Differences between Caterham and Westfield?
Discussion
What are the main differences between the two, having driven a 140 BHP Caterham yesterday I’d really want something with more power, but can’t afford that in a Caterham with the wider body.
How does the Westfield chassis compare to the Caterham? How similar are they to drive (next plan is the go up to Westfield to try one for myself)?
How does the Westfield chassis compare to the Caterham? How similar are they to drive (next plan is the go up to Westfield to try one for myself)?
Go to Blatchat.com to get Caterham opinions and WSCC.Com to get Westfield opinions. There is such a variety of both cars about that there is no simple answer. I am a Caterham owner but will readily admit that, pound for pound (money wise), Westfields give you more performance for your money than Caterhams do.
I think that there is little to chose between them. Westfield have done very well over the past twenty years to develop their interpretation of the Seveneque type car in a parrallel evolutionary strand to the Caterham versions. Caterham have also done well to keep the original "Seven" name alive, especially through the years (the 70s and early 80s) when Seven type vehicles might have become extinct completely.
I think that there is little to chose between them. Westfield have done very well over the past twenty years to develop their interpretation of the Seveneque type car in a parrallel evolutionary strand to the Caterham versions. Caterham have also done well to keep the original "Seven" name alive, especially through the years (the 70s and early 80s) when Seven type vehicles might have become extinct completely.
Paul V
There is not much that is fundamentally different about the two and performance/handling will be more down to the spec of the car.
Surprised you didn't feel you had enough power with 140 bhp!
What have you been driving previously and did you try this on road or track?
IF you really are looking for a lot more power looks like a 2.0 Vauxhall would be the way to go.
MikeW
There is not much that is fundamentally different about the two and performance/handling will be more down to the spec of the car.
Surprised you didn't feel you had enough power with 140 bhp!
What have you been driving previously and did you try this on road or track?
IF you really are looking for a lot more power looks like a 2.0 Vauxhall would be the way to go.
MikeW
Paul - 140 bhp ought to be enough for you - for a while. I guess that's a VVC engined car then? I went from 964 RS to 138 bhp 1.6 Supersport and the power was OK - a year later I bought a Superlight R - try one of those and you will not be disappointed.
Eric's comments are correct - but there is the heritage aspect to consider with a Caterham - not to mention the resale value - oh and post-lit Westfields are just plain ugly IMHO
Eric's comments are correct - but there is the heritage aspect to consider with a Caterham - not to mention the resale value - oh and post-lit Westfields are just plain ugly IMHO
May be the impression of performance you get. The Griff will feel quick due to the big surge of torque. The Caterham will be quick.
Try one on a track and FEEL the difference.
Caterhams are better by the way. Buy a Westfield and it will depreciate quickly. Buy a real 7 and it holds its value very well. Westfields are not bad cars but they still aren't as good as Caterhams despite what people will say.
Try one on a track and FEEL the difference.
Caterhams are better by the way. Buy a Westfield and it will depreciate quickly. Buy a real 7 and it holds its value very well. Westfields are not bad cars but they still aren't as good as Caterhams despite what people will say.
Take a look at this site www.btinternet.com/~v11ufo/WestfieldvsCaterham.htm for a fairly objective comparison.
It's been said before, but sometimes in life you do get what you pay for.
The quality and engineering on Caterhams is in a defferent league to Westfields, and I speak as someone who has built and owned both. Westfields are OK, but a little agricultural by comparison.
From my expierance on track, Westfields always had that "i'll have you one day" feeling about the handling whereas Caterhams meel much more planted.
Others wil disagree I know but I'm just telling you my expierance. Suffice it to say I've just bought another Caterham.
And you really do have to let them rev to get them going, not like a Griff at all.
The quality and engineering on Caterhams is in a defferent league to Westfields, and I speak as someone who has built and owned both. Westfields are OK, but a little agricultural by comparison.
From my expierance on track, Westfields always had that "i'll have you one day" feeling about the handling whereas Caterhams meel much more planted.
Others wil disagree I know but I'm just telling you my expierance. Suffice it to say I've just bought another Caterham.
And you really do have to let them rev to get them going, not like a Griff at all.
Paul V
IF you are looking for a wider body and don't have the budget for the Caterham SV then I reckon the Westfield is a good bet. Although I own a Caterham I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Westfield if it suited what I wanted.In addition to the 2.0 VX you could consider a bike engined option as well. I went out in a Megabusa a little while ago and it was very impressive. A lot will depend on your intended use and the amount of track time(or not) you are planning.
You will hear lots about heritage,resale value, chassis differences etc but IMHO the positives on the Caterham are
1) More established race series
2)More 'standard'variants available
3)Excellent after sales service
MikeW
IF you are looking for a wider body and don't have the budget for the Caterham SV then I reckon the Westfield is a good bet. Although I own a Caterham I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Westfield if it suited what I wanted.In addition to the 2.0 VX you could consider a bike engined option as well. I went out in a Megabusa a little while ago and it was very impressive. A lot will depend on your intended use and the amount of track time(or not) you are planning.
You will hear lots about heritage,resale value, chassis differences etc but IMHO the positives on the Caterham are
1) More established race series
2)More 'standard'variants available
3)Excellent after sales service
MikeW
Can't comment on a Caterham as I have never driven one, but I love my Westfield. I did consider a Caterham, but for the money I had to spend, I could get a much newer and higher spec Westie than Caterham.
