Slightly unfair comparison, I admit - a very early Elise S1 (we're talking one of the first 100) against a VX220.
I really, really wanted to like the Elise - it was the right colour (BRG), had a hardtop, all the right upgrades and bills that add up to your average third world country's debt. Including of course several head gasket changes. If only it didn't have a noisy exhaust on and of course a decat to get the full benefit of that. It's not that they're inherently quiet cars anyway but that one was just about loud enough to give me a headache. Pity, was a nice car but the budget wouldn't stand another exhaust and the new tyres it needs.
The VX220 - another NA one - was a cat D as the wife of the original owner vandalised it after he threw her out after she had an affair. Surprisingly effective knife attack too, some of the traces are still visible...
Other than that, it had sensible upgrades (mainly cooling system), a respray so no stonechip issues (unfortunately in the original pale yellow) and of course it doesn't need another head gasket between services. Low mileage as well, but as some of the paperwork has disappeared over time so it's hard to prove. But comparing it to the one I drove last weekend with almost thrice the mileage, I would say it checks out. It still needs a little work (some knifemarks in the lights need polishing out, there's a shallow cut in the dash that could do with reworking a little better and the grilles over the engine want changing) but it's also a grand cheaper than the Elise, drives better and has 45k less on the clock.
So far, VX220 - others 2:0.
Westfield and another 911 tomorrow...