jmathews Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 Good morning, my wife and I have been browsing for a weekend car for trips across the west midlands and into Wales for some time. She is very much in love with the idea of cruising across the countryside and stopping for short walks and bites to eat. We are living along the A40 outside of Worcester so have excellent access to decent/nice roads and a jumping off point to great places west from us. Now the hard part she has seen a westfield car she is absolutely in love with because she likes the way it looks; hence the title of this post. As far as she is concerned its already purchased without actually seeing it. I would say our purchase will never see a track day and would most likely say we would be classified as day tourers or weekend tourers at the most with B&B stop overs. We are approaching our retirement years and its likely to be seeing only responsible levels of speed. We could be that car on the A40 driving under the posted speed limit from time to time when we are enjoying the drive more than just the thrill. I hope this gives you an idea of the type of drivers we would be. To this end the car she has seen is an SE wide body and whilst I don't want to start a lengthy debate on is live or independent better what I am most interested in is the experience of others doing the type of driving we are thinking of doing what their experience or advice might be on a live suspension. Also the car we are interested in is almost 3 hours away from us so I'd like to ask as many questions about it or be in a serious mindset to buy it before venturing so far and of course what to look out for or how to prepare to go and get it as there is a strong possibility I will have to drive it home. I have read the new buyer post in the FAQs so I'm armed with that information already. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsechris Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 For context, we’ve had our WSEi for 31 years now. Our car has only ever done this sort of driving. The occasional blat, of course, but mostly cruising along. In the early days, we toured around Wales, the Southwest, that sort of thing. For ride comfort on the roads we have to endure, I would suggest an IRS car is preferable. Most important, try before you buy! They are a unique driving experience compared to ‘ordinary’ cars simply because you are so low to the ground, so exposed and so small. Having most of the car in front of you also adds to the unique experience, although that weird sense quickly passes once you get used to it. You can of course drive one on a motorway, but it isn’t all that pleasant tbh. Also worth mentioning that the car belongs to my partner Vickie and she adores driving it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Parker (Red Spider) - Yorkshire AO Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 If you're in Worcester, come down to the kit car show at Malvern today. Plenty of cars to see and people to talk to. We're here all day. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 Had mine for 24 years and gets the same sort of use that you're looking at. I'm just outside Worcester too and would be happy to take either/both of you out for a quick spin if you'd like? I'd add to what Chris has said that my original Westfield sports seats are extremely comfortable and I can do long miles in the car without getting uncomfortable. Also you get a tad more windswept in a Westfield than, say, in an MX5 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsechris Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 I’ll second the offer of a test ride, although I think our car is quite similar to @Stuart’s so maybe not all that useful an offer. Our car has a set of progressive rear springs courtesy of @DamperMan as well as a slightly raised rear ride height over standard which has really improved the way it rides on average roads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmathews Posted June 2 Author Share Posted June 2 16 minutes ago, Robin Parker (Red Spider) - Yorkshire AO said: If you're in Worcester, come down to the kit car show at Malvern today. Plenty of cars to see and people to talk to. We're here all day. Morning, Robin thanks for the suggestion. Sadly we are away at the moment. Quite poor timing on our part with the show being on our door step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmathews Posted June 2 Author Share Posted June 2 Afternoon, Chris and Stuart thanks for the offer for rides. We have been on some rides kit cars before we started to look into them, We are very much looking for the wind swept motoring experience. After some discussions it seems we've only been in cars with IDS. So what we've not understood is how much different a live axel would be. The car we are interested in has been well looked after and comes with a complete history but its just such as long way to go and find out that's its not the car for us due to this live suspension. