Westfield v Tiger Cat E1- Which is best
Discussion
TBH the question is possibly more open than you'd think.
firstly i'd suggest it's a question of what you're going to be using the car for, how you expect to drive the car and what you want from a car.
Loads of folks have opinions about the hierarchy of 'kits' - in reality i'd suggest there's a subtle difference between pottering down to a country pub with GF/Wife in the pass seat, driving it hard on the road and of course t/days....and of course the value for money factor.
you need to consider that a kit by its very definition is individual from teh point of assembly, and therefore you'll get some of the same make that are better than others and others that are a complete dogs dinner. So a buyer also needs to think about how much maintenance he'll do himself, what might need doing more immediately and whether what he's buying will satisfy him in the short /medium term - upgrading components is more often than not more expensive than buying the right car to start with!
generally speaking i think its fair to say that most folks would bet on a westie over a Tig Cat - but as above you'd need to drill down deeper in comparing 2 cars at a similar price range. perhaps one might be substanially older - crazed f/glass, older components, poorer engine/box etc etc so just to ask which is better is way too open. I have a fair few pals with both cars and had a Tig supercat myself, ignore comments like - tigers are too heavy, from experience i'd suggest that a Cat depending on engine etc will be about 60kg heavier than a comparable westie. If we're all into power to weight that much we'd all be the size/weight of jockeys!
all i'll say about the Cat is that i'd still have mine if i hadnt rearranged it, it carried me close to 40k swift miles on roads and t/days, had a useable storage area behind the seats.
there's a link here to thoughts about what to think/look for when buying - maybe there's a nuggest of useful info for you when you settle on the type/make of car that you prefer.
Best thing to do is to get along to a club meeting or two and form your own impressions, ask questions etc.
skcc linky
firstly i'd suggest it's a question of what you're going to be using the car for, how you expect to drive the car and what you want from a car.
Loads of folks have opinions about the hierarchy of 'kits' - in reality i'd suggest there's a subtle difference between pottering down to a country pub with GF/Wife in the pass seat, driving it hard on the road and of course t/days....and of course the value for money factor.
you need to consider that a kit by its very definition is individual from teh point of assembly, and therefore you'll get some of the same make that are better than others and others that are a complete dogs dinner. So a buyer also needs to think about how much maintenance he'll do himself, what might need doing more immediately and whether what he's buying will satisfy him in the short /medium term - upgrading components is more often than not more expensive than buying the right car to start with!
generally speaking i think its fair to say that most folks would bet on a westie over a Tig Cat - but as above you'd need to drill down deeper in comparing 2 cars at a similar price range. perhaps one might be substanially older - crazed f/glass, older components, poorer engine/box etc etc so just to ask which is better is way too open. I have a fair few pals with both cars and had a Tig supercat myself, ignore comments like - tigers are too heavy, from experience i'd suggest that a Cat depending on engine etc will be about 60kg heavier than a comparable westie. If we're all into power to weight that much we'd all be the size/weight of jockeys!
all i'll say about the Cat is that i'd still have mine if i hadnt rearranged it, it carried me close to 40k swift miles on roads and t/days, had a useable storage area behind the seats.
there's a link here to thoughts about what to think/look for when buying - maybe there's a nuggest of useful info for you when you settle on the type/make of car that you prefer.
Best thing to do is to get along to a club meeting or two and form your own impressions, ask questions etc.
skcc linky
Agree with all of the above - Also let people know where you are in the country and offers of a spin in one or other car will surely be forthcoming.
I've a Tiger myself, had it for a few years now it has been great fun and never let me down. I've never had a Westie so can't compare. I do know there are dogs of both versions out there so do be careful.
Tigers might not cut the mustard on the track - not that I've tried, maybe it would - but it has been more than up to the task of blatting down quiet A roads and back lanes on a summer evening - plenty quick enough. Substantially faster than the Opel Manta SR, RS2000 and Xr3i etc that I've owned in the past - thought they were quick at the time though, its all relative!
good luck
I've a Tiger myself, had it for a few years now it has been great fun and never let me down. I've never had a Westie so can't compare. I do know there are dogs of both versions out there so do be careful.
Tigers might not cut the mustard on the track - not that I've tried, maybe it would - but it has been more than up to the task of blatting down quiet A roads and back lanes on a summer evening - plenty quick enough. Substantially faster than the Opel Manta SR, RS2000 and Xr3i etc that I've owned in the past - thought they were quick at the time though, its all relative!
good luck
My mates Cat, 2l Zetec twin 45's, is a match for my 156 BHP Elise on the twisty bits. It runs out of steam anount 100 MPH, shaped like a brick, but with no windscreen you wouldn't want to go much faster.
I'm biased as I've built two Cats myself. The best advice has already been given, try both yourself. There are rough Cats and Westfield out there but as the Cat is a more difficult build I suspect there are more of the former.
I'm biased as I've built two Cats myself. The best advice has already been given, try both yourself. There are rough Cats and Westfield out there but as the Cat is a more difficult build I suspect there are more of the former.
Tiger Cat is very small (inside), narrow westie reasonable.
