Safety in your Westfield...

[jonjh1964]

4 minutes ago, Jimbo93 said:

Really interesting to read about everyone's joint experience, thank you, it's helped a lot. I don't think I'd find myself on dual carriageways/motor ways very often and would try to go out when it's quiet anyway. Really look forward to finding one and getting stuck in 👍

 

slight side note - tyres. I think I saw someone refer to Toyos as ditch finders. Is there a general go-to for road use? I don't want to start a whole new discussion as I know it's a broad topic!

I think this was specifically the Toyo T1Rs that the former factory supplied with the kits - good high mileage summer tyre for a heavy car but not ideal for a Westfield. Toyo R888Rs and R1Rs (sadly no longer available) are excellent for westfield but need care when cold/greasy and more track day biased users.

[Mole]

Tyres have been discussed loads..but a good quality road tyres is perfect as an all rounder for sensible driving.. something like a Michelin pilot sport..great in wet and dry and will last for ever and not crazy price.. will also be good for odd track day. Availability depending on your wheel sizes..

 

Back to being vulnerable on the road..I agree with all that has been said..but will also add a couple of things..

Before you buy think about what you want the car for.. it does not need massive power to have loads of fun..also do you want a wind screen to allow relaxed and protected from stones driving... Without a screen but with an aeroscreen I had a couple of near misses of big stones thrown up from car in front..very close so if on the road I wore a helmet which took away some of the open top pleasure...

[Ansoeb]

25 minutes ago, jonjh1964 said:

I think this was specifically the Toyo T1Rs that the former factory supplied with the kits - good high mileage summer tyre for a heavy car but not ideal for a Westfield. Toyo R888Rs and R1Rs (sadly no longer available) are excellent for westfield but need care when cold/greasy and more track day biased users.

I have owned my 2.0 Ltr Zetec Westfield for two years now and having covered 4300 road miles and two track days on Toyo TR1s, I think they are a great tyre. The breakaway is very progressive and predictable, no sudden snap etc. My advice would be taking your time to learn the car before starting to push and respect what it is. The rear WILL step out on you when at some point you're not expecting but just be mindful of the conditions. It's happened to me twice when I was not ready both times my own fault, down to cold rear tyres or damp conditions. I had never owned a rear wheel drive car previously. Getting on track with an instructor is a superb way of learning what they are capable of, you soon realise your miles off the limit on the road by comparison.

[Stuart]

@Jimbo93 I have Michelin PS3 on mine (100% road use) and they're great. Lot of love for Uniroyal Rainsport 5 on here too

[RickRack]

Hi Jimbo, agreed with all above, but would add - from 16 to 23 yrs of age I rode 2 wheels - then passed car test & dropped bikes. Then at 45 brought Honda 750 & felt completely exposed - the riding experience was not the same after 25 yrs of 4 wheels exposure do sold it. But Always wanted a Westy & brought mine at 57 & was worried about what reality would be against perception. Brought mine approx 60 miles from home & took A-Road & M6 toll on a Sunday to get it home as it was my 1st time driving it. 
Then my car had inertia reel seatbelts but with no B pillar’s they work opposite handed to standard cars leaving right shoulder for driver & left shoulder for passenger totally exposed. Changing to harnesses makes me feel more secure. 
Tyres, my car is for road use only & previous owner had no idea the age of the rubber (& no dates could be found on tyre wall) so I brought new wheels & tyres to avoid doubt - after many recommendations on here choose Uniroyal Rainsport 5’s - & they certainly get my vote 🙏

But as said above I’ would definitely visit local area meet to see if there’s any kind owners to take you out for a blast (Blat!) as you immediately get a feel for the experience & can speak to each owner. 

And no matter what engine car you go for the driving experience is similar (power can differ massively thou) with acceleration & speed seeming much more than it is in a Conventional car due to ur backside being 8” of the ground, so caution is required until you’re used to the power. 
Ultimately thou, there is no better driving experience where you feel at one with the car & I do genuinely love mine. 
Best of luck with your hunt & it’s a good time yo buy. 👍
 

 

[Andrzej]

And , just thought (don't be put off by this ! ,in fact, at least for me and looking at plenty build threads there,  not only for me ,  that it's part of  whole fun with all that "kitcaring")  - apart fom safety vs trucks and SUV's, there is another area of safety in used kitcars -   for example : cracked fuel  tubes, inproper fuel lines clamps, rusted suspension elements , undone suspension, propshaft or driveshaft bolts, air in brake lines, poor aligment, rust everywhere ... etc etc. So worth to consider choosing from who You are buing, or (better but takes some time) take almost whole car apart and put togheter with lot of fresh parts - You will know what You have that way and gain confidence of (kit)car. 