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 @jmathews does it have a model description? Mine is an SEIW - the I stands for independent suspension and the W for wide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmathews Posted June 2 Author Share Posted June 2 10 minutes ago, Stuart said: @jmathews does it have a model description? Mine is an SEIW - the I stands for independent suspension and the W for wide. As I understand it definitely a live axel SE Wide below is the advert for the vehicle. Westfield Wide SE, 2 litre Pinto with 9,700 miles and good provenance. Its with a heavy heart I have decided to sell my Westfield Wide SE. I have had 5 years of more smiles per miles than anything else you can drive and the family loved it. However I now need something with doors so its time for a change. Lots of history, including the original construction manual, but some highlights: Built in 1998 by an Engineer in Bromsgrove (Andrew Carter) and passed to Peter Filby, Editor of Kit Car magazine at the time who developed the car further. Chassis has a powder coated finish, Mk2 ford escort steering rack and rear axle (live axle). Austin Allegro steering column (modified by Westfield), and front wishbones, suspension etc from Cortina Mk 3/4/5, as well as Westfield parts. The engine is a 2-litre OHC Pinto with Burton Rocker cover, from a H-Reg Ford Sierra which had done 75K miles. It has twin dellorto carbs, 9,700 miles on the clock and regularly serviced. Its had a new exhaust, 2 new front ball joints as well as other maintenance including new oil seals. MOT until 15/04/2025. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 That's quite a provenance! Welcome by the way. A nicely developed live axle car can be just as enjoyable on the road as an independant car. Though you could argue it may magnify a little the difference tyres and springs/dampers make to ride quality for touring, compared to an independant. But, with none track day styles of tyres*, and a reasonable set up, it should do well. (*thr track day semi-slick style tyres often have very stiff sidewalls, especially in 15" diameter, that can be just a little harsh on rough pot holed country roads). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 1 hour ago, jmathews said: As I understand it definitely a live axel SE Wide below is the advert for the vehicle. Ah. I have no experience of live axle cars or Pinto engined Westfields so I'll shut up now 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard (OldStager) Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 As an owner ( soon to be ex ) of a live axle car for the past 16 years, the ride on public roads is harsh to say the least. I have over many years replaced the rear springs to ever decreasing poundage's, I could go further but that would ruin the inherent handling characteristics of the car, since I don't wish to do that the car is sadly ( for me) going to someone who will appreciate the way the car handles. If our roads were better this perhaps would be less of an issue, but around here they are dreadful. For a track only car, I would say a live axle car is better than IRS, mainly due to the additional weight of the IRS setup. But for road use , if I were to buy another one ( doubtful) it would be an IRS one. If you can put up with a less than smooth ride, then sure live axle is fine, but since a decent medical diagnosis this mode of transport is no longer feasible for me. Besides which just getting in is really hard for me now, and you don't want to know how long it takes me to get back out again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jmathews Posted June 14 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 14 Evening, All sadly the car we originally wanted was unavailable by the time we got to it, however Another car got delivered yesterday. Had our first drive tonight and the wife loved it and we cruised for awhile around the Malvern area. The prior owners looked after her well and she came with every piece of paperwork from the moment the first owner printed off the westield home page to every receipt or thing ever done. We are the third owners based on the v5c docs and various names across paperwork which is about a 2 inch pile of papers, which I've now sorted chronologically and put into a binder so I can keep adding to it. Needless to say I'm super excited. We named her Judy for obvious reasons Anyhow looking forward to meet up with other owners and we are now wscc members 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Carrot Steve Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 On 02/06/2024 at 09:31, corsechris said: Having most of the car in front of you also adds to the unique experience, although that weird sense quickly passes once you get used to it. I've never thought about that before! Or the fact that they are small. When I'm sat in it it's all just normal. But when you see one parked next to a normal car it's hilariously small and low and long. And oh so perfect 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickRack Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 1 hour ago, jmathews said: Evening, All sadly the car we originally wanted was unavailable by the time we got to it, however Another car got delivered yesterday. Had our first drive tonight and the wife loved it and we cruised for awhile around the Malvern area. The prior owners looked after her well and she came with every piece of paperwork from the moment the first owner printed off the westield home page to every receipt or thing ever done. We are the third owners based on the v5c docs and various names across paperwork which is about a 2 inch pile of papers, which I've now sorted chronologically and put into a binder so I can keep adding to it. Needless to say I'm super excited. We named her Judy for obvious reasons Anyhow looking forward to meet up with other owners and we are now wscc members Welcome to the club & to Westy ownership. Judy looks superb. I’m working in Worcester (Warndon) atm & will keep an eye out. If you get the horn from a blue Volvo it’s me 🫶🏼 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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