Auto Express – August 20, 2019

50 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Theultimateguide to

modern classiccars

MG ZR

Years produced: 2001-2005

Price range: £100-£2,500 Rarity:★★★★★★★★★

Maintenance:★★★★★Investment:★★★★★

Va uxhall VX220

Years produced: 2001-2005

Price range: £5,000-£15,000 Rarity:★★★★★★

Maintenance:★★★★★Investment:★★★★★

ALTHOUGHitwasn’tconsideredaclassleader

whenitwasnew,theMGrehashoftheRover25

wasstillaprettyandfunwarmhatch.Somekeen

financedealsandcheapinsuranceevenmeantit

wasBritain’sbest-selling‘hot’hatchforawhile.

NowtheZRisseriouslycheaptobuy,and

mostownerstendtoscrapthemattheslightest

hintofabigrepairbill.Thatmeanstheywill

soonberareandtheirvalueswillstarttorise

asdriverslooktorelivetheiryouth.Findagood

oneandyou’llbeontoasure-firewinner.

WHYwouldyoubuyaVX220whenyoucouldhavea
legendaryLotusElisefornotmuchmoremoney?Well,
inmanywaystheVauxhallisthemoreinterestingcar,
anditwillalmostcertainlybeeasiertolivewith.
Underneaththeirverydifferentplasticbodies,thetwo
carssharethesamelightweightchassis,buttheVXuses
asturdy2.2-litreVectraengineratherthantheMk1Elise’s
temperamentalRoverunit.TheVauxhallhasabetterroof
andthehandlingisslightlytamer,too.It’snotasmuchfun
onatrack,butislesslikelytocatchyououtonadamproad.
WhilethatVauxhallbadgemeansaVX220willnever
beascollectableasanElise,it’llcostyoulesstobuy.