Mk 1 Clio 1.8 16v vs. Williams

[Syrma]

I'm looking hopefully to buy one of the above in the next few weeks/months... Are the Williams really worth the extra price tag? Also, do you have anything I should look out for on either models...

I currently have a 106 Quiksilver which is being sold generally because I've had enough of dodgy pug electrics...

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[TheJesus]

well if your sick of dodgy electrics and general shitness in terms of build quality, reliability and any other word that ends in 'ity' your looking at the wrong cars... you buy one and it will break, it's a matter of what and when with these cars... still, they are fun.

The Williams is worth the extra money, it handles much better and after 60 will easily pull away from a valver... or at least it should unless its fucked... which most are now anyway. Just be very cautious when buying, but having been there and done that I'd avoid French cars full stop, they are crap.

 

[dalla]

I've bought a valver recently, and i love it. True it might not be the most reliable. But for looks and performance it is pretty nice. If i had the extra cash, and could find a decent one i'd buy a williams. But the valver is nice if you want to modify it, as it's not as special as a Willy.

Dennis

 

[Scott]

My valver has been 100% reliable as f**k for the 11 months i've had it, you've just got to find a good one. Theres hardly any (if any) in it to 60mph, then the willy will begin to pull on the valver due to more power/torque etc.
Williams will handle better and go better but they cost more to buy and insure, however you've also got the 'oh my god you've modded a williams' aspect to think about, best bet would probably to be to try and find a wide tracked 2.0 valver hybrid

 

[FlansS14]

HYBRID... Best of both....

 

[TomS]

Agree with Scott and TheJesus

Be prepared to fall in love with it even after all the problems lol

Usual rust issues etc are well worth sorting because they are great little cars

Tom

 

[dannyboy]

I've had my valver just short of 2 years, and during that time, nothing has gone wrong, BUT the clucth does need changing now, so if you find a good one, they can be relieable.

 

[Williams025]

I've had my Williams for over two years, and has been completely bullet proof! And, its got no rust whatsoever, in fact, I washed and polished it yesterday and it looks showroom, not bad for a 12 year old car!

Good ones still exist though but you really have to look for them (took me three years to find mine!), and luckily the dodgy ones are normally easy to spot. Performance wise, youll notice the willy is a lot more responsive and lively, with a better turn in and is far more balanced. If you go for the willy, make sure its a geniune one and not a valver look-a-like. Check for the wider track, the white spot on the dip stick, willy interior, manifold etc and ALWAYS hpi check the car.

 

[Syrma]

Thanks guys... Wouldn't be modding the car too much, Just little touches (lowered, wheels, exhaust, manifold, etc...)

Is the Williams really that much better handling wise?

 

[BigBoreBri]

Yup... not driven another car that has the same response and feedback, turn-in and grip are perfectly poised and ive not yet had a sniff of lift-off oversteer which just leaves the throttle to push the car where you want it to go!

Also ive had mine for almost 3 years now and ive not had any major problems yet.. just the usual consumables like disks/pads etc, you may find however than a couple of £k will get you a mint valver and "mint williams" will not be as cheap as you may think!

 

[edde]

The WIlliams got rated by Evo as the 6th best car of the decade compaired to the competition thats superb going.
Rated by Evo as the best hot hatch ever not bad going the valvers very good but it will never have the heritage the Williams has IMO.

 

[Matty]

Had my Valver for 5 years. Liked the Williams but not the Insurance group.

Most Valver owners who quest more power get a 2 litre in, call it a hybrid, and tend not to disclose to the insurance co so its still Group 11/12 insurance.

Depends if you can get away with it and don't mind your insurance bein void if they find out.

Mines been trouble free. Replaced things before they have needed to so not waited for them to fail. Running circa 150 bhp as is and headwork/cams needed for more hence finally going 2 litre route myself.

Think its all about the Torque with the Williams as that is what moves you and more torque lower down.

As for handling, can't comment on the Williams as never driven one but a Valver properly set up with Coilovers is good enough for me....

 

[Wobba]

Something I'd love to see (and I'm sending them a letter to recommend it) is a shoot out between a Williams, a 182 and a 172. EVO have been singing the praises of the 182 a fair deal lately, and occassionally make reference to the old King, the Willy...so I want a direct head to head and see what happens.

Have Renault moved the game on, or is all the added weight from safety and satnav junk in modern cars losing the plot.

 

[2 live]

lol@ bejesus.


not evryone is as unlucky with cars as u mate tbh lol


i had a valver for 2 years, needed a head gasket doin in all that time, and clutch was on its way wen i sold it..never had any other trouble with it.

exchanged that for the williams i have now....thats was 4 years ago.....i broke a spring on the front susp, replaced with coilovers......replaced the zorst with a s/s item......and the clutch failed. not bad in over 4 years of abuse.

must be said tho.the last 2 years or so have been driven on a tuned megane block, rather than the williams lump....the willy block will be making a re-appearance in the not too distant future...hehe

in the past iv had all kinds of motors.some supposedly better built ones.none have lasted me as long as the clios.....most who know me know how i drive my cars lol.......and the williams surprises me evry time it starts with the abuse it gets.....but it still comes back for more....as said above....almost fukkin bulletproof.


take ur time..find a good one...a bad/cheap one will come back and bite u in the ass bigtime

 

[Nafoff]

as said as above really

summery.......

if you wanna mod it then a valver

if you want the extra power and wow factor etc..its a willy

if you want both the above..got to be a hybrid