Considering a Westfield
Discussion
I have a 1.8 zetec seiw Westfield. Great car.
Think carefully as to what you will use the car for, track, fast road, touring etc, as it's easier and cheaper to buy the right car rather than modify it.
Don't get hung up on power. Mine is 160bhp and perfect for the road as you can exploit it. I would however like a bit more for track days.
WSCC is a must. Plus if you can get to toybox, book an appointment and go and have a look. That's what I did, I then purchased privately saving a few pennies. My car is not as well finished as a toybox car, but we'll built and just as much fun to drive!
Think carefully as to what you will use the car for, track, fast road, touring etc, as it's easier and cheaper to buy the right car rather than modify it.
Don't get hung up on power. Mine is 160bhp and perfect for the road as you can exploit it. I would however like a bit more for track days.
WSCC is a must. Plus if you can get to toybox, book an appointment and go and have a look. That's what I did, I then purchased privately saving a few pennies. My car is not as well finished as a toybox car, but we'll built and just as much fun to drive!
The WSCC is not a must. I found them to be a complete bunch of assholes. I’ve been a member of on-line clubs and forums of pretty much every car I’ve owned over the last 15 years and the WSCC was without doubt the club with most bickering, bulls
tting bunch of tossers out there. Maybe they’re not like that anymore...just talking from experience!
tting bunch of tossers out there. Maybe they’re not like that anymore...just talking from experience!Lordbenny said:
The WSCC is not a must. I found them to be a complete bunch of assholes. I’ve been a member of on-line clubs and forums of pretty much every car I’ve owned over the last 15 years and the WSCC was without doubt the club with most bickering, bullstting bunch of tossers out there. Maybe they’re not like that anymore...just talking from experience!
For advice on Westfields being a member of WSCC makes sense. But like any advice from a stranger on the internet, do take it as an opinion and form your own views. I'm a member and have found it an invaluable source of support and help. I don't get involved in the meets etc, but that's just me and largely also down to other commitments.tting bunch of tossers out there. Maybe they’re not like that anymore...just talking from experience!As regards to the bickering, I have not experienced this in my two years of membership. But I have heard this said before so suspect this is a thing of the past.
Ignoring comments about WSCC (it has some good and bad points like all clubs)
I bought my Westfield off Andy at Toybox, and tbh he was brilliant, no pressure to buy, loads of help, and still supporting me with fixing minor issues 3 years later (usually caused by my incompetence)
In the end I sold the car back to him (wide body 2.0 zetec) and bought a different car from him - probably the rarest Westfield going, since it's a cobra replica, built by the Westfield factory).
Had a couple of niggles with it since I got it, but again Andy has been on the phone whenever I've needed help, and has happily sent out bits to me to fix it.
Yes both cars cost more than buying privately, but I was happy to do that to get that sort of support (Andy was on the phone to me about 9pm on a Friday, when it was his wife's birthday h helping me track down an electrical fault - turned out to be a fuse I couldn't find)
I bought my Westfield off Andy at Toybox, and tbh he was brilliant, no pressure to buy, loads of help, and still supporting me with fixing minor issues 3 years later (usually caused by my incompetence)
In the end I sold the car back to him (wide body 2.0 zetec) and bought a different car from him - probably the rarest Westfield going, since it's a cobra replica, built by the Westfield factory).
Had a couple of niggles with it since I got it, but again Andy has been on the phone whenever I've needed help, and has happily sent out bits to me to fix it.
Yes both cars cost more than buying privately, but I was happy to do that to get that sort of support (Andy was on the phone to me about 9pm on a Friday, when it was his wife's birthday h helping me track down an electrical fault - turned out to be a fuse I couldn't find)
Regarding Bike engine vs car engine…
https://youtu.be/iVlXQojKvqw
Inconclusive. Hypothesis requires more testing
https://youtu.be/iVlXQojKvqw
Inconclusive. Hypothesis requires more testing
Burgerbob said:
I have a 1.8 zetec seiw Westfield. Great car.
