Please help me to decide to buy a Westfield!

[Steve72]

Hi Everybody.

 

I’m looking for a bit of advice if you don’t mind.

 

Firstly full disclosure…

 

I have a major issue in that I am the most indecisive person ever when it comes to buying a car, it can ( and does ) take me months to decide on any car.  My wife gets very frustrated as with anything else I make nearly instant decisions, but not with a car.

 

I nearly bought a Westfield at the end of August, but didn’t think it would get much use this side of winter as we had a lot already planned so we turned the chance down.  In addition my wife thought it was a bit raw and was unsure how much she would want to use it.  After turning down the chance to buy a Westfield the plan was to get a MX5 next year instead but to be honest the thought just isn’t getting the blood flowing and I keep thinking back to a Westfield.

 

The advice I’m after is to try and minimise buyer regret and hopefully persuade my better half to come along for trips out.  So….

 

What is the risk of getting hit by something from a passing car coming into the cockpit from the side or something landing in the cockpit coming over the screen from the front?  I’ve seen clear plastic wind deflectors which I’m guessing will help reduce the risk a bit.

 

Is it normal to wear safely glasses / googles?

 

If I used half doors does this take away the sense of freedom?

 

I had a go in a car with a full window screen.  I know the screen is a lot smaller than on a normal car but the edge of the screen seemed to be in my eye line.  Is this normal, do you get used to it or is it an annoying quirk of a seven?  I don’t really want an aero screen.

 

Any other advice?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Steve

[Flying Carrot Steve]

If you have a full screen the odds of getting hit by anything are tiny. I have always had aeroscreens or no screen and have only been hit a few times, a bee, a moth and the odd tiny bit of grit. That's over 11 years of driving kits. 

[Mathew Vernon - Membership Secretary]

Hi @Steve72 - welcome!

I can’t really advise you regarding the risks, as everyone has their own tolerance levels and yours may differ to mine. I can tell you that in nearly 5 years of road driving in a Westfield that I’ve never had anything enter the cockpit. 
We have quite a lot of deer round here and I do sometimes worry about hitting one so have considered a full roll cage to mitigate the risk; That does come with restrictions though, mainly that it makes fitting side doors much more difficult (though not impossible) and my partner will only go in the car with the doors attached!

 

With regards to the windscreen height, you can get lowered floors and taller screens etc. Many people also run without a windscreen and opt to wear a helmet. As said previously - everyone has their own tolerance to risk

 

Not the ideal time of year for test drives, but if you can let us know where you’re based then I’m sure someone will be happy to let you sit in their car or take you out for a ride - weather permitting!

[Stuart]

@Steve72 I have been driving a Westfield with a screen for 25 years now and nothing has ever hit me. Wind deflectors do make it a lot more comfortable though 

[Andrzej]

Not sure if i understand, but if concern of bits getting in cockpit is an issue - do not think of KitKar. There are more safety derived issues in kitkars . A lot more.

 

[Naranja_Al]

When I bought my car (flat floors and standard height windscreen) the top of the screen definitely obscured my vision. I subsequently changed my windscreen to a tall variant and recently changed my seats to Tillet Carbon seats that sit lower.  Maybe if I’d changed the seats first I could’ve kept the standard screen. Either way the screen isn’t an issue now. FYI I am 6ft tall with a 32” leg.

 

I originally had a set of doors with mine, with them fitted I never had anything enter the cockpit, not even a stone. My mate has an aero screened car and got hit by a stone in the face, he probably should’ve had a helmet on!

 

My advice is to get along to your local meet (might be tad difficult at this time of year) and grab a ride in the passenger seat of a few cars of different configurations. That way you’ll get a feel for how you feel in the car. You are sat very low, in a small car with zero safety features - you can feel very exposed particularly on the motorways near lorries, I avoid motorways whenever possible.

 

[Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO]

I have an MX5 and a Westie. My wife loves the MX5 but can't be persuaded to even sit in the Westie these days, so I'd say you're right to give it all good consideration.

 

The MX5 is a brilliant car and solves all the daily problems of a 7, it just doesn't have the raw excitement, but wins in so many other ways that I love both.

[dvd8n]

I've never been hit by anything sitting behind the screen but I do nonetheless tend to wear a pair of photochromic sunglasses.  

 

I have been splashed going through puddles though.

[Euan Hoosearmy]

I'm tall (6 foot 4) and so can see over the top of the windscreen... not been hit by anything yet. Have doors but only use the passenger one when taking my son out (is SEN so doors keep fingers away from road/exhaust pipe). Have wind deflectors but there's still loads of turbulence but that's part of the experience.

 

On a nice day, cruising along resting your right arm on the rear arch... there's nothing else like it.... is a tiny car but the feeling of space in that situation is fantastic.

 

I do wear glasses (secured with strap) when driving (have to) but they do help keep dust etc out of your eyes. Have been looking at prescription goggles but not gone there yet. May need them more when I get the XI finished.

[tex]

You're worried about something that doesn't exist. 

An aeroscreen maybe bugs and stones and you'll need minimum eye protection from proper safety glasses. My crash helmet has been hit a couple of times by tiny stones usually off motorcycles in front Riding on the centre of the lane where stones collect. 

Half doors are really good. They stop the wind almost fully. Without them over 50mph and the air swirls off a screen and sucks air from your nose.. Not nice

Fitting half doors stops the huge air arriving under your arm and going up over your face. 

[Morris]

I look over the top of the wrap-around screen on my XI but I always wear goggles and a beanie/ flying helmet.

 

I can get pebble-dashed with sand if following a tipper lorry, and the cockpit collects leaves on country lanes.

 

Tbh, other drivers give me a wide berth and show much more respect than when I'm in my tin-top. The main concern is when some drivers just don't see me at all, but driving defensively is the order of the day when there's other vehicles about.

[Benrobson2999 - Kent AO]

It’s all part of the raw driving experience for me. If you want comfort and a quiet relaxed drive stick with a tin top.
I still get excited every time I get the westfield out. Iam about to go aero screen and full cage after 16,000 miles/  4 years of screen/doors which was only ever really comfortable wind wise with the doors on. 
Only reason for the cage, a bit more side protection in the event of an accident and front protection if I did hit a deer or something on an early morning blat. 
The reason for the aero screen, better visibility as the screen/side door windows gets misty and dirty and I struggle to see with the sun glare at times. 

 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

8 hours ago, Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO said:

 

 

The MX5 is a brilliant car and solves all the daily problems of a 7, it just doesn't have the raw excitement, but wins in so many other ways that I love both.

 

 

There was a supercharged, track prepped but road legal MX5 for sale at auction recently. I have to say it looked fab and the spec was amazing. I would say it could have been the most perfect combo of daily drive, weekend open-top toy and track day fun all in one package that I've seen in a very long time, maybe ever!

 

 

Update: found it. £16k I think that's a good deal

 

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/auction/19342801

[Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO]

3 hours ago, Flying Carrot Steve said:

 

 

There was a supercharged, track prepped but road legal MX5 for sale at auction recently. I have to say it looked fab and the spec was amazing. I would say it could have been the most perfect combo of daily drive, weekend open-top toy and track day fun all in one package that I've seen in a very long time, maybe ever!

 

 

Update: found it. £16k I think that's a good deal

 

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/auction/19342801

That is lovely. I have a 2008 MK3 on 27K miles one previous owner - will be perfect for a BBR supercharger or turbo conversion one day 🙂