My Ten years of VX bliss!!

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11/03/2011, 09:48 AM
Cobrajet

My Ten years of VX bliss!!

It was 10 years ago today that I drove 60 miles to Silver Spring, MD, to take a look at a used '99 Iron Man. I mentioned to the salesman that I REALLY wanted a Proton (to match my Cobra and CBR), and he walked me over to the showroom where their last new 2001 VX was sitting with a dead battery. I already knew that VX was going to be mine by the end of the day, but we went through the whole haggling process anyway, while they brought the VX back to life. Someone on the old forum claims that he was going to buy that same VX the following Monday! How different my life would be now if I had waited a week. :)

10 years and 130,000 miles later my VX still has working windows and CD player, and no CEL/TOD/ABS lights! I've never had any major issues, and have had it serviced by the same dealership (NOT the one I bought it from) on schedule since day one. I don't drive it much these days, even though it is technically my "daily driver", so I'm planning to have the 135K service done early, just to make sure everything is still perfect and also to install those OEM front brakes I've had sitting in a box for the last couple years.

If I had it all to do over again, would I have changed anything? NO! I think it was destiny--fate--whatever, that brought us together, and it's a relationship that (hopefully) will last forever. My VX has been very good to me, and I have been very good to it (except that one outing with Tom, Eric, Andres, Norman and their significant others. Bad TOM!!) :winky:

I'll post my ownership story again in the 20th Anniversary forum 10 years from now. See you all there!!
11/03/2011, 09:55 AM
Breezy

I've had 3 months of tranny problems and wheels falling apart...jealousy....Hahahaha
11/03/2011, 10:55 AM
tom4bren

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrajet

... and I have been very good to it (except that one outing with Tom, Eric, Andres, Norman and their significant others. Bad TOM!!) :winky:

That was Andres' fault ... not mine.

Grats on the 10 year mark. I'll get there eventually (as long as the VX doesn't decide to park itself on top of a van again).
11/03/2011, 10:58 AM
rsteinmetz70112

Nice to hear from someone with no problems.

One of the pitfalls of forums like this is you hear all of the bad and only a little of the good, leaving an impression of nothing but problems.
11/03/2011, 11:33 AM
vt_maverick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrajet

(except that one outing with Tom, Eric, Andres, Norman and their significant others. Bad TOM!!) :winky:

I heard you kept a California Car Duster close by at all times. ;)
11/03/2011, 11:39 AM
VXR

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsteinmetz70112

Nice to hear from someone with no problems.

One of the pitfalls of forums like this is you hear all of the bad and only a little of the good, leaving an impression of nothing but problems.

X2 I am going on 7 years and the only time she has been in the shop is to have the intake manifold replaced:yesb:
11/03/2011, 12:26 PM
Cobrajet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobrajet

(except that one outing with Tom, Eric, Andres, Norman and their significant others. Bad TOM!!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by vt_maverick

I heard you kept a California Car Duster close by at all times. ;)

That is absolutely true, and I did use it...ONCE! :) It took quite a bit more than any duster could handle by the time I got home.

http://home.comcast.net/~gregg.north/Dirty_VX4.jpg

It had been dirtier before this, but NEVER stank as bad. Thank goodness for the pressure washer! It has not been that dirty since, though.
11/03/2011, 03:32 PM
deermagnet

Gregg, welcome to the VX Ten Year Club! It's great to see another original owner and original forum member staying loyal for ten years. One day Scott will be creating a twenty year anniversary forum and we'll be chiming in again. :yesy:

That's a cool story about how you bought it just before another Club VMag member. You snooze, you lose!

Mark Griffin
11/03/2011, 04:26 PM
Y33TREKker

Well, I can't say yet that I've had my VX for 10 years, but I can say that I also bought mine in Silver Spring, MD. (From the original owner).
11/03/2011, 05:29 PM
Mile High VX

Coming up on two years and no problems...great to see that this will be the last vehicle I will ever have...congrats on 10 years!
11/03/2011, 06:05 PM
JoFotoz

TEN YEARS..awesome!

7 for me...and no problems (other than Moab abuse!)

