is a genuine 4 year ownership proposition. It was interesting because I drove the Teg to the dealer and back along virtually the same route used on the test drive so it provided an interesting back to back comparison. The route was pretty much the A449 Kiddy/ Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton road and several of the scratching routes nearby. weather - perfect & sunny with care taken to avoid frost in the shade. The trip out in the Integra was fun: even the familiarity bred over two years of ownership has not dimmed the pleasure of hustling the Integra around good roads. The steering sharpens up under power and the Teg carves its way around bends utterly adjustable on the throttle. In the powerband the car axle tramps and wheelspins over wet patches in first and second, but this doesn't really spoil the fun. Overtaking is the wearing exercise it always was: holding the car two gears lower than is instinctive to ensure instant power when needed - and the burst of power is gone with the limiter almost as soon as it arrives. Drop out of the powerband and it takes a 2 gears downshift to get back in. Today, great fun, but when just getting from A to B, a pain in the arse. The Teg is planted at all times: the rear remaining glued at all (sensible) speeds. Lateral grip is seemingly endless. The ride is pattery and annoying in traffic at slow speeds, but gets more compliant and sensible at speed. Does it get any better than this ? Soon, the fun's over as I arrive at CD Bramalls. We scrape layers of frost off the Europa Blue VX220 on the rooftop carpark: gleaming and dripping in the winter sunshine this really is a breathtakingly lovely car. This demonstrator is in Europa blue (my fave) and has a silver hardtop fitted. Simon, the sales rep, is the Lad who lunched a VX Turbo at last weeks' Barcelona launch so I know I'm going to enjoy this test ! Climbing in, while never easy, is easier than I remembered (but I've lost 30lbs since then - might have helped!). With even the diminutive Simon in the passenger seat space is at a premium and elbows knock while we get used to each other in the car. The ride is firm but much more supple than the integra around town, the driving position, left elbow notwithstanding, is perfect. Loads of leg room & headroom. I notice for the first time I can't see the top of he clocks...ls this an issue I wonder ? Gearbox is nice but not in the Integra's league. Accurate but not so satisfying in use as the Tegs. In minutes we're out of Wolvo on the fast dual carriageway & I open up the VX. What a fast FAST car this is ! It feels like it accelerates MUCH faster than the Integra everywhere but the missing 2k revs at the top end. Real poke is available from 2500 revs. I recall the engine being dull sounding last time, but here it screams and snarls: lovely ! Engine and roadnoise is far better suppressed than the Tegs but wind noise is worse over 80 mph, even with the hardtop on. Overall , much more civilised than the ITR to cruise in. I approach a largeish empty roundabout so I drop a gear and gun around. WHAT a feeling ! The car comes alive under power, and the steering chatters constantly about the state of grip and poise at the front, while the power grasps the rear and steers it like a tiller on a boat ! This is great ! Hammer up the dual carriage way and there are lights on red. Boo. I look at the interior - it really is fantastic IMO. NOT so pretty as the Elise's but no worse - DIFFERENT. Rear visibility is much better than the Integra despite the seats obscuring the rear window - in the Teg the spoiler cuts across exactly wherecars appear in the mirror....grrr... We're off again, and I gun it from the lights - it lifts my internal organs until I change gear and back off. It feels THAT fast. It feels much more than only 1.5 seconds quicker than the Teg to 100. It also feels solid, carved from a single billet of Aluminium. Not in any way flimsy or plasticky. Pehaps its exactly opposite to Japanese car design. OK time to turn right by the old Stewponey and hammer along the A 448 - a benchmark road for handling locally. Its a revelation, the Integra is humbled by the grip, the poise and sheer capability of the VX, its eagerness is overwhelming. I whoop ! The salesman laughs ! sh*t ! a horse ! I stamp on the brakes, they are wonderful and I slow down without drama to pass the trotting animal, how odd it is that they can sh*t while walking along .. Must try it... anyway. The view under the hardtop brow is not good for a tallish lad (I have a long body for being only 6' tall) but its not really important. Every bend, straight & undulation is a visceral pleasure now, absolutely no body roll, nothing you don't tell it to do. In no time we're back at Bramall's, I knock the front numberplate off while going up the carpark ramp (D'OH!) park up and climb out (getting easier !). I look back at the dripping car, ticking with effort and shining in the sun. How can I not have one ? Hands shaken, back in the Teg for the journey home - taking the same roundabout as in the VX I can't believe the body roll ! Nor can I believe how tame the acceleration feels even in the giggle zone, and how the steering tugs under power. Its all vague and disconnected after the VX. After a couple of miles I'm hurtling round familar bends, having a whale of a time once more. Familiarity means I'm far more confident in the Teg than the VX, but the differences are glaring. The Teg is a fantastically capable roadcar but can't hold a candle to the VX. My order's going in as soon as I can see what a Europa blue VX looks like with red leather !

[VEX]

That'll be a +ve review then . Fantastic writing bob, we are all there with you, just wait untill the roof comes off . Got mine off for the first time last Friday, it really lifts the spirits and reminds you that Spring and Summer are just round the corner. But Blue with Red Leather! Weird . Blue and Blue or Blue and Beige that much better. Cw

[Ricky2772]

yeah, if you enjoyed with roof-on, casket-effect, wait until you can go topless!! ...they'll have to pry you away! I have to add that once you install lowered suspensions, all those tactile/telepathic feelings are enhanced x10...

[Purebob]

Quick note- I ordered my VX today for delivery in June (when my current car lease expires). Apparrently VXs are special order only now until November when no more orders will be taken for the NA car. I'm just in time then ! I might have one of the last NA VXs ever !

[Sicey]

Good review bob Yes the special order stuff was mentioned I think in that last official press review. Regards, John.

[garyk220]

Apparrently VXs are special order only now until November when no more orders will be taken for the NA car.

Autotrader only has 15 VXes under £17.5k. With production of the 2.2 effectively stopped hopefully we'll see the value increase a bit as this stock of used VXes is sold over the next few months. That's the theory anyway, who knows what will happen in the next few months

Planning to sell my VX soon, so I'm tracking the prices in Autotrader almost daily

[stevemgvx]

Great review Bob, You'll also find that the wind noise seems - strangely enough - better with the roof off. You don't get the drumming effect. Its a great feeling when you brave it on a crisp winter morning as long as you don't mind the stares - some of admiration others of distain - comes with the territory I guess. Cheers Steve

[BogBrush]

What wind noise? All I hear is the exhaust and the filter btw the only frustrating part of owning a vx is sitting in traffic (coz you just want to open her up ) and having the roof on over the winter period. Can't wait for spring and summer!

Edited by BogBrush, 19 February 2003 - 11:32 PM.