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New Westfield kit prices announced
cjwood23 - 8/4/23 at 10:49 PM

Been keeping an eye on Westfield since they got bought out as it seemed such a waste for them to not come back.

The new website is live and has details of the current range - MX5 based SDV and a Zetec FW - both called the 'final edition'.

A bit of info on the development blog gives hints at the new models (post 2023) that look to have with their own proprietary engines.......

Anyway back to the 'current' FE models - was quite surprised at the pricing of these.

Mazda SDV:
|https://thumbsnap.com/Ry3z12Vs" target="_blank">|https://thumbsnap.com/Ry3z12Vs

£19k and that still requires the donor!

Zetec model (2.0l 150bhp):
|https://thumbsnap.com/YJiMELMF" target="_blank">|https://thumbsnap.com/YJiMELMF

£33.5k without any of the options.....
That's not much less than a Caterham 360 with a 2.0l duratec.

Is it me or do those prices seem somewhat ambitious?

MK and GBS do the Mazda kit for £10 and £13k respectively.
GBS 'ultimate' self build with 2.5l duratec is £30k.
Tiger are still doing the Avon Zetec 170bhp complete kit for £20.5k.

I really hope that Westfield continues but not seeing how at the moment.


snapper - 9/4/23 at 01:56 AM

It does look like the options for a Locost 7 build are pretty much reduced to self build chassis types now


snapper - 9/4/23 at 07:24 AM

It’s hard to find out exactly but the Fisher Fury price list shows chassis and bodywork is cheaper, I didn’t have time to add up all the different options but it looks much more affordable.
I did note that they only have the the spider version available which is a shame as the version with doors is a much better option for a daily.


gremlin1234 - 9/4/23 at 01:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cjwood23
A bit of info on the development blog gives hints at the new models (post 2023) that look to have with their own proprietary engines.......


I read that as maybe electric, so searched and found
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/westfield-chesil-relaunch-year-first-ev-due-2024


scudderfish - 9/4/23 at 02:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by snapper
It’s hard to find out exactly but the Fisher Fury price list shows chassis and bodywork is cheaper, I didn’t have time to add up all the different options but it looks much more affordable.
I did note that they only have the the spider version available which is a shame as the version with doors is a much better option for a daily.


I find the doors on mine to be a faff and I just step over them to get in.

Regards,
David


cjwood23 - 9/4/23 at 08:27 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
quote:
Originally posted by cjwood23
A bit of info on the development blog gives hints at the new models (post 2023) that look to have with their own proprietary engines.......


I read that as maybe electric, so searched and found
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/westfield-chesil-relaunch-year-first-ev-due-2024


This was what I was looking for, mentions a new 4cyl petrol engine:
Here's the info on the new engine;

|https://thumbsnap.com/DNd4bkmM" target="_blank">|https://thumbsnap.com/DNd4bkmM


HowardB - 10/4/23 at 11:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
quote:
Originally posted by snapper
It’s hard to find out exactly but the Fisher Fury price list shows chassis and bodywork is cheaper, I didn’t have time to add up all the different options but it looks much more affordable.
I did note that they only have the the spider version available which is a shame as the version with doors is a much better option for a daily.


I find the doors on mine to be a faff and I just step over them to get in.

Regards,
David


ditto -step over onto the seat and then slide down into position.


Charlie_Zetec - 11/4/23 at 11:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by cjwood23
Been keeping an eye on Westfield since they got bought out as it seemed such a waste for them to not come back.

The new website is live and has details of the current range - MX5 based SDV and a Zetec FW - both called the 'final edition'.

A bit of info on the development blog gives hints at the new models (post 2023) that look to have with their own proprietary engines.......

Anyway back to the 'current' FE models - was quite surprised at the pricing of these.

Mazda SDV:
|https://thumbsnap.com/Ry3z12Vs" target="_blank">|https://thumbsnap.com/Ry3z12Vs

£19k and that still requires the donor!

Zetec model (2.0l 150bhp):
|https://thumbsnap.com/YJiMELMF" target="_blank">|https://thumbsnap.com/YJiMELMF

£33.5k without any of the options.....
That's not much less than a Caterham 360 with a 2.0l duratec.

Is it me or do those prices seem somewhat ambitious?

MK and GBS do the Mazda kit for £10 and £13k respectively.
GBS 'ultimate' self build with 2.5l duratec is £30k.
Tiger are still doing the Avon Zetec 170bhp complete kit for £20.5k.

I really hope that Westfield continues but not seeing how at the moment.



I mentioned this on the WSCC forum when the website and shop went live the other week.

The kit price seems incredibly high, and as you say, add on a few options and you're a little over £40k, then you've got the option of a factory build at an additional £6.5k - £47k for a WF? Pretty sure that exceeds C*terham prices.... Now I know you can't/shouldn't directly compare the two, but!

Maybe it's just the initial pricing, as they would be looking to recoup some of the costs of purchasing the company/rights, and may plateau out longer-term. But I always found their parts department excessively expensive for what was (mostly) off-the-shelf parts. With the gap between company tradings, a lot of parts information and alternative suppliers have come to light, so they'll definitely have to be more competitive going forward, unless WF force them into non-competitive contracts supply.

No company trades to make a loss, but hopefully they won't be too greedy once established properly again!


perksy - 15/4/23 at 10:05 AM

That's getting very expensive

Own power plant and rising prices....

Sadly might it be another TVR moment on the horizon?


Schrodinger - 15/4/23 at 11:51 AM

We have to remember that when Westfield were charging lower prices they ended up bankrupt.
I'm not saying they couldn't be cheaper but I can understand why they are where they are.


sdh2903 - 15/4/23 at 12:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Schrodinger
We have to remember that when Westfield were charging lower prices they ended up bankrupt.
I'm not saying they couldn't be cheaper but I can understand why they are where they are.


Westfield were a mess. They'd been a mess for years, I experienced the craziness first hand building 2 westys, you can speak to numerous suppliers around the country who refused to deal with them and if they did it was payment up front as they were a nightmare to get money out of. Look at how many grp suppliers alone they used in the past 10 years. They didn't go bankrupt because of their sales prices, but because it was a badly run business.

I wish the new owners all the very best of luck. But to justify those prices they need to make serious changes to the quality and fit and finish and really make a car to compete with caterham. At present for the product as it stands there's no way a zetec kit is worth that, and look at the body work prices! Any sane person would spec a really nice mk and save a fortune or buy a used caterham and barely lose a penny on it.

I'd hazard a guess at the new powerplant being a branded duratec in various states of tune as they state it will use an mx5 box which bolts straight up.

[Edited on 15/4/23 by sdh2903]