Think carefully as to what you will use the car for, track, fast road, touring etc, as it's easier and cheaper to buy the right car rather than modify it.
Don't get hung up on power. Mine is 160bhp and perfect for the road as you can exploit it. I would however like a bit more for track days.
WSCC is a must. Plus if you can get to toybox, book an appointment and go and have a look. That's what I did, I then purchased privately saving a few pennies. My car is not as well finished as a toybox car, but we'll built and just as much fun to drive!
Similar/same spec as our old one. Fond memories Think carefully as to what you will use the car for, track, fast road, touring etc, as it's easier and cheaper to buy the right car rather than modify it.
Don't get hung up on power. Mine is 160bhp and perfect for the road as you can exploit it. I would however like a bit more for track days.
WSCC is a must. Plus if you can get to toybox, book an appointment and go and have a look. That's what I did, I then purchased privately saving a few pennies. My car is not as well finished as a toybox car, but we'll built and just as much fun to drive!
Nigel_O said:
Bike-engines are fine for track work, but can become tiresome for general road pottering.
This isn't really true.Bike engines are fine for general road pottering, they only become tiresome on motorways and dual carriageways. If you're sitting at 70mph for an hour or two, it's not fun to be doing it at over 5Krpm.
Around town you just select a higher gear, there is plenty of power to drive at 3 to 4Krpm and still be (at least) keeping up with the tin tops.
On A roads you're usually changing speed quite often, so you don't tend to notice.
But when you run out of gears on the motorway, yeah, it's a buzzy hell.
To be fair I tend to avoid motorways anyway. Not only are the unenjoyable, but I feel very vulnerable. Especially as the driver every other car overtaking appears to be paying more attention to me than the road infront of them!
BrokenSkunk said:
This isn't really true.
Bike engines are fine for general road pottering, they only become tiresome on motorways and dual carriageways. .... Around town you just select a higher gear,....
Never had one, but is the clutch not a bit hard work in stop start traffic etc due to being hard to feather? Bike engines are fine for general road pottering, they only become tiresome on motorways and dual carriageways. .... Around town you just select a higher gear,....
Not that this cant be the case with a heavy clutched CEC setup.
Not very well! Probably worse if we're throwing in bike engined cars too as I really do have a soft spot for them.
Thanks to the advice here, I've definitely settled on a wide body and open to engines around 160-200bhp. I've sat in a few at toy box now but nothing has come up yet that's made me go for it.
Christmas has taken over a bit as it's a significant one for us because it's unlikely dad will be here for the next one. I'm also planning to propose early January (not to my dad, he's not my type) so the kit car hunt has taken a back seat until that's done.
I'm hoping in the next few months I'll have a nice update for the thread
Thanks to the advice here, I've definitely settled on a wide body and open to engines around 160-200bhp. I've sat in a few at toy box now but nothing has come up yet that's made me go for it.
Christmas has taken over a bit as it's a significant one for us because it's unlikely dad will be here for the next one. I'm also planning to propose early January (not to my dad, he's not my type) so the kit car hunt has taken a back seat until that's done.
I'm hoping in the next few months I'll have a nice update for the thread
BrokenSkunk said:
This isn't really true.!
I’d agree with this. There’s no real difference; you’ll never fully use the performance of a CEC or BEC on the road.I’ve also driven from Hampshire to the Highlands and back twice in my blade engined car. Motorways are tedious but bearable. Just get a good set of ear plugs. Having said that, I drove mostly cross country after going up on the motorway once!
Back in the late 80’s, I had a ‘pre-lit’ Westfield as a ‘daily’!
It was so ridiculously impractical, I used to snowboard and have it in the passenger seat, poking out above the cage,
When it rained, water used to flick in, under the doors and you'd get out, soaked and covered in gravel.
At night, oncoming cars would dazzle you, as you’re so low down.
You’d be at junctions and look across at truck’s wheel nuts.
