Need advice on buying a williams!

[mozzarooni]

Im new to the site, So would like to say Hi first of all.

I am thinking of buying a clio williams (drive a 1.2 grande at the mo), Im looking for more power, Seen as i have a few years no claims i can upgrade now, Well probably in the summer.
I was after some advice as what to look out for really, Im S**t with mechanics lol, also should i stay away from higher mileage? I can only run one car so i need it to be reliable, Are willaims clio's reliable?
Any advice would be great.
Thanks, Liam

 

[Liam Murphy]

why a williams and not a 172 or 182?

 

[Turkish]

If it has to be a williams i'd be inclined to buy from someone who's not a member of an owners club. They have a habit of putting 1.5k on top of what would be a reasonable price, in the same way people on here will knock 1.5k off a fair price for a 172/182 if they're looking to buy one on here.

 

[mozzarooni]

Was thinking of a williams because ive only got between 3 and 3 an half grand mate. would like a 172 but abit out of my price range i think.

 

[Liam Murphy]

hey ud be surprised, have a look on ebay for an estimate but ive seen mk2 phase 1's selling between 3.5k and 4.5k

 

[edde]

gh milage wi bound to happen 100k will be very normal nothing to worry about.

Biggest killers on them aee the body rusting around the sills and the rearand general problem the cars are 10 years old.

Best idea I can give is to buy the best you can and stroe it for a bit and strip off all the bits an remove and replace all the bits don't use the car for a bit till you've check it you might need a few new bits new struts a bin of painting with waxol etc to protect the car then maybe new bushes etc

They are reliable if you get a good one then problem is that its a huge engine in a tiny bay everything on them is quite difficult so many places won't touch them regards work so DIY is your best iption for a good job.

I loved mine I'd buy another no problem much more fun than a 172/182 and much cheaper in initial cost wise. Plus they IMO look so much more a hot hatch classic.

Best strart reading up on http://www.williamsclio.co.uk/forum/ for a bit sign up as a member and read up all you can.

Find a good garage though or a mechanically minded mate who can help or get a good tool kit and learn as you go alone not much you can do wrong realy just read up and question stuff and read a Haynes manual its much cheaper and agreater feeling of achievment.

 

[edde]

Was thinking of a williams because ive only got between 3 and 3 an half grand mate. would like a 172 but abit out of my price range i think.

You can pikc up 172 for that much there phase 1's but I do premefer them.

You can pick WIlliams up for lessI know of a few which have been picked up for sub £1k.

 

[mozzarooni]

Thanks alot for the link mate, ill start me reading up, i think that the williams looks better than a 172 (only my opinion). an like you say it is a classic hot hatch, wanted one since being a kid.

 

[Ali]

You'll need deep pockets...But they are cracking cars.

 

[_Kenny_]

^ lol

and welcome to CS mate, good luck with the search

 

[2 live]

If it has to be a williams i'd be inclined to buy from someone who's not a member of an owners club. They have a habit of putting 1.5k on top of what would be a reasonable price, in the same way people on here will knock 1.5k off a fair price for a 172/182 if they're looking to buy one on here.

if u look at the prices of the williams advertised on the owners CLUB .....ud notice that they are a bit cheaper than privately advertised cars.

 

[Sami]

Def check for rust on rear arches, can bubble up under the paint and its expensive to fix (have to cut the arch out and weld a new one in), also behind the sills on both sides (have a nasty habbit of rusting on the inside).

Also check for play in the steering as the columns often go at the bottom (not hard to fix if you know what you're doing), power steering pumps are often noisey so don't be put off but if the steering is very heavy or the noise is excessive this could indicate a knackered power steering pump (again a common problem)

Also check for mayo under the oil cap (tht would indicate head gasket failure most of the time) and whether it is loosing any coolant, ask to see it from cold so you can start it up fresh and see what it sounds like etc, then you can leave it running and check for any coolant loss.

Might also be worth doing a check on the reg to make sure it is really a williams not a stickered 1.8 16v, and also whether its been accident damaged!

Can't think of anything else right now except for service history!! if they are well maintained they go for a while, regular oil changes etc, if they aren't looked after even lower mileage ones can be buggered!

 

[Leeshez]

Hello and welcome

 

[Dan_Williams]

if your looking to only spend 3k-3.5k then you might have to buy one with a couple of teething issues or rust starting to come through, and its def worth a look on the williams forum as they are cheaper on there than buying from auto trader or ebay. i say for a mint williams you would be looking 4k +
also dont be out off by miles on the clock. id look out for the more common problems as mentioned above.

 

[mozzarooni]

Thanks alot Sami, thats pretty indepth, cheers to everyone else to . Like i say ive wanted one since being a kid although at the same time i am a little worried that i good be dreaming of buying just a money pit lol
lll have to search high an low an get a good one i guess, might be worth trying to find that bit more cash and buy a minter.

 

[mozzarooni]

good be dreaming????? lol
i meant could be

 

[2 live]

as above mate...bodywise if alls good, will be worth a risk.


imo if the bodyworks been looked after, chances are they will also have looked after it under the bonnet, if not, alls not lost, replacement megane lumps can be had for a couple hundred quid (same eng as williams more or less) and they not overly bad to work on.

theres some bargains out there............and a hell of a lot of dogs. take ur time findin one, get a good un n itl look after ya for years to come.

 

[mozzarooni]

Many thanks for the comments, I have however just been reading a post off someone wanting advice on a 172 purchase, Lots of peoples opinions on that matter and someone interesting ones too, hmmmm better get me thinking cap on, Wont be changing cars til summer now anyhow so maybe buy then ill have that bit more cash.