Williams is gone :(

[Ben H]

Just watched David (aka Smokey Mcpot) drive off with my pride and joy, in exchange for a large cheque. Im happy that its gone to someone who clearly loves the car already and itll be interesting for him to compare it with his Cup.

I spent the whole morning moping around, not so much wondering if Id done the right thing but re-living many memories at the end of an era for me. Ive had a Mk1 Clio in one form or another since 1995, so its a bit strange for me! I gave David the well-thumbed Haynes manual, roof rack, all sorts of random parts and most of my memorabilia (dont want to be haunted).

Im still going to hang around the forum and the good news is that, ironically, today is the day my family pick up the houses baby car - a brand spanking new Dynamique (in a very rare and tasty shade of Nordic Green... looks black).

Not quite sure what Im getting next, but it looks like a Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo - they are excellent value at the moment. Fast, stylish...but not the same sort of driving machine as the Willy.

Bye Bye Williams!

 

[Dan##]

at least its gone 2 some1 whos going to look after it, not some chav muppet who would ruin it!

 

[172mgw]

haha chav muppet, sounds like the nob head next door to me!! who right now is doing his best to b an annoying t**ser

 

[riplash]

Such a shame Ben..... well theres always the option to buy back HOL in a year or two!! hehe

 

[richy]

i thought u wanted to get rid of williams because u didnt want a flash/expensive car in whichever city it was cus of getting damaged etc why u after a fiat coupe 20v t then? dont make much sense to me lol dont mean the car itself , there very nice motors the coupes but its still a good car etc etc

 

[182 Clio]

So has Serena!

 

[Fatbloke_294]

Hey Ben,

Cheer up, I got my two, part exchange, so i know there are many around later if you want one, People are just selling them now like hotcakes, its a shame, when you build up a decent car then sell it???

Theyre pretty cheep nowdays, when i suss out how to get some pictures on here ill put some on.

Fat Bloke

 

[woots]

Mate has just bought a 20vt. 3rd is sweet, nice choice but not sure it will be the same on the backroads.

 

[Ben H]

Yes, the attention the Williams would have got in central Bristol was a reason for selling, but the main one was the miles Im doing - even when I cycle and take the train for the most part! The options were to either use the Willy as a second car or to sell it and get something more suitable.

In the end, it was impossible to ignore the fact that for the price I sold the Williams for, I can get a 20V Turbo that is five or six years younger, more comfortable and costs similar money to run. In fact, I have just had an offer accepted on a late 1998 "S" 20V Turbo for £450 less than I let the Willy go for - the depreciation on them really is that viscious.

There are downsides - the further depraciation, specialist servicing and the ultimately less satisfying B-road experience. Sadly, its a fact of life that sometimes we have to compromise as our priorities change.

 

[Jim172CUP]

Well the running cost are going to be a bit more with the coop breaking exhaust manifolds every year and putting petrol in the beast is going to cost. Hope youre not having to turn around in tight spots because the turning circle is similar to an oil tanker.

Handbrake boots split all too often also. Driving it to Essex for a service would also become annoying for me too.

But, the looks/ styling, and performance of that turbod lump would make it all worth while, enjoy your new beast. I think they look best in black or silver.

 

[Ben H]

You seem to know a lot about them Jim...*uneasy laugh*.

Ive managed to find a local Fiat/Alpha specialist, so hopefully that aspect wont be so bad - I actually used to take my 16V and then Williams to a garage 60 miles away from me. The running costs are actually similar to a Williams if my research is correct too.

I was never setting my sights on a conventional car and the Coup should be cheaper to run than an Evo/Scooby.

 

[Daz]

I still dont understand the reason for selling to keep miles down...

I dont care if I put 10k on it or 100k.. Ive still enjoyed having it. I dont buy cars to sell them on... I buy them to drive, if its worth £10 when I come to sell it, at least I can say Ive used it and enjoyed it.

I was looking at Coupes.. the insurance tho, was the thing which did me.. you mention "Turbo" to companies and they run.. I think servicing is a lot more on a Coupe than a Williams too? Looking at £1k for a cambelt change I heard for example.

I cant help but feel tho, mint Williams will always be worth something.. and never drop really low - they are a classic afterall..

Anyway, enjoy whatever you get next.. Id love Turbo power sometime.. (I still look at Escort RS Turbos now and visit Ford forums.. hehe, oh, and 200 sxs, hehe)

 

[Jim172CUP]

My mate had been running one for a year, ive kinda fallen for its good looks. i think the place he takes his is called powerfiat and a cambelt change is about 500 notes i think.

