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Loque
15-08-2010, 23:32
Hi all,

I've been mulling over a new car for about a week now and I want something hot hatch like, hence why I'm here speaking about a Williams. The other choice is a Vtec Honda CRX from a similar era to the Willi. I asked for his advice on the matter, and he promptly responded with 'If you get a Williams I'm going nowhere near it'

I understand that these cars have a 2 Litre engine shoe-horned into a bay that's far too small and the bonnet has to come off every time you need to so much as change the battery, but are they really that unreliable and that much of a pain to work on?

Thanks

Wobba
16-08-2010, 00:43
lol, no, you dont have to take the bonnet off to get the battery out. You need both wings off AND the bonnet :)

Kidding.

Some mechanics run a mile as it can be a pain to work on but tbh once you are used to it its not THAT bad, and if its a reliable one it wont need to be taken apart much anyway.

Sure, there will be stuff to replace due to wear and tear but I can assure you its not hard. Oil filter can be a pain though lol...

Loque
16-08-2010, 11:50
Hahaha. I think I'd have to come up with a quick release system or something like that for the bonnet, somehow!

This guy is a personal friend of mine who happens to be a trained mechanic, I like using him as I know the job will be done to a high standard and not bodged as if I go to Quik Fit or similar.

How much do you think I will have to part with to get a 'reliable' one? I've read the guide to hunting for one, which basically says check for rot everywhere, and general engine issues, but is there anything more I should know?

I don't suppose anyone has any pictures of the F7R with the engine cover off - maybe I can yet tempt him that there is a bit of room somewhere...

Thanks again.

Wobba
16-08-2010, 13:02
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/The%20Big%20One/DSC01408.jpg

loads of room :)

MAXIBOY
17-08-2010, 16:48
cant see its an issue at all.. work on mine and a few special tools sort 99% of jobs

as for room theres loads can fit a turbo in..

Loque
18-08-2010, 12:34
Thanks guys, I've had a few words with a Renault Specialist, and he's said that they aren't too bad to work with, so in a few months I'll probably get my grubby mits on one. :)

Wobba
18-08-2010, 12:56
Good luck with finding a good one! Let us know!

Coops
18-08-2010, 13:47
just make sure the power steering pump is quiet, the aux belt and tensioner are in mint nick, cam belts been done and water pumps been done

then theres no reason to need to get down that tight side of the engine for years, so no worries!

vkosho
19-08-2010, 02:11
Get a phase 1! Bout 2.5 - 3k at the moment for a really good one. You might have to look around alot for a while though. Dont rush into it. Much better than a shitty civic etc. Try and get one with a fairly new clutch and decent gearbox too, possibly a refurbed one.

Most mechanics ive worked with hate them buts its only really due to the Oil filter and Clutch/Gearbox changes.

Book time on changing a clutch is 10 hours for example due to either lifting the engine out or dropping the subframe but people who get to know them can do it in just a few hours, so its really just the fact that its a more specialist car which requires more knowledge to work on efficiently. Same with the oil filter, The first time you swap one is a nightmare but then when youve done it 3 times its really easy.

Apart from this most engine jobs arn't bad at all, just sometimes awkward. All cars have certain awkward jobs.

Mechanics definitely like to moan alot too! :lol:

Loque
19-08-2010, 23:47
Oh that they do. Thanks for the encouragement guys. Always liked these things since I was a small kid! Asides from a crx, the mechanic in question is now directing me towards a 306 GTi-6, anyone have any experience of those?

And I've read a fair amount about how ghastly this oil filter is to change, don't suppose anyone has a link to a guide on how to do it or anything? Hah. I really don't like the sound of changing the clutch/gearbox then. 10 hours. That's gonna cost a boatload.

vkosho
21-08-2010, 20:19
Neither are difficult. Just time consuming. If you wanna learn how to work on your own car then williams is ideal and you get the benefits too. 8)

zmaster2k
22-08-2010, 10:21
Oil change is really simple....

head light out, rad out ( you were going to flush the system anyway.. andits worth pushing th hose though the rad to clear her out) filter is now easily accesable..

Gearbox and clutch can be done in 4 hours?
You can either take the engine out.. fairly easy tbh
Or you can drop the dsubframe and do it from below...
Both jobs are awkward but not hard...any spanner can do it... including me...

I knew nothing on these cars before i got them.. i can now change boxes, engine swaps etc etc.. easy car to work on tbh

GTI-6....one of the most dissappointing cars ive ever driven...had one for 3 weeks then bouht a valver (1.8 16v clio Williams is based on) much better.

16v_paddy
22-08-2010, 11:31
Your mechanic has run a mile because he's a big girls blouse :roll:

I'm just like zmaster, knew hardly anything about working on these cars but now I can happily rip engines out & drop them back in & make them work.
I also chose my valver over a GTi6, you notice the pattern starting to emerge here? :wink:

vkosho
23-08-2010, 02:58
You take the rad out for a filter change? :shock:

Everyones got such differing tecniques i guess.

Agree on the gti6 too. Cars are nothing special but then again you will only get biased opinions here. 8)

Loque
23-08-2010, 10:24
Biased opinions are fine! My heart wants one of these cars, head is just thinking about everything else before I make a decision. And I'm trying to justify it a little. Suprised about the gti though, thought there might be some French Camaraderie...

16v_paddy
23-08-2010, 12:50
You take the rad out for a filter change? :shock:



He means he'll do it like that if he's flushing the cooling system with a hosepipe, so rad off anyway to stuff a hose in it :wink:

5_turbo
23-08-2010, 19:02
get a civic vtec iv got a civic sir2 neva had a proplem with it and iv nail the shit out of it everyday and she loves it, iv got a williams 2 had to do the clutch, box powerstearing pump front bearings waterpump starter moter alternator radiator and when im giving that some i dont really trust it and after hamering it for 3 hours the other day started misfiring was only the inlet gasket bt a fault is a fault

cliokiz
26-08-2010, 10:18
In response to that i've got a valver on over 150k and i nailed the living shit out of it for nearly 2 years every single day.

Never even changed the oil.

Smokey McPot
26-08-2010, 11:44
French Camaraderie...

Sounds like a cheese.

5_turbo
26-08-2010, 13:26
you dont need to change the oil the amount the williams burns when hammering it, had mine for 6 years now love it to drive hate it wen its broke, why dont you get a nice 106 gti

16v_paddy
26-08-2010, 20:32
In response to that i've got a valver on over 150k and i nailed the living s**t out of it for nearly 2 years every single day.

Never even changed the oil.

You on about VEW?

That car is awesome 8) drove it just before FCS & when I came back into the hotel car park I was wearing the biggest, cheesiest grin you've ever seen in your life & I was giggling like a ****in hyena :lol: there were plenty of witnesses to this too :wink:

cliokiz
27-08-2010, 12:07
I am indeed on about VEW :D