19 replies to this topic

[DanLyon]

Hey guys, New to the forum and seriously thinking of getting a n/a vx. At the moment my sensible side says go for a mr2 roadster...because they're cheaper to buy and insure...sound a look a little gay tho. I'm really wanting a vx but will have to extend the loan to get one. How much are your typical service costs (main dealer and the like...not a diy jobbie!), and how much are parts etc? I wanna be able to drive the car, not jus have it sit on the drive (as is my current car) cos I can't afford to run or fix it. Any advice would be much appreciated. Cheers Dan

Edited by DanLyon, 02 April 2007 - 07:33 PM.

[johnaachen]

Hey guys,
New to the forum and seriously thinking of getting a n/a vx. At the moment my sensible side says go for a mr2 roadster...because they're cheaper to buy and insure...sound a look a little gay tho. I'm really wanting a vx but will have to extend the loan to get one. How much are your typical service costs (main dealer and the like...not a diy jobbie!), and how much are parts etc? I wanna be able to drive the car, not jus have it sit on the drive (as is my current car) cos I can't afford to run or fix it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Dan

Service costs are about £150-200/10k miles or year unless its a major service and then its a little more. If you buy an NA then you dont need a chain change until 60K? (probably wrong there!). Have a search and you will find more information.

In summary though services are as cheap as any other car - its only oil and plugs afterall

As for parts it depends what you mean....pads and discs are as cheap as any other car nuless you want to spend £££s. I drive my car every day and have done 18K in the last 15 months.....I have spent maybe £1200 on it....that was new discs and pads (£360), a major service (£460) and some new rears (£230)....which is only what you would spend on any other car

Hope that this helps...as I said though use the search button and it will answer most of your questions

[K19RKS]

Hey guys,
New to the forum and seriously thinking of getting a n/a vx. At the moment my sensible side says go for a mr2 roadster...because they're cheaper to buy and insure...sound a look a little gay tho. I'm really wanting a vx but will have to extend the loan to get one. How much are your typical service costs (main dealer and the like...not a diy jobbie!), and how much are parts etc? I wanna be able to drive the car, not jus have it sit on the drive (as is my current car) cos I can't afford to run or fix it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Dan

Hi,

I have just broke my bank to buy an N/A and after owning it for a little over a week it was the best decision I have ever made, an MR2 roadster simply would not compare. Make no mistake they are far from practicle, with very very little storage space or compartments, the boot really being the only one. It is the best car I have ever driven, a proper drivers car. I am 27 with a malicious damage claim on insurance last April, parking in a garage in Derby and insurance is £700 with direct line, prob could get cheaper though. Its just had its 27000 mile service, which was £278 @ Vauxhall, its consistently doing 28 mpg but thats prob a bit under what it could do as im still a little excited that i own it. Tyres will cost about £600 a full set (i believe) but the fronts will not wear out for ages as no weight and the drive is obviously at the rear. If you go to the buyers guide on here, its really useful.
http://www.vx220.org...le.php?artid=14

[chuno]

In sports car terms, running costs are as cheap as chips

[d34no]

My VX220 turbo is cheaper to run than my old 172! Services are £150-200 for a "normal" service. A set of tyres is under £400 (search on here for "potenza" for best deals) You will get 30-35 mpg out of it!! My insurance is £800. I am 22, 3 yrs NCB and a fault write off 4 yrs ago living in central london. That's with elephant. Hope this helps.

[jazzyjeff]

an MR2 roadster simply would not compare. Make no mistake they are far from practicle, with very very little storage space or compartments, the boot really being the only one.

I assume you are referring to the MR2 here, since the VX has superior luggage capacity
Passenger compartment storage is raised above abysmal if you fit a storage pack

JJ

[DanLyon]

Cheers for the help guys. I'm only 23 and the cheapest insurance was £1200 which wasn't too bad for the car. Only got one years no claims tho. At the moment could really only stretch to around £9.5k. Seen a couple for 9k on pistonheads but not sure about the state of them really. If needs be i'd rather buy an mr2 for the mo and then wait til I can spend a bit more and get a cleaner lower mileage one. Thanks again guys..you may see me on here soon with a big grin...or wearing a big fluorescent badge saying i'm gay!! haha. Dan

[theotherjonnymac]

Servicing costs are fair IMO. Tyres are a tad pricey and do not last long but overall, insurance reflects the performance and there are no cars that deliver this kind of performance for this kind of money.

[TangoAlpha]

For smiles per £, a VX220 is about as cheap as you can get

[drpau]

Ive yet to see 35mpg - no matter how I drive I hover round the 28mpg zone Theres no compromise with the VX - no creature comforts - even the heater (in mine anyway) is crap. Thats why I love it though - because it isnt a compromise like the MR2 is. Its crazy the looks you get driving the VX - I had a woman in her thirties pointing at the car to her mate as I drove past the other day - you aint gonna get that in the MR2. Stretch yourself, get pi$$ed a bit less to save money and buy the VX, you wont regret it!!!!

