VX220 Hard Top Edition

"Tareim - V8 powered" (tareimgaml) 05/06/2017 at 17:25 • Filed to: VX220

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So less than a week of owning the car and I’ve already gone and got a hard top for it, I’m not overly bothered about having the roof off and was able to pick up a hard top in the correct colour. It’s surprising how much difference it makes to the road noise inside the cabin, makes it a little bit easier to hear the radio on the motorway

cluelessk > Tareim - V8 powered 05/06/2017 at 17:39

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Ecotec? Or did they use the Saab variant?

daender > Tareim - V8 powered 05/06/2017 at 17:40

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It’s like that with Miatas, the hardtop does a good job of turning a roadster into a cozy coupe. Mine reduces wind noise on the highways, provides better insulation than the softtop, and offers improved rear visibility (compared to the softtop when up).

It’s also an extra layer of theft protection because it’s not so easy to slash a hardtop to get at whatever’s inside...instead thieves in the US will typically steal the tops!

Tareim - V8 powered > cluelessk 05/06/2017 at 17:44

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Yep ecotec z22se, though some people have put the b207 into a vx220

cluelessk > Tareim - V8 powered 05/06/2017 at 17:47

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Cool. A Cobalt forum I frequent has a member with one making like 400whp if I remember correctly.

My Cobalt has the 3rd gen Ecotec with a turbo. Called the LNF here.

404 - User No Longer Available > Tareim - V8 powered 05/06/2017 at 17:47

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Somewhat envious. Solstices never got a hard top option, only aftermarket fibreglass ones that locks out the trunk.

Tareim - V8 powered > 404 - User No Longer Available 05/06/2017 at 17:52

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surely the places where Solstices (Solstii?) were bought and used you would have great weather and not need a hard top?

Tareim - V8 powered > cluelessk 05/06/2017 at 17:54

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I think there is a couple over here that are around or pushing for the 400 mark

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Tareim - V8 powered 05/06/2017 at 18:00

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Well there’s a thing. How am I supposed to drive it now??

Tareim - V8 powered > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/06/2017 at 18:08

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you don’t, because it’s mine muahahahaha

Klaus Schmoll > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/06/2017 at 18:44

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As much as it pains me to say that, but we are not meant to drive these things. MX-5, Z3, Z4, MR-2, MG F, Alfa Spider.... they are Hobbit cars. When I sat in a NC MX-5 I realised that the only way to drive it would be Goofy style looking over the windshield.

CAR_IS_MI > Tareim - V8 powered 05/06/2017 at 21:23

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How are the interiors in these?

404 - User No Longer Available > Tareim - V8 powered 05/06/2017 at 22:09

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I’m that ego-maniac who has a RWD manual roadster in Canada...

Tareim - V8 powered > 404 - User No Longer Available 05/07/2017 at 06:57

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You’re nuts! welcome to the club ;)

Tareim - V8 powered > CAR_IS_MI 05/07/2017 at 06:58

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think of a basic interior and then remove most of the items from it and that’s what you are left with. you’ve got a couple seats, steering wheel, radio, 2 speakers and that’s pretty much it

CAR_IS_MI > Tareim - V8 powered 05/07/2017 at 08:21

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I was just wondering if they were more comfort driven or feature based than my lotus as they are very similar platforms

Tareim - V8 powered > CAR_IS_MI 05/07/2017 at 09:08

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they are pretty much the same, you can get some carpets as optional extras (which mine has)

Nauraushaun > Tareim - V8 powered 05/07/2017 at 09:14

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Awesome

Minardi Gras > Tareim - V8 powered 05/08/2017 at 14:08

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Looks great! I saw a post on vx220.org.uk by ‘Tareim’ and wondered if it was you. I was looking at VX220's for a while, have an S2 Elise now. I think you made a great choice and it should appreciate. The hardtop does make a big difference to noise and improves the looks in my opinion. I see you’re not too far from me either (Frome), not sure if you’ve been before but you should bring it to the breakfast club at the Haynes museum. If you go, keep an eye out for a grey Elise and say hi :)

Minardi Gras > Minardi Gras 05/08/2017 at 14:25

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Also realise this probably seems a bit creepy but didn’t mean it that way!

Tareim - V8 powered > Minardi Gras 05/08/2017 at 16:57

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yes that is me on .org, I’ve decided the hard top is going to stay on as I really don’t care for taking the roof of for all of 10 mins lol and I did actually go to this months breakfast club and saw a few elise’s, probably saw yours there

Tareim - V8 powered > Minardi Gras 05/08/2017 at 16:58

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haha its fine, I’m happy to meet up with other owners, what reg am I looking out for? can always pm me on vx220 if you want to stay private

Minardi Gras > Tareim - V8 powered 05/08/2017 at 17:32

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I was planning on going to this months one but had a late night and decided against it when my alarm went off... Will try harder next month :)
I feel like I want to enjoy open-top motoring more than I actually enjoy it, I took my hardtop off a few weeks ago but like you said, the time taken to faff with the soft-top has put me off so the hardtop might go back on soon.

The plate is R111***, I’ll look out for your VX in future. Do you have any plans to track it? Lotus on Track run track days for Lotus/VXs, there are a couple of days at Castle Combe in June if it’s of interest, I’m doing the one on the 13th for track beginners.

Tareim - V8 powered > Minardi Gras 05/08/2017 at 17:41

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I’m scheduled to be doing a sprint at the Curborough Sprint Circuit on June 15th I think? there’s several group b cars taking part so it will be great to spectate if you’re free that day

Minardi Gras > Tareim - V8 powered 05/08/2017 at 17:50

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Sounds interesting, I’ll look into it, thank you.