Sport 250 Review on Top Gear site

[Steve (sdh2903)]

2 hours ago, Terryathome said:

As for gear knobs falling off, it's a kit car. 

It's that kind of view point that

1. keeps the kit industry in the dark ages. 

2. Gives people a "made in the shed" attitude and look down on our hobby.

Just because it's a kit car doesn't mean it shouldn't be built right without bits falling off.

This wasn't a kit car either it was a factory built sports car. Would you happily accept a bit falling off your boxster and say "Oh well it's a sports car they all do that"

Lastly I don't know the bloke or his credentials. But what he wrote in his article was the exact way I felt about the handling characteristics, but I wasn't articulate enough to get my point across. Those views were taken over a longer period than a one day test drive too. 

[Terryathome]

Why do we always end up knock down the cars we love so much. If it's that bad sell it.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

No man loves having his knob fall off.

 

[Thrustyjust]

5 minutes ago, Terryathome said:

Why do we always end up knock down the cars we love so much. If it's that bad sell it.

We want these cars to work Terry. We see things that need resolving, yet nothing gets done, from manuals to build the things, to supply of parts , to driving them and sticking together in one piece. I think my car is great , others in the car world may differ that opinion. But if basic things like suspension are squashy and the factory just ignore you, then the media, on more than one report see the defect is also there, then you would get annoyed that the response from the factory being lazy in responding and 'developing' the product to iron out any issues and make it work. Handing the keys over to a 35 grand car and the door falls off and the gear knob comes off in his hand is just unacceptable. We all love our cars for what they are, but you cant sell a 35 grand car with basic defects that make a mockery of us all. I am sure Caterham dont make a car and leave it like that. They develop and test and check everything and move on with upgrading all the time. That keeps the order book full and people who just upgrade through their lifetime.

Joe public isnt going to spend 35 grand on a car that falls to bits, doesnt have good suspension, doesnt have a zippy , more of a wallowing ride. For 35k, he's going to want it to work and work pretty damn well. Part of my likes for the car, is that I built it , the other is driving it. If it falls apart on me, I only have myself to blame. But a factory car should have all the bells and whistles polished and tweaked , so that the media dont have this issue of it being a 'kit car'

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

In all seriousness, if we want Westfield to be around as a car manufacturer and our cars to be available in some form for years to come, then certain things need to be developed in order to sell to more than just a dying breed of enthusiasts used to sixties and seventies “norms”. 

As for how unprepared cars can keep, in this day and age being sent to journalists beggars belief. Unless...

...the even worse thought is that they are/were prepared cars!

[Steve (sdh2903)]

20 minutes ago, Terryathome said:

Why do we always end up knock down the cars we love so much. If it's that bad sell it.

I did  (But not for that reason!)

It is nothing that can't be fixed I just never got round to it. In my humble opinion needed to go to a suspension  specialist to be tweaked either the suspension pickups are wrong or the shock/springs needed changing. But, and this is the big point, that should have been done during the model development at the factory.

I actually sent an email to the factory explaining what I was sensing. The answer I got back was

"Well We've had good feedback on the road and on the track" that was it! Yeah sounds like good feedback from 2 journalists too.

How bl**** arrogant is that? This wasn't the only occasion I encountered an issue and let them know and they were equally dismissive so in the end I gave up and just got on with it. 

I was the only actual customer driving a self built car on the road and they were completely uninterested in any feedback whatsoever.

[jeff oakley]

I have driven lots of different cars over the years and every person has a different opinion of them. Take the new MX5, the designers have taken the first one which was spot on and made it awful. The pedals are so offset to the right as to cause back pain when driving and yet the journalists all love it.

When I tested one at the factory years ago, my old Westfield was basic pinto engine. I tested one with a zetec etc and it drove well but lacked the rawness that made my old one a better drive. Simon explained they set them up so they were easy to drive as many people turn up in a soft road car then jump in one that is too hard and walk away, or more often the ride quality is too firm for the wife who then vetoes toy. 

There is no excuse for shoddy fittings but if you ever drove a Ferrari 308 and used the cheap plastic fiat switch gear and cheap plastic fitted in that car you would understand how even the best get it wrong.

The Caterham is the benchmark, it always has been always will be and they supply test cars only with every extra fitted, quick rack and in my opinion Westfield should do the same. A kit car journalist will be comparing from a different perspective to one who only drives "normal" cars.

And price does come into it, they will look at a Westfield for £30k and then compare against what you could buy mainstream for that but that misses the point of what our cars are about.

We do this every so often, start pulling our cars, the manufacturer to bits when a mainstream article comes out, it doesn't bother me as I take everything with a pinch of salt. A Westfield is always a compromise in some way or another.

[Terryathome]

If the Ollie Maguire's of this world new about kit cars and the different equipment including tyres which he moaned about then he should have said and compensated for this in his report. He didn't so bad report.

As for gear knobs. If only life was perfect?

 

[Thrustyjust]

1 minute ago, Terryathome said:

If the Ollie Maguire's of this world new about kit cars and the different equipment including tyres which he moaned about then he should have said and compensated for this in his report. He didn't so bad report.

 

 

He was driving an Ariel Nomad as a long term test car, when we chatted and mentioned that nothing had fallen off and was great fun, although had some jerry cans , so maybe a small tank ..............As for believing anything in a kitcar mag, they just want advertising revenue back from Westfield, see the latest drivel from the ST test. Steve Hole is clueless at hiding blatant obvious advertising crap. Send him bottles of gunk for his car and its the best thing ever.............so, basically not being truthful. Take your pick..................honest or revenue making ? Thats the only markets open to us.

[Terryathome]

1 hour ago, sdh2903 said:

I was the only actual customer driving a self built car on the road and they were completely uninterested in any feedback whatsoever.

I don't believe you went back to Westfields when you self built the car yourself. Your pulling my leg?

[Steve (sdh2903)]

3 minutes ago, Terryathome said:

I don't believe you went back to Westfields when you self built the car yourself. Your pulling my leg?

Not sure I get your point to be honest?. I had reservations about the cars handling, I contacted the manufacturer of the kit to report feedback and to ask if they had any suggestions or had any other feedback from people driving the 2 factory cars in existence at that time. I got the arrogant response above.

Why wouldn't I contact the company I'd spent thousands of pounds with to report an issue?

[Terryathome]

You built the car yourself. If the factory had built it then that would be a totally different matter.

[Steve (sdh2903)]

4 minutes ago, Terryathome said:

You built the car yourself. If the factory had built it then that would be a totally different matter.

I can't make out if your fishing/trolling or being serious to be honest. The car was built to a good standard using westfield supplied parts and specifications and you think I have no right to report issues? 

Without being rude, your the exact kind of customer westfield is relying on to keep the kit side going. Take whatever crap is thrown out the door and just accept it.

[Terryathome]

You bet your boots I'm serious. Fishing trolling. You watch what your saying.

[Steve (sdh2903)]

Well I'm stunned that anyone would take that viewpoint.

Before the threats get any worse we'll just have to agree to disagree.