So, you have the urge to buy a sports car, you're not alone but, and it's a big but, you have £30k to spend on one. You lucky bugger! You've worked your way through the possibilities and have decided that you want a proper driving machine with no compromises. It must be fast, handle exceptionally, be a joy to drive and look stunning. More likely than not your list now has two names on it: Lotus Elise and Vauxhall VX220. More than likely we're now talking Elise 111R vs. VX220 Turbo. We're thinking hundreds of people must be pondering this decision so here is our answer to the question "Which one should I buy?"
Well, it's a toughie, and the answer depends on many variables. Let's start with an easy one: looks. If this is the most important criterion for you then the decision makes itself. The two cars look so different that the chances are you'll have a preference already. There, that was easy. However, if you care more about driving then it's an altogether more deep and meaningful decision making process.
The two cars have very different personalities. The VX's blower endows it with awesome thrust anywhere between 2000rpm and the red line, which means you can be lazy with the gearshift and still maintain serious progress. The Elise's engine is an old-fashioned screamer and you have to work it to extract its best; the thing is that it's a joy to do so. The VX's five-speed box shifts well, better than the standard Elise, but the 111R's six-speeder is better still: slicker, quicker and better weighted. The explosive noise of the Elise is also much more stirring than the more muted note of the turbocharged VX220 unit.
This contrast in power delivery translates to a real difference on the road. Out of tight bends the VX pulls a few car lengths ahead of the Elise and when overtaking you have to make sure the 111R is on cam in the right gear, whereas in the VX you just mash the throttle. So the VX is the more effective ground coverer then? Well, yes and no. On a circuit I think the two cars would be all but inseparable with the Elise lighter weight endowing it with better braking and marginally higher cornering speeds. The Elise also turns in more sharply. These advantages would probably be equalised by the extra torque of the VX.
In the real world though the picture changes slightly. On smooth roads the bout goes largely the way of the circuit. The Lotus lands sturdy jabs in terms of its dynamic excellence, the VX cancels all the deft footwork out by landing the big torque haymaker. It's give and take to the point of inseparability. However, introduce some bumps (not difficult on our road network) and the Elise will draw away into the distance. The damping is so much better that it inspires a lot more confidence. Where the VX bobs and weaves, skipping over surfaces, the Elise rolls with the imperfections, and this makes a massive difference to the speed at which you can drive. The Elise feels comfortable where the VX begins to feel a little ruffled. It unerringly goes where you point it whereas the VX requires constant adjustment to maintain your desired course.
What is harder to measure is the way the cars go about their work in terms of communicating and the quality of their delivery of entertainment. The VX lacks the ultimate finesse of the Lotus. Many of the interfaces are virtually identical; the pedals for example, but there are subtle differences elsewhere. The Elise's steering is better; the weight and feel of the two are very similar but the different suspension and tyres means that there was much less kickback through the wheel of the Lotus. The VX's wheel was actually wrenched free from my grip over a couple of badly pockmarked roads. The chassis too gives the Elise a better ride quality and makes the performance more accessible. I really enjoyed the VX, but I savoured the Elise. The subtleties of the Lotus make it more pleasurable to drive.
So to answer your question, you should buy the Elise; it's the more complete package. Better to drive, better to drive, better to own, cheaper to run and it is a Lotus. Yes, the badge has to come into it to an extent and not just from a snob factor point of view. Ultimately, it is what that badge stands for that makes the difference, the level of engineering expertise and execution that verges on perfection. Yes Lotus did do the VX as well but not with a completely free hand and the result of their work is less optimal than that of the Elise. The Elise touches you in a way that the VX can't on a very deep level. Several times during my time with the Elise I found myself just grinning like a fool and realising that this was something very special. The 111R set a new benchmark for us in terms of driving experience and the way it made us feel wasn't replicated in the VX.
The VX is a great car and if for any reason you don't want the Lotus, the VX won't leave you feeling disappointed. If the Elise didn't exist the world would be in raptures at its brilliance. But the Elise does exist, and its brilliance exceeds even that of the VX. If the VX is Luke Skywalker, a thrusting powerful young hero, then the Elise is Yoda, the Master, more controlled, more refined and always capable of teaching Luke something new. As close to perfection as anyone has yet got, I have to advise any prospective purchaser of a £30k sports car to buy one.
Dave Jenkins - 26 Oct 2004