[Jimbo93]

1 hour ago, Andrzej said:

there is another area of safety in used kitcars -   for example : cracked fuel  tubes, inproper fuel lines clamps, rusted suspension elements , undone suspension, propshaft or driveshaft bolts, air in brake lines, poor aligment, rust everywhere ... etc etc. So worth to consider choosing from who You are buing, or (better but takes some time) take almost whole car apart and put togheter with lot of fresh parts - You will know what You have that way and gain confidence of (kit)car. 

b*****r I hadn't actually given that aspect much thought to be honest! Very keen to learn though 😎 I will certainly try to find someone with knowledge to help check it out when the time comes. 

[tex]

On 23/01/2025 at 19:38, Andrzej said:

Maybe it is because that 7type cars so rare here in Poland , that quite contrary what I was expecting starting to drive on roads - other drivers pay in fact  more attention to me , so they are aware of this car, so seems to be more safe. Visible colour also helps. 

That is in daylight, night driving on not lighted roads is not comfortable, partly due to mine small but beauty headlights. 

Other fact is that it is not much fun to drive in traffic hours, not un-safe, but not fun. 

What possible dangers I have experieced during 2 seassons on roads with Westfield - "blind" turns, and blind in Westfield is with good visibility in normal car -  some highier grass on side of the road can blind visibility through turn. 

From that short experience I confirm first months was quite unpleasant with trucks , buses , SUV's etc around, but then part of fun such small _proper_ car with those monsters around:)

And what is important to have plenty of twisty, empty roads in close area to really use Westfield as it should be without fears and smell from other cars exhausts on our head hights. 

 

edit - and before I bought first - track Wesfield I saw this, quite encouraging in terms of safety in rollover:

 

 

 

I've done that off a 50ft embankment... Sky floor, sky floor, dust WHACK wth... 

[Maurici- CleaR Motorsport]

On 23/01/2025 at 18:55, Jimbo93 said:

not exactly easy to ignore the fact that you are very vulnerable on the road. 

I've not gone trough the whole dissertation in the tread... but... if that bothers you, get another car.

Yes you are vulnerable. But not more that a motorbike, or a cyclist...

I personally don't use the seven on the road for anything else than going to the shops or to the pub every once in a while, precisely for the above.

 

Before buying one, go on a ride as a codriver, and see how you feel. nothing else will give you the experience.

[Mat Jackson 1975]

I added a full cage on mine, mainly for safety but I think it actually adds to the look of the car too!!

[Sean Walsh]

Hi,

Some very sensible comments already. I’ve done about 12k miles so far and on the road all year round.

 

I’d invest in some LED headlights with day time running lights and use them all the time. 
 

Get the cheque book out and get buying! You won’t regret it!

 

Enjoy!

 

[Andrzej]

Lights on always! All front and rear.

[DeanMegaS2000]

I sold my last car, a busa powered exo skeleton frame. As I didn't feel comfortable taking the kids out in it, which they all started to want to do. 

A full cage was my wish list to replace it. The car engineed car i have now, is so much easier to just tootle about with the kids in and a working reverse is pure luxury! 

 

[Rob Hunter - Club Secretary]

Interesting topic.

 

Thankfully I've had quite a lot of defensive driving training/coaching over the years which definitely helps.

 

I have had a few near misses in mine where people have pulled out, however I am certain that had I been in the daily I'd have had a collision. The braking,  acceleration, agility, and small size (the car, not me!) have combined to get me out of the situation and avoid a potential crash.

 

Motorways take a bit of getting used to though.... being lower than the top of a truck tyre is a little surreal initially 😂

 

[SootySport]

What have I learned over the years of driving a 7 car-

Lights on at all times.

Leave a larger gap between yourself and the car in front, also when in a queue stationary.

Soft grippy tyres fitted,  ie PS3 or Rainsport 5 tyres.

No point in having a standard hood, it's claustrophobic and condensation aplenty in cold weather, dress appropriately in bad weather.

Be courteous on the road, especially in your home town, other drivers will know who you are very quickly in an open unusual car.