BEC or V8 muscle
Discussion
I am looking to get me a westfield (second hand) for weekend end use and occasional track use. I'm new to this game and unsure of which way to go - bike power or v8. I've heard bike power is good for the track but a bit of a bugger to drive on the road (Hill starts in every direction from my house!!) But is the seight any good on the track??
Decisions, decisions can anyone advise???
Decisions, decisions can anyone advise???
BEC is the way for the Caterfield IMHO. The principal of the Seven is performance through lack of weight. I think also the difficulty in driving BEC is down to the clutch and there are lots of improvements made in this area AFIK. Both Westfield and DAx have been congratulated on improving the way the clutch works.
Of course the best solution for you could be to have test drive in each and see which you prefer.
Of course the best solution for you could be to have test drive in each and see which you prefer.
As Smeagol says try out both.....
However if most of your driving is going to be weekend touring then you`ll find the V8 easier to live with. A BEC is fantastic, raw, unadulterated power, noise, sensation but when you want to take it for a leisurely drive on a sunny Sunday afternoon it will not be very relaxing.
If most of your time will be spent on track then the BEC wins hands down. Mind you the V8 won`t be embarrased and will probably be better on the faster tracks with long straights.
Its a case of deciding what you really want to use it for.
Check out insurance as well, BEC insurance has goneup over the last year and for many this will be the deciding factor.
Whatever you go for you`ll enjoy it......
Simon
Birkin S3 170i
However if most of your driving is going to be weekend touring then you`ll find the V8 easier to live with. A BEC is fantastic, raw, unadulterated power, noise, sensation but when you want to take it for a leisurely drive on a sunny Sunday afternoon it will not be very relaxing.
If most of your time will be spent on track then the BEC wins hands down. Mind you the V8 won`t be embarrased and will probably be better on the faster tracks with long straights.
Its a case of deciding what you really want to use it for.
Check out insurance as well, BEC insurance has goneup over the last year and for many this will be the deciding factor.
Whatever you go for you`ll enjoy it......
Simon
Birkin S3 170i
V8 and BEC are very, very different cars. The V8 is primarily a tourer. Heavy (700ish kgs) with bags of tourque. With 250+ bhp it will be seriously quick. But they'll never be as agile as a BEC that weighs in at around 450ish kgs.
Also you will find that a V8's lazy nature will not be as much fun on a circuit but it will be much, much nicer on the road because of it. The opposite is true of the BEC. It all depends where your bias lays.
You are choosing between both extremes of the scale when it comes to 7 type cars. What about a 4 pot CAC? Something with a 180-200 bhp Zetec/Vx will be nicely in between the two extremes and could represent a good compromise for you. Just a thought.
Also you will find that a V8's lazy nature will not be as much fun on a circuit but it will be much, much nicer on the road because of it. The opposite is true of the BEC. It all depends where your bias lays.
You are choosing between both extremes of the scale when it comes to 7 type cars. What about a 4 pot CAC? Something with a 180-200 bhp Zetec/Vx will be nicely in between the two extremes and could represent a good compromise for you. Just a thought.
>What about a 4 pot CAC?
oops, freudian slip there...
like anything, you get used to the BEC clutch thing, and as has been said, there are things you can do to make it a bit easier.
Moom.
www.megabird.co.uk
oops, freudian slip there...
like anything, you get used to the BEC clutch thing, and as has been said, there are things you can do to make it a bit easier.
Moom.
www.megabird.co.uk
Cheers chaps
Seight looking the better bet after a bit more investigation. Will only do a few track days to begin with and it sounds like the BEC will be like a caged lion on the road. Could always look at a cheaper pure track car later if the nasty tax man leaves me alone!!
So how many diamonds are we looking at for a Seight knocking on a couple of years old??
And what do you lot pay for insurance??
Seight looking the better bet after a bit more investigation. Will only do a few track days to begin with and it sounds like the BEC will be like a caged lion on the road. Could always look at a cheaper pure track car later if the nasty tax man leaves me alone!!
So how many diamonds are we looking at for a Seight knocking on a couple of years old??
And what do you lot pay for insurance??
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