You’d buy yourself a can of pop and a Mars at the garage and then have nowhere to put them.
On a country lane, i came across a few inches deep, ten foot stretch of cow crap, adjacent to farm gates, where the farmer had recently crossed his cattle… right at the same time as an oncoming milk container truck… i and a new girlfriend got splashed with cow crap…we were covered. We had to stop at a garage and jet wash each other, then the car.
I have more crazy stories about it!
I came across an Escort RS Turbo built by turbosystems, across the bottom of the number plate it said ‘this thing snaps knicker elastic’, the Westfield’s 1700 all steel x-flow went round him like he was standing still… it was quick!
I’d like another, but I’d be scared death nowadays, people can’t see you over hedges on country roads around bends and you’re about as safe as a cyclist.
For track days, sure, but it’d be trailered!
Here’s a pic of an old paper photo of it. I had no luxury of a garage back then.
It was so ridiculously impractical, I used to snowboard and have it in the passenger seat, poking out above the cage,
When it rained, water used to flick in, under the doors and you'd get out, soaked and covered in gravel.
At night, oncoming cars would dazzle you, as you’re so low down.
You’d be at junctions and look across at truck’s wheel nuts.
You’d buy yourself a can of pop and a Mars at the garage and then have nowhere to put them.
On a country lane, i came across a few inches deep, ten foot stretch of cow crap, adjacent to farm gates, where the farmer had recently crossed his cattle… right at the same time as an oncoming milk container truck… i and a new girlfriend got splashed with cow crap…we were covered. We had to stop at a garage and jet wash each other, then the car.
I have more crazy stories about it!
I came across an Escort RS Turbo built by turbosystems, across the bottom of the number plate it said ‘this thing snaps knicker elastic’, the Westfield’s 1700 all steel x-flow went round him like he was standing still… it was quick!
I’d like another, but I’d be scared death nowadays, people can’t see you over hedges on country roads around bends and you’re about as safe as a cyclist.
For track days, sure, but it’d be trailered!
Here’s a pic of an old paper photo of it. I had no luxury of a garage back then.
sebdangerfield said:
Not very well! Probably worse if we're throwing in bike engined cars too as I really do have a soft spot for them.
Thanks to the advice here, I've definitely settled on a wide body and open to engines around 160-200bhp. I've sat in a few at toy box now but nothing has come up yet that's made me go for it.
Christmas has taken over a bit as it's a significant one for us because it's unlikely dad will be here for the next one. I'm also planning to propose early January (not to my dad, he's not my type) so the kit car hunt has taken a back seat until that's done.
I'm hoping in the next few months I'll have a nice update for the thread
Probably too late to say this, but buy the Westfield before you get married, otherwise you'll be looking for a "nice sensible run around"Thanks to the advice here, I've definitely settled on a wide body and open to engines around 160-200bhp. I've sat in a few at toy box now but nothing has come up yet that's made me go for it.
Christmas has taken over a bit as it's a significant one for us because it's unlikely dad will be here for the next one. I'm also planning to propose early January (not to my dad, he's not my type) so the kit car hunt has taken a back seat until that's done.
I'm hoping in the next few months I'll have a nice update for the thread
JustGREENI said:
Back in the late 80’s, I had a ‘pre-lit’ Westfield as a ‘daily’!
It was so ridiculously impractical, I used to snowboard and have it in the passenger seat, poking out above the cage,
When it rained, water used to flick in, under the doors and you'd get out, soaked and covered in gravel.
At night, oncoming cars would dazzle you, as you’re so low down.
You’d be at junctions and look across at truck’s wheel nuts.
You’d buy yourself a can of pop and a Mars at the garage and then have nowhere to put them.
On a country lane, i came across a few inches deep, ten foot stretch of cow crap, adjacent to farm gates, where the farmer had recently crossed his cattle… right at the same time as an oncoming milk container truck… i and a new girlfriend got splashed with cow crap…we were covered. We had to stop at a garage and jet wash each other, then the car.
