RE: Westfield Sports 2000

RE: Westfield Sports 2000

Friday 13th February 2004

Westfield Sports 2000

192bhp and a glorious soundtrack - if only it had stopped raining...


Westfield Sports 2000
Westfield Sports 2000
Westfield Sports 2000
Horses for courses they say and that's very true of the Westfield Duratec. This is certainly not an all rounder! Assaulting all your senses at once, the Westie would be most at home revelling in knee deep torque on track or blasting across the smooth roads of France enjoying the warm air and the sunshine.

Unfortunately for me, I tried it in the pouring rain on a grim day in the West Midlands. That's not to say I didn't have fun though.

The two litre Duratec is just my kind of engine. They've squeezed a very creditable 192bhp from the four pot, 16 valve motor. Torque oozes out of it every time you dab at the floor mounted throttle. Coupled with a sharp clutch making smooth getaways takes a bit of practice as I found out much to the amusement of passers by.

Once in the swing of things though, muscling through the rain proved to be rather fun. Flooring it wasn't going to be a sensible move as even prodding the engine provokes quite a bark so I had to be focused on practising a smooth journey rather than a dramatic one.

With the roof off I was enjoying my own little world. There's nothing subtle about the Westie. Once you're above 20mph the wind batters the windscreen then hurtles around the sides to smack your ears. The engine sings like a rugby player and the transmission accompanies and resounds through the body. Hunched a little to peer through the small screen it all becomes quite involving. With the elements howling around you as you make progress there's a great buzz as you enjoy what is clearly a ludicrous experience.

Stopping however comes as quite a shock. No, it's not blowing a gail. No, the rain isn't that bad. In fact it's quite a peaceful and quiet day...

Back to the engine. As I got more comfortable driving the car, I explored the motor a bit more. The acceleration is pretty brutal when called for and is easy to find - no VTEC for me this week! The gearbox is easy to use and blasting around the B roads in second and third really was rather good fun. Over use of the loud pedal can easily break traction although the one time I did overcook things, the car behaved most compliantly and I didn't go hedgetrimming.

Easing up as I entered the villages revealed the Westie's party piece. It's vocals are splendid. When on song it's reminiscent of a WW1 biplane and on the overrun it pops and bangs like November 5th. I'm sure residents of Kingswinford thought I'd shot someone as I saunted through town that day...

When it comes to stopping, the lightweight car has no problem grabbing its discs and speed to stationary can be achieved in an instant. The steering takes 2.5 turns from lock to lock which is fine on the move but requires a fair bit of grappling at low speeds to manouevre the car around.

Price is the best part of £20K for a fully built car with no extras. It's a tidy sum but £10K less than the 200bhp Caterham R400.

I had huge fun in the Sports 2000... now if only I could have tested it in warm sunshine on smooth French roads... what a dream...

Author
Discussion

smele

Original Poster:

1,284 posts

283 months

Friday 13th February 2004
quotequote all
Pity you could not get to test the car in the dry. Sounds like relatively good value for 20K. Any idea as to the alleged 0-60 time?

adam1330

1,822 posts

262 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
quotequote all
A Sport 1800, with a 155bhp Zetec does 0-60 in 5.4 seconds, so the Sport 2000 should be quicker.

YarisSi

1,537 posts

243 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
quotequote all
It is a great looking car. Does anyone on PH have one?

progers

35 posts

275 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
quotequote all
I spent 19k on a Westfield (Megabird, factory built), 18 months later it was sold for 10.5k. The factory would not help and did not want to buy it back because they were 'worried about it's reliability'. They built it, they serviced it, they recommended against a dry-sump and then they were not interested. A Caterham would have been much better value in the long term.

Justin S

3,637 posts

260 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
quotequote all
I run a wide body with a black top Zetec with throttle bodies etc.Doesn't quite match the Duratec bhp,but 182 bhp is not to be sniffed at.I wanted to build my own and if I did,the price would have been 20k,because I'm a fussy git and want everything to be right.I was lucky then to get a factory built car(not all how I would build it) with a 'brand new' engine and ancillaries.The previous guy bought it and changed the running gear,costing nearly 20k and now in my garage for £9k.I have spent the winter building my own anti-roll bars and am looking forward to March 1st to tax the car and try them out amongst the other tweeks.

bertie

8,545 posts

283 months

Monday 16th February 2004
quotequote all
progers said:
I spent 19k on a Westfield (Megabird, factory built), 18 months later it was sold for 10.5k. The factory would not help and did not want to buy it back because they were 'worried about it's reliability'. They built it, they serviced it, they recommended against a dry-sump and then they were not interested. A Caterham would have been much better value in the long term.


Here, here!!!

Sometimes you get what you pay for in life.

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Tuesday 17th February 2004
quotequote all
Something to consider

ruthingator

21 posts

269 months

Tuesday 17th February 2004
quotequote all
Dinkel,

What is it?

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Tuesday 17th February 2004
quotequote all
ruthingator said:
Dinkel,

What is it?


Check www.donkervoort.nl

Like Colin Chapman once said "If you want to go faster you will have to add lightness", this is still the main concept for Donkervoort.

