Mate wants a Westfield

[popegregory]

Exactly this really, we went on an Aerial Atom driving day and he's been bitten by the want for something small, unfussy and fun for blasts at the weekend. He's so far been looking at £9k for what appears to be predominantly made from an early 1990s XR3, I think this sounds fairly steep?

Where is best to be buying from in your experience and who's good to talk to? We're in Worcester.

Thanks

[alfaspecial]

Suggest you have a look at/join this forum: http://www.wscc.co.uk/ & the cars for sale section might give you ideas as to price. I know someone who has his car for sale on the site.
See http://www.wscc.co.uk/areamap.htm for your local branch.

Westfields vary hugely in price - some are expensively 'speced' for track days others (particularly the older ones) are budget builds.

Talk to owners at a club meet - in this area (Somerset) we have access to a couple of regular breakfast clubs: Haynes museum (in Sparkford) is on the first Sunday of month, Avenue Drivers Club (in Bristol) is second Sunday. Invariably there will be a couple of Westfields in attendance and most owners are very approachable. I imagine you have regular breakfast clubs in your area?

Best of luck.

Edited by alfaspecial on Sunday 2nd April 15:10

Edited by alfaspecial on Sunday 2nd April 15:13

[Equus]

If the car he's looking at has a CHV or Crossflow engine, it certainly is expensive a that price.

Ebay and the Pistonheads classified are as good a place to look as any.

Westfields are neither the cheapest nor best of their genre, mind you, although they are a relatively safe purchase if you don't know the market very well.

[Wanchaiwarrior]

And Locostbuilders is worth a look.

[Lordbenny]

To say Westfield aren't the best of their genre is a strange statement, it boils down to how well the car is made and hat components are used. A top spec Locost could be better than a rubbish home made Caterham....unlikely but possible.

As for the WSCC don't bother, I've been a Westfield owneron and off for over 20 years and have been a member of many owners clubs but the WSCC are without doubt the biggest bunch of winging, moany old bds I have ever come across. Go to Locostbuilders for advice.

[Equus]

Lordbenny said:

To say Westfield aren't the best of their genre is a strange statement, it boils down to how well the car is made and what components are used.

It also boils down to chassis and suspension design (geometry)..

The Westfield (whilst by no means a bad car) is unexceptional in both respects, no matter how well it is built.

[Black_S3]

Equus said:

Lordbenny said:

To say Westfield aren't the best of their genre is a strange statement, it boils down to how well the car is made and what components are used.

It also boils down to chassis and suspension design (geometry)..

The Westfield (whilst by no means a bad car) is unexceptional in both respects, no matter how well it is built.

It depends what it's compared to.... For sub 10k the overall experience is exceptional in my book. We're not talking 30k worth of caterham, atom or radical which obviously all win if you have 30k to spend on a toy.

As for the OP, there's quite a few very optimistically priced cars out there. 9k should get a good one if you're patient... I think there's more about towards the end of the summer.

Compare these 2 for a giggle though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westfield-SEight-V8-250B...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-WESTFIELD-YELLOW-RE...GsAAOSwSv1Xlzyg

Edited by Black_S3 on Tuesday 4th April 20:01

[spaximus]

I have built and owned several Westfield over the last 20 years and bang for buck you are hard pushed to go wrong.

Caterhams have the name and really do hold their value, but for me when you add up the sum total of parts I could never see where the price came from for their cars. They are great cars but not that great to justify the price.

I do not know where you are, but despite what Lord Benny says, the club is very good and contacting the local area organiser would see you meeting up with owners happy to show their cars and give rides. They are not Areial Atoms.

He needs to decide what he wants the car for, road or track. A hard core track car can be road driven but they are not that nice for most on long journeys , climbing into a caged car is no fun, but on track they come alive. A road car can be used on track but they will be soft but many do use them.

I would say for a £9k budget your would get a nice Zetec or VX engine car with a lot of goodies, a CVH at that price seems over the top.

If he is not in a rush, go to Stoneleigh show in May and he will see 200+ Westfield's of every engine type many for sale.

[Equus]

spaximus said:

I have built and owned several Westfield over the last 20 years and bang for buck you are hard pushed to go wrong.

Yes, I'd agreed with that (and the comments about Caterham): Westfields are certainly the 'safe' choice at the lower end of the budget range, so it's fair to say that you can't go too far wrong with them.

There are better (and better value) cars if you're confident about what what you're looking for, though, (cars from the Sylva stable, among others), but their quality and specifications can be much more variable.

[AdamIndy]

There is a members meeting at shelsley Walsh on the 21st of this month. There are quite a few Westfields, MNR's, strikers and indy's entered for the day so it might be worth coming and having a look as it's only down the road from you. There are bound to be a variety of different setups there.

