New build Westy versus Caterham? Something built? Something else?

[Boombang]

I used to own a nippy little 4age engine'd narrow and contemplating some sort of 'toy' again now.  The right Westfield could be a lot of fun, I can't rule out a Caterham or even something like an Elise /Exist.  I've not looked at budget too much yet and there is obviously a huge range in terms of initial cost.  Cost of ownership is more my focus however and I only know too well life changes so running costs and resale (including how easy that might be) are important.

 

Ownership of the last Westy was interesting, the car needed a lot of fettling and lack of time back then meant it sat in bits a fair bit - sadly for every day out in the car there was a job and some were fairly big.  My son then came along and I eventually made the call to sell, someone got a bit of a bargain and hopefully has enjoyed it more than I managed to.

 

The idea of a new build is interesting but I'm interesting in how long it really takes.  Caterham suggest less time for their build (120 versus 100 hours) but I'm wondering if there is really that much difference and if it's down to how they supply components that might take more/less time.  I have built up a 205 from used parts including respray / roll cage, but I don't have space or inclination to be cleaning or refurbing parts now.

 

 

Elise / Exige prices appear to have rocketed, so even though I expect them to have solid resale that might rule them out entirely.  I can almost see more value in a brand new final edition Elise than used in the current market.

 

Hopefully now rejoined here I can see who else is still about.

[Kingster]

16 minutes ago, Boombang said:

The idea of a new build is interesting but I'm interesting in how long it really takes.  Caterham suggest less time for their build (120 versus 100 hours)

Not sure how long it actually takes to build a “full” kit with absolutely everything supplied but took me a year of spare time - and mine was far from a full kit, more a “whatever I could source” type build from a basic starter kit. 

 

I recall seeing the top gear show where they built a Caterham from a kit and it certainly looked to be a lot more “assembled” than the Westfield one - but I suppose you could equally spec it from the factory with a lot of the work done too. 

[Rory's Dad]

Then there's the question of money...!

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Westfield and Caterham builds are two completely different animals. I do know people over the years that have managed to book a couple of weeks off work, have a complete Westfield kit at the start, and a car ready to be submitted for IVA at the end, but they’re rare, very much the exception, and have always been experienced and well equipped builders, sometimes, though not always, with a team of helpers, too.

 

They're also. With one or two exceptions, fairly “by the book” builds, usually, too. In other words, minimal fettling and very little development during the build.

 

Most Westfields seem to average more like between six and twelve months, when fit in around real life and family.

 

Caterhams, for all the similarities when built, are constructed in a different way to Westfields, the nature of the largely hand made bodywork, means that essentially, you’re starting off with a fully clothed chassis, so one of the main time consuming areas of Westfield building doesn’t exist at all.

 

Further, because of the way the body/chassis is supplied, it also cuts out a lot of the faffing about aligning things individually, on a Westfield. Mounting points, exhaust cutouts, air filter cutouts, etc etc are always in the same place, so many if not most, are precut/pre formed. 
 

I know a few Caterham owners that have essentially assembled the cars in a few long weekends.

 

That said, I’ve no idea how may kits Caterham still sell, but it does seem to have really dwindled over the years, with it would appear, the vast majority of cars being factory built.

[Benrobson2999 - Kent AO]

I got my kit on October 7th last year and am currently waiting for the V5 to drop through the letter box. I work week on week off so have had lots of spare time and we had lock down etc too. I did have a couple months off in the middle also when it was freezing in the garage. Cost wise, I think it’s much better value than the caterham and certainly a better kit than the other seven kits (in my opinion). Caterham build is different to Westfield, I believe they are almost put together and you add the finishing touches. The Westfield is a box of bits. 

 

Hope it gives you a rough idea. Would I do it again, certainly… could I have done it without the help of the guys on this forum, no.. 

0B9D7D91-C628-4986-AE0F-87729C2D59CC.jpeg

[Stuart]

With the full modular kit from Westfield (so all new parts) it took me 4.5 months. Solo and just evenings and weekends. 

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

Similar to Stuart for me, started at the end of November and ready for IVA late April. As for build hours, for me based upon my build blog it was in the region of 290 hours. I'd never done anything like build the Westi before, the build manual at the time was far from complete, it's much better now. 

As for ownership, use, tinkering etc. A Westi is never complete, there is always something that could be done but generally I've only had to tinker when I wanted to change things in that way once done it takes as much of your time as you want it to. 

[Stuart]

IIRC it took me 268 hours. My kit came with ali panels fitted + front bulkhead to rear bulkhead brake pipes, fuel pipes and wiring fitted though. Not sure they do any of that now. 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

15 minutes ago, Stuart said:

My kit came with ali panels fitted + front bulkhead to rear bulkhead brake pipes, fuel pipes and wiring fitted

 

Unless it was a SEiGHT, which if I recall correctly, were only available that way, the panelled chassis with wiring and lines fitted was, and remains, a (paid) factory option for those that don't want to do the initial build phase themselves.

[Boombang]

All really helpful info thank you so much.

 

A build is out for sure based on that info.  I'm an experience mechanic with plenty of tools, but even then it sounds a lengthy build and my attention to detail would probably leave that on the longer side - although that could be hugely satisfying.  

Caterham kits maybe if their optimistic build timescales were to be believed but with a 6 month lead time currently I've no idea if would have time then (where as now I could do 5-10 hours per week, based on 60-100 hours for a Caterham build it could be ready for next summer - if true).

[Boombang]

Further to above current thinking is get a sorted, tidy, used Westy.  Need/Want/Do not want lists will be pretty long based on past experience so it will no doubt be tricky.

 

Next steps are clearing a space in my garage in case something comes up.

[David Oxfordshire]

Just to balance things out my Westy took 4 years but there was alot of faff from my side. Before buying the kit i did look at a Caterham on a ramp (65 plate 420 something) and i have to say it shocked me a little, i'd say most Westfields are better built!

[IainCameron]

Anyone else seen the new series on Channel 4; "How to Build Britain".  It was the Mini this week, and Caterham is coming up in the weeks ahead (not sure when).  Quite an interesting programme, although a bit repetitive, and it will be interesting to see the factory building process for a CateringVan.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

I’ve seen a similar(?) one on Caterham before; it can come as a shock how relatively primitive the build process is for many of these niche vehicles, from tiny manufacturers- especially when tucked into series that also cover the big boys, like Bentley, Aston Martin etc, (as the other series did!)