New owner - what advice would you give to yourself back when you were first starting out?

[Captain Colonial]

The fuel gauge is for amusement only and not to be trusted.  Fill up every 100 miles and avoid the panic when the gauge plunges from just about 1/3rd of a tank to near empty after 2 miles.

[Stuart Davis AO - Devon Cornwall & Somerset]

Without wishing to be a boring old F**t….. 😆

 

If you’ve not driven a Westfield before, just remember they are lightweight, relatively powerful, rear wheel drive cars and can catch you out if not aware of how they drive. Nothing to be fearful of, but well worth getting used to it over a period of time, don’t go balls your first time in it!

 

Doing your own maintenance on the car as much as possible really helps you understand it better.

 

I won’t add to the advice already given as it covers everything already, but I do agree with the fuel gauge comment. I once ran out of fuel on a left hand bend on a dual carriageway with no hard shoulder. Not fun and taught me to fill up sooner rather than later.

 

Enjoy the car, they really are great fun.

[Mark19691]

Being a relatively new owner myself (bought car in Nov24), I would say go through the car front to back.

 

Put a spanner on every nut and bolt check for stripped poor condition fastener's, and replace where required(use nylock nuts)

Free off any seized ball joints, rears get neglected as there hidden away.

Check condition of suspension bushes while your in there. 

 

After that replace fluids, bleed brakes, check pads and disks.

 

Mine was a factory built car and came with a folder of invoices, mainly from the first two owners.

The car when viewed presented well, unfortunately the last owner had not maintained it very well.

 

After you have checked it over, the most important bit - fuel it up and enjoy driving it!

[SteveB21]

I would agree with all the above and add that it is worth getting out to join one of your local area meets - Westfield owners are a friendly bunch, if slightly mad…🤪, and always like looking over another car as every one is different. 

[ariches]

On 19/04/2025 at 20:19, Captain Colonial said:

Check your handy list of expletives and learn when and where to use them, and at appropriate volume levels.

Stock up on beer as it’s an essential lubricant during maintenance.

Just because your missus says it’s okay to store spares and rebuild your carbs in the dining room doesn’t mean she’s happy about it.

 

Haha plenty of expletives prepared and ready to deploy.

 

And I don't have to worry about the missus, seeing as I'm the one with the car and the husband is the one that's got to put up with it / me 😉 😄 

Thankfully he's happy to do so (and is building me a car port currently to store it haha)

[ariches]

9 hours ago, SteveB21 said:

I would agree with all the above and add that it is worth getting out to join one of your local area meets - Westfield owners are a friendly bunch, if slightly mad…🤪, and always like looking over another car as every one is different. 

Yes definitely.

 

I'm in Dorset and have already had a look through on here and seen there is a Dorset monthly meet so will definitely go along as soon as I can! 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

On 19/04/2025 at 18:08, Flying Carrot Steve said:

 

Good point. Mine had 28 in when I bought it. I now run 18 front 16 rear. 

 

 

I should have said, those are cold pressures not hot. 

[Euan Hoosearmy]

If the tyres are ancient - check the other important rubber bits.... Aux and Cam belts (if fitted) - previous owner of mine hadn't changed the cam belt in 24 years..... "the haynes manual for the engine, says change every 60k miles, I've only done 9k....."

 

It came home via Shipley.....

[Flying Carrot Steve]

On 20/04/2025 at 09:40, Captain Colonial said:

The fuel gauge is for amusement only and not to be trusted.  Fill up every 100 miles and avoid the panic when the gauge plunges from just about 1/3rd of a tank to near empty after 2 miles.

 

Great advice for any kit, and I agree, but I have found mine to be quite reliable and reasonably accurate. This is if it's stationary, when moving the gauge does go up and down a bit! I generally keep mine above halfway to be safe and never below ¼ full. 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

4 minutes ago, Euan Hoosearmy said:

the haynes manual for the engine, says change every 60k miles

 

Yes, but normally the manufacturer specifies "x" no. of miles or, "y" no. of year/months. Not many of us hit the mileage limits, but we certainly do hit the date limits. There's a certain argument to say that standing around for long lengths of time before suddenly working hard is probably a bit tougher on things like belts and other fast moving rubber parts; as it gives them time to age harden, before thrashing them at speed again!

[Flying Carrot Steve]

3 hours ago, Flying Carrot Steve said:

 

Great advice for any kit, and I agree, but I have found mine to be quite reliable and reasonably accurate. This is if it's stationary, when moving the gauge does go up and down a bit! I generally keep mine above halfway to be safe and never below ¼ full. 

 

 

One thing I did do was get the tank as empty as possible then from jerry cans put in ¼ then ½ then ¾ then the full amount of fuel for whatever size tank you have and (while parked in your garage with ignition on) see where the needle sits in relation to the relevant gauge marks.

 

I recommend taking pics of each level for future reference, it's easy to forget 6 months down the road and you only want to do this once if at all possible!

 

Of course it will not read accurately when on the move but at least you know when you park up for your local WSCC meet and brekkie that whatever it's reading when you've finished your full English will pretty accurately reflect what is actually in the tank at that moment. Parked on level ground of course!

 

Don't forget - take pics of the gauge readings!

[Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO]

On 20/04/2025 at 21:37, ariches said:

I'm in Dorset and have already had a look through on here and seen there is a Dorset monthly meet so will definitely go along as soon as I can!

Welcome to impending Westfield ownership, our monthly Dorset meets are the first Thursday of the month at The Crown Bridport DT6 4AX. Very informal get together, come and go as you please, arriving in a Westfield is not compulsory.

If you would care to let me know when you are hoping to join us, we’ll keep an eye open for you.

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