Valver buying, am I being too harsh?!

[ukaskew]

Went to see a Valver today which was described as being "in better condition than almost any you will find these days", got all the checks done and mileage/history etc was all spot on. Travelled 200 miles as well which made my day even worse.

Arrived to see it and from a distance it looked stunning, Forest Green (gorgeous in the metal).

Anyways, if this is a "unmarked" one I dread to think what the rest are like...

- Two 3in long rust spots on rear pillar, painted over but still very obvious
- Cracked headlight
- Broken plastic grill
- Rubber seal around the windscreen completely come away from the windscreen.
- Every panel had at least two or three obvious scratches or blemishes.

Ironically the wheels were amazing, recently refurbed and they were in fantastic condition, as was the interior to be honest, as good as I could ever expect a 100k mileage car to be. I didn't even bother starting it up as I was so let down by the exterior, just left after 10 minutes as I knew I didn't want it.

Are there really nice ones still out there or should I expect some bodywork/paint defects considering the age of them? I was so excited about it today, and considering how few are out there (especially here in the South West) I'm beginning to wonder if its worth it?!

 

[Fred@BTM]

i know of a decent williams 1 for sale for £2.2K

all thats wrong with it is rust on the lower sill and rear arches

they all rust on the rear arches

mechanically mint

 

[JJ!]

you pay foe what you get TBH!

 

[lawrence]

ivce looked at loads and had the same problme to many are let down by the bodywork but i just think youve got to expect it for cars this age, unless you are buying off a member i doubt you iwll get an a1 car or pay over the odds

 

[Ben j]

omg! another green one!?

 

[Dave]

IMHO if you are buying a Valver or a Willy you have to be willing to restore the body work. Usually the rear arches, and sometimes the wheels.

If you find a perfect example you will pay through the nose.

 

[lawrence]

what dave said, ive seen good a1 condition ones go for 3k a bit to much of you ask me but what has been done to them mechanically and exterior wise may save you money in the long run

 

[Dan_mk1]

What you have to remember is, the first Valvers are getting on for 15 years old. Unless you find one that has led a very sheltered life then you just have to accept that it wont be perfect. Id say my valver is in pretty good condition, but one arch is bubbling and theres a few stone chips...just get friendly with a good sprayer, lol

 

[SOHROB]

why dont you come have a look at mine,it has no rust as the rear arches were replaced by renault under warranty and the car has been waxoiled since.The ONLY thing that isnt perfect is the wheels but they are still very good condition

 

[ukaskew]

Where are you based SOHROB?

The thing I don't understand is that today I had a good look over a several 10-12yr old standard Clios, they were spot on with no obvious external defects. Why (if it is the case) are Valvers more badly affected?

 

[Fred@BTM]

wider arches get stone chipped = rust

same problem on the new ones (the front face of the rear arches get chipped to hell!)

 

[ukaskew]

wider arches get stone chipped = rust

same problem on the new ones (the front face of the rear arches get chipped to hell!)

The rust on this one was up near the rear window just before the start of the roof line, quite a bit of it too. Was suprised as I knew I was supposed to be watching out for the arches but this was really visible as it was nearer eye line.

Maybe I was too picky but the floor inside was dirty as hell, no attempt had been made to put the widscreen seal back on or even tidy it up a bit etc, and this from trade...I could understand it if it was private and the seller still used the vehicle daily. I just had a bad vibe from the off, and I've always been told to trust your instincts from those sorts of feelings.

 

[cat171]

Tbh the green one sounds like a dog.
My old valver was what i'd call 'virtually mint' it was in top top mechanical condition, all it had were a couple of light scratches on the paint work & the wheels could have done with a re-rurb - thats it !!!
I sold her last July for £2,700 it was standard with factory grey leather.

Tbh with you I think you'll still need to spend between 2 & 2.5k for a decent one. You may get lucky & turn up a minter for less, but they getting on now - even the last ones (1996) will be getting on for 10 years old now.

What is your budget ??
Mine was in amongst the highest on the autotrader when I put it up forsale, but I sold it to some one who happened to be looking on here for one.

 

[ukaskew]

Tbh the green one sounds like a dog.
My old valver was what i'd call 'virtually mint' it was in top top mechanical condition, all it had were a couple of light scratches on the paint work & the wheels could have done with a re-rurb - thats it !!!
I sold her last July for £2,700 it was standard with factory grey leather.

Tbh with you I think you'll still need to spend between 2 & 2.5k for a decent one. You may get lucky & turn up a minter for less, but they getting on now - even the last ones (1996) will be getting on for 10 years old now.

What is your budget ??
Mine was in amongst the highest on the autotrader when I put it up forsale, but I sold it to some one who happened to be looking on here for one.

£2k is my preferred budget, but will probably stretch to £2.5k if needs be. Going to seriously think about leaving the whole Clio thing behind I think, I'm selling the Cup to free up some cash but it sounds like I could end up spending a fortune on keeping a Valver on the road! Problem is I still need something fun, I love driving and am gutted to see the Cup go.

 

[lawson706]

im in the southwest and selling a valver, 69k on clock somebody tells me how to post some pics and i will.

 

[Rich]

Finding a good one I suspect will be hard.

I gave up on my hunt for a 205 GTi a while back, after driving miles and miles to see supposed mint examples. I fear it may take some searching.

 

[cat171]

ukaskew - I know you really want a valver, have you considered a 106 gti instead ??
I'm not sure if there's any in your budget though & if so they may be ropey.
If I couldn't get a valver i'd get a 106gti (i did think about before I got the valver, but couldn't afford it at the time)

 

[ukaskew]

Finding a good one I suspect will be hard.

I gave up on my hunt for a 205 GTi a while back, after driving miles and miles to see supposed mint examples. I fear it may take some searching.

Thats the frustrating thing, was told it was unmarked etc. I had my Mk1 Clio well past 100k and I sold it as "excellent condition" as it was absolutely spot on, the buyer said it barely looked a day old. May as well be honest if you know someone is going to be travelling 200 miles to see it, its not as though I'm going to buy it just because I don't want to feel like I've wasted a day and £30 fuel!

Searching will get harder soon as the Cup will be gone within weeks I think, so I may have to settle for something different, maybe a Ibiza GTi, 306 XSi or something along those lines.

To add insult to injury I got a puncture on the way home too, sods law its one of my new Conti's (thats both replaced now due to punctures, only bought them in December!)

 

[SOHROB]

im in Leeds,i gaurentee you wont believe how mint it is pics at www.putfile.com/chopper10

 

[Ben H]

I used to have a mint Valver and then a minter than mint Williams. To be honest, this was nearly five years ago now for the Valver, but even at that point it cost a fair bit of time and effort to keep it looking good. I think with any old hot hatch you need to take your time and find a good one.

 

[Williams025]

i know of a decent williams 1 for sale for £2.2K

all thats wrong with it is rust on the lower sill and rear arches

they all rust on the rear arches

mechanically mint

That is such a common misconception!! Mine has NO rust anywhere (1994 Williams 1), and my friends williams has no rust either! Neither are for sale tho... You just need to look for a while, it took me 3 years to find my mint one.

 

[Wazza182]

mate its a matter of being in hte right place at the right time, i traveled 70 miles to see a valver and it was a right old dog but took it out for a spin and ragged the living c**P out of it just to get my own back as he said it was mint.
But out of the blue my mate saw one for sale in the street with 54k and a minter so i snapped it up withing 2 days.and a t a good price and it had a bit of rust but thats all gone now.

 

[Wazza182]

the only reason why they rust on the arches is because people are too lazy cleaning them, the mud sticks to the arch and the moisure causes the rust.