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Also our first run out of the year, in the Hope Valley, Peak District

That looks like a lovely view but a properly dumb place to camp (left of photo). Reminds me of a time I was in Gran Canaria. Bloke was in his tin top, in a sandy recess next to a mountain on a curve of a busy road, miles from anywhere, all by himself and playing a tuba in his car. One of the most surreal things I've ever seen.

I have owned my 2.0 Ltr Zetec Westfield for two years now and having covered 4300 road miles and two track days on Toyo TR1s, I think they are a great tyre. The breakaway is very progressive and predictable, no sudden snap etc. My advice would be taking your time to learn the car before starting to push and respect what it is. The rear WILL step out on you when at some point you're not expecting but just be mindful of the conditions. It's happened to me twice when I was not ready both times my own fault, down to cold rear tyres or damp conditions. I had never owned a rear wheel drive car previously. Getting on track with an instructor is a superb way of learning what they are capable of, you soon realise your miles off the limit on the road by comparison.

Lovely weather for open tops.

Tyres have been discussed loads..but a good quality road tyres is perfect as an all rounder for sensible driving.. something like a Michelin pilot sport..great in wet and dry and will last for ever and not crazy price.. will also be good for odd track day. Availability depending on your wheel sizes.. Back to being vulnerable on the road..I agree with all that has been said..but will also add a couple of things.. Before you buy think about what you want the car for.. it does not need massive power to have loads of fun..also do you want a wind screen to allow relaxed and protected from stones driving... Without a screen but with an aeroscreen I had a couple of near misses of big stones thrown up from car in front..very close so if on the road I wore a helmet which took away some of the open top pleasure...

I think this was specifically the Toyo T1Rs that the former factory supplied with the kits - good high mileage summer tyre for a heavy car but not ideal for a Westfield. Toyo R888Rs and R1Rs (sadly no longer available) are excellent for westfield but need care when cold/greasy and more track day biased users.

Interesting topic this, I would say that if you love driving then go buy a Westfield (or similar) as it’s the best version of driving you can get. That said, you do have to drive in a different way to a family SUV for example, and as others have said, most of the other drivers on the road are well aware of your presence and you’ll get lots of admiring looks/boy racers trying to keep up BUT I will tend to drive as if other drivers haven’t seen me, particularly when going on the occasional motorway/dual carriageway trip. Have to say I’ve never really felt unsafe in the 5k miles I’ve done so far in mine. And totally agree with the above - empty B roads, that’s where it’s magic

Yes to what all the above posts say. To add to this one and the very valid point about sighted corners (or lack thereof). Might only be me, but I've learnt that I need to pick my moments to go for it. At other times it's surprising/frustrating that overtakes are not possible: despite all the power and little weight - the lack of visibility ahead and a generous sense of wanting to survive means you might stay behind slower traffic. At those times getting into a flow of driving smoothly and without touching the brake pedal, judging the momentum just right, is very rewarding. Night driving: that is very difficult. My pretty but small dominators barely light up the road enough and before you know it, there's oncoming traffic. With its headlights, even on dipped beam, shining exactly at your eye level. Best is - as always - empty roads...

I would agree with everything above. My only additional thought would be to either get one with a high level brake light on the roll bar or add one - people tend to look over the car and if they're too close in a Chelsea tractor they won't see your brake lights coming on...

Hi Dates for your diaries!! Summer is coming 😁 Please find below confirmation of the National Kit Car Show in Malvern that we already knew about plus the new replacement of the Newark Show which is now in Lincoln and combined with the Sports Car Show at the end of August.

FOR SALE 2022 Westfield ZK with 3k miles . 2.0 ZETEC Black top on OMEX throttle bodies with recently overhauled OMEX 600 ECU. 7” sierra LSD with 3.62 ratio from Dave Rae Motorsport Heavy Duty Type 9 Gearbox with 2.98 ratio first gear from Dave Rae Motorsport Protech Coilovers Raceline Lowered Sump Wide Track Lowered Floors V8 Bonnet Carbon Fibre Cycle wings Carbon Fibre Mirror Caps Team Dynamic wheels with nearly new Uniroyal Rainsport tyres TRS Harnesses Momo Detachable Steering wheel Detachable Doors Stunning black paint work, recent service including Cambelt and MOT until May 2025. this car was built buy Lee and I purchased in June 2023 after seeing it at the Kit Car show , please see below link to build thread with details of all that was done , car wants for nothing and looks and drives amazing . Lots of folders of receipts and spare parts inc brake pads Don't really want to sell it but I need a new engine for my Hillclimb Mini so would look at a PX for cheaper Westfield plus cash £16500

There can't be many places to practice tuba and not pee someone off!

