mynickers Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Hello folks, I recently graduated (again), and starting out in the big bad world in a new career. Since childhood I have been hooked on motorsport and sports cars and sooner or later, I will have to realise this boyhood obsession or I might just explode. I live in London, and I am saddled with student debt, so having a car makes no sense, no matter how I spin it to any of my nearest and dearest (bar one or two fellow autophiles) they all think it’s a silly idea. It’s a big cost, the roads are chockablock etc etc etc. And well frankly, that’s hard to defend, it doesn’t’ make any logical or financial sense, it’s a want, not a need, and unless you share that ‘mad’ passion for cars, then I suppose you don’t’ get it. My misses spends a small fortune on make up and clothes, and I can see a parallel here! Anyway, to buy a practical car, when I have no practical need for a car seems daft if that makes sense. Essentially I am buying a toy, if it has a boot, and stuff that’s handy, but not essential given I will never commute in a car, and don’t have much need to travel around the country unless it was to motor sport events. So whilst most my age are going the hot hatch route (which is on the menu) I kind of think I might as well get the cheapest real performance car I can get. What’s in the piggy bank? Well I will have to be sensible here, and keep to a fairly strict budget, which I have provisionally set at between £6 and 13(ish)k. This could get me a good condition Integra Type R (6-10k), quite a few fairly decent hot hatches in that price range, Clio 182 Cup or 172 Cup to mention a few in the higher regions of that money band. I would rather spend the least money possible, but at the same time, I don’t want to save money on the price only to loose it maintaining it or worse feeling the need to constantly upgrade it! I have seen some Westie 1600SE’s for as little as £6k mark! Insurance. Insurance seems to be the major problem for us young folk, given my location, lack of NCB because of previous driving always being name, although I am 27, and have no points or convictions generally insurers want to rob me. Using confussed.com I have had some fairly weird quotes, all higher than I ever imagined they’d be. Intergra £1300 cheapest quote, Clio 182 over £2k which is an outrageous amount of money for a shopping trolly on steroids, one which I am not really prepared to pay. Especially when brokers tell me that it will go down fairly drastically with even a years NCB. Ideally I would want to be paying somewhere between £700 and £1000 if at all possible, even though I still think that is pure robbery it’s a price you have to pay if you want a fast toy unfortunately. I would also like to do a few track days, so not sure how that affects insurance. Questions for the westy wise So I came to thinking that a smaller engine Westy would give me far better performance and thrills than the above alternatives, and hopefully give me a really good platform to learn and improve given the amazing chassis, weight distribution, power through the right wheels, and power to weight ratio etc given you can get westies for similar money to the other cars I have been looking at (mainly hot hatches). How realistic is this idea do you think given the above? I would love to know whether I could get reasonable insurance, whist I know the figures on paper say they should be very expensive to insure, insurance is also based on statistics, and most men my age will tend to go for a hot hatch and so the figures for people claiming on such cars within my age group will affect the quote I get according to an insurance broker I spoke to recently. To show what I mean, the cheapest quote I got on confused.com for a Clio 182 was £2k, but I could also insure a Porsche 968 clubsport for slightly less (£1700) – how they work that out makes no sense, as the 968 is a serious performance car in relation to Clio, plus very expensive parts, all things that in theory should make them expensive to insure. The only reasonable assumption to me, is most people wouldn’t even think of buying such a car either through not being aware of them, or just assuming they’re out of their league financially. Next which models to look for, been having a look around, and 1600 SE or 1.8 Zetec is obviously the choice. Pro’s and cons’? What are the running cost, would the 1.8 be massively more expensive to insure and run fuel wise? What are the servicing costs for westies. And what is the reliability of both models generally like? And whilst on the subject of living with the car, obviously asking how practical it is – is a bit daft, however, I have never been in one, so I have no idea, my only experience of them is seeing them in action at track days, and reading about them over the years. How good is the wet weather gear at keeping out the elements, particularly for example on the motorway. Do they have any heating what so ever, or do you just have to wear lots of jumpers, and gloves if it’s cold? And finally is there any storage what so ever? I don’t’ want to go to Tesco in it, but I am a photographer, so it would be nice to be able to put my camera in it! One last thing, are they nickable or likely to get pinched parked on a street in central London? Think that is more than enough to be going on with for a newbie first post Thanks in advance for any advice, Cheers Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Lots of questions there...I'll answer a couple of them. 13k is a huge budget for a Westfield, you could buy pretty much anything you like with that kind of money. If I were you, I'd look for a lateish 16V engined (Zetec or Vx typically) engined car. That will get you at least 150 BHP into (about) 650 kilos. Work out the power to weight ratio of that, and compare it to any tin-top you can afford. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised As to insurance, to be honest, I wouldn't worry about it. I pay less than 300 quid for insurance for my Westfield, compared to something like 700 quid on my previous tin top (a Focus ST170). Stick to the specialists, and you should find reasonable quotations. Running costs shouldn't be too much. I get about 20 MPG out of my car (2 litre Zetec on carbs). As I said, insurance about 300 quid. Servicing and the like is dead simple if you're half handy with a spanner. Just regular oil / plug / filter change, that sort of thing. There's not an awful lot to go wrong with a Westfield to be honest. Two bits of more general advice: First, join the club (best 25 quid you'll ever spend) and get along to a local area meet. You'll meet lots of like-minded people and get to see loads of cars. Second, pretty much all the information you ask for is already on here in one form or another. The search facility (button at top right) is your friend. Welcome aboard. