Discussion
Can open, worms all over the place... 
Just to fan the flames, having been round a track in both now I still fail to see why a Caterham is so much more than a Westfield. Feels like a very similar experience. Can't comment on road use or long term ownership though - to be fair the (curiously expensive) Caterhams don't really seem to depreciate.
Just to fan the flames, having been round a track in both now I still fail to see why a Caterham is so much more than a Westfield. Feels like a very similar experience. Can't comment on road use or long term ownership though - to be fair the (curiously expensive) Caterhams don't really seem to depreciate.
Westfield XI ? Yes please! I prefer the looks of the Caterham by far, it's iconic isn't it? They hold their money granted, but they hold quite a lot of it!!!! If youwamt to pamper and polish to protect residules, then a Caterham is the winner. However, if like me you want to use and abuse and enjoy to the max, I'd go for a full caged inboard suspension Indy, with 200bhp of Duratec preferably....
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ close but wrong engine choice........... 
The answer to this can of worms depends on who you ask the question to.
Lets just leave it at, its down to personal choice and what you are happy with.
Residuals ?
I see MK's, MNR's MAC1's and others are holding there value to, they just start lower......
The answer to this can of worms depends on who you ask the question to.
Lets just leave it at, its down to personal choice and what you are happy with.
Residuals ?
I see MK's, MNR's MAC1's and others are holding there value to, they just start lower......
Furyblade_Lee said:
Thats true Jon, i would be very wary of ploughing £15 - £20K nowdays into a 7 build as you would be hard pushed to sell any the day after SVA for more than £10K... An MK Indy seems realistically priced to build, enjoy and not lose too much on.
My thinking is the same With both you guys here. MK, MNR & MAC all seem to hold good value and are great cars for the money.Dave,
the Striker is supposedly a great drivers car,if you can live with the looks.
I agree on the aesthetics though, the Caterhams do have the edge.
My view is that a good Westy will be 85% as good for around half the price of/as a Caterham.
Interestingly, post Palmersport, a LOT of people are looking at Caterhams and sevens in general......
the Striker is supposedly a great drivers car,if you can live with the looks.
I agree on the aesthetics though, the Caterhams do have the edge.
My view is that a good Westy will be 85% as good for around half the price of/as a Caterham.
Interestingly, post Palmersport, a LOT of people are looking at Caterhams and sevens in general......
Furyous said:
Interestingly, post Palmersport, a LOT of people are looking at Caterhams and sevens in general......
I had my first proper track outing in a Caterham recently and that really made me think. But then I had a ride (passengering this time admittedly) in a Zetec powered Westie at Llandow (anyone on here?) a couple of days later and it seemed to be every bit as good.Don't understand the objection to the Strikers looks, I quite like it. There again, I used to own a Leader, so maybe don't listen to me on the subject of aesthetics.
Chris71 said:
Furyous said:
Interestingly, post Palmersport, a LOT of people are looking at Caterhams and sevens in general......
I had my first proper track outing in a Caterham recently and that really made me think. But then I had a ride (passengering this time admittedly) in a Zetec powered Westie at Llandow (anyone on here?) a couple of days later and it seemed to be every bit as good.Don't understand the objection to the Strikers looks, I quite like it. There again, I used to own a Leader, so maybe don't listen to me on the subject of aesthetics.
But I do drive a mojo
@Si - We still building the XI, but we did a Palmer Sport day at the weekend with PH and after playing with their CSR260s we want to expand the garage even further 
Oh, and on the bucket vs bench seats debate; The 7's at the weekend were all bench seats and if we doing it again I think we'd have bench seats spec'ed for the XI - easier in and just pad it out as much as needed. As it is I'll be making something so Mel can use the car post S/IVA by swaping the bucket seats out.
I can't quite get my head around how expensive the 7s are though. I do prefer the look of the Caterham 7 over the Westfield SE. As for the rest, I've got no idea about what there really is (until the weekend I've never seriously considered one).
We have a friend nearby who built a wide bodied Luego (can't remember the model), but their experience of the build was that nothing seemed to be built on jigs and if you want something done right, you have to do it several times... Do other companies do better in build quality?
I know it's a can of worms and I could investigate further myself, but as I actually like to read opinions and thoughts on this part of PH, I thought I'd ask
As for configuration, etc... Engine goes in the front, gearbox in the middle, wheels driven at the back, soft springs, stiff dampers, low mass, exposed wheels and high (enough) torque & power are the order of the day with this one.
