wildwesty Posted September 27, 2007 Posted September 27, 2007 Hi Guys, First post here although I have been lurking for a few months too. I was in the same position as you until a few nights ago, I have been looking for cars for a while and being in the north of Scotland it is hard to find anything up here. I nearly bought a Locost locally then didn't and looked at loads of pics of Westie's for sale but the other night I took a gamble on what looks like a bargain near Birmingham and bought it on Ebay on the back of the pics! I know it breaks all the rules but it seems a good deal so I took the chance, I am flying down to pick it up on Saturday and drive it back to the north of Scotland with no weather gear!!!!!! Davie. good luck that man, picked mine up from newcastle and drove down to norfolk. was a cracking weekend. pack some tools. buy a fuel can and fill it at the first station you find and take an umbrella. show us what you bought then? Quote
felters Posted September 27, 2007 Posted September 27, 2007 Jumpy - £7.5k is a bargain for a 'Blade assuming it's half decent. Also there are relatively few BEC's with full screens. They tend to be track orientated and have aero screens... That said I used to have a Megablade with an aeroscreen. Ok on the road but on track it was fantastic. Really seemed to come alive. Personally if it's a road car with a screen that you're looking for then I'd go for a CEC. Loads of lovely Zetecs around for sensible money... Quote
moomin Posted September 28, 2007 Posted September 28, 2007 It seems that Cuprastar had a bad experience, which is fair enough. But plenty of people have had thousands of miles in birds without such poor luck - what's yours up to moomin? Ummm I think I'm somewhere around 13,000 miles - I'm not really sure as I leave the speedo on trip which I reset at the start of each year. The only time it has let me down in any way, was when the exhaust mount failed on the bumpiest of bumpy roads in Ireland - and that was my own fault for having to lash together a last minute crap design. There is (or was) an infamous 'bird on the se7ens list which got to about 60k, but I think it finally died at the start of this year, can't remember the cause of death off-hand. And as it is driven by the Scottish hillclimb champion, it gets driven as it should be! (oh and it doesn't have a dry sump (has an accusump), and does get tracked) moomin Quote
WilliamB Posted September 28, 2007 Posted September 28, 2007 I've got a Blade and I love it. High revving screamer which I only use for fun blats at weekends. Wouldn't want to do long distance cruising with it though as at 70mph it's about 7K revs! But if you want raw thrills you can't get much better. Forget windsceen and weather gear for a BEC I would say as I think that takes something from it. If the Missus won't budge on this go for a CEC. BECs performance is best with minimal weight. With a Blade engine you can really notice the difference in performance with and without a passenger for example. Also reverse box is fine as long as you keep it well topped up (I chceck and top up every 500 miles). Yes it leaks but it doesn't really bother me. Enagaging reverse is not an issue, they tend to like the car slightly moving (rolling forwards or backwards) to engage. Dont like engaging while stationary. Also I find with mine that the props get out of balance sometimes and then I have to manually realign them to stop any vibration. Another point worth considering is space inside the car. Mine has a narrow transmission tunnel and I fit well (6'1"). I drove a CEC with a MT75 gearbox and the tunnel is wider and I felt far more cramped. As has been said drive both, decide and then enjoy! Quote
Jumpy07 Posted October 1, 2007 Author Posted October 1, 2007 Well had a look at the Megablade on Sat.. The car felt and looked ok mechnically, however it was very tatty and needed a fair amount of TLC.. quite a bit of play in the steering rack however.. also the oil pressure at idle was around 1bar or less.. came up when reved though okay.. As the engined had been changed the V5 didnt have the new engine number on it which would need sorted before anyone bought it in case the engine came out of a stolen bike.. dont think it was but not worth taking the risk. Made and offer which I think was fair but was rejected.. so I am still looking.. Have noticed that most cars on Ebay arent making their reserve, and a lot of those without a reserve arent being sold.. obviously due to the time of year etc I am not in any hurry so would rather wait for the right car at the right price. Best Regards Craig Quote
Blatman Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 QUOTE also the oil pressure at idle was around 1bar or less.. 1 bar is plenty. IIRC, at idle a 'Blades oil pressure is something like 7psi. I wouldn't worry unless it was under 5psi at hot idle. Quote
wildwesty Posted October 1, 2007 Posted October 1, 2007 Best to be 100% and any doubts walk away. If you have the cash i see a nice one has gone up on the cars for sale section recently. I dont know the car or the owner the spec is black with dunnel engine Quote
ChrisG Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Yep, nowt to worry about with the oil pressure, all the blades Ive had idled at ~10psi hot, or about a bar when warm having just been on the road rather than track. Quote
rob iles Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Craig Just noticed a Megabandit on Pistonheads and its in Ayr Might be what your looking for ,might not . not bad for 6K though Good luck with the search Quote
Jumpy07 Posted October 3, 2007 Author Posted October 3, 2007 Thanks I saw that one. kinda of discounted it... The one I was looking at the Edinburgh has been sold now.. There has been quite a few Blades on Ebay lately that havent sold.. all around 7500 ish... I still havent discounted a CEC.. but would need to be have around 200hp .. Well I am off on holiday at the end of the week for 10 days.. so will park it until I get back.. then I might take a few days off work and go an look at a few cars in the south with cash in hand.. Many Thanks Craig Quote
Jumpy07 Posted November 21, 2007 Author Posted November 21, 2007 Well have gone a dun it.. as they say.. Bought a SEiW, 1800 Zetec, Jenveys, MBE management, full wet gear F&R Arb's etc etc... more of a grand tourer than a track day car... Its been built with all new parts and has done 2000 miles since it was built in 2003.. Pick it up end of next week... long drive back with it though... will have the Mrs following as back up just in case.. Will let you know how I get on Best Regards Craig PS. Now looking for a decent plate for it.. Quote
WilliamB Posted November 22, 2007 Posted November 22, 2007 Nice one and enjoy every minute of it, but please be careful. I got caught out a few times when I first got my Westy (simple things like getting used to a nimble, light, high powered rwd car). Take it easy and always drive to **YOUR** limits not the car's limit! Quote
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