Tiger kit car, should I?
Discussion
Been to look at a Tiger kit car today, few years old but originally built by the company. It was completely impractical, don't really need it etc etc but I do have a bit of space for it and old man is considering going half’s and keeping at mine with me paying insurance etc (not too far away so he could use it if he wanted)
I am very tempted but just wanted to know what the masses think. Should I or shouldn't I?
I am very tempted but just wanted to know what the masses think. Should I or shouldn't I?
I have owned 2 Westfields in my time, both completely impractical, but great fun for those times when you want to have fun for the sake of it at legal road speeds.
They are cheap to insure, cheap to run and if you buy sensibly almost inflation proof. In fact I made a modest profit on my last one.
Best fun cars I have owned, even more so than my TVR's.
Just make sure you get on well with Dad
They are cheap to insure, cheap to run and if you buy sensibly almost inflation proof. In fact I made a modest profit on my last one.
Best fun cars I have owned, even more so than my TVR's.
Just make sure you get on well with Dad
Megaflow said:
What's your budget?
Westfield's are not a lot more money, and your average Westfield is better than your average Tiger. Obviously the best of one is always better than the worst of the other, but typically the Westfield's are better cars.
I looked at a couple of Tigers when I was searching for my Westfields and would agree 100% with this.Westfield's are not a lot more money, and your average Westfield is better than your average Tiger. Obviously the best of one is always better than the worst of the other, but typically the Westfield's are better cars.
I had a super Six. Dismantled , refreshed and rebuilt it.
Leg length is a real problem in these cars, also rainy days if youbwantban interior.
The E1 is not the best car. It was designed to be an easy build with the full (read heavy) rear sierra suspension.
As such it's very heavy.
Its still not a bad car, so long as you get a Zetec engined one. But you are short changing yourself against the Avon, and some of the other manufacturers.
Leg length is a real problem in these cars, also rainy days if youbwantban interior.
The E1 is not the best car. It was designed to be an easy build with the full (read heavy) rear sierra suspension.
As such it's very heavy.
Its still not a bad car, so long as you get a Zetec engined one. But you are short changing yourself against the Avon, and some of the other manufacturers.
Just had a quick look, Westfields just look that little bit over the budget. As it's just a cheap bit of fun and my first kit car type don't want to go too over the top, just in case I run out of talent!
Was going for around the £5k mark.
Yes get on well with dad, have dont it before with a couple of Land rovers so know what it's like.
Was going for around the £5k mark.
Yes get on well with dad, have dont it before with a couple of Land rovers so know what it's like.
Hol said:
I had a super Six. Dismantled , refreshed and rebuilt it.
Leg length is a real problem in these cars, also rainy days if youbwantban interior.
The E1 is not the best car. It was designed to be an easy build with the full (read heavy) rear sierra suspension.
As such it's very heavy.
Its still not a bad car, so long as you get a Zetec engined one. But you are short changing yourself against the Avon, and some of the other manufacturers.
Why a Zetec engine rather than a Pinto engine may I ask?Leg length is a real problem in these cars, also rainy days if youbwantban interior.
The E1 is not the best car. It was designed to be an easy build with the full (read heavy) rear sierra suspension.
As such it's very heavy.
Its still not a bad car, so long as you get a Zetec engined one. But you are short changing yourself against the Avon, and some of the other manufacturers.
eggchaser1987 said:
Why a Zetec engine rather than a Pinto engine may I ask?
Because the Zetec gives more poke for the same capacity and doesn't weigh as much as the moon..?Your initial question led me off to the classifieds.. to my untrained eye this Westfield SEI looks like a bit of a bargain.. would have a look myself were I sufficiently hardcore to use it as a daily
Having built a Tiger Cat E1 with my dad, run it for 5 years and just returned today in it from a 600 mile trip, i can comment on a few points.
It's not as well built as a Westfield but they are a cheaper kit to begin with.
With a 2.0 zetec, they are just as fast as a similar Westie.
Yes they do use the full rear beam from a Sierra but it's a cheaper, simpler kit. A first kitcar if you like.
The beam is heavy, but they can still be set up to handle really well. A LSD from a cosworth will help over the standard open ones.
