Compare a wedge with a Westfield?
Discussion
Hi, I wondered if any of you wedge owners had owned or had experience of a Westfield? How do you find they compare?
I've had my westy for over ten years now during which time I've developed it considerably, had lots of fun in it but now have a wedge-shaped itch I'd like to scratch. But I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of selling mine, finding a nice condition example to buy and then regret it.
Can anyone offer any insight?
Thanks
Ben
I've had my westy for over ten years now during which time I've developed it considerably, had lots of fun in it but now have a wedge-shaped itch I'd like to scratch. But I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of selling mine, finding a nice condition example to buy and then regret it.
Can anyone offer any insight?
Thanks
Ben
.. 
Can't comment on a wedge but do have an S3 and a 3000M.
Most folks will tell you that they're leaky, damp, cold, not nice in the wet.
Those folks haven't had a westie!
Lots of similarities (state depends a lot on recent owners) but the biggest difference is a massive step up in creature comforts. Having done a 2 week trip to Le Mans in an SEiW, the S3 is like an estate car!
Most folks will tell you that they're leaky, damp, cold, not nice in the wet.
Those folks haven't had a westie!
Lots of similarities (state depends a lot on recent owners) but the biggest difference is a massive step up in creature comforts. Having done a 2 week trip to Le Mans in an SEiW, the S3 is like an estate car!
I had a Westfield Seiw until last December. Only a 2L Pinto on bike carbs but very quick for road use. I loved that car but it was just about useless as anything other than a fun toy. Horrible on the motorway. Cold, wet, very unpleasant on anything other than really good smooth roads.
Would I have another one? Yes in a heartbeat.
Is the Wedge I now have better? Yes in nearly all aspects! Much more useable. I like to go to work in my toys when possible. I managed more days last winter in the Wedge than I did all the previous Summer in the Westy.
The Westy was very nippy around Birmingham City centre traffic though. But the Wedge through the Qeensway tunnel is unbeatable
A V8 Westy is on my wish list though.
Karl.
Would I have another one? Yes in a heartbeat.
Is the Wedge I now have better? Yes in nearly all aspects! Much more useable. I like to go to work in my toys when possible. I managed more days last winter in the Wedge than I did all the previous Summer in the Westy.
The Westy was very nippy around Birmingham City centre traffic though. But the Wedge through the Qeensway tunnel is unbeatable
A V8 Westy is on my wish list though.
Karl.
My Brother has an F27 which is a 7 type not unlike a Westfield, it is fitted at moment with a 1400 Kawasaki engine which he uses for sprints and hill climbs .
It used to have a 1200 Kawasaki in it. I drove this a few years back on a sprint competition weekend, very very quick. 0 - 60 under 6 seconds. Handles like a go cart. Not had my TVR 350i long but totally different beast. V8 tremendous sound although the Kawasaki has a nice grunt as well. Would not like drive the 7 type on the road but plenty do. TVR is a car compared to Westfield and such like, they ARE kit cars.
I am sure a lot of people may disagree.
Deke
It used to have a 1200 Kawasaki in it. I drove this a few years back on a sprint competition weekend, very very quick. 0 - 60 under 6 seconds. Handles like a go cart. Not had my TVR 350i long but totally different beast. V8 tremendous sound although the Kawasaki has a nice grunt as well. Would not like drive the 7 type on the road but plenty do. TVR is a car compared to Westfield and such like, they ARE kit cars.
I am sure a lot of people may disagree.
Deke
Thanks for the replies. That sounds good. The straight line grunt and epic soundtrack are a given and I am hoping for improved useability as Im finding 'the little lady' increasingly disinclined to go in the westy. But i was concerned that i might be disappointed with the rest of the driving experience. I couldn't live with soggy brakes, woolly steering or lethargic handling, but it doesn't sound like that need be the case.
Ben
Ben
Not quite the two cars you list BUT
I built a Caterham 1700 Crossflow in 1990 used it for 12 years and 22000 miles before buying a Chimaera to go with it. The Chimaera did everything better than the 7 and the 7 eventually got sold off.
Sold the Chimaera in 2004 to fund a relocation but recently bought a Wedge 350i.
Wedge not as refined or "together" as the Chimaera. Leaks a little, the steering shakes, the boot isn't as big, the seats not as supportive, and as a 350 rather than a 4.0HC it isn't as quick either. That said it's a great car and much more usable than a 7 but stil gives you a lot of feed back.
You really need to try a few to see where you want to go.
And your Westie, how well built/spec'd is it?
I built a Caterham 1700 Crossflow in 1990 used it for 12 years and 22000 miles before buying a Chimaera to go with it. The Chimaera did everything better than the 7 and the 7 eventually got sold off.
Sold the Chimaera in 2004 to fund a relocation but recently bought a Wedge 350i.
Wedge not as refined or "together" as the Chimaera. Leaks a little, the steering shakes, the boot isn't as big, the seats not as supportive, and as a 350 rather than a 4.0HC it isn't as quick either. That said it's a great car and much more usable than a 7 but stil gives you a lot of feed back.
You really need to try a few to see where you want to go.
And your Westie, how well built/spec'd is it?
Not quite a Westy either, but I built a Marlin kit car, one of the original Triumph based ones with no doors, regsistered in 1983.
Very basic, "Small Triumph" based (Spit,GT6,Vitesse Herald), except I put in a tuned 2500 with saloon o/drive box (TR6 type). Whole thing came in about 5/8 ton. Very, Very strong ladder chassis design, not a true spaceframe.
It was IMMENSE fun to drive, very quick from standstill, small, nimble in traffic, and stuck to the road amazingly well, firm but smooth ride. Even with Triumph swing arm, different shock angles and weight distribution meant it didn't ever jack up at the back, and was very predictable even in a slide.
But.... Difficult to get in and out of. I NEVER drove it with the hood up, even in the rain. More like a 4 wheeled motorbike I guess. Very windy on the motorway, I used a crash helmet !!
By comparion, Wedge is much more refined, especially at speed, but wedge has steering shake, not as good as it should be over roughs and bumps, slower off the mark, but quicker at speed. Wedge doesn't feel as connected to the road somehow. Easier to get in and out of, and can drive in the rain (but it leaks a bit).
Yes some of this is age I guess, but I owned the Marlin for 15 years too...
Very basic, "Small Triumph" based (Spit,GT6,Vitesse Herald), except I put in a tuned 2500 with saloon o/drive box (TR6 type). Whole thing came in about 5/8 ton. Very, Very strong ladder chassis design, not a true spaceframe.
It was IMMENSE fun to drive, very quick from standstill, small, nimble in traffic, and stuck to the road amazingly well, firm but smooth ride. Even with Triumph swing arm, different shock angles and weight distribution meant it didn't ever jack up at the back, and was very predictable even in a slide.
But.... Difficult to get in and out of. I NEVER drove it with the hood up, even in the rain. More like a 4 wheeled motorbike I guess. Very windy on the motorway, I used a crash helmet !!
By comparion, Wedge is much more refined, especially at speed, but wedge has steering shake, not as good as it should be over roughs and bumps, slower off the mark, but quicker at speed. Wedge doesn't feel as connected to the road somehow. Easier to get in and out of, and can drive in the rain (but it leaks a bit).
Yes some of this is age I guess, but I owned the Marlin for 15 years too...
If you use your Westie as a weekend toy and enjoy hustling through the B roads then a wedge is likely to come as a disappointment. It's much more of a cruiser than a point to point missile. Yes a 350i has a "claimed" 190bhp - most won't be anywhere near that but the weight differential will see the westie kill a 350i on the traffic light sprint.
The main wedge attraction will be the low down torque of the V8, not having to thrash it to get performance, whereas I suspect your Westie will have a narrower power and torque band much more up in the gods.
I've had a V8 Robin Hood and currently have a 390SE - I took the V8RH to Le Mans Classic and have to say the journey was a bit frazzling. Looking forward to taking the wedge to Spa or Le Mans next year as I know it will be a much more comfortable and relaxed affair.
For comfort, noise and retro coolness it's the wedge all the way. For point to point nutter b
dness and smiles per hour a 7 V8 is way ahead (if it's not too cold!)
The main wedge attraction will be the low down torque of the V8, not having to thrash it to get performance, whereas I suspect your Westie will have a narrower power and torque band much more up in the gods.
I've had a V8 Robin Hood and currently have a 390SE - I took the V8RH to Le Mans Classic and have to say the journey was a bit frazzling. Looking forward to taking the wedge to Spa or Le Mans next year as I know it will be a much more comfortable and relaxed affair.
For comfort, noise and retro coolness it's the wedge all the way. For point to point nutter b
dness and smiles per hour a 7 V8 is way ahead (if it's not too cold!)Edited by smash on Saturday 30th November 11:34
Good point from smash - I agree.
Westfield and lighter 'kit' type cars are much more of a 'point and shoot' missile, especially ones with the big engine options. But they do get wearing on long trips and motorways not really their best place. A and B roads are where they shine.
Yes, the wedges are more of a fast cruiser in style, and can do a motorway run with hood down and it's still pretty good even on a longer trip. My 2.8 isn't all that slow either, so it doesn't have to be a V8....
Westfield and lighter 'kit' type cars are much more of a 'point and shoot' missile, especially ones with the big engine options. But they do get wearing on long trips and motorways not really their best place. A and B roads are where they shine.
Yes, the wedges are more of a fast cruiser in style, and can do a motorway run with hood down and it's still pretty good even on a longer trip. My 2.8 isn't all that slow either, so it doesn't have to be a V8....
PHJayV8 said:
I remember years ago, one of the magazines tested a Griffith 500 powered Westfield Seight, running through carbs.... It was virtually undrivable, you had to pull away in third gear....
I recall Westfield's advertising claiming that the S8 was the only car that 'accelerated like a motorcycle' so one of the bike mags asked them to front up and prove it.I think the mag conceded that they were about 80% correct. A standing-start race was the problem: the S8 stood there and spun its rear wheels whilst the bike (I forget what it was) nearly back-flipped trying to get off the line
So are we saying that a wedge doesn't really handle challenging roads? Even if bushes, springs, dampers and geo settings are all tip top? I know they aren't super light, but at 1100kg or so they're lighter than most things.i don't want to give up my Sunday morning drive-just-for-the-sake-of-it. I was hoping a 4.0 litre would still be pretty thrilling.
Ben
Ben
Even my old 1982 wedge still handles bends at high speeds with ease, and feels a lot better than your average small hatchback, (perhaps with exception of the old Fiestas, which were exceptionally good as I remember)
If you hit a bump is the middle of the high speed bend however, it does upset my wedge a little, but you get used to it - perhaps it would benefit from new dampers !
If you hit a bump is the middle of the high speed bend however, it does upset my wedge a little, but you get used to it - perhaps it would benefit from new dampers !
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