[coopa]

How much are your typical service costs (main dealer and the like...not a diy jobbie!)

Don't get hung up on the car having to have main dealer service history, most dealers are rubbish*. A reputable specialist service history is preferable IMO, and cheaper.

*One or two are ok, do a search

[iceman]

Well...obviously! i'm biased but buying my vx was the best thing i'v ever done and i'v never regreted a single second of it and never stopped marvelling at her ability to make a mile of twisties, feel like a long weekend of fun filled amusement rides and her ability to always have just that little bit more to give than i have the nerve to take.
She has the uncanny ability to make time and distance irrelivent further than the sight of the next corner and hails more regrets at exiting and removing the key than the sum total of a 'lifetime' of silly things i can look back and shake my head at.
She constantly calls my name when the sun shines and moans in annoyance when it doesn't.
She wants more time from me than i have to give and gives more every time i want it.
She wraps herself around me at the height of scarey moments and fits like a worn and loved leather chair to relax me.

That was alittle something i wrote regarding my vx (and probably of no use/help to you) awhile back now but still stands true (even more so, with the more miles i put on her) and is not something i believe i would have been writing had i had an MR2

I know that your original question was regarding running costs and i have completely ignored it (my apologies) but i see that that had already been well answered, so i thought that i would add my 'pence-worth' regarding the joys of 'ownership'.

Whatever your choice....the best of luck mate

Edited by iceman, 03 April 2007 - 09:00 AM.

[K19RKS]

Cheers for the help guys. I'm only 23 and the cheapest insurance was £1200 which wasn't too bad for the car. Only got one years no claims tho. At the moment could really only stretch to around £9.5k. Seen a couple for 9k on pistonheads but not sure about the state of them really. If needs be i'd rather buy an mr2 for the mo and then wait til I can spend a bit more and get a cleaner lower mileage one.

Thanks again guys..you may see me on here soon with a big grin...or wearing a big fluorescent badge saying i'm gay!! haha.

Dan

I was looking at ones between 9 and 10k went to see a red one in Manchester, it had done 39 or 49K cant remember and was a 51 plate. He wanted 9300 and it was in ok condition, no leather seats though. In a right dodgy area though and he reckoned he couldnt find the key and his spare alarm key the battery was dead, safe to say i wasnt keen and didnt even look at the logbook before leaving, i ended up paying 10750 for a silver 03 plate with 27K on clock off a guy in a reet posh part of birmingham (it was his 4th car), paying more meant i am really broke now but it was worth it. The best tip is dont buy the first one you see and in general people on here are more likely to actually care about their cars so check the for sale section.

[chuno]

Good to see you back Julian

[iceman]

Good to see you back Julian

Thank-You Carl

[Joe-Turbo]

your up early icey god im bored at work

[jimbob]

I think the crack with these cars is that if a custom bit of the car breaks e.g. headlights get damaged or some repair work involves taking off a clam it can be expensive to repair, otherwise, all running costs are the same if not cheaper than most cars. See the EVO article thread on this forum/Used vx220 article on this forum.

Edited by jimbob, 04 April 2007 - 01:19 PM.

[drpau]

[/quote] I was looking at ones between 9 and 10k went to see a red one in Manchester, it had done 39 or 49K cant remember and was a 51 plate. He wanted 9300 and it was in ok condition, no leather seats though. In a right dodgy area though and he reckoned he couldnt find the key and his spare alarm key the battery was dead, safe to say i wasnt keen and didnt even look at the logbook before leaving, i ended up paying 10750 for a silver 03 plate with 27K on clock off a guy in a reet posh part of birmingham (it was his 4th car), paying more meant i am really broke now but it was worth it. The best tip is dont buy the first one you see and in general people on here are more likely to actually care about their cars so check the for sale section. [/quote] Ha ha, I went to have a look at that red on in Rusholme Manchester but he had it up at 9600 when I went to see it (I saw him gradually drop its price, 9600, 9500, 9300....) it was a shed in my opinion - bad respray (overspray onto the suspensiony bits at the rear - no undertray under the engine, missing carpet in the boot, poorly sprayed front end too and v.tatty interior. Also he had only had it for 3 months and said he had gone halves with his mum to buy it - that was his reason for sale as she wouldnt drive it( I doubt many old women would!!) ! I think you got a v.good price for a 53 plate, I paid 10.5k for a Y reg with 19.5k red with biscuit leather

[TangoAlpha]

Iceman is back

[iceman]

your up early icey

god im bored at work

Gosh sorry...i didn't see you had posted this before i logged-off

..i hope work improved and you have some bank holiday time-off due

Iceman is back