Westfield Sport 1600 1.6 Litre 2dr Car Review - April 2012

The ride in the car is surprisingly comfortable considering that these cars are generally designed for fun rather than comfort, and the suspension does take the sting out of the majority of bumps in the road. Cornering in the dry is an absolute joy with plenty of grip and a chassis that is eager to please, but the handling in wet conditions is a little sketchier, and does demand a little more caution. Visibility certainly isn’t an issue as it is an open top vehicle, but the seats aren’t designed for larger people who may feel a little squashed in.

The 1.6 litre engine is the smallest available and the chassis is capable of taking plenty more power, but the figures are still impressive, with acceleration from 0-62mph achieved in only 5.2 seconds. The top speed of 125mph is also plenty to offer a great driving experience, and anything else could well burst an eardrum. Refinement in the Westfield has barely even been considered, with the 1.6 litre engine providing the soundtrack to an accompaniment of ample wind and road noise.

In terms of its design cues the Westfield looks like many other traditional single seater racing cars from decades gone by, but this is no bad thing. The wheels protrude from the main shell of the body, and the headlights are mounted a few inches above the body, giving the Westfield a distinctive look. The cabin is quite spartan while the dashboard is simple and effective rather than showy.

Equipment hasn’t really been a priority in the Westfield Sport 1600, with next to no equipment included as standard. Alloy wheels are a vital asset that helps with the image of the car, while leather seating is an optional extra.

Practicality isn’t something that features highly in the Westfield repertoire, with those who consider buying such a car usually having a more practical car for everyday use. No security features means it has to be stored indoor in a garage. The engine is sourced from Ford which means that it should be fairly reliable, but there have been some mentions about the work done by Westfield themselves not quite matching up to the high standards of Caterham vehicles.

Safety hasn’t really been much of a concern with the Westfield either, with the car being supplied with seat belts and not much else. There are no airbags to speak of in the car, and there aren’t really any driving aids that help the driver stay in control either. This is truly driving at its most basic.

Although there are many people that say you can’t put a price on fun, the Westfield Sport 1600 certainly tries to achieve this, with this entry level model retailing for £19,005. There are larger engines and some options that can be added to increase this cost, but this is fairly close in price to its main rival the Caterham Seven.

The running costs for the Westfield Sport 1600 aren’t too bad either, with the 1.6 litre engine able to deliver an average 41.0mpg, which is good for a sports car. However, insurance costs are likely to be high due to the specialised nature of the vehicle, but it should hold its value well because of its desirability. The car is supplied with a one year unlimited mileage warranty, which is fairly typical of what is on offer with this type of car.