My father-in-law is selling his Westfield to get a grand tourer now he is retired.
It is absolutely spotless and he wants a fair price.
My brother and I are very tempted to buy it between us - the plan being that I use it weekdays and he has it weekends (I need it for getting to work but have family commitments at weekends so wouldn't have much chance to ever use it).
The problems as I see it:
1 - It would have to be stored outside
2 - it might not be a great commuting car (although it is a short drive and I will be running/riding on some days when I don't need it during the day).
3 - It will be a hassle getting it to/from my brother's every weekend
4 - It will wake the neighbour's dead relatives every morning when I spark it into life.
The advantages
1 - Well it's a Westfield
Further problems....
5 - Who pays for the petrol? (some form of joint 'slush account', or just brim it before handover?)
6 - How do you sort out bills when it goes wrong/needs service/MOT
Having said all that, my boss has one and does the 5 mile commute most days in it. He won't do it in the rain as he saus it is a bit too 'exciting', it leaks when moving or stopped and cleaning it takes a wee bit longer than a 'normal' car.
We share all running costs - very close relationship with my brother (he is my best mate) so no issues with fairness there.
My F-I-L knows of a very good (and local) guy who can make a decent tonneau (sp) cover and I would also get a full car cover to protect it overnight.
What's not to like then 😉
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This car - all graphics removed.
Personally, I'd see if you can go quarters or thirds on it with another person. It'll do your head if you have to use it to commute.
Even though it is family, write out a contract / constitution of what happens when. If nothing else, it makes you think through the entire process - what happens if one wants to sell a share etc? If it blows up in the hands of one person, does everyone share the bill?
Insurance - who 'loses' their no-claims in the event of a claim
Insurance - who 'loses' their no-claims in the event of a claim
It doesn't work like that. If you insure two cars, you build up two separate sets of no claims bonus. So it'll be a case of who gets to have the insurance in their name and therefore the spare NCB!
JUST DO IT! Great Sunday fun car!!
Looks like a bit of understeer on the pic!
Looks like a bit of understeer on the pic!
It is a tight unsighted corner at the top of Harewood Hill where the car is rapidly decelerating from around 90mph. It scared me witless doing it in my vastly slower road car.
[i]It doesn't work like that. If you insure two cars, you build up two separate sets of no claims bonus. So it'll be a case of who gets to have the insurance in their name and therefore the spare NCB! [/i]
I'm aware of that, but was thinking more about if its stolen/uninsured driver etc it will only affect the Insurer - and will affect all their vehicle insurance policies.
Great Sunday fun car!!
Yeah for his brother!
I'd not do it if I didn't have a use for it on weekends.
I will have it on weekends when I want it - but in reality I will use it more during the week. As I said, I have a very good relationship with my brother so my using it would never be an issue (and he used to share a Land Rover with my other brother for several years and it was never a problem who used it any any given time).
I reckon if you genuinely thought it was a good idea you would have bought one already, lets face there are plenty of other nice Catherhams/Westfields out there.
I think your head knows its a bad idea, but your heart because youve seen it, touched it wants to say yes.
I wouldn't because. 1. I would want to keep it in a garage (if its in good nick)
2. Commuting in it to work every day, no matter how short the journey would change your view point of the car ie when its peeing it down and cold you would start to resent the car.
3. Would short daily commutes be the best thing for it, hardly warming the engine up etc?
Get rid of your poncy TT thing, buy a banger for weekly use and then build a garge and buy a nice toy for the weekend.... oh and let your wife worry about getting the kids from A-B 🙂
I reckon if you genuinely thought it was a good idea you would have bought one already, lets face there are plenty of other nice Catherhams/Westfields out there.I think your head knows its a bad idea, but your heart because youve seen it, touched it wants to say yes.
I wouldn't because. 1. I would want to keep it in a garage (if its in good nick)
2. Commuting in it to work every day, no matter how short the journey would change your view point of the car ie when its peeing it down and cold you would start to resent the car.
3. Would short daily commutes be the best thing for it, hardly warming the engine up etc?Get rid of your poncy TT thing, buy a banger for weekly use and then build a garge and buy a nice toy for the weekend.... oh and let your wife worry about getting the kids from A-B
But the thing is with this one is that I know every moment of its history for the last 10 years or so and I know just how much time, effort and money has gone into making it a fantastic car.
And I can't get rid of the TT as it is on a lease until next year - the plan being that when that goes back we get a family car as my next company car (which my wife then uses day-to-day) and I use the Westfield for the daily commutes as and when I don't want to run/ride/walk to work or I need it for meetings.
Well... did you buy ?
If not how much is it going for?