CraigHew Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Just had my weekly skeg at PistonHeads looking at the kit cars currently for sale. In terms of Caterhams and Westfields, there are a few, on both models' pages, that have been there a while but what struck me was the number of Caterhams for sale (160) compared to the Number of Westfields (42). Granted, there are normally more adverts for Caterhams than Westfields, but over the last few years I can't remember it being as high as 160...! According to Government data, with some caveats for statistical inaccuracies, there are about 1000 Westfields and 2200 caterhams on the UK roads at present. So, given the ratio on the roads, and everything else being equal, you'd expect the turnover of Caterhams to Westfields to be about 2:1, when on P/H its more like 4:1 Granted this is only on PistonHeads which may not be truly proportional but it got me thinking: Why so many Caterhams for sale at the moment....? Maybe I should get out more.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhutch Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Interesting observation, particularly as perhaps wrongly I would have assumed if anything the turn over of an individual Caterham to be slower than that of Westfield. Not sure why I think that. My 1991 reg cars I have for seven years is only on if forth owner. - Origanal owner and builder who put it together but didnt keep it that long as far as I can tell. - Second owner who owned it for for the majority of its life before I owned it (saw the V5 before mine) - Third owner, a Fury owner typically, who had it for 18 months as a stop-gap to do a road trip. - Myself as forth owner from 2008 onwards. Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Probably the fact that the majority of Westfields are home build with a very personal touch , so that the owners who are the builders, feel it as being his "own creation" Quite a big part of any finished Westfield kit is the builders own ideas assembled into a finished product which is stamped with the blood & sweat of his/her own efforts , he/she tends to own the car more and thus would feel reluctant to let it go to a strange home much more than a "pre assembled" production (kit?) car which could not possibly have the same bond with the owner Ohhh ! where's that "pauses to ring handkerchief out " emoticon gone to 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onliest Smeg David Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 What surprises me is the % being sold by traders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_l Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 I am surprised by some of the numbers. If anyone had asked me how many Westfields are out there I would have said 'about 10,000', which is backed up by a comment Westfield made in 2013 that suggested 12,000 sold in kit form or built since the company was founded. Add to that the fact that we have about 11,000 members....So about 1000 on the road is a surprising number, I think there are probably lots of inconsistencies on V5's and the government data search is wildly out in terms of real Westfield out there? We should do a member survey - a) Own a Westfield? and b) Is it registered? and c) If registered do you SORN it annually? Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_l Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Having said that, a good spot in terms of proportion Caterham vs Westfield - I have never seen it that high. I agree with the suggestion above that we are so much more invested in our cars.. Need some cash, sell your Caterham you can always buy another one, sell the Westfield..I'll need counselling! I can't buy MY Westfield again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Having said that, a good spot in terms of proportion Caterham vs Westfield - I have never seen it that high. I agree with the suggestion above that we are so much more invested in our cars.. Need some cash, sell your Caterham you can always buy another one, sell the Westfield..I'll need counselling! I can't buy MY Westfield again. Ask anyone about Scott Beeland & Boghouse Bllue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark (smokey mow) Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Add to that the fact that we have about 11,000 members.... It would be lovely if we really did have that many members Jim, but the current figure is somewhere around 1250 paid members. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_l Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Oh I see - so the figure on the main forum page of Total Members - 10862 is?...we seem to have a lot of non-paying members. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhutch Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Indeed, it's a forum, and people will often join a never own a car, just join to ask or reply to one question, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 you can probably reduce the Westy number for sale because of the number of phantom trade adverts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D7PNY Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Oh I see - so the figure on the main forum page of Total Members - 10862 is?...we seem to have a lot of non-paying members. Is that perhaps the number of members since forum started? ie. When I had my old westfield I was a paid up member but when I had a break away from the forum between cars I was still a 'member' . In this same fashion, Anyone who ever signs up will show up as a member until removed? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonPeffers Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Re. large number of Caterhams for sale on Pistonheads I read 23/10/2015--- http://skiddmark.com/2015/10/caterhams-new-owners-must-get-a-grip-on-its-ailing-business/ alleges "Customers are naturally concerned. It can now take up to 9 months from order to delivery (of a kit). This is way too long." Is this a case of supply and demand whereby limited supply from the factory possibly resulting in increased demand (and prices) for second hand models and some owners cashing in? Just a thought. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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