Which version?
Newcomers in 2018 and 2025 asked whether to buy an NA, supercharged or Turbo. Nobody gave measurements, and owners disagreed:
- It depends what you want it for. Several said the first question is road, track or both. Try them if you can: a meet or a track day passenger ride.
- Turbo. Fans like the surge of power when it comes on. One owner of a heavily tuned car said a stage 4 map can be made quite linear. One owner said the supercharged cars' charge cooling isn't very efficient, so heat soak can be a worry, and that a blower is less efficient than a turbo.
- Supercharged. One owner said that more people tastefully modify them and any one you buy is likely to be well sorted. Another thought they drive like the NA but with more of everything.
- NA. Described as the most fun on the limit and the simplest to thrash safely on track. Long-term NA owners said you only feel the need for more on track straights and long hills, and you can add a supercharger later. Another owner pointed out that one of those NA fans doesn't track his car.
- Linear or bursty. The NA and supercharged power delivery is linear and predictable, which one owner who had daily-driven both liked in all weathers. The Turbo is different.
- Price (2025). One buyer set a budget of up to £20,000 and said he hadn't seen anything above that unless it was a VXR. A reply said £20,000 should buy a good one. For 2003 prices, see Buying a used VX220.
Is it right for you? (the honest version)
A 2003 owners' guide spent a lot of space on reasons not to buy one, and most are still true:
- Getting in and out is awkward, and the sills scrape your shoes.
- Noise. Wind, engine and suspension noise at all speeds, and very loud above 80 mph. One owner said fitting a carpet quietened the car a great deal and made the weak heater noticeable.
- Ride. Firm. The author said about 80% of the people who drove his car thought it too harsh.
- Build. Excellent for a low-volume car, but fuses can blow, trim can rattle and soft tops can leak.
- It bites. It is neutral by default and won't understeer to save you, so learn it before driving it hard, especially if you come from a front-wheel-drive car.
- Fuel range is typically under 200 miles (2003), and the boot is small.
As a daily driver (2018 threads). Opinion was mostly against a 70 mile commute, but several owners did it. One did 100 miles a day in a Turbo for about six months before buying a daily. One drove an NA daily for 6 years and 70,000 miles but said de-icing is no fun and he is slightly deaf as a result. One did 25,000 miles in 14 months in all weather in a standard NA, with only a coilover swap and a broken toe link (see Rear toe links), and said they are cheap to run and easy to work on. Winter problems mentioned were flaking paint, doors that won't open and a lost front number plate. The advice: a standard or lightly modified car (a stage 1 or 2, or a stage 4 with a gentle map, was said to be fine), a good heater, a hard top for winter (Hard top fitting), no loud exhaust, and ideally a separate car for the commute.