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dracoro Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 2nd what Andy said and hello your username seems familiar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynickers Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 Hi Andy, Thanks for response, as usual I tend to be rather impulsive with these things, I have always liked and admired 7’s, and it was only this evening I actually had a proper look at decided to ask you lot loads and loads of questions, however, within the 30 mins since posting I have already found out quite a lot! Just been reading through the forum, and chatting to a few members that frequent the scoobynet forum. I am shocked to find out how cheap these cars are, it’s unreal that more people don’t buy them, cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to insure and performance to make Porker and Rarri ownwer shake in the boots – very exciting, I am almost totally sold on the idea! Just been watching the footage of the Megabusa going around the ring – OMG what speed, what a noise, although I really don’t’ think over 400bhp per ton is a sensible first car, I can see flashing blue lights and hospital visits on the horizon! Amazing machines though. Cheers, Nick PS Does anyone wear goggles, I remember my first experience of a seven was one of my neighbours had one of the original Lotus sevens, and he used to wear goggles and a leather had – he was quite mad, or so I thought aged 9, looking back I think he knew something the rest of us didn’t. But he used to let me sit in it, so I liked him loads. I think I would have to get myself some goggles for the comedy factor if not watery eyes! My dad has always said I am like toad of toad hall after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 PS Does anyone wear goggles I wear Wiley XL-1s. They have toughened lenses, and fit really snugly so that you don't get air rushing in to your eyes while driving. The strap also stops them lifting above 80 MPH They come with clear lenses so you can wear them in the dark (although they make me look like someone doing a very poor Ali G impression ) Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynickers Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 Cheers guys, looking to buy a little later in the year, I am 95% sold on a Westie now, thats the most I have been sold on anything for a while, the Integra has been a front runner for quite a while now! But it would be really nice to own a car you know will never, ever appear in maxpower! Nick PS, both your cars look great, have you got more pics online??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the bear Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I like the look of those goggles, did you buy them here or in the US? From the website they do not appear to ship international. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Bloke Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 whatever you decide you've made the right choice;) . Enjoy:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Loads of pics of mine (and others) on my web site. Mine looks a little different now though Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashBangWallop Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I'll reply about the insurance costs. I was the filling in a three car sandwich which turned my 2 ltr Mondeo into a Smart Partly my fault! After the insurance company forked out for the damage to one of the cars and I got the insurance money for my written-off Mondeo I wandered if this was the time to blow caution to the wind and go and buy a nice, silly, fun car like a Westie. The only trouble would be the insurance. I typed in the exact details I had for my Mondeo only THIS TIME I had to say no claims and one crash in the last year. My 3rd party insurance went from about 450 quid to over a grand so, I thought there'd be no chance in something like a Westfield. Westfield insurance - Fully comp, legal cover, able to drive anybody else's car that wasn't in my name and milage limited to 8500 per year = 180 quid. That was the deciding factor. Nothing else. So don't let that bother you. Oh.. and shopping is not a problem either. My Westie is my only car and shopping (as long as it's just for you) is four bags-worth :-) Easy I run the Cambridge area site if you want to have a look at the cars on there too Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I like the look of those goggles, did you buy them here or in the US? From the website they do not appear to ship international. I got them through a group buy on the dark side... If you do a search, there are a number of places that will ship them. Try here for example (never used them, I think someone on here posted a link). Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the bear Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Cheers, cheaper there as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynickers Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 The insurance is a real surprise!! I take it all these really cheap quotes under £300 are from specalist insurers? I very much doubt I'll be able to do more than 8000 miles in a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 Buy mine £5850.00 (Bargin Price! for a well sorted se 2.0l pushing out 147Bhp weighing 597kg trust me this is a good un! picis or on www.pistonheads.com you cant miss it its yellow and blue! or if you want me to email you more info pm me! Cheers James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 I take it all these really cheap quotes under £300 are from specalist insurers? Generally, yes. MSM, Footman James, Sureterm etc. etc. etc. A search for 'insurance' on here will bring up loads of info. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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