Is it all about Westfield and Caterham?

[samcooke]

I agree that Westfields are a more developed car in terms of the fit and finish and consistency of build standard and there's a lot to be said for that if you want a nice looking car as well as one to rag around.

I personally like the Jeremy Phillips cars as a good value alternative. That's the Striker, Fury, Phoenix, Stylus, Riot etc. They work well as road cars because, like Caterhams, they can run soft suspension and still handle tidily. Westfields need to run hard to be quick which makes them more of a chore over bumpy roads.

If you're not determined to have the seven shape give some consideration to Ginetta G20/27/33. I you have a read of the history books you'll find plenty of evidence that Ginetta built quicker lightweight cars than Lotus did. For some reason everyone has forgotten that.

[davidgh]

Westfields need to run hard to be quick

I think you might find many in the Speed Series take a different view.........

[Matt Seabrook]

Birkin for me. It looks like a Caterham but better engineered. Still think a Westfield looks the best though.

[jeff oakley]

For me westfield for overall package of value looks and performance. Caterham will always be the one to beat though. Out of the box both cars will out perform most other sevens.

However, when you look at the myriad other makes all can be made to do the job well as a badly built and set up Westfield or Caterham wil be poor in comparisson to a well built dax for example.

You have to choose on the basis of affordibility to you and what you want the car to do. If all you want is to tour around then why buy a firebreathing monster?

evn looking at the GBs zero (ex Robin Hood) they have come on in leaps and bounds.

[Speed Freak]

used to own a robin hood, and I think thats put me off for life...! Just looked at the zero, and no quesitons that the hoods have come along over the years, but even still, theyre big and heavy.not for me. (although I am 6"2 and weigh in at 14 1/2 stone!).

Would be interesting to see some going around a track with similar engines, to get an idea of handling and overall performance.

[davidgh]

Would be interesting to see some going around a track with similar engines, to get an idea of handling and overall performance.

Have seen RHs on many occasions at the RAFMSA sprints at Barkston Heath .....

..... perhaps they haven't been that well driven  

[Speed Freak]

the throbbin hood that I used to have didnt handle badly at all... not any of my doing tho, as the previous owner/builder set it all up... But still the build quality isnt good, and it did weigh 750kg!! running a pinto :-(

[harrypotter]

I've got a busa powered MNR and it handles very well indeed (As commented on by a well known instructor on this site - nothing to do with the driver).  Quality of the bodywork is good, but not the best. The engineering/quality of the space frame is really good and the components seem really well made. All round I'm very pleased with the package. I think a similar spec westfield would weigh more, not less (and cost more). cockpit space is far better than a westfield. The management go to great lengths to help you get a 'new reg' for your newly built car. The management can also sometimes seem a little controlling at times.

Friends of mine have tigers and quite frankly the quality of the fibreglass moulding is very poor(and has been for many years).

I've previously owned a Dutton, a Westfield, and a Dax. If I had the money I would probably own a Caterham (but I haven't)

Westfield factory aftercare can be researched elsewhere on this site.

Westfield quality is very good all round and the club is the best.

The vast number of westfields on the road leads to a great number of owners contributing to this site, which I haven't found matched by other club sites. The support is therefore vast and very helpful.

Where you live and who is your local manufacturer can be a factor to.

[rocket_rabbit]

The MNRs do seem to get good reviews regarding their chassis construction.

[nikpro]

If I had the money I would probably own a Caterham (but I haven't)

People need to get this 'notion' out of their head!

A Caterham is NOT more expensive than a Westfield to build! (Comparing the Westfield modular build to the Caterham Build).

Caterham Classic = From £13,650

Roadsport = From £18,650

Supersport = From £20,000

If you buy second hand then it probably is but then on resale the residual will also be higher so the cost of ownership is roughly the same.

[JeffC]

If I had the money I would probably own a Caterham (but I haven't)

People need to get this 'notion' out of their head!

A Caterham is NOT more expensive than a Westfield to build! (Comparing the Westfield modular build to the Caterham Build).

Caterham Classic = From £13,650

Roadsport = From £18,650

Supersport = From £20,000

If you buy second hand then it probably is but then on resale the residual will also be higher so the cost of ownership is roughly the same.

and if you look at used caterhams under £10k a  westy then makes more economic sense as you will get a more modern car for your ££££ but look at westys above £10k then to me Caterhams start to look good value, have a search on Piston heads I think a lot of people will surprised and what you can buy for westfield money  

http://pistonheads.com/sales....odays=0

[Guest]

From a financial point of view, buying a new Caterham makes more sense than a new Westfield.  Less depreciation.  Once the first owner has taken the hit, there is not much in it.  They both hold their value, but at different levels.

[Dibby]

All depends on personal budget and what you want to do with your kit car.

I get the feeling from the Caterfield'ians there's an element of (somewhat unnecessary) looking down noses at those in less expensive kits when they're all good cheap bang for buck fun. If it's not a Caterham/ Westfield it's not worth having?

No way could I have been able to afford the current Westie if wasn't for a mate of the family selling it on at 1/2 the market value. Didn't give him a chance to advertise it, we sold the Robin Hood on and snapped his hand off and been over the moon with it ever since.

[harrypotter]

I agree that budget is an important element. Why else would you buy a Robin Hood when really you desired a Westfield?

I've personally never had Westfield owners looking down their noses at me. Although I can tell the difference between westfields and some 'others' when passing at speed on the road. Westfield drivers return a wave!

Why did you upgrade to a westfield rather than stick with the cheaper fun machine?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Human nature being what it is, I'm sure there are Westfield owners who genuinely look down their noses as you say; however, I also think it's a far smaller number than you may believe.

I think on the whole, Westfield owners tend to be fairly good natured where other brands are concerned, but also tend to have a highly developed, and sometimes overused, ability to take the Michael. Occasionally, this gets taken seriously.  

I always think the drive by test sums it up pretty well, and my experiences sound like they match harrypotter's too. (Didn't expect to type that this morning   )

I seem to see a far higher proportion of returned waves from  Westfield drivers, regardless of the vehicle I'm travelling in, than other brands.They also tend to wave first, rather than just back IYSWIM. Caterham owners, a mixed reaction, the older the car, the more likely a response. Still on LoCaterFields, the low cost Locosts seem the poorest for results. Though nothing can touch Cobra owners for that pure "I can't see you look", normally reserved for merging lanes at motorway roadworks.