From latest issue of Autocar.... "Britain's Best Driver's Car"
20 cars were compared with laps around Brands Hatch and Road driving. On the track was rated out of 10, on the road out of 20, here's the VXR220 and the Elise 111R:
In 10th: Vauxhall VXR220
Price: £29,995
Engine: 4 cyls inline, 1998cc, turbo
Installation: Mid, transverse, rwd
Power: 220bhp @ 6300rpm
Torque: 214lb @ 4700rpm
Power to Weight: 237bhp per tonne
Gearbox: 5 speed manual
Suspension F/R: Double wishbones/Double wishbones
Steering/Turns: Rack and pinion/2.8
Brakes F/R: 288/288mm vent'd disks
Tyres F/R: 195/50R16 225/35R17
0-60mph: 4.2 sec
Top speed: 153 mph
Lap Time: 54.70s
On the Track 8/10
On the Road 10/20
On the Track
On lap time alone, may we present you with the giant killer of 2004. Dosen't it seem both strange and exciting looking down the list of lap times and seeing a Vauxhall sandwiched between a Porsche 911 and BMW M3?
As an excercise in putting the VXR brand on the map, this carefully spruced 220 is already proving to be well worth the effort. Such speed isn't surprising from 240bhp and neligible kerbweight, but the way the VXR hangs it all together certainly is. The truly remarkable aspect of its performance isn't the quantity on offer, but the relaxed, stealthy nature of its delivery.
We know the turbochargers cloak engine noise, but from the drivers seat this thing appears to employ a form of propulsion other than the internal combustion engine: it sort of fizzes along, knight rider style, until the next corner arrives far sooner than expected. Then you mash the middle pedal and realise the depth of Lotus's problem with the Elise/Exige. This is far more like it: firm, no dead travel at the top and nicely sited for a roll onto the throttle.
Unsuprisingly, it all feels pretty Elise like the rest of the time. The remaining controls lack the finesse of the real Hethel-McCoy, but they push it very close indeed. Only concerted track addicts will notice that the Exige is a little more predictable when it lets go and its steering wheel info a touch more honest. We're talking minute differences here, probably not enough to nullify the Vauxhall's crushing pace advantage over a lap.
If only the engine was more charismatic. Vauxhall has managed to remap it to give us a reason to rev it. Where before the torque plateau made venturing beyond 4000rpm a fruitless excercise in fuel wastage, theres now added muscle to exploit.
So where does all the extra lap speed come from? Strangely, the VX dosen't eat the Lotus down the main straight, it also carries more speed through Surtees, becuase its even stiffer than the exige.
On the Road
The negative consequences of which return to haunt the 220 out on the road. That stoic body control though the fast curves leaves the car sipping over smaller intrusions, and even over our rare well surfaced sections, the VX wriggles like it would far rather be back at Brands. To live with one of these every day you'll need to spend ample time on the circuit and then the payback may be worthwhile.
Looking at the number of basic Elises used on the track, Vauxhall cetainly isn't chasing and unrealistic customer profile. If we were Lotus, the VXR would have us worried: the green and yellow badge can only cover a certain size of power deficit. The 220 might be undone by its unruly road behaviour, but this is a fine marker for Vauxhall to build on.
In 4th: Lotus Elise 111R
Price: £27,995
Engine: 4 cyls inline, 1796cc
Installation: Mid, transverse, rwd
Power: 189bhp @ 7800rpm
Torque: 133lb @6800rpm
Power to Weight: 220bhp per tonne
Gearbox: 6 speed manual
Suspension F/R: Double wishbones/Double wishbones
Steering/Turns: Rack and pinion/2.8
Brakes F/R: 282/282mm vent'd disks
Tyres F/R: 175/55R16 225/45R17
0-60mph: 5.1 sec
Top speed: 143 mph
Lap Time: 57.40s
On the Track 8/10
On the Road 16/20
On the Track
Drive a new Elise and you'll always clamber out wondering how much power it could handle. Predictably you'll have just savoured every last ounce of the Lotus' performance though the turns only to be left strumming the wheel tim to pass time down the straights.
Undoubtedly the Elise's greatest skill, from a kit bag bursting with talent is its blend of approachability and technical excellence. It draws you in, but has now been developed to the point that under almost any circumstances it remains on your side. The same couldnt be said for the first genration car. Through fast corners, the 111R is quite extraordinary: this was the only car you could see less experienced drivers using to atack the braking area into Paddock bend. Not one of the hot hatches, but a mid engined sports car. Once settled, you simply tuck the nose into the apex and open up the gas. There's ample room for experimentation too; lift off and the rear axle will unsettle slowly and predictably, carry too much entry speed and the loaded front tyre will simply take you and car through a slightly wider arc.
Break it down into its constituent parts and finding anything wrong with the chassis becomes a difficult task. The steering is supreme, the best here. Bump absorbtion is remarkable and the handling balance is close to perfection. In fact the only black mark sits next to the brake pedal, which is too high and has and annoying inch of dead travel at top. Lotus is rapidly trying to fix it.
On the Road
Last year's switch to toyota power was feted as a real breakthrough by some people, but the consensus is that the notable improvement won't be felt until 10,000 miles have passed and there ins't a clanking K-Series limp stuck in your engine bay. You see, the Toyota engine is very peaky (not very happy below 5800rpm), the gear ratios are way too long and the noise isn't especially pleasing. Overall it out drives the old Rover engine, but not by much.
A brilliant car is defined by its ability to excel under all cicumstances, and the Elise is one of the few cars here at home on road and circuit. It translates all of its compliance to become manageable, comfortable even, on the road. And it always finds a rhythm with the road in the way the best Lotus products have: you can feel each corner of the car working independantly, smothering the road but providing you with just the right level of informtation from the surface.
Anti lock brakes may sound over kill but the Elise now feels like it should have had them from the start. In fact despite rarely activating them on the road, it's perhaps this small but significant modification that completes the Elise as the finest small roadster on sale. It's amazing that such competence should come so cheaply.
..........
sorry if theres any mistakes, i typed it out
The exige came 7th in case you were wondering
VXR220 VS Lotus Elise111R
What ever happens I'll stick to the original :fadein: 
this is a car related discussion, to be posted in "car chat" 
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