SteveRST Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 (edited) I ran my previous Westfield as an only car, and I did this for a period of 3 years. But then, that started 9 years ago when I was between the age of 24-27 and I'm was not that bothered about getting wet or cold. In addition, my journey to work was just 10-15 minutes and if the car was not working, or the weather was good, then I could easily cycle. It did limit the length of journeys that I could (comfortably!) take though, and the loads that I could carry. I did often strap the mountain bike to over the boot box though. After that I ran a s1 Elise as only car for 2 years then got a sports bike as sole transport for about a year. Never had a garage either so often things would get fixed at 10pm in the dark/cold with spot lights providing some light for tinkering Never had a roof on the Westy. Had full tonneau and would often take the car cover and use that when car parked at work/supermarket/where-ever if rain likely. Not for everyone, but if your dedicated/mad/tough enough then it's possible. Steve Edited July 12, 2012 by SteveRST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MK11 Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 My first Westfield a Pinto engined SE i ran as my only car for 3 years. I did 38,000 miles including trips to Scotland and Luxembourg. My only advice is dress appropriately and it's fine although hail hurts and ice on the inside of the windscreen really cuts down on visability. Go for it I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chappers Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 If you intend to use the Westfield as a daily driver, then the half hood from soft bits for seven could be a "comfort" option : rain protection, no "sauna" issue, better rear visibility, easy-in option... I have to use my westy rain or shine to commute to work some days. I must admit the half hood does make it much more pleasant and pretty dry. Holding back from traffic lights to see them easier and things like that can help. Obviously being a half hood it only takes a minute to remove or fit, compared to the struggle of a full hood. I do have a heated screen which helps and with the hood and heater on it can actually get rather toasty. A nylon showercap cover is used while it's parked, as my full car cover can't go on as the exhuast is too hot. I have just changed my carpets under the seats for rubber mat and may do the same to the front carpets to avoid having to take them out to dry. Just took the windscreen mounts off to put more sealant under them to stop drips but still have a drip from the scuttle somewhere so get a wet leg at the moment, but should be able to stop that. With the FW bonnet vents the alternator can screech a bit after it's got wet all day, but might see if I can put a cover over the vents while parked maybe with suction cups to hold it on. I must admit, even when it's tipping down I still have a much more enjoyable journey than if I pinch the wife's car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User0083 Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Too many to read, started to read them and none were good! I drive 600miles + a week and use my Westie, I cover 20,000+ miles a year. In rain, snow and everything. Just get a bright LED fog light, set of winter tyres and zetec/duratec, keep engine pretty much stock and don't tune too far and you'll not have an issue. I had a Ribin Hood for about 2 years before my Westie... Tuned the engine way too far and found out reliability and cold starts suffered! So got an 2007 S2000 and after 6 weeks sold it and got my Westie. Had it 2 years and I'd never change back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User0083 Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Just after parking her up for the night On the way home, taken by passenger I was on M5, going south, about 20 mins before that 35 car pile up earlier in the year because of bad weather. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhutch Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I'm really excited about the fun and track time ahead, but I will definitely not be driving to the Ring :-) It is fun driving the westfield in the rain with the roof on, but not dry, and driving without it is just plain misrable in anything other than short summer shower. That said, I drove to the ring and back, and to the middle of france, including a small shower on both trips, and it hasnt put me off doing again. If you had the time/flexability to wait a day, so much the better, I didnt. Wouldnt want to come to work in it however. Might be livable for a while with full w/proof bike gear but as I have to wear a shirt and tie the cost of having a £800 hatchback (1800 Pug306) and leaving it at home is a no brainer. Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Went out for a test drive in mine last Saturday, in the dry, with the brand new roof on, just to try and spot issues before it's needed in earnest. I used my old earplugs from the aeroscreen days, and you know what, it wasn't half as bad IN THE DRY as people say dry weather driving, roof up is! I may well change my opinion if I'd gone a long way, and we'll see what the wet's like (I'm not expecting miracles). But so far, so good. (I do have a number of hood mods in mind though!