Super 7 evo a bit bigger and luxurious.

stone

1,538 posts

246 months

Tuesday 17th February 2004
quotequote all
Have you seen the prices for the Donkervoort ??
Even the second hand examples!! What are the fundamental differences between these and a Caterfield?
£50,000 for a 98 car with 17000km!

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Tuesday 17th February 2004
quotequote all
Yep, prices are in euro's. This is beyond kitcar category . . . This is the sundaymorning fun after the Bentley weekdays.
You get a balanced beauty though. The Audi 1.8 turbo plant is not my choice but everything can be tailormade there in the dutch polder . . .

cacatous

3,157 posts

272 months

Wednesday 18th February 2004
quotequote all
This is great and is relevant to TVRs too...

"The Donkervoort D8 does not have any modern support systems like ABS, ESP, ASR….

The driver is in charge.

He decides what the car does not the systems."

bertie

8,545 posts

283 months

Wednesday 18th February 2004
quotequote all
dinkel said:
Something to consider


But they don't look very nice do they.

Bit chubby round the chops!

dino ferrana

791 posts

251 months

Friday 5th March 2004
quotequote all
Donkervoorts are heavy and expensive and not a real seven.

As for the Sports 2000 being £10k less than an R400 well it would be wouldn't it. As far as I can tell (could be wrong) it doesn't have:
Dry Sump
Stack Dash
Tillett seats
Bespoke lightweight wheels
Particularly grippy tyres
Carbon Nosecone, wings and dash
Titanium exhaust
6 speed box
R400 has all of these so I think I know where some of that £10k went. Did someone mention residual value...

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Friday 5th March 2004
quotequote all
Read all about it www.donkervoort.nl/car/techspecs.pdf
www.donkervoort.nl/car/spec_d8e180race.pdf

D8's are no comparison with Caterhams, Westfields and other 7s. They add more comfort and a feel of luxoury to driving the spartan way. This car (esp. wide-track-version) you can take on the tour d'europe. I don't know any other 7 that doesn't give the pain in the back after a few hours. I'm 1.92m long . . .

"The car is 630 Kg light and is powered by an Audi 1.8T 20V engine with a power range from 150, 180 and 210 Bhp.
The Donkervoort D8 has developed to a road worthy Formula1 car. The latest chassis is very torsion stiff and the specially designed suspension guarantees unique driving fun.
The Donkervoort D8 does not have any modern support systems like ABS, ESP, ASR….the driver is in charge. He decides what the car does not the systems."

dino ferrana

791 posts

251 months

Friday 5th March 2004
quotequote all
Caterham doesn't have those either or servo assistance on the brakes.

You have obviously not drive a Caterham with the latest type S-Types or an 7 SV which will accomodate guys much much taller than you. Lots of people have done European tours in sevens without problems. I used to have the latest type S-types in my Caterham and did hours and hours without pain, in fact they are more comfortable than most of the day to day cars I have tried!

Road legal F1 car do me a favour!

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Friday 5th March 2004
quotequote all
sorry

feet

135 posts

239 months

Wednesday 21st April 2004
quotequote all
In the middle of building one at the moment (duratec Westfield). Going for a lightweight spec - aeroscreen, no spare, aluminium bits etc... Had a fair bit of tracktime in a 2litre zetec westfield and had a lot of fun with it. Obviously the Caterham and Westfield are 2 different cars, neither are rip-offs - you get what you pay for. Personally I couldn't justify spending £30,000 on a weekend toy, which is essentially a car more spartan and basic than my first £200 ford fiesta. If I had more money, and didn't have to make any sacrifices to own such a car - then I would probably go Caterham. Doing a self-build though - I can sort the Westfield how I want it, and get only the expensive bits I'm bothered about. Either way, even if I was a lottery winner, I couldn't justify £50,000+ for the fat, compromised, chrysler roadster type hairdressers boudoir pictured above in silver.
heheheh...
I'm new by the way, hello all.

spindlyfish

1 posts

225 months

Tuesday 14th June 2005
quotequote all
Hi all at Pistonheads - I'm new, but already love the site...

I have a 1999 Westy with a 2ltr Vauxhall engine. After an unfortunate timing belt issue I investigated upgrading my engine rather than having a straight repair... I have specced an engine upgrade through Steve Broughton Developments SBDev.co.uk which will give the car circa 235bhp. Given that I bought the car in good cosmetic condition for 10K and the upgrade costs about £5k this is a lot of car for the money. Anyone building their own car should consider looking at these guys because they do a whole variety of kits for Vauxhall XE, Ford Zetec and Duratec engines. I have a friend with the sport 2000 and I have to admit to be very impressed with the power of his car and its delivery in comparison to my own car pre-conversion - it used to make about 160bhp at the rear wheels with carbs. Can't wait to get mine back from the engine builder in a couple of weeks - will post details after I have had some thrills.Regards, Pete

nikpro

127 posts

225 months

Wednesday 15th June 2005
quotequote all
Why oh why do people think that spending £18000 on building a kit and then selling it for £10,000 a year later is a bad experience?

To me the idea of building a kit is not just to have a car at the end of it but it is a very enjoyable hobby and like every other hobby it will cost you money!

If you have ever built a kit you will know how satisfying it is, if you have no inclination of building a kit buy one that is a year old and enjoy low deprieciation.

Kit Builders - don't moan that your hobby costs money!