Oh, and on the bucket vs bench seats debate; The 7's at the weekend were all bench seats and if we doing it again I think we'd have bench seats spec'ed for the XI - easier in and just pad it out as much as needed. As it is I'll be making something so Mel can use the car post S/IVA by swaping the bucket seats out.
I can't quite get my head around how expensive the 7s are though. I do prefer the look of the Caterham 7 over the Westfield SE. As for the rest, I've got no idea about what there really is (until the weekend I've never seriously considered one).
We have a friend nearby who built a wide bodied Luego (can't remember the model), but their experience of the build was that nothing seemed to be built on jigs and if you want something done right, you have to do it several times... Do other companies do better in build quality?
I know it's a can of worms and I could investigate further myself, but as I actually like to read opinions and thoughts on this part of PH, I thought I'd ask
As for configuration, etc... Engine goes in the front, gearbox in the middle, wheels driven at the back, soft springs, stiff dampers, low mass, exposed wheels and high (enough) torque & power are the order of the day with this one.
Not all 7's are expensive Dave. I only paid £5k for mine, although that was roughly £1.5-2K underpriced for a quick sale. Yes, any new 7 will be a lot more expensive, and a Caterham even more so, but second hand they can be much cheaper. Caterham's do seem a bit overpriced, whether new or not, but I can have a massive amount of fun in my car so I don't really care what it's worth compared to the other makes.
As for build quality, that is a part of why Caterhams are so expensive. They will mostly fit together first time. Many of the others makes will require vary degrees of owner input. But some people enjoy the fiddling and making something out of a box of parts. Some people just want to get out an get on with it. I decided against building altogether.
As for build quality, that is a part of why Caterhams are so expensive. They will mostly fit together first time. Many of the others makes will require vary degrees of owner input. But some people enjoy the fiddling and making something out of a box of parts. Some people just want to get out an get on with it. I decided against building altogether.
Im made up, mind wise.
Im going to go the Westy route, primarily because its the nearest thing to a Caterham, but also because the back up is there, and the lowered floor is retro fittable.
All that remains is wether I can face another 12 month build or just buy one.
Sva almost decides this for me......
Im going to go the Westy route, primarily because its the nearest thing to a Caterham, but also because the back up is there, and the lowered floor is retro fittable.
All that remains is wether I can face another 12 month build or just buy one.
Sva almost decides this for me......
I am not surprised lots of people were looking into Caterhams after the Palmersport day. Driven back to back, with virtually ANY roadcar, you do realise that Colin Chapmans famous statement along the lines of "If you add power you go faster in a straight line, if you add lightness you go faster everywhere" is absolutely true. And the involvement and feedback is off the scale too compared to tin-tops, when you are allowed to drive them at the limit and beyond. Some more converts to our side!
BTW did anyone see the South East news tonight?? A 107-year-old lady was treated to a couple of laps in a new M3 at Brands Hatch today, as a birthday treat. The first thing she said in an interview after was "It wasn't very fast!" Respect to Nana. She wouldn't have said that if i took her round there in the Phoenix ! :-)
BTW did anyone see the South East news tonight?? A 107-year-old lady was treated to a couple of laps in a new M3 at Brands Hatch today, as a birthday treat. The first thing she said in an interview after was "It wasn't very fast!" Respect to Nana. She wouldn't have said that if i took her round there in the Phoenix ! :-)
Furyblade_Lee said:
I am not surprised lots of people were looking into Caterhams after the Palmersport day. Driven back to back, with virtually ANY roadcar, you do realise that Colin Chapmans famous statement along the lines of "If you add power you go faster in a straight line, if you add lightness you go faster everywhere" is absolutely true. And the involvement and feedback is off the scale too compared to tin-tops, when you are allowed to drive them at the limit and beyond. Some more converts to our side!
BTW did anyone see the South East news tonight?? A 107-year-old lady was treated to a couple of laps in a new M3 at Brands Hatch today, as a birthday treat. The first thing she said in an interview after was "It wasn't very fast!" Respect to Nana. She wouldn't have said that if i took her round there in the Phoenix ! :-)
But would she have a massive heart attack and die? There's no way in hell I'd go flat out with someone who's 07 sat next to me!BTW did anyone see the South East news tonight?? A 107-year-old lady was treated to a couple of laps in a new M3 at Brands Hatch today, as a birthday treat. The first thing she said in an interview after was "It wasn't very fast!" Respect to Nana. She wouldn't have said that if i took her round there in the Phoenix ! :-)
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