When I was 19 (in 1991) I saw they brought out the original big-turbo Escort Cosworth, and vowed that one day I would own one of them. You could take your ferraris, lambos, porsches, whatever, Id choose the Escort anyday
When I was 26 (1997) I was lucky enough to live my dream. I never thought another car would ever really replace it (except maybe another Escort Cosworth - and a small turbo version duly followed in due course, but always failed to match the excitement of the original big turbo version).
In 1998 I saw Auto Express, with the Clio V6 on the front cover. It started all over again. The Escort had to go, and my name was number 326 in line for a mk1 Vee.
Sadly I broke up with my then missus, which cost me a fortune, and my order was cancelled. 7 LONG YEARS later, I am finally to own a mk1 vee - am picking it up tomorrow... and I wouldnt swap it for anything, prob not even a mk2 vee, cos its not the classic original.
Same with the Williams, I was the proud owner of a Williams 1 (no303), fine 2s and 3s had more kit, but the 1 was still the original, and the one to have.
What I would say, is that looking how quickly the interior wears and gets grubby on most of the mk1s Ive seen, Im glad I didnt pay £26k for a new one, cos Id probably be very dissapointed with the low rent interior, wear & tear, coil pack problems, rusty door bolts, etc.
But Im not paying £26k, Im paying £11k, and for me, for now, its worth EVERY PENNY!
Yes your Evos & Scoobys are quicker, handle better, are cheaper to run & maintain, but look at them - theyre rep-mobiles, and how often do you see the salesmen driving up and down the motorways at 90-100 mph doing the meeting runs.
These are not real drivers, just motorway-men. Put them on a twisty A or B road in their WRXs and they havent got a clue. Most people I know lump all drivers of those cars in that category. They look at the company car list, tick the fastest box, and drive it til they have to change it. In that time they probably dont even know everything about what their car does!
People who buy V6s CHOOSE to buy them. They make a special case of finding this car, and you NEVER see them. The people who buy these cars, (also escort & 3-door sierra cosworths, lotus carltons) have my upmost respect, and are probably very good drivers, who know a thing or two about their car.
This is just my humble opinion, but maybe gives some insight into why I for one am buying a Vee!