Westfield v8 or 2 ltr zetec
Discussion
After some advice ,just sold an old GTM and now looking for a westfield.I really like the v8 but will I be able to live with it.Want somthing to travel to Nurburg ring in May.
How much is road tax for a year, I get different answers on the price ,what would it do to the gallon on a run, insurance ,what are the bad points?the one I have seen is a 4.0 with fuel injection, low milage,02 Plate for £14995.
Against the 2 litre zetec would there be much difference in performance?
Please help
Thanks
How much is road tax for a year, I get different answers on the price ,what would it do to the gallon on a run, insurance ,what are the bad points?the one I have seen is a 4.0 with fuel injection, low milage,02 Plate for £14995.
Against the 2 litre zetec would there be much difference in performance?
Please help
Thanks
Try the Westfield club, very helpfull and friendly bunch. I have driven the Toyota twincam version and the Fireblade and were both fun, but very diferent, would not want to drive the Megablade on a long run , but fun on a track or the twisty bits. If you go for a standard Rover V8 there's not much power difference to be had, just torque, unless you tune of course.
I think it's really down to what you are going to use it for, if you intend doing much mileage then perhaps the V8 might be a little "juicy" but, it has to be said that although it might have interesting traits, the V8 still does feel and sound a bit special.
www.wscc.co.uk
I think it's really down to what you are going to use it for, if you intend doing much mileage then perhaps the V8 might be a little "juicy" but, it has to be said that although it might have interesting traits, the V8 still does feel and sound a bit special.
www.wscc.co.uk
I run a 4.6ltr carb'd V8 Dax Rush ( 300BHP / 280ft/lbs torque), so here's my 10 penneth :
V8 is great for cuising and easy to live with around town, and gives masses of instant torque / power across a big rev band - 1200 - 5500 rpm . Sound great and gives good smooth power band : great for powering out of corners or up hill. Only downside is 20-25mpg on a run, and ~ 7 - 10 mpg on a sprint track or hillclimb - but they are seriously quick!!!
If 02 plated then I guess the car you're looking at would be £185/year road tax, and is too old to fall into the new "chelsea tractor" band G road tax bracket courtesy of Gordon Brown.
I'd go V8 every time, or bike engined if performance and economy are the main aims, but having been in a zetec injected Dax Rush also, there's nothing wrong with performance of them (save for a peaky power curve and not much better mpg than V8 and the mono sound-track).
Whatever you do - do go for a 7 type car, they're just awesome with a good motor in them.
V8 is great for cuising and easy to live with around town, and gives masses of instant torque / power across a big rev band - 1200 - 5500 rpm . Sound great and gives good smooth power band : great for powering out of corners or up hill. Only downside is 20-25mpg on a run, and ~ 7 - 10 mpg on a sprint track or hillclimb - but they are seriously quick!!!
If 02 plated then I guess the car you're looking at would be £185/year road tax, and is too old to fall into the new "chelsea tractor" band G road tax bracket courtesy of Gordon Brown.
I'd go V8 every time, or bike engined if performance and economy are the main aims, but having been in a zetec injected Dax Rush also, there's nothing wrong with performance of them (save for a peaky power curve and not much better mpg than V8 and the mono sound-track).
Whatever you do - do go for a 7 type car, they're just awesome with a good motor in them.
rushv8 said:
I run a 4.6ltr carb'd V8 Dax Rush ( 300BHP / 280ft/lbs torque), so here's my 10 penneth :
V8 is great for cuising and easy to live with around town, and gives masses of instant torque / power across a big rev band - 1200 - 5500 rpm . Sound great and gives good smooth power band : great for powering out of corners or up hill. Only downside is 20-25mpg on a run, and ~ 7 - 10 mpg on a sprint track or hillclimb - but they are seriously quick!!!
If 02 plated then I guess the car you're looking at would be £185/year road tax, and is too old to fall into the new "chelsea tractor" band G road tax bracket courtesy of Gordon Brown.
I'd go V8 every time, or bike engined if performance and economy are the main aims, but having been in a zetec injected Dax Rush also, there's nothing wrong with performance of them (save for a peaky power curve and not much better mpg than V8 and the mono sound-track).
Whatever you do - do go for a 7 type car, they're just awesome with a good motor in them.
V8 is great for cuising and easy to live with around town, and gives masses of instant torque / power across a big rev band - 1200 - 5500 rpm . Sound great and gives good smooth power band : great for powering out of corners or up hill. Only downside is 20-25mpg on a run, and ~ 7 - 10 mpg on a sprint track or hillclimb - but they are seriously quick!!!
If 02 plated then I guess the car you're looking at would be £185/year road tax, and is too old to fall into the new "chelsea tractor" band G road tax bracket courtesy of Gordon Brown.
I'd go V8 every time, or bike engined if performance and economy are the main aims, but having been in a zetec injected Dax Rush also, there's nothing wrong with performance of them (save for a peaky power curve and not much better mpg than V8 and the mono sound-track).
Whatever you do - do go for a 7 type car, they're just awesome with a good motor in them.
What he said...!
[quote=rushv8] but having been in a zetec injected Dax Rush also, there's nothing wrong with performance of them (save for a peaky power curve and not much better mpg than V8 and the mono sound-track).
quote]
If thats true its got to be the V8 every time hasn't it? The sound and power from such a light weight car must be awesome.
quote]
If thats true its got to be the V8 every time hasn't it? The sound and power from such a light weight car must be awesome.
Justin S had a 2.0 zetec westfield (contact him through his profile) and it was excellent. I had a 4.6 v8 and it was also excellent. Your best bet would be to test drive each and see what you like.
I'd go for a v8 given the choice of the two as the power was immense. My fuel consumption was 15mpg but I was on a big webber carb, FI would have been much better.