[spaximus]

Equus said:

spaximus said:

I have built and owned several Westfield over the last 20 years and bang for buck you are hard pushed to go wrong.

Yes, I'd agreed with that (and the comments about Caterham): Westfields are certainly the 'safe' choice at the lower end of the budget range, so it's fair to say that you can't go too far wrong with them.

There are better (and better value) cars if you're confident about what what you're looking for, though, (cars from the Sylva stable, among others), but their quality and specifications can be much more variable.

I would not say a Westfield is at the budget end. A normal spec Westfield bought as a kit from the Factory is £18k plus in bits and for a top spec one £25k easily. They are dependant upon who builds them but it is not often you see a really bad one.

Second hand they do not hold value like a Caterham but do not plummet. Even an old one with a crossflow is £5k all day long.

Sylva cars are good and handle very well, but are not in the same class as a Westfield as an all round purchase.

Everyone have their preferences and the only way is to look at as many examples of cars he can, hence Stoneleigh is the best place to go. If it has been made there will be one there.

[Justin S]

Lordbenny said:

To say Westfield aren't the best of their genre is a strange statement, it boils down to how well the car is made and hat components are used. A top spec Locost could be better than a rubbish home made Caterham....unlikely but possible.

As for the WSCC don't bother, I've been a Westfield owneron and off for over 20 years and have been a member of many owners clubs but the WSCC are without doubt the biggest bunch of winging, moany old bds I have ever come across. Go to Locostbuilders for advice.

Most people seem to fit it with the club, some people dont . I guess you didnt . But as a whole the club is sound. Every club has its moments , but from help with building mine was mainly from club builders than the rubbish manual was invaluable. Having owned Westies for over 25 years , I do know their workings well and just completed my first build in December. You are more likely to find a decent owner car on the forum than in the trader. Be careful of dealers selling them, their warranty on a hand built car built by its previous owner is worth pish, from the experience of other local owners. Obviously something boiled your piss, but I will say the clubs pretty good to be honest.

[jas xjr]

if you are thinking of building one , please do some research. things at the factory are a little different these days.

[Woody]

jas xjr said:

if you are thinking of building one , please do some research. things at the factory are a little different these days.

In what way? I remember when my mate was building his about 10 years a go the factory were really helpful.

[spaximus]

Woody said:

jas xjr said:

if you are thinking of building one , please do some research. things at the factory are a little different these days.

In what way? I remember when my mate was building his about 10 years a go the factory were really helpful.

The factory are still really helpful but the change in ownership has meant they keep less stock. That can make getting Westfield produced items a little more problematic, but still a lot better than most manufacturers.

It was always a problem getting small batches produced on time, hence Westfield held a lot of stock, the problem still exists. I personally have never had an issue but some have and report on the club site.

It is another reason why being a member is a good thing as many of us know what the mainstream parts are and can advise where to get them. The other parts you have little option but to wait

[PaulKemp]

Locostbuilders.co.uk
Stonliegh kitcar show
Find a local kitcar club
Buy Complete kitcar magazine

Buying a secondhand kitcar with no understanding of what your buying is as bad as buying a car from an auction

Just because it has a known name means nothing if it's a crisp one

[JRM Rossi]

I currently have this one for sale 5000 miles since build very rare cars fully road legal comes with a out door custom made cover

[anonymous-user]

I've had a few Westie now and they are excellent fun and value. If you buy at the right price (and that's easy if you are patient.. There are plenty out there and when people discover they can't really be used as a daily driver they lose interest) it will hold its value rock solid.

1) Westfield narrow with a rage developed mr2 engine producing around 180bhp. Brilliant fun, revvy, light. Bought £6k sold 2 years later £7.5k. Clean, reliable. Replaced diff once as I trashed it at Llandow. £80

2) Westfield SEIGHT with 4.3 250bhp engine. Bit scruffy underneath. Fine outside. Brutally fast. Really mental, had to change the T1R tyres to R1R tyres or it would spin the wheels overtaking in 3Rd, in a straight line... Cost £8250, spent £1k over three years. Lower seats and a viscous diff lsd upgrade. Sold for £9500

3) current: Westfield seiw with cosworth YB NA. 238bhp, lsd, straight Cust clubman greats. Build truly beautifully. By a real engineer. Cost £12k. Might take longer to sell with straight cut gears. Amazing to drive.

4) wscc make me really cross, load of old duffers. You even have to pay to use their forum... To help other people. I read a post the other day where I 100% could help the car owner... But I can't... Cos I won't pay.

Love westies. Untouchable value, great resale. Ignore the chaterham snobbery. That's all it is. Most of the owners I meet at track days back up the snobbery theory.