 

[wongy008]

ben h

u finally did it then hehe, now u begin the excitin prospect of car hunting, its so stress inducing its unbeleivable, 2 months on and i still aint found the right car,

i always thouht u should never let your car go until the cheque clears?? unless it was a bankers draft

good luck


[Edited by wongy008 on 05 July 2004 at 2:42am]

 

[Smokey McPot]

Cheers Ben!!

I drove her home yesterday, had a nice little convoy with my dad in the cup.

Its excellent to drive and honestly not that different to the Cup. The only thing that is a little frustrating is the lack of in-gear acceleration due to less torque. Other than that, I love it!

 

[Rennie]

Ben, wise choice with the coupe

Dont worry about the running costs and noted problems. The problems have usually been taken care of by the previous owner - or you buy dog of a coupe. And the servicing is coming right down now as more and more garages are taken them on - My cambelt cost £250 and £200 for parts.

My Williams has cost me more to run in my first year of ownership. However both very different cars - Coupe for speed and Willy for twistys

Enjoy!!

Simon

 

[Ben H]

Lucky you Rennie! Wish I had enough dosh to run two five star cars like you!

As per first post, Ive secured a nice 20V Turbo locally, which is incredible because theyre almost as difficult to find as a Williams. It does need the legendarily expensive cambelt change, but Ive had a decent quote from a local Fiat/Alfa specialist and the low purchase price makes up for it.

Glad to hear you enjoyed the drive Dave - the Willy is a fantastic car and will reward you a lot more than you would think once youve mastered it (takes about a month IMO).

 

[Mondial172]

Ben,

Have you not tired a 3.0 GTV? I found the driving position to be better than the fiats. Plus the Momo leather is really nice.

 

[Ben H]

The Alfa GTV is a great car and it looks like my mate will be getting one. However, you have to pay about £3-4k more for an equivalent GTV 3.0 over a Fiat 20V Turbo, as well as stomaching higher fuel bills and slightly less performannce.

 

[Mondial172]

Didnt think they were that much more money!

 

[aaronc]

Ben, did you hear what happened round brands with me and a 20v Turbo.....?

Cut a long story short, after 4 laps of hassling i eventually passed to pull away. Spoke to the guy after every track session and he never thought the 16v was so quick down the straights and corners let alone a willy......

Anyhow good luck with the 20v turbo, hope it brings you happiness!

 

[Daz]

I feel the Clio 16v/Williams is very under estimated by a lot of people.

I think because it only has 130/150bhp and on paper arnt that quick compared to some other cars (Coupe, for example.. Fastest FWD car anyone?!) , the chassis and handling more than makes up for it round a track.

 

[Ben H]

Adam - the 3.0 Alfa was well and truly on my list until I saw the prices. There are very few for less than £7,500.

Aaron - I dont doubt for a moment the relative track/B-road abilities, but the chassis is actually very well regarded and you may have been by far the better driver. Ive driven a few 20VTs and theres no doubt that they dont have the polish of the great 16V/Willy duo down a twisty B-road, although IMO thats less to do with the handling than the 250lf/ft that comes on at 2500rpm flinging you into the nearest tree! Its probably too much power for a FWD B-road car, but then again thats not what its design brief was.

Much in the same way as the Willy was designed to take on all comers down the twisties, the 20VT was intended to blow the socks off anything less than an M3. Cool air permitting, it actaully sprints quicker than the E36 M3 Evo in lower gears, despite the M3 having the traction benefits of RWD - and also posts better in-gear times (see http://homepage.ntlworld.com/edperryman/Ccarticle1.JPGhttp://homepage.ntlworld.com/edperryman/Ccarticle1.JPG). All in a straight line of course! At the end of the day you can get one for £5k and thats what was foremost in my mind. Its a hell of a lot of metal (...and what beautiful metal too) for £5k, all at a time when even the earliest 172s are making over £6k.

 

[Smokey McPot]

Quote: Originally posted by Ben H on 05 July 2004


Glad to hear you enjoyed the drive Dave - the Willy is a fantastic car and will reward you a lot more than you would think once youve mastered it (takes about a month IMO).

Yeah its gonna take a while before it all becomes second nature, still having to think about changing gears properly. Had a nice little to do with a Pug 206 GTi 180, and me dad in the Cup.

So pleased with it.

 

[Ben H]

All I can say is watch out exotic cars when it does become second nature! Nothing else I know of can cover my local B-roads so quickly or with such ability.

Glad you like the car - its a peach.