I take it the navigator has got you lost !! judging by the maps and the confused look on her face 🤣 and she had the camera upside down when she took your photo 🫣 wow what a girl !!

Refurbished M16 calipers, with Mintex 1144 pads and a bit of alloy polishing!

@Jimbo93 I have Michelin PS3 on mine (100% road use) and they're great. Lot of love for Uniroyal Rainsport 5 on here too

I owned a 996 Turbo and I can honestly say I prefer; 1) Insurance costs of my Westfield 2) Maintenance costs of my Westfield 3) The fact I can do all the work on my Westfield without damaging the value of my Westfield 4) Driving my Westfield Might be worth getting yourself along to one of the local meets on the first Thursday of the month at the Clock Warehouse in Shardlow. @Rob Hunter - Club Secretary will advise. A trip to Toybox to see Andrew is well worth doing too as others have suggested. Happy to show you my car if you are ever on the Loughborough area as well.

I’ve got a Westfield and fancy buying a Porsche 911 ! 😂 Joking aside I would highly recommend it, nothing quite like it on a sunny Sunday afternoon. There’s always some nice examples for sale on the forum here, and I’d really recommend a trip over to see the guys at Toybox, who specialise in second hand Westfields and always have a decent stock of cars in different set ups, lots of them in weekend touring spec. Good luck.

As others have said above you need to drive as you would a motorbike. Extremely rewarding to drive, but be very aware of your ability and know your limits.....if you have an 'off' it likely won't end well..... I've nearly been put into the armco twice on dual carriageways, so you need to be very observant when overtaking in the outside lane.....looking for idiots that cannot use a wingmirror properly. Get in the habit of triple checking indicators aren't left on too.... Drive with lights on all the time too. One more observation...when driving on undulating roads, it can be difficult to safely overtake....you are sat so low down, visibility ahead us nowhere as good as when sat higher in a tiptop. Awesome fun though....you won't regret it!

Recived mine rebuilded gearbox with new longer - 2.98 1st, new bearings, synchros, gaskets, seals, cleaned inside and outside. Now excercise and acrobatics to install..

I can only echo what others have said. Drive assuming no one has seen you and give enough space and distance. It can be intimidating on motorways with HGVs towering above you but same rules apply. I’ve driven mine around the M25 in rush hour and it’s quite ok. I was more worried about overheating than having a crash! They are lightweight rear wheel drive cars (duh 🤣) so need to be driven with respect; it’s easy to get caught out as I know from experience having visited a ditch once in mine, fortunately with no significant damage except a big dent to the ego. But, once used to the handling and grip then as has been said, that is normally enough to get you out of any trouble; last night heading home someone was playing silly b*****rs trying to undertake me completely unnecessarily. A quick prod of the throttle and I was three cars ahead and out of his way. If very concerned then you could consider a roll cage with side protection. I prefer mine lighter and easier to get into and normally drive with only half doors, or nothing at all in summer. I do have a decent roll bar with the triangulated supports rather than just a simple hoop, and use a 6 point harness as I feel much more secure with that. My wife does not share my love of the car. She calls it ‘the Pencil Tin’ and after her one and only drive to date said ‘it’s nice when you get out, isn’t it?’ 🤣🤣. That said, I doubt I would make a good Westfield passenger so do understand. One day I will take her on a nice relaxed drive on a hot summers day and see if I can convince her 👍 In summary, the open and low nature of the car only adds to the experience and is a big part of what I love; the rawness, noise and sensation of speed, even when within the speed limit are hard to beat and always put a big smile on my face.

Have you tried one out? See who is around your local area who would take you out for a trial blat. I'm an ex-motorcyclist so the Westfield is quite enclosed compared to a bike. The thing i love about it is the openness of it. I drive without doors unless the weather is filthy. Being able to look at the road going past just next to you is brilliant. It is a small very low car and can be missed by the unobservant. Keep lights on and drive defensively, keep to the sensible assumption that pretty much every other driver out there is an idiot who is trying to kill you. A noisy exhaust helps draw some attention to you. Find empty twisty roads, put your foot down and suddenly it'll all make sense...

I get 8inch flames out off mine on deceleration