I was under the impression that a well built Kit Car from a good manufacturer would hold its value well.
I was under the impression that a well built Kit Car from a good manufacturer would hold its value well.
Well I think I’ll try a Westfield as well, plus I’ll give the Tiger a go, I also really like the look of the Dax Rush. The 140 BHP car wasn’t slow, just wasn’t that quick, I was holding it in gear but just imagined it would feel quicker being so low and open, of course the thing went round roundabouts very nicely.
Westfield is closest to a Caterham but still not great. Tiger and Dax are pretty nasty in comparison.
All of them will not hold their value as well as a Caterham.
You can always stick a Supersport R kit on a Caterham when finances allow giving you over 160bhp and the beautiful sound of throttle bodies and Titianium exhaust. It isn't cheap but it will improve the value of the car and make it a lot quicker and sound amazing.
All of them will not hold their value as well as a Caterham.
You can always stick a Supersport R kit on a Caterham when finances allow giving you over 160bhp and the beautiful sound of throttle bodies and Titianium exhaust. It isn't cheap but it will improve the value of the car and make it a lot quicker and sound amazing.
Their speed is mighty deceptive.
First of all, make sure you get the change up light on before changing up. If it has the Aces system (multiple lights), wait until they all flash.
But the thing you'll really be missing is corner speed. A Caterham is simply not about straight line speed in isolation. It would be possible to peddle the 140bhp Caterham quicker than any Griff around a circuit or point to point across country roads.
Anyone judging a Caterham purely on straight line grunt is (a) largely missing the point and would (b) probably be better served buying something else.
That said, a car with SLR levels of power will do the job for you on all counts. Learning to drive a car like this to full potential, however, is difficult as your speed envelope is likely to get you into significantly more trouble if you mess it up.
First of all, make sure you get the change up light on before changing up. If it has the Aces system (multiple lights), wait until they all flash.
But the thing you'll really be missing is corner speed. A Caterham is simply not about straight line speed in isolation. It would be possible to peddle the 140bhp Caterham quicker than any Griff around a circuit or point to point across country roads.
Anyone judging a Caterham purely on straight line grunt is (a) largely missing the point and would (b) probably be better served buying something else.
That said, a car with SLR levels of power will do the job for you on all counts. Learning to drive a car like this to full potential, however, is difficult as your speed envelope is likely to get you into significantly more trouble if you mess it up.
we have a Caterham SV and a tuned 200bhp engine. we had a Cerbera SPeedSux before the SV.
i'd never own another TVR. you'll have to pry my cold dead fingers from the SV. it's night and day worlds better than the TVR.
we've been all over Europe in it, Rome, Montreaux, Spa, Nurburgring.
very pleased with it. my issue of why Caterham was choosen was mileage of the petrol tanks, and build quality.
caterham won on both hands down, plus there's loads more.
i'd never own another TVR. you'll have to pry my cold dead fingers from the SV. it's night and day worlds better than the TVR.
we've been all over Europe in it, Rome, Montreaux, Spa, Nurburgring.
very pleased with it. my issue of why Caterham was choosen was mileage of the petrol tanks, and build quality.
caterham won on both hands down, plus there's loads more.
Tthe Birkin is closer to a Caterham than a Westfield.....I`m not putting down Westies here by the way. I see the Westfiedl as a different style of se7en altogether, it has its own distinctive style. The Birkin is similar in dimensions, style etc to the Caterham.
They are well worth a look for anyone in the market for a se7en. I have a 170bhp version which is for sale at the moment due to an imminent upgrade to a newer Birkin.
Check out www.birkincars.co.uk
They are well worth a look for anyone in the market for a se7en. I have a 170bhp version which is for sale at the moment due to an imminent upgrade to a newer Birkin.
Check out www.birkincars.co.uk
Sylva Strikers are the best alternative to a Caterham, having won the national kit car championship so many times and proved the abilities of their chassis over other kits. Their dominance in the series is why Caterham dropped out and started their own one make series, rather than compete with the Strikers. They are not so much of an exact 7 clone like a Westfield, but look very similar. RAW Engineering now supply the Striker and use the Toyota 4AGE engine, which can be supplied in supercharged 5 valve per cylinder form. Very nice little engine. They are also cheaper than a Westfield or a Caterham, meaning you have more cash to spend on power!
My Sylva Fury has a Nitroused XE Vauxhall 2 litre which is also a great engine option if grunt is what you crave.
My Sylva Fury has a Nitroused XE Vauxhall 2 litre which is also a great engine option if grunt is what you crave.
The difference between C*****s and W*******s is that W*****d have developed the product, C*****m haven't (yet).
If you want modern independant suspension, W******d is the way to go.
As for depreciation, you can pick up a damned good car 2nd hand for £10k that will be plenty fast enough (300+bhp/tonne) that will not depreciate quickly.
But overall se7en's of all shapes etc. are great fun, it's not about the shove in the back, it's more about the handling and space and feel etc.
If you want modern independant suspension, W******d is the way to go.
As for depreciation, you can pick up a damned good car 2nd hand for £10k that will be plenty fast enough (300+bhp/tonne) that will not depreciate quickly.
But overall se7en's of all shapes etc. are great fun, it's not about the shove in the back, it's more about the handling and space and feel etc.
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff