RE: PH Interview: Westfield Sportscars Boss
Discussion
Darth Paul said:
article said:
With so much going on at Westfield's unassuming factory near Dudley in the West Midlands, PH thought it was high time we made the trip to Kingswinsford for a quick snoop around and to probe the boss with a few questions.
It's Kingswinford, no S in the middle! Sorry to be pedantic but how often is my village going to be mentioned on PH! Also it's almost in Pensnett, which is no good thing, so I don't blame them for classing it as Kingswinford! 
Westy Pre-Lit said:
The Black Flash said:
atom-ick said:
Don't get me wrong, i don't have that much of a problem with westfields - they are a great way for people with a smaller budget to get out on the road in a sports car.
Yes, it's nice that the little people can have something isn't it? Even if it's so dreadfully plastic and inferior.Never really understood the immensely nerdy mud-slinging that goes on between devotees of 2 different copies of an outmoded 1950's sports car. I think we should just be pleased that 2 UK specialist car manufacturers are still in business. If they manage to invent one with doors and a hood that actually fits I might even be tempted.
The Black Flash said:
Westy Pre-Lit said:
The Black Flash said:
atom-ick said:
Don't get me wrong, i don't have that much of a problem with westfields - they are a great way for people with a smaller budget to get out on the road in a sports car.
Yes, it's nice that the little people can have something isn't it? Even if it's so dreadfully plastic and inferior.
I did look at your profile before I posted. Would love a DAX myself but just couldn't push to it, us plastic pigs need to stick together.
Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Friday 11th September 14:35
dickieandjulie said:
A cobra with a 1.6 engine!
Surely he meant the engine from the Holden VXR?!
A 1.6 Cobra would be pretty cool if you were 18yrs old and so can't get insurance for a 7l monster.Surely he meant the engine from the Holden VXR?!
Needs to be a 'V' engine though really so it at least burbles. What is the smallest V you can get, don't Mazda do a 1.8 V6?
I thought the difference was that Caterhams had (it's the law !) to be driven badly by somebody wearing the fattest Rolex available today, have a fatty fat wifey with fake tan and do no more than 1000 miles a year because "the beemer doesn't ruffle up me hair" . . . .
Where as a Westfield is driven exceptionally well by a bloke from Coventry who rebuilt a Russian tractor whilst still at school, married the maths teacher and holidays in Wales twice a year "for the air and nature".
Where as a Westfield is driven exceptionally well by a bloke from Coventry who rebuilt a Russian tractor whilst still at school, married the maths teacher and holidays in Wales twice a year "for the air and nature".
Edited by Busa_Rush on Friday 11th September 15:00
900T-R said:
For once I agree with Sam - given that the original Seven used an 1172 cc Ford sidevalve engine and assorted bits, maybe the ultimate Seven for today would be powered by a Toyota Aygo lump?
I really, really don't have the space for a 'hobby' car anywhere - but I'd love to build a seven that's as simple and lightweight as possible - live axle, no weather gear, lightweight engine, 13" wheels, small brakes. maybe the closest thing would be to buy a late 1980s/early 90s car and replace the Crossflow with something more modern.
Pretty much what I've gone for with my second one (the first one was a proper plot-loss money pit when I got upgraditus). It is possible to get one that has all sensible and cheap bits on it, yet it still be very light, fast and reliable. Sure it could lose a few pounds here and there, but then so could I.I really, really don't have the space for a 'hobby' car anywhere - but I'd love to build a seven that's as simple and lightweight as possible - live axle, no weather gear, lightweight engine, 13" wheels, small brakes. maybe the closest thing would be to buy a late 1980s/early 90s car and replace the Crossflow with something more modern.
Edited by juansolo on Friday 11th September 16:24
. Personally I think he would have chosen the small end as it would be more streamlined and therefore go first , but I wait to be flamed 900T-R said:
For once I agree with Sam - given that the original Seven used an 1172 cc Ford sidevalve engine and assorted bits, maybe the ultimate Seven for today would be powered by a Toyota Aygo lump?
Why??? That is a silly thing to suggest. Surely the 1172cc side valve was Ford's staple diet engine at the time just in the same way that the Rover K and now the Ford Sigma and Duratec engines are? High volume readily available engines with good supply of parts and potential for upgrading.And we all know that the owners and racers found ways to tune up these engines up a bit to improve performance. These were/are race cars after all - not fuel efficient city cars.
SS
snapper seven said:
900T-R said:
For once I agree with Sam - given that the original Seven used an 1172 cc Ford sidevalve engine and assorted bits, maybe the ultimate Seven for today would be powered by a Toyota Aygo lump?
Why??? That is a silly thing to suggest. Surely the 1172cc side valve was Ford's staple diet engine at the time just in the same way that the Rover K and now the Ford Sigma and Duratec engines are? High volume readily available engines with good supply of parts and potential for upgrading.Hmm maybe for the S1 not sure the argument fully stacks up as the S2 was offered with the Cosworth tuned 1498cc Cortina GT engine and the S3 used the Escort and Cortina engines including a Twink.
Fair to say that Lotus (and Caterham) have always offered small and big engine options.
BTW - remember you now from the Saab forums and the like. Used to own a 1990 T16S with Carlsson 16"'s and a few Abbott things a few years back. Love those old Saabs! Smoke around in a 9-5 now but its just not the same eh?
Cheers
SS
Fair to say that Lotus (and Caterham) have always offered small and big engine options.
BTW - remember you now from the Saab forums and the like. Used to own a 1990 T16S with Carlsson 16"'s and a few Abbott things a few years back. Love those old Saabs! Smoke around in a 9-5 now but its just not the same eh?
Cheers
SS
peter pan said:
Good comment Crofty, and one I would agree with 100% But it still does`nt answer the question.
Given the choice between a Casio,and a Rolex, which one would `most' people chosse?
A caterham is hardly a rolex and a westfield is hardly a casio. Both are expensive toys. A supercar on the other hand..... is a rolex. Given the choice between a Casio,and a Rolex, which one would `most' people chosse?
99% of people would 'choose' a rolex over a casio. 99% of people could actually afford a rolex. ...... So 99% of people will 'pay' for a casio.
Does that answer your question?
Edited by LumpyGravy on Friday 11th September 22:38
I'd happily have a westfield over a caterham and grin at the saving I think people are daft when they let badges make so much influence in their decisions. Fastest Seven type cars I've ever seen on track have always been westfields. Caterham drivers always seem grumpy at trackdays, maybe because they spunked so much cash to watch the 1/3 cost Westfields fly past them.
I think people are daft when they let badges make so much influence in their decisions. Fastest Seven type cars I've ever seen on track have always been westfields. Caterham drivers always seem grumpy at trackdays, maybe because they spunked so much cash to watch the 1/3 cost Westfields fly past them.I was deeply impressed by Westfields driving experiance at this years London motor show, any car that can take the abuse dished out by the demo driver and not fall apart is great in my book. Drifting around figure 8's, a spectacular display the cars were out of control,sprayin gravel all over the place and still lookin mint at the end of the day after performin for hours is quite an achievement...lets not knock Westfield as a cheap poorly built knock off,if it was an inferior clone it would have fallen apart after few laps...sometimes original isnt always best...If Ansar Ali had faith in his products he would have also done a simular display at this years london motorshow
Herman Toothrot said:
I'd happily have a westfield over a caterham and grin at the saving I think people are daft when they let badges make so much influence in their decisions. Fastest Seven type cars I've ever seen on track have always been westfields. Caterham drivers always seem grumpy at trackdays, maybe because they spunked so much cash to watch the 1/3 cost Westfields fly past them.
Factory built Westfields are not as cheap as you think they are, and are around the same ballpark as a Caterham for an "average" model. I think people are daft when they let badges make so much influence in their decisions. Fastest Seven type cars I've ever seen on track have always been westfields. Caterham drivers always seem grumpy at trackdays, maybe because they spunked so much cash to watch the 1/3 cost Westfields fly past them.What does annoy me is when people are so blinkered that they try to start defending their pride and joy to the extent when they probably believe them to be better, and won't even entertain the concept that they might just be a bit wrong!.
So you entertain the concept that you might be a bit wrong about the superiority of Caterhams? Or do you fall into the category of those that annoy you?
SOME Caterham owners are pure snobs plain and simple.
I must admit I'm amused by the Caterham vs westfield slagging match going on - I think both are great, sit in different markets (via price and finish etc, I've not driven enough westies to comment properly on the chassis).
However, I find all those R500 bashing comments amusing, especially the "missing the whole point" arguement. Drive one, you'll get the point in about 3.8 seconds.
However, I find all those R500 bashing comments amusing, especially the "missing the whole point" arguement. Drive one, you'll get the point in about 3.8 seconds.
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