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenh Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Too many to read, started to read them and none were good! I drive 600miles + a week and use my Westie, I cover 20,000+ miles a year. In rain, snow and everything. Just get a bright LED fog light, set of winter tyres and zetec/duratec, keep engine pretty much stock and don't tune too far and you'll not have an issue. I had a Ribin Hood for about 2 years before my Westie... Tuned the engine way too far and found out reliability and cold starts suffered! So got an 2007 S2000 and after 6 weeks sold it and got my Westie. Had it 2 years and I'd never change back! But the O/P has said his budget is c.£5k so realistically he isn't anywhere near Duratec territory, and not really Zetec territory. He is actually in the area where he is going to be very lucky if he gets near the sort of reliability needed for a daily driver, unless it doesn't matter when he breaks down on the way to work. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue ass fly Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Mines a cvh Its done 35k with the previous owner,inc overseas touring and never had an issue Apart from the webers its pretty much standard - i agree with not getting a highly tuned engine , keep it simple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 That was sort of the point I'd been trying to make previously. Any of the individual things the OP wanted were all do-able, but all of them for the budget were going to be tricky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhutch Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I paid £3750 for mine, which all be it I think a very good price for what I got, got me a good car. Its not at reliable as the tintip and I have been stranded about once a year doing about 3k road miles but if im totally honest three of the five would have been preventable if I had prioratised fixing them (ie, saw a weep, did nothing for 6months, and then the thermostant housing gasket failed) which isnt the cars fault really. All up ive had: - Cam belt slipped a tooth on the first day of ownership, took far to long to diagnose (like a week, on and off), but was luckly a simple fix once found. - Thermostat housing gasket, managed to coast off the dual carrageway and buy some water and instant gasket anf fix it. - Chopped the wire to the fuel pump (shot dampers, humpback bridge, passenger, bumpstops too short) temp fix at side of road. - Edis unit packed. Origanally thought it was the coil but managed to limp to a freinds on cyls 2&3 only and replace. - Alternator died (at an autotest this weekend just gone) presumed heat damage but as yet unresolved. But charged it of another car, finshed the day, and drove the 2hurs home in the rain (no roof, so very wet, but wipers/lights/ignion stayed working and I arrived on 9volts) Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue ass fly Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 i recon £5k will get something that will be perfectly useable - uncomfortable - but useable all year round it will probably be a pinto;cvh or xflow if you want to treat it like a modern production car ie annual service and never lift the bonnet - then youll have problems if you treat it like any other classic car,check it over regularly,do the levels,points,caps etc - then it should be no more unreliable(or is that less reliable) than any other car from the era the engine was from - plenty of mk2/mk3 escorts still about its all down to preventative maintenance as above proves a small leak spotted early can prevent a major overheat etc etc however,would i run one all year round - no way i love getting back into it after its been laid up and going for a blast,it always feels quicker than it did when i put it away if i drove it every day it would no longer feel special Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanS Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I would say a definity no as a daily driver/only car. 40 or so years ago when mad keen on cars and with a very understanding wife, I had many cars as daily driver/only car, including 2 Lotus 7's. Leaving aside the reliability issues that have to be addressed immediately regardless of commitments/weather, and negative effects of salt/water on the car, it is no fun driving with hood/screens up as the visibility is very poor - and thats before it starts misting up. The wife found it a real pain getting in/out with the hood/screens up in heavy rain (and trying to avoid burning her legs on the exhaust - and that was in the days of very short Minis skirts ! Arriving at work feeling damp and usually with a wet right arm/elbow is not ideal. The feeliing of vulnerability in such a low/light car was noticeable then, so with increased traffic and lunatics about its another factor when in wet weather, and thats not starting on the difficulty driving in snow/ice ! All in all, its so much better to have reliability, comfort, good visibility, and extra room in winter. It would take a very dedicated enthusiast with few commitments (to leave time for the inevitable issues that will need sorting) to use it. But thats only my opinion !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue ass fly Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 You could probably run an old tin top for what it would cost you to fuel and maintain a westfield - just alternate taxing them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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