CrisisWolf Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Hi, I'm from Bristol and the time has come to dip my toe into kit car joys. I've been browsing classifieds for a month or so, not alot around just yet cause its only Feb but hopefully going to see one at a garage on Thursday. Budget is upto about £9k and I'm looking for a modern (ish) engined Westfield, so an 1800 Zetec or similar. Struggling to find some within 150 miles of Bristol at the moment - got maybe 3 at the moment as I'm watching Pistonheads and Auto Trader. Any advise on what to look for, ask would be appreciated but I've already found some good guides on this forum. Anything I should know running cost wise? I can only think of the usual fuel, service, MOT, tax and insurance (which is good from the one quote I've got so far!) Hopeful to use it for a few track days, but mostly some A-Road driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Cost Upgradeitus is the biggest cost by far What ever you buy you want to change and upgrade it Some say its a disease that comes with Westfield ownership . (Ford parts are cheap) Most of the best advice is on here Try loads Go to your local club meets Put an ad in the wanted section Good luck with your search and welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Welcome, try and get along to the nearest club meet if you can, probably still to early for many to be in Westfields, but it will get you a wealth of info! Running costs can be stunningly low in the conventional sense, provided you pick a reasonable car. Both tax and insurance - you must go via a kit specialist, to get the best rates and cover, are surprisingly low for the performance levels of the cars. Even service parts costs for all but the most exotic, or highly tuned engines aren't excessive. Beyond that, there's so many slightly different takes on what makes a Westfield - virtually no two are ever truly the same, that the best way to work out what you want/need is just to try and see as many as you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrisisWolf Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 I've already scouted out what parts you can buy as an upgrade. Hopefully I can go a full season happy as it is. I may fall for the one on Thursday, at least its at a specialist garage so should get plenty of answers. As the depreciation is so low, it works out cheaper to run one as a second car than go out and replace my current car with something a little more 'mad' so that sold it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 As the depreciation is so low, it works out cheaper to run one as a second car than go out and replace my current car with something a little more 'mad' so that sold it to me. You are so right with depreciation and that's often the biggest expense with cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M444TTB Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Beyond being an 1800 Zetec or similar what else do you want / want to avoid? Q-plate vs age related plate vs new reg; carbs vs standard injection vs throttle bodes; and so on. £9k would certainly get something good with a Zetec under the bonnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrisisWolf Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Guess Im looking for a Modern engine so not carbs. Most of what Ive seen have been older X-Flow or modern Zetecs and not much else, maybe the odd Vauxhall red Top. Not a bike engine as Im going to use it on the road and read they are better as purley track cars. Anything majorly different on Q Plate Vs Age Plate? I want something up together, cosmetic and mechanical. Just starting out so something easy. I am an engineering but this will still be a mechanical learning experience. Right now I probably dont know all the differences, options, pros and cons. Here to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SootySport Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Hi Crisis, Doesn't matter about the Q or age plates unless you have something against Q cars, Q 's do have the benefit of a smoke only emission test. A budget of £6k to £9k will get you a nice 2.0 Redtop. Zetec . Plenty of upgrade packages available for them. Do as I did and go to a local meet and have passenger rides to see what tickles your fancy. Finding the right car for you will mean some travelling as not that many are for sale at any any given moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M444TTB Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I'm not a fan of Q-plates. Unless it's MoT day then I'm happy Not much of a carb fan either yet every time I put my foot down they really do make some angry noises that you can't help but love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KugaWestie Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Dont rule out a Mazda SDV, there are some good ones around. I am slightly biased of course Parts are readily available and cheap enough, and you can tune them a little bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrisisWolf Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Yeah the carbs do sound nice. Haven't seen any Mazda SDVs for sale! I wouldn't say no. Hopeful to get at least a passenger ride on Thurs. I did have an experience day which included an aerial Atom so thats the closest Ive got. Seen there are meets up Gloucester way so may give that a go, and I see a Bristol & Bath meet vacancy - who knows. Will see what Thursday brings and take it from there. Its a yellow 2000 ish SEiW 1.8 Zetec with a personal plate. You've probably seen it on classifieds, may even know some of the history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Gibney - Lancashire AO Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Nowt wrong with an X flow . Easy to work on and parts cheap too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottmk1 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Yeah the carbs do sound nice. Haven't seen any Mazda SDVs for sale! I wouldn't say no. Hopeful to get at least a passenger ride on Thurs. I did have an experience day which included an aerial Atom so thats the closest Ive got. Seen there are meets up Gloucester way so may give that a go, and I see a Bristol & Bath meet vacancy - who knows. Will see what Thursday brings and take it from there. Its a yellow 2000 ish SEiW 1.8 Zetec with a personal plate. You've probably seen it on classifieds, may even know some of the history. Mine is for sale in the classifieds on here, although I am quite far away from you so that may put you off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerodynamix Ltd Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Come to the Glos meet this Thursday see link for adress : http://www.wscc.tfwebdesign.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Ashcroft Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Hi I'm local to you down in WSM just bought a car after a 6 year leave, happy to help out if I can, I've built 3 in the past so quite knowledgable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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