Vauxhall VX220 Turbo

Has any car in Auto Express's history had such a hard first few months as our VX Turbo? When we first wrote about KE03 HKX in issue 767, it had done only 875 miles. But since its mid-summer arrival on our test fleet, the Vauxhall has been on five track days and countless road tests. It's now showing more than 8,000 miles, and most of that hasn't been easy. So perhaps it's unsurprising that the yellow two-seater is starting to feel a little tired.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Gavin Ward

November 2003

Has any car in Auto Express's history had such a hard first few months as our VX Turbo? When we first wrote about KE03 HKX in Issue 767, it had done only 875 miles. But since its mid-summer arrival on our test fleet, the Vauxhall has been on five track days and countless road tests. It's now showing more than 8,000 miles, and most of that hasn't been easy. So perhaps it's unsurprising that the yellow two-seater is starting to feel a little tired.
According to the logbook, the first concerns about the squeaks and rattles in the cabin were raised very early - after only 1,500 miles. On top of this, around 2,500 miles later, one particular noise from behind the driver's B-pillar became louder and more annoying. At the same time, a broken front bonnet release needed fixing, and the worrying sight of leaked oil in the engine bay meant a thorough inspection was required.
The VX220 was booked into Picador Vauxhall in Southampton, Hampshire, for some early corrective work, and after two days the dealer rectified most of the problems. A bolt working loose had caused the rattling roof and, thankfully, the oil in the engine bay was simply excess from the gearbox breather. All the jobs were carried out under warranty. At the same time, we also had the front brake pads changed, opting for a competition set to give extra bite, at ΂£115 for the pair. These still squeak, despite having had plenty of time to bed in. The originals sounded the same, which leads us to think something else may be causing this.
Unfortunately, there have been other complaints, too, most notably the chirping the turbocharger now makes on overrun. We hadn't noticed it on our VX before, and we hear that the dealer has already replaced several turbo units because of a problem. If the fault persists, we will have to take the car back to the garage to have it looked at.
Another gripe concerns the heater - it blows dust into the cabin, a fault that blighted the original version. Even so, there are few in the office who can resist the charm of the best-looking car ever to wear the Griffin badge. The roadster is unsurpassed in the handling stakes, and a real delight to drive.
Light, nimble and with plenty of steering feel, few other vehicles can touch it for enjoyment. The ride is more supple than the normally aspirated VX220 we previously ran on long-term test. This version is more refined without losing any of the edge you expect. With the track days confirming its 0-60mph time of 4.7 seconds and 151mph top speed, we are now convinced the 200bhp powerplant should have been used from the outset.
While it's flawed in many ways, the VX is one of the most popular vehicles on our long-term fleet. But that's not to say it couldn't be improved. Road test editor Oliver Marriage would like a sports exhaust for a sweeter-sounding note, not to mention a few extra bhp. Of more immediate need, though, is a new wiper blade, as the VX's is starting to smear, and number plate - it sits too low and is easily damaged. A stone chip on the wing mirror also needs attention, while bucket seats with more padding would be welcome, too - although Oliver disagrees on this. He thinks the current items are fine, but his frame is slighter than mine, which makes a difference in the comfort stakes.
I've also had to organise the repair of a dent on a friend's Jaguar X-Type after the VX's door failed to hold on its ratchet and swung out too fast, leaving a ding in the Jag. But while I doubt I'll be able to do anything about the door geometry, maybe Santa will deliver some new seats for Christmas...