I'm lov'n it.

jo
11/03/2011, 07:45 PM
VX crazy

I am coming up on 10 yrs too, still loving it!
11/03/2011, 07:51 PM
blacksambo

Lucky Seven for me . No issues, really to report. Everything original still works as it should. Knock on wood.
11/03/2011, 11:40 PM
VXR

Quote:

Originally Posted by VXR

X2 I am going on 7 years and the only time she has been in the shop is to have the intake manifold replaced

Intake manifold GASKET I meant to say...
11/04/2011, 10:24 AM
VX crazy

Quote:

Originally Posted by VX crazy

I am coming up on 10 yrs too, still loving it!

Funny, I have the original powervault muffler that I had on my original vx for 110k miles, and had it put on this vx when I got it, so that muffler has about 170k miles on it! CRAZY, guess its time to replace!
11/04/2011, 12:41 PM
Cobrajet

Quote:

Originally Posted by VX crazy

Funny, I have the original powervault muffler that I had on my original vx for 110k miles, and had it put on this vx when I got it, so that muffler has about 170k miles on it! CRAZY, guess its time to replace!

I put the PV1 on my VX when it only had a few thousand miles on it, and it still sounds great. Very little rust on the chrome tip either, which is a lot more than I can say for the MAC cat-back system I installed on my Mustang 10 years ago. Of course the Mustang sits outside, while the VX is nice and cozy in the garage. :bwgy:
11/04/2011, 03:01 PM
H3_VX

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsteinmetz70112

Nice to hear from someone with no problems.

One of the pitfalls of forums like this is you hear all of the bad and only a little of the good, leaving an impression of nothing but problems.

I agree. After reading so many negative things about these cars on this forum before my purchase I thought I was crazy to get into one, but I'm glad I did. I too have had no serious issues. I'm going to do as much preventative maintenance on her that I can afford though. Now my wife is using it to drive back and forth to work and she seeems to be liking it. It may open the door for a second VX purchase. Can anyone recommend a way to tell her that she is hogging it and I want us both to have one. LOL! :p
11/04/2011, 03:39 PM
Cobrajet

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3_VX

I agree. After reading so many negative things about these cars on this forum before my purchase I thought I was crazy to get into one, but I'm glad I did. I too have had no serious issues. I'm going to do as much preventative maintenance on her that I can afford though. Now my wife is using it to drive back and forth to work and she seeems to be liking it. It may open the door for a second VX purchase. Can anyone recommend a way to tell her that she is hogging it and I want us both to have one. LOL! :p

Grace Hopper -- "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission"
Nike -- "Just Do It"
11/05/2011, 09:16 AM
Chopper

I'm now 10yrs in, with everything very similar....except milage. I'v a third as much as you, but same deal.....always trouble free....always dead reliable. No lights....no issues. Only the wiper blades have needed changing:bgwo:
11/06/2011, 06:53 AM
crager34

I had my first one 4 years, and coming up on 6 years for the second. Does that count as 10 years?

Congrats on the long love affair and hope you keep it going.
11/06/2011, 09:34 PM
angeno

Reading this post it got me thinking. About twelve years ago I also bought a brand new VX off the showroom floor. Since I live and work in the NYC area, I came to appreciate how perfect the VX is for daily battle on the pothole strewn trails that pass for streets here. Also, when I had my original VX I drove through two brutal winters with multiple blizzards. I remember leaving other lesser vehicles struggling to move an inch while me and my VX plowed right through. Loved that thing. Foolishly, I sold it after about two years due to economic challenges. Now, fortunately, I was able to find a 2000 model Ebony/Black that I picked up for less than $7K. Yes, it had 130K miles on it. Yes, it has had a few challenges. But bit by bit, I am bringing this one back to pristine condition. And you know what? I will NEVER sell this VX. Ten days ago we had an extremely rare October blizzard in NJ. Where we live there was probably 10" by the time it was all finished. Once again, in the midst of the snowpocalypse, me and my VX motored right along while pretty much everything else was either facing the wrong way, spinning wheels, or just plain stuck. I admit it. It is LOVE.

;)
11/19/2011, 01:58 PM
jimbo

About 8 years for me, only 52,000 miles. No major problems, windows bind a little.