mynickers

Hello all,

I've never driven a ***** Clio, obviously read all the rave reviews when it was launched, and lots of stuff since with motoring hacks often using it as a bench mark for all hatches that have followed since.

I've never considered buying one, cause I just didn't think you'd ever get one that hasn't been ragged to death, and we all know about French build quality.

However, been looking at a few just out of interest really, and whilst they've kept their price more than others of same age, they're not outrageously expensive. I saw several on Autotrader last night from £2k to £5k, low millage, un-moddified with FRSH.

Any experiences and opinions would be interesting to hear...

Nick

The Zohan

Hi there is it a I or a II version.

Jenny had a Williams II for a few weeks from her old company. It was not new around 30K on the clock and 18 months or old. I drove it on several occaisions.

Performance was average, i was expecting more, not great accelleration and not much torque. at the time i had a vectra 2.5 CD not one of the worlds best handling or quickest cars so not comparing to a scoob.

Handling was good and brakes OK.

Interior made an airfix kit look well made. Cheap thin plastics that rattle and squeek. seats OK but the interior was just dreadful!!!

I loved the colour and the look of it but all in all it was a let down IMHO more of a sheep in wolfs clothing.

R1916v

There was a 1 2 and 3

1 was obv the first and had a numbered plaque.

2 more of the same but no plaque iirc.

3 was a slightly different shade of blue, had a sun roof and was made in fewer numbers I think.

Nice cars, engie is nice and torquy for a 2 litre, but it's the handling that does it

Andy32

I've got a Williams 2 and its a great car looks good and handles really well, but its cost me a fair bit in the last year, thinking of upgrading to a scooby now

Dr Evo

I had one two, williams 1, yep looks great, handles well and is nippy enough, not going to give you any rush from take off...compared to hatches these days, the faster ones anyway, I dont think it would be as quick.

StevieG

I owned a Williams I for 3 years several years back, was a great car. Performance by today's standards is only average, but the handling was sublime. Held its value well too. My advice is get one if you can find a good unmodified car

thecirsch

If it's any help, I had a 16V Clio, which I owned from new, had for 6 years and covered over 80K.

All I can say is, check ALL the electrics as they were a common fault. Also, they eat tyres for breakfast, front wheel drive and loads of torque steer = savage wear.

I loved my one, only got rid of it was because of the mileage

dela

I've considered one recently aswell - but got put off by the tails of spiralling upkeep costs by current owners. TBH after a scooby the costs don't scare me - it just didn't seem like a viable day-to-day proposition.

Thats why I've brought an F plate Honda CRX - reasonable power but the nimblest handling car I've ever driven.

If you are set on a Clio - www.cliosport.net is a good reference and source of enthusiast owned cars.

cheddar bob

I was looking at these as well as Pug 205 Gti 1.9 & Mk2 Golf Gti 16v.

In the end I settled for a Mk2 Golf Gti 8v - not anything more than nippy but 1 hell of a car, much much better build quality & interior than Pug/Renault & the thought of dealing with Peugeot or Renault dealers even just for parts was enough to push me into VW ownership Also parts very cheap plus I've had work done from a VW specialist (top end rebuild new valve guides etc) for £260 when I was expecting £400-500 . Clio Williams is a very good car but I'd expect quite expensive to run/maintain (for a cheap hot hatch anyway).