I have more crazy stories about it!
I came across an Escort RS Turbo built by turbosystems, across the bottom of the number plate it said ‘this thing snaps knicker elastic’, the Westfield’s 1700 all steel x-flow went round him like he was standing still… it was quick!
I’d like another, but I’d be scared death nowadays, people can’t see you over hedges on country roads around bends and you’re about as safe as a cyclist.
For track days, sure, but it’d be trailered!
Here’s a pic of an old paper photo of it. I had no luxury of a garage back then.
Sounds awesomely familiar! It was so ridiculously impractical, I used to snowboard and have it in the passenger seat, poking out above the cage,
When it rained, water used to flick in, under the doors and you'd get out, soaked and covered in gravel.
At night, oncoming cars would dazzle you, as you’re so low down.
You’d be at junctions and look across at truck’s wheel nuts.
You’d buy yourself a can of pop and a Mars at the garage and then have nowhere to put them.
On a country lane, i came across a few inches deep, ten foot stretch of cow crap, adjacent to farm gates, where the farmer had recently crossed his cattle… right at the same time as an oncoming milk container truck… i and a new girlfriend got splashed with cow crap…we were covered. We had to stop at a garage and jet wash each other, then the car.
I have more crazy stories about it!
I came across an Escort RS Turbo built by turbosystems, across the bottom of the number plate it said ‘this thing snaps knicker elastic’, the Westfield’s 1700 all steel x-flow went round him like he was standing still… it was quick!
I’d like another, but I’d be scared death nowadays, people can’t see you over hedges on country roads around bends and you’re about as safe as a cyclist.
For track days, sure, but it’d be trailered!
Here’s a pic of an old paper photo of it. I had no luxury of a garage back then.
I have never had the westfield as my sole car, but have driven it in all weathers for various reasons, including getting to autosolo events in heavy rain, taking it to work when my other car was off the road for a week, a couple of holidays including to middle France with the gf of the time, uni motorclub run out to the ring both of which included some rain if mainly sunshine, and I have done a run down the a50 in the snow to a wscc meet for a bet. At one point it was the only car I had running, and the alternator packed up, so I did a fortnight with a 110Ah battery in the the passenger footwell, putting it on charge overnight each day!
Wet arm is standard, wet everything not uncommon, headlights are poor, oncoming lights just imposable, with cycle wings you are always in your own spray, obviously no protection or driving aids. Running one as a daily is mad, but I think you have to do it a bit, and changeable weather and the unpredictability of life means if you use it a lot, its only a matter of time till you get caught out.
The longest run I've done in the Skunk was Southampton to Dartmoor for the weekend, at night, in the rain, in December.
"A bit chilly" doesn't even come close. Getting back in at 7am to go kayaking was a struggle.
Tin tops may be dull to drive in comparison, but they have windscreens, stereos, roofs and heaters.
There is no way I'd consider running the Skunk as an only car. Not only is it lacking in creature comforts, it also spends far too much time being broken.
"A bit chilly" doesn't even come close. Getting back in at 7am to go kayaking was a struggle.
Tin tops may be dull to drive in comparison, but they have windscreens, stereos, roofs and heaters.
There is no way I'd consider running the Skunk as an only car. Not only is it lacking in creature comforts, it also spends far too much time being broken.
sociopath said:
The roof prevented the worst of it,
Roof?Cissy.
sociopath said:
Oh and aquaplaning on the A14 demonstrated why not to have Toyo Proxies on a Westfield.
Yeah, I have similar. Grip on cold tarmac is noticably poor, let alone damp. Self preservation means I drive like a girl's blouse in rain.BrokenSkunk said:
sociopath said:
The roof prevented the worst of it,
Roof?Cissy.
sociopath said:
Oh and aquaplaning on the A14 demonstrated why not to have Toyo Proxies on a Westfield.
Yeah, I have similar. Grip on cold tarmac is noticably poor, let alone damp. Self preservation means I drive like a girl's blouse in rain.Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff