The Chief

Driven a V8 Dax rush and this was simply awesome, but they are pretty rare.

has anyone driven, own or built one.
especially the car engines ones/


what are your experiences? running costs? performance and handling?


cheers

Dracoro

I've got one.

A black/yellow Westfield SEiW with 2.016v redtop engine (190bhp approx, 163 at the wheels) with close ratio 6 spd box. Fantastic fun.

Half the stuff you can do yourself, the other half won't challenge a half decent mechanic and as everthing is accessible with ease, low labour costs etc.

Performance - very fast
Handling - great, very communicative, feedback, easy to get in and out of trouble, you have to respect these type of cars, no driver pansy aids here!
Insurance, I pay about £150 fully comp (33yrs, no points, no claims, purley area - guess med risk although no one nicks westfields). I paid £300 in 1st year, £230 in 2nd and now £150.

It's about as cheap as motoring gets PLUS you get all the performance, ferrari performance with fiesta running costs.

http://img33.photobucket.com/albums/...tie_edited.jpg

The Chief

That is a very nice car you have there i'm jealous


been thinking about my Subaru - so far this year in mods and repairs i have spent over 5k - its a lovely car but its taken a lot of money.

800 quid a year to insure, shocking fuel consumption and sky high servicing/parts and labour costs.

it got me thinking when a buddy at work who has a V8 Dax told me he only pays 150 quid insurance a year.

TBH i really dont need a car that does 160mph - i mean how often do you do that? but woul dbe nice to have one that can match if not better my Subaru on acceleration.


cheers btw.

billythekid

On my 4th Caterham if that helps?
Built one from a kit, had one factory build and then one used and my current one is used but I spent 18 months re-building it from chassis up including full strip down and new body etc.

POC

I used to own a 1994 Westfield ZEi200, a special edition factory built cosworth turbo westie

Mine was tuned to 330bhp and was the fastest thing i have ever driven, the thing used to light up the rears at 100mph+ in 5th gear when it came on boost. 1.5 bar made for an entertaining drive. Think she may still be owned by a poster on these forums, not sure though.

Here are a few pics, hope they work

JayPSC

Don't buy a kit from Westfield, finished cars are probably ok. Had seriously bad customer service from them, had to threaten to send my XTR back.

Proby521

iTrader: (1)

Yes, Yes (owned) and yes. Built a Mega 'Blade from full kit from Westfield. Minus Wheels/tyres/engine/box. Awesome, simply awesome, fasted thing I have ever ever been in, gives you butterflies in the stomach everytime you get in the seat, and a permanent grin like a cheshire cat. 12500rpm/6-speed sequential/flames/popping/4s to 60! I vow to build another, and only sold that one as I needed to release funds. Westfield were great with me, I admit that I had a few things missing, incorrect parts, but luckily I only live a 30 min drive from the factory, and they were always very very helpful/sorted out parts. If your thinking about it, and can afford to, do it!

Proby

PS - £260/year @ 22 y/old for insurance

CraigH

We had a few problems with our XTR too, I think all early ones were affected but most, if not all have subsequently been sorted out.

If you want a "std" 7 type, there are loads available, most of the quick ones will be a huge amount faster on track than all but the most serious Impreza. Running costs are low, lots of choice of engines, easy to work on. Bike engines are great but performance takes a big hit with a passenger on board.

XTRs on track are another level up, but much more compromised, can't really be used everyday like a standard one, will only make it over small speed humps, but this side of a quick Radical or Juno, nothing is quicker on track.

When they're working that is

The Chief

TBH the bike engined ones dont apeal to me as it would not be confined to just the track - plus i like my torque as well

billythekid

If you want the e-mail addres of your local Westfield Club area organiser let me know. Or if you want to come to the local Caterham Club meeting PM me.
Prob be a bit on the quiet side this month and next month but April should get busy agian.

The Chief

Will have a butchers but find it hard attending all the Smacs events at the mo.

cheers

Edcase

Christ that thing brings back nightmares! Paul is that the one nozzer bought, or you bought from nozzer?

That thing was just mental. I remember following him across exmoor at 6am one sunday morning in my old scooby. Smashed one of my lights with a stone from the wheelspin at about 80mph

Edcase

BTW looking to go the same route in April I reckon. Westies seem much cheaper than caterhams, I just want something I won't be scared to put into a tyre barrier, not interested in spending 15k+ on a track car.

What's the one to have for the best money?

The Chief

I'm thinking of the 2.0 zetec which can be easily tuned to 200bhp - some really nice ones on pistonheads for 9k

Brendan Hughes

Why hasn't John Felstead answered this yet?

Edcase

Is he still around? Not seen his name on here for a long long time.

CharlesW

John Felstead is still to be found on 22B.

Scrappy2

I picked this up two weeks ago



2ltr zetec with all the trimmings.

Never grinned so much driving a car.

Running costs are what appealed to me - I'm not mechanically minded, but everything is so accessible. Grab a Haynes manual and most stuff should be do-able yourself.

Don't get too hung up on bhp figures, you don't need much more than 150bhp to show up exotica!

Brakes are cheap and hopefully trackdays won't wear the car too much as it only weighs 700kg!

skOOby

The Chief

That is lovely!!!


if you dont mind me asking how much did you pay???

Scrappy2

Cheers - you have PM

skOOby

MooseRacer

Mine:

http://www.petewymer.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/IMG_07382.JPG


2.0 Redtop on ITB's - around 190bhp. LSD, AP brakes, straight cut/close ratio box and as much fun as you could wish for.

The Chief

Those carbon wings are great - are those headlights standard Westfield? they look similar to those off an Ariel Atom

MooseRacer

No the headlights aren't standard - they're tiny (and tbh rubbish for actually seeing with). I can't remember offhand what make they are...they were an Ebay purchase.

The wheels are Caterham R400's and saved 6kg per corner of unsprung weight. Weighs less than 600kg, which for a car engined Westie is pretty good

chris singleton

That is awesome

Friend of mine has a cosworth lump sitting in his garage and was toying with the idea of puting it in some form of kit car.

Will make him do it

scpooby

I have owned a factory built, zetec powered westfield with jenvey throttle bodies, for three years now and its never let me down (touch wood). I pay £180 insurance (limited to 4,000 miles a year) annual maintenance in three years has never been more than £350, a years tax £190, and then its just your petrol cost and trackday costs. Great cars for very little money. On a sunny day they are excellent fun and you just wont stop smileing. I am in the Westfield Sports Car Club so if you need any information or want to come alomg to a monthly meet just let me know.

Dracoro

OH, see us at The Westfield Sports Car Club Website - http://www.wscc.co.uk

POC

Yeah thats the one and only, I sold it on and noz bought it from that fella I think.

Still makes me nervous thinking about the power of that bloody thing so nearly killed myself so many times

Edcase

LOL, yeah I think it went to Chris? Or maybe Noz bought it from him.

Are you still changing cars every 5 minutes these days or what?

ninjacost

This is mine ,zx9r powered locost built from scratch,ran low 13's at santa pod with slipping clutch, built for about 4 grand

53

iTrader: (41)

Very Nice