Opel Speedster: Better Than a Lotus

What’s that?

Produced from 2001 to 2006, it is basically a Lotus Elise S1. It has a slightly longer wheelbase, is equipped with ABS, and provides a squarer shape which makes it much more beautiful than the little British. Overcome the obstacle of the Opel badge (or Vauxhall) we face an unvarnished mid-engine, rear-wheel drive two-seater, one of those cars that you’re gonna love to drive and that is not lost with compromises typical of modern cars. Rigid, uncomfortable for trips that are longer than what your spine can withstand, without radio and with a Stone Age climate control, it catapults you into the world of fun thanks to the most simple but winning recipe ever. A little weight (1.000kg) with the right power.

How does it drive?

The Speedster has been produced with different engines. The 2.0 Turbo is fast and it is way easier to find, the 2.2 is lightning fast and not so easy to discover out there. Why? Ask yourself a couple of questions. You’re sitting low to the ground feeling every little imperfection which is transmitted directly to the frame; there is no power steering and so the driving feel, both with the overall handling of the car itself is like that of a race car, which does not put nothing in the way between you and the wheels. The 200 horses model centrifuges you from 0 to 100 kph in just 4.9 seconds and the manual transmission with a very close lever, is the icing on the cake. It seems to come from a so far away age, and instead has a dozen years and has been created by a brand you’ve been snubbed.

Most Wanted or not?

On the second hand market, provided you find one that has not been slaughtered on track, the Speedster start from about € 13,000, and most of them do not like to show off the Opel badge, often replaced or even removed. Depending on the modifications made to the chassis, suspension, brakes and engine, prices can rise up to 30,000 €. There is no need to bind a kidney, but if you happen to drive one, this could easily become an hypothesis that you would not dismiss. The Opel Speedster is the most exciting Opel of the last 2,000 years, it represents a little beast and it’s also most beautiful and powerful of the first generation of Elise.

Alex Marrone