A zetec can be had for under £200, then you either go, carbs, bike carbs, throttle bodies.
We have R1 bike carbs with a 4-1 exhaust, to a Type 9 gearbox and cosworth LSD.
If it's from the factory, then it should be better built than one in a garage, unless you get someone who takes their time, asks loads of questions and does it properly. ( like we did )
You can add and take away parts as you wish, there are plenty of different gauges, seats, brakes, wheels etc to fit.
We like ours, and have spent £0000s getting it the way we want as there are always new parts to fit, or new ideas to try out on it.
It's not as well built as a Westfield but they are a cheaper kit to begin with.
With a 2.0 zetec, they are just as fast as a similar Westie.
Yes they do use the full rear beam from a Sierra but it's a cheaper, simpler kit. A first kitcar if you like.
The beam is heavy, but they can still be set up to handle really well. A LSD from a cosworth will help over the standard open ones.
A zetec can be had for under £200, then you either go, carbs, bike carbs, throttle bodies.
We have R1 bike carbs with a 4-1 exhaust, to a Type 9 gearbox and cosworth LSD.
If it's from the factory, then it should be better built than one in a garage, unless you get someone who takes their time, asks loads of questions and does it properly. ( like we did )
You can add and take away parts as you wish, there are plenty of different gauges, seats, brakes, wheels etc to fit.
We like ours, and have spent £0000s getting it the way we want as there are always new parts to fit, or new ideas to try out on it.
Thanks A.J.M, really helpfull info there. Will be the first one I have had. Was built from the factory and looked tidy, it has a 2 ltr pinto engine the one I had seen today.
Seamed fast enough on the trip out. So I was happy with the performance. Just got to talk myself into it properly.
Nice to see a good review on them. Thanks again.
Seamed fast enough on the trip out. So I was happy with the performance. Just got to talk myself into it properly
. Nice to see a good review on them. Thanks again.
I have had both a Westfield (SEi) and a Tiger (Supersix), both nice cars with two litre Pintos. I think a Westfield would be slightly more desirable come resale time, but they are both OK.
Yes, the Pinto engine is a bit long in the tooth and a heavy lump, but I think it's a great engine.
Over the years I have done well over 200,000 miles in various Pinto engined cars, 2 Granadas, Three Capris, Kit cars, a Sierra etc with not one single breakdown, and they were thrashed without mercy.
Just ensure you change the oil and filter every 6,000 miles (to avoid the camshaft spray bar becoming blocked) and you will be fine....
Yes, the Pinto engine is a bit long in the tooth and a heavy lump, but I think it's a great engine.
Over the years I have done well over 200,000 miles in various Pinto engined cars, 2 Granadas, Three Capris, Kit cars, a Sierra etc with not one single breakdown, and they were thrashed without mercy.
Just ensure you change the oil and filter every 6,000 miles (to avoid the camshaft spray bar becoming blocked) and you will be fine....
Republik1980 said:
eggchaser1987 said:
Why a Zetec engine rather than a Pinto engine may I ask?
Because the Zetec gives more poke for the same capacity and doesn't weigh as much as the moon..?Your initial question led me off to the classifieds.. to my untrained eye this Westfield SEI looks like a bit of a bargain.. would have a look myself were I sufficiently hardcore to use it as a daily
eggchaser1987 said:
Thanks A.J.M, really helpfull info there. Will be the first one I have had. Was built from the factory and looked tidy, it has a 2 ltr pinto engine the one I had seen today.
Seamed fast enough on the trip out. So I was happy with the performance. Just got to talk myself into it properly.
Nice to see a good review on them. Thanks again.
Guy on the run, had a Westie with a 2.0 pinto. Yes Noah used it to anchor his boat but they go on forever and while you will never get huge power out of it, you won't get any real issues with it.Seamed fast enough on the trip out. So I was happy with the performance. Just got to talk myself into it properly
. Nice to see a good review on them. Thanks again.
Pinto's bolt onto the Type 9, the Zetec bolts straight on as well. But the exhaust go out different sides, pinto are drivers, zetec's are passenger, Duratec's, which are the new engine on the scene from Ford are driver side exhaust.
So you could buy it, run it and if you want more power, then go for a duratec engine.
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