Vauxhall VX220 Turbo

Funny how small things can cause big hassles. Only four days into our tenure with the Vauxhall VX220 Turbo and we have spotted the first flaw about driving a brilliant yellow roadster in high summer: insects. Not only do they love to perch on the bodywork at a standstill, they also insist on head-butting the nose and windscreen at speed, leaving unsightly red-and-black splashes.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Oliver Marriage

August 2003

Funny how small things can cause big hassles. Only four days into our tenure with the Vauxhall VX220 Turbo and we have spotted the first flaw about driving a brilliant yellow roadster in high summer: insects. Not only do they love to perch on the bodywork at a standstill, they also insist on head-butting the nose and windscreen at speed, leaving unsightly red-and-black splashes.
The trouble is, these are hard to clean off the composite panels. From experience, the best way is to soak them with water, then put the Mr Muscle to work. Yet even 10 minutes of elbow grease with sponge and chamois leather fails to dull the sense of excitement this car induces. We're being somewhat restrained at the moment as KE03 HKX arrived with only 120 miles on the clock, so we are using no more than 4,000rpm for the first 1,000 miles. I doubt that this will make much difference to engine longevity, but I like to think it gives the car a chance to bed itself in properly - and it certainly heightens anticipation for later.
However, demand for the VX220 Turbo is already sky-high - in the course of a week, we've racked up 900 miles, the majority over a single weekend, when staff writer Mat Watson snaffled the car from under my nose, took advantage of the great weather and headed for the Gower Peninsula in south Wales. He was blown away by the blown VX, loved the power delivery, the styling and the fact that it's more comfortable and refined than the normally aspirated long-termer we ran last year.
I agree - the revised spring and damper rates mean the Turbo soaks up bumps more readily. But I'm still not convinced it'll stand the test of time. Every bolt in the bare bones interior may be tight now, but a year's use may loosen a few - we'll see.
Other faults will be familiar to all VX220 owners. Firstly, the fuel tank is easy to overfill and, with no drainage hole, the excess runs down the flanks, meaning yet more cleaning. Another problem is the hot exhaust - I have already frazzled the hairs on one leg when wearing shorts, as those twin pipes exit right where you stand to load the boot.
And while I'm on the subject, I think I'll swap the standard unit for a sports exhaust - it sounds rather flat and I'd like to hear more echoes from walls and hedgerows. I also wish I'd gone for central locking - this ΂£450 option means you needn't worry about the fiddly locks and confusing alarm.
But these are tiny niggles, forgotten as soon as you slide into the surprisingly well padded black leather seat, grasp the lovely steering wheel and prepare to go. Bar the heavy steering at low speeds, the car is a delight to drive, with accurate controls and compact dimensions - it's surprisingly good on my 40-mile commute into central London. With the roof stowed in the boot, the sun blazing and a photoshoot to get to, even motorways raise a grin.
And once off them, the VX is in its element. The steering feel is just fabulous; the wheel writhes in your hands, yet the car stays planted and stable. Bends are a real event and the power delivery (the turbo's 200bhp wallop kicks in before 2,000rpm) means keeping to our self-imposed rev limit is no trouble at all. I have a soft spot for this car - I'd just prefer it if bugs didn't feel the same way.