Tiger is not too bad, but imo not really compareable to a westfield.
interestingwise Tigers could be bought rather cheap (compared to a westfield)
anyway...avoid under all circumstances a RobinHood...!!! (as long as you have no other choice because your ass is too fat)
Tiger is not too bad, but imo not really compareable to a westfield.
interestingwise Tigers could be bought rather cheap (compared to a westfield)
anyway...avoid under all circumstances a RobinHood...!!! (as long as you have no other choice because your ass is too fat)
Edited by RochdaleGT on Friday 5th July 20:28
Don't listen to anyone regarding what is big enough and what is too small. I have built and driven many kit cars and it really is down to the individual. I've known 6'3" + skinny blokes with long legs drive the same car as 5'8" lardy's and both happy. Then a 5'10" guy not fit!!! It is all down to torso length, leg length, girth, preferred seating position and any other reason you care to mention. Go and try a few and sit in a few.
There is a big show at Donnington Park 24/25th August. You could try all sorts there in many configurations. Both factory cars and visit the Club areas.
There is a big show at Donnington Park 24/25th August. You could try all sorts there in many configurations. Both factory cars and visit the Club areas.
Paul.B said:
Don't listen to anyone regarding what is big enough and what is too small. I have built and driven many kit cars and it really is down to the individual. I've known 6'3" + skinny blokes with long legs drive the same car as 5'8" lardy's and both happy. Then a 5'10" guy not fit!!! It is all down to torso length, leg length, girth, preferred seating position and any other reason you care to mention. Go and try a few and sit in a few.
There is a big show at Donnington Park 24/25th August. You could try all sorts there in many configurations. Both factory cars and visit the Club areas.
i fully agree...but if the construction from the kit-manufacturer already distinguishes significantly its not necessary to discuss about it.There is a big show at Donnington Park 24/25th August. You could try all sorts there in many configurations. Both factory cars and visit the Club areas.
Tiger, i dont know why, have /had certain models which are tighter than the other constuctors of spaceframed sevens.
actually Tiger´s HS6 is such one.
greengreenwood7 said:
TBH the question is possibly more open than you'd think.
firstly i'd suggest it's a question of what you're going to be using the car for, how you expect to drive the car and what you want from a car.
Loads of folks have opinions about the hierarchy of 'kits' - in reality i'd suggest there's a subtle difference between pottering down to a country pub with GF/Wife in the pass seat, driving it hard on the road and of course t/days....and of course the value for money factor.
you need to consider that a kit by its very definition is individual from teh point of assembly, and therefore you'll get some of the same make that are better than others and others that are a complete dogs dinner. So a buyer also needs to think about how much maintenance he'll do himself, what might need doing more immediately and whether what he's buying will satisfy him in the short /medium term - upgrading components is more often than not more expensive than buying the right car to start with!
generally speaking i think its fair to say that most folks would bet on a westie over a Tig Cat - but as above you'd need to drill down deeper in comparing 2 cars at a similar price range. perhaps one might be substanially older - crazed f/glass, older components, poorer engine/box etc etc so just to ask which is better is way too open. I have a fair few pals with both cars and had a Tig supercat myself, ignore comments like - tigers are too heavy, from experience i'd suggest that a Cat depending on engine etc will be about 60kg heavier than a comparable westie. If we're all into power to weight that much we'd all be the size/weight of jockeys!
all i'll say about the Cat is that i'd still have mine if i hadnt rearranged it, it carried me close to 40k swift miles on roads and t/days, had a useable storage area behind the seats.
there's a link here to thoughts about what to think/look for when buying - maybe there's a nuggest of useful info for you when you settle on the type/make of car that you prefer.
Best thing to do is to get along to a club meeting or two and form your own impressions, ask questions etc.
skcc linky
Didn't realise you had broke it. I followed you last year when we started from the lodge with Pete G behind me, I had the yellow westy Pinto( now changed to a duratec) That was a good run. firstly i'd suggest it's a question of what you're going to be using the car for, how you expect to drive the car and what you want from a car.
Loads of folks have opinions about the hierarchy of 'kits' - in reality i'd suggest there's a subtle difference between pottering down to a country pub with GF/Wife in the pass seat, driving it hard on the road and of course t/days....and of course the value for money factor.
you need to consider that a kit by its very definition is individual from teh point of assembly, and therefore you'll get some of the same make that are better than others and others that are a complete dogs dinner. So a buyer also needs to think about how much maintenance he'll do himself, what might need doing more immediately and whether what he's buying will satisfy him in the short /medium term - upgrading components is more often than not more expensive than buying the right car to start with!
generally speaking i think its fair to say that most folks would bet on a westie over a Tig Cat - but as above you'd need to drill down deeper in comparing 2 cars at a similar price range. perhaps one might be substanially older - crazed f/glass, older components, poorer engine/box etc etc so just to ask which is better is way too open. I have a fair few pals with both cars and had a Tig supercat myself, ignore comments like - tigers are too heavy, from experience i'd suggest that a Cat depending on engine etc will be about 60kg heavier than a comparable westie. If we're all into power to weight that much we'd all be the size/weight of jockeys!
all i'll say about the Cat is that i'd still have mine if i hadnt rearranged it, it carried me close to 40k swift miles on roads and t/days, had a useable storage area behind the seats.
there's a link here to thoughts about what to think/look for when buying - maybe there's a nuggest of useful info for you when you settle on the type/make of car that you prefer.
Best thing to do is to get along to a club meeting or two and form your own impressions, ask questions etc.
skcc linky
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