Dracoro Posted September 24, 2003 Share Posted September 24, 2003 Hi all. New user here. Currently run a Honda S2000 which is great. However I do few miles these days so am thinking of getting a Caterham 7/Westfield and a barge for day to day stuff. The car will go on a few track days a year of course! I love the Honda on track days and it's great fun but after Phil Bennett took me out in a caterham R400 I realise that I 'need' to have a 7/wetsy type car I'm 6.4 and 15/16 stone so squeeze into normal 7's (although I am able to actually get in somewhow!. I also tried a SV which fitted great but I believe they've only been making them a few years so looking at westy's as I'm told they do wide/longer bodied models. I'm basically looking to get a westy in the £5-£8k bracket, something with around 130/140bhp or something easily modified. Am I likely to get what I want with my budget? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted September 24, 2003 Share Posted September 24, 2003 You should be able to get a 16 valve engined (Vx, Zetec or maybe Toyota 4AGE) SEiW (Wide body, independant rear) for that sort of money without too much trouble. My 1997 factory-built 2 litre Zetec SEiW was about 9k when I bought it last December. Power output is on the order of 150 BHP (it's running on twin 45s). I'm about 6'2" and 12 / 13 stone. My Westy is a little tight for me around the knees (removeable steering wheel means I can at least get in and out Ok), but apart from that is fine. I doubt the extra height / weight you mention would make a huge amount of difference. Safest advice is to join the club and get along to a local meet. There will be people there with a variety of cars that you can talk to and decide what you're after in terms of spec. Then it's just a question of seeing what's available. Welcome aboard! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE O Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I'm 6'04" and cough 15 1/2 stone. I have no problems getting in a wide bodied car - a re-moveable steering wheel helps. When I tried catering vans I found them too tight - they are a lot tighter in every way! Where abouts in the country are you? There will be somebody near to you with a car that you could try for size.. Dave O. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dracoro Posted September 25, 2003 Author Share Posted September 25, 2003 I'm in Croydon/Surrey area. I struggle to fit in a normal 'catering van' but can get in an SV ok. Is the westy W models the same size as an SV? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterg Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Caterham copied Westfield when they brought out the SV - not sure of the comparative dimensions, but if you fit an SV you'll definitely get in a SEW or SEiW Westfield next meeting of Surrey Area here on 2nd Sunday in October - come and sit in a couple to make sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mb893 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 What Peter said... come along to the Surrey meet and have a tryout in most if not all of the various models of a Westy JC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felters Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 if you're still struggling some of the Tillet type race seats (unpadded) will create some extra room. I've got a 1988 narrow car. I'm 6' 3" and - ahem - a little heavier than you. If I'm going for a serious blatting then I take the seat out and sit on the floor! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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