I'd go for a v8 given the choice of the two as the power was immense. My fuel consumption was 15mpg but I was on a big webber carb, FI would have been much better.
I have a 2.0 Zetec on Webers and find it has plenty of performance - with the side exhaust it is plenty loud enough and it pops and bangs quite happily. One of the big differences between a V8 and Zetec has to be affordability. My 2003 2.0 Zetec cost me £6250 last autumn. It is also going to be a whole lot easier to work on, there is plenty of room under the bonnet and plenty of upgrades to keep your wallet busy.
Anyway - get over to the Westfield club boardroom
Cheers
Phil
Anyway - get over to the Westfield club boardroom
Cheers
Phil
phild said:
I have a 2.0 Zetec on Webers and find it has plenty of performance - with the side exhaust it is plenty loud enough and it pops and bangs quite happily. One of the big differences between a V8 and Zetec has to be affordability. My 2003 2.0 Zetec cost me £6250 last autumn. It is also going to be a whole lot easier to work on, there is plenty of room under the bonnet and plenty of upgrades to keep your wallet busy.
Anyway - get over to the Westfield club boardroom
Cheers
Phil
Anyway - get over to the Westfield club boardroom
Cheers
Phil
The initial cost of a V8 I agree will be more but you wont need to "keep your wallet busy" with upgrades, as you have all the power you need right from day one .In addition, a yank V8 is bullet proof and will outlast two zetecs fitted with a load of stuff they weren`t designed for . And as for that throaty stereo soundtrack - Priceless.
A decent set up 2.0l zetec will easily give 190bhp which is at least as much as a standard Rover V8 and it'll be cheaper to tune it to 250bhp than the V8 and it'll run real smooth and with the huge weight difference of the engine and gearbox it'll leave a V8 of equivalent power for dead especially under braking and round the bends! 
It won't have such a great sound but is sooo much sweeter an experience IMHO
It won't have such a great sound but is sooo much sweeter an experience IMHO
custardtart said:
A decent set up 2.0l zetec will easily give 190bhp which is at least as much as a standard Rover V8 and it'll be cheaper to tune it to 250bhp than the V8 and it'll run real smooth and with the huge weight difference of the engine and gearbox it'll leave a V8 of equivalent power for dead especially under braking and round the bends!
Not in my experience. Get a 4.6 and get John Eales to take it to 300bhp. Mine had 238lbft at idle and 303lbft at 3000rpm. You know it makes sense
custardtart said:
A decent set up 2.0l zetec will easily give 190bhp which is at least as much as a standard Rover V8 and it'll be cheaper to tune it to 250bhp than the V8 and it'll run real smooth and with the huge weight difference of the engine and gearbox it'll leave a V8 of equivalent power for dead especially under braking and round the bends!
It won't have such a great sound but is sooo much sweeter an experience IMHO
It won't have such a great sound but is sooo much sweeter an experience IMHO
I dont know how expensive people think rover v8`s are to modify, but i think they are very reasonably priced. zetec performance parts must be given away for free if they are cheaper to tune than a rover v8. Also rovers are very light so the power to weight is good also. A 3.9ltr with a 238 cam, webber 500, hi- rise inlet, ported heads and headman header manifolds. The noise alone will out do any 4cyl engine, Then the power/weight or the rover will be far ahead in my eyes.. Everyone does have there own opinion though... If it is to go into something special then power it by something special, If it is going to be a run of the mill everyday driver and your average shopping car then go the other route !!!
How much less does a Zetec weigh than an RV8?
I doubt it is much as a Pinto or DOHC weigh about the same as an RV8.
I would expect a 4cyl car to be much cheaper to buy though and '90s 4cyl Westies seem to be very reasonably priced.
As well as Dax (my personal favourite '7') Tornado & Formula 27 also produce(d) V8 cars.
I doubt it is much as a Pinto or DOHC weigh about the same as an RV8.
I would expect a 4cyl car to be much cheaper to buy though and '90s 4cyl Westies seem to be very reasonably priced.
As well as Dax (my personal favourite '7') Tornado & Formula 27 also produce(d) V8 cars.
dern said:
Justin S had a 2.0 zetec westfield (contact him through his profile) and it was excellent. I had a 4.6 v8 and it was also excellent. Your best bet would be to test drive each and see what you like.
I'd go for a v8 given the choice of the two as the power was immense. My fuel consumption was 15mpg but I was on a big webber carb, FI would have been much better.
I'd go for a v8 given the choice of the two as the power was immense. My fuel consumption was 15mpg but I was on a big webber carb, FI would have been much better.
Dern - I have probably same Webber Eddlebrock performer 500 carb that you did , and I get 20-25 mpg with normal mix of "hooning" / cruising : they are an art to jet properly, and very sensitive to fuel pressure / flow metering from your pump - 15mpg suggests not rolling road tuned or you have a heavier right foot than me !!! (not easy I can tell you).
rushv8 said:
dern said:
Justin S had a 2.0 zetec westfield (contact him through his profile) and it was excellent. I had a 4.6 v8 and it was also excellent. Your best bet would be to test drive each and see what you like.
I'd go for a v8 given the choice of the two as the power was immense. My fuel consumption was 15mpg but I was on a big webber carb, FI would have been much better.
I'd go for a v8 given the choice of the two as the power was immense. My fuel consumption was 15mpg but I was on a big webber carb, FI would have been much better.
Dern - I have probably same Webber Eddlebrock performer 500 carb that you did , and I get 20-25 mpg with normal mix of "hooning" / cruising : they are an art to jet properly, and very sensitive to fuel pressure / flow metering from your pump - 15mpg suggests not rolling road tuned or you have a heavier right foot than me !!! (not easy I can tell you).
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