Chip Sengravy

If you were going to splurge say 12K, what would you choose?

You seem to get more power for your money with the Vaux ? seen the odd turbo for 12K

Does the S2 elise in that money bracket use the K series?

They are the same chassis ? do they behave in a similar way?

Tobisausage

I have an S2 111S

if I had a budget of £12k then i would get the VX220, however if you can find a S2 135R then get that insted. Don't bother with the S2 120bhp car.

SimonGawthorpe

I have an S2 Elise Sport Tourer. It's a 51 plate K-series car in Ice Blue.

Looking at current prices I would value my car at about the amount you are wanting to spend.

When I first starting looking into the Elise S2 .v. VX220 it didn't take me long to decide which I prefered. Personally I find the styling of the S2 much more pleasing on the eye that the Vauxhall. Another factor for me is that when people ask me what I drive I can say a Lotus, rather than a Vauxhall VX220 (not many people know what they are!). Maybe i'm a snob, but its personal preferance.

I don't really understand why the above poster suggests you should stay away from the 120bhp (K-series) model. I have had the car for 1 year and it has never missed a beat. It cost me £150 to service at an independant Lotus dealer last year and hasn't cost me anything else. The K-series had a bad rep in Rover's but what you have to remember in this application is that it is not pulling around much weight and Elise's generally don't do 15k+ miles a year. I used mine everyday last summer and just on dry days in the winter (about 5,000 miles in the last 12 months). There are loads of examples of K-series Elise's at 80k, 90k, 100k+ miles out there.

120bhp doesn't sound like much but it still does 0-60 in about 5.5 seconds and holds the road very well. I am no expert driver but I have seen people throw these things round in ways you would not imagine are possible.

If you need any more info drop me a PM.

Couple of pics (I never miss an opportunity)





Si

samcowrx

Honda S2000 methinks

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

Nice car!

I would buy one, but I would have to be 1,50m tall MAX to drive one, so that rules me out!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Just look at the shape of that Elise. How could anyone in their right mind choose the VX220 over that? The Elise it is!!

Petem95

I would probably tend towards the Elise as theyre great little cars, and obviously much better image being a Lotus but the VX220 turbo must be tempting still...

A work colleagues mate has one chipped to 285bhp and apparently its pretty insanely quick. After driving that a 120bhp S2 would feel very tame, and probbaly cost more as well...

51st state

hello mate
my mate had an elise, 05 model, he got it new , nice car and it went well , we did a trackday in it, not a problem , but it was new,
now he has the exige S , toyota 1.8 with supercharger, the car looks much much cooler and the engine , fantastic, i go on runs with scoobs and everyone wants a go in it, its like an F1 car, please see the gallery and videos, 2006 on scoobysmacs.co.uk,
plenty to see, red with black
was on a run last sunday, as soon as we hit open road , the lotus was out of site, no moded scoobs got close

Tobisausage

An Exige S costs £30-34k, I guess if chip scrabbles around down the back of the sofa he can find the extra £22k

The Chief

Eh when was that Howard

Yep out of sight alright - in our rear view mirrors - we p***ed all over ya man

Dave_68

Save a bit and go for an S1, much nicer looking and you'd easily get an S160 for 12k....Or even a 111s for a little less.

51st state

The Chief

You could have been in a 1.1 pop plus fiesta Howard and you would have overtook



Only kidding mate

Spyder550

Nice bit of in car footage from a VX220 Turbo tweaked to about 285bhp

YouTube - Speedster Turbo acceleration 100 to 200 to 260km/h

kryten

When I bought my S2 Elise I did think about the VX220 but (snob alert) its a Vauxhall! Plus I got lucky on a good deal, so I went for the Lotus.

Yes the VX220 has more power and more kit but even with 120BHP the elise is FUN! And a non licence threatening speeds too (well, mostly).

There's plenty enough power to get the back out if you want to (and in the wet/ice/snow when you don't want to - more power in bad conditions would be totally terrifying, instead of just scary)

The car is absolutely NOT about speed - its about cornering and it does it so bloody well you'll find yourself taking wide lines at roundabouts just to use it at its best.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

I had a VX220 Turbo and loved it. But in truth if your buying with your head then the VX norminally aspirated or Turbo makes for a very sensible option. Much cheaper and stronger to keep on the road.

But the elise is such a more sexy looking car. And would happily sacrafice some BHP for the looks and curb appeal.

Like you said non the the range are balistically quick, so its all about the handling and low slung top off drive and curb appeal.

I seriously fancy selling my classic to get a S1 Elise for the spring / summer.

Flatcapdriver

Personally, I'd say hang the badge snobbery and go for the VX220 which I think looks far better than the Elise. I've only ever driven an Elise so can't comment on the Vauxhall's attributes other than to say it can't be that far removed from the Lotus in the handling stakes.

BOBBY G

very true flatcap man, it is not far removed at all as far as driving experience goes.

However, i would say you are very much in the minority of finding the vx more aesthetically pleasing over the elise.

Lotus did not need a man in pants on the telly to sell elises.

Flatcapdriver

I probably am but I should point out that I'm referring to the turbo as the N/A version looks like its running snow tyres for the next round of the WRC in Sweden.

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

After selling my scoob last year I looked at both lotus and VX with an open mind, after looking at both i new straight away what I wanted and bought this.











Its a no brainer!!!

Chip Sengravy

kjd, what model, spec, price?

KJD Mk1

iTrader: (3)

Its a 2002 111s, 160bhp K series.
TBH I dont think you will find a toyota engined elise for 12k unless its done mega miles and even then you might not.
Dont let anyone put you off a K series its a nice motor
Have a look on pistonheads for cars for sale to give you an idea of prices etc.

Chip Sengravy

I can't honestly say I prefer either in the looks dept. Elise is pretty, XV is agressive, both good in thier own way.

I suppose you could buy a ragged out old NA VX and then sling a 2.8 turbo lump in the back when you get bored and upgrade the rest as and when. I always liked the idea og getting a car that started out ok to begin with and then beefing it up with parts sourced cheaply that modding addicts choose to disgard, or slvage parts.