Hello and some advice please

[MattC1]

Hi

Just joined as am looking to purchase a Williams, when the right one for me comes along. To give you a bit of background (if anyones interested :lol: ) I have just waved goodbye to my Mini JCW which I loved in order to put money towards my forthcoming marriage. I have been looking for sometime at what car I would like to replace it with, weighing up the pro's and con's of the Willy, Mk1 172 or Peugeot 306 GTI-6/Rallye. But once Mini left it was an easy decision :) . It falls on deaf ears with most people but I know you guys will understand what I mean, most cars are just cars no matter how fast they are or how well they handle. My Mini wasn't like that, it had bags of charcter which made it more of a person/friend and as such it was loved and had the best of everything and cleaning the car was a weekend affair which I actually enjoyed :lol: . No disrespect to owners of any of the other cars I mention but to me that is what I imagine Williams ownership to be like. I appreciate that they have to be maintained possibly more than other cars but when you love something that you own it doesn't seem to matter too much. I only did 2,000 miles a year in the Mini and for a car worth so much it was just a waste and the car was slowly depreciating on my drive. With the Williams it would be such a nice feeling knowing that you are looking after such an iconic car and helping keep one going and that actually doing so few miles would actually help keep it fresher for longer :D .
Anyway, sorry for going off on one there but I do have a couple of questions I wondered if anyone can help with :?

:?: whilst I appreciate the technical differences between the Williams 1,2 and 3 how does the ownership of each differ? I did read a thread where someone mentioned Williams 1 were money pits.
:?: Also can anyone point me in the direction of a decent specialist in the Dorset area (I live in Bournemouth).

I am in no rush to buy one so can afford to wait for the right one to come along. I did see one for sale on here which I think used to be owned by Daz an owner or so ago. That would have been ideal but sadly missed it :(

Sorry for such a long 1st post

Cheers
Matt

[16v_paddy]

:?: whilst I appreciate the technical differences between the Williams 1,2 and 3 how does the ownership of each differ? I did read a thread where someone mentioned Williams 1 were money pits.
:?: Also can anyone point me in the direction of a decent specialist in the Dorset area (I live in Bournemouth).



Welcome to the club Matt

There's almost bugger all difference between the 3 really in costs or technical stuff, the 1 is most sought after as they were the 1st & kind of supposed to be the only ones until renault decided they wanted to sell more of them :roll: so bought out the 2. The 1's are the only ones to have a numbered plaque, the 2 came along at the same time as the facelifted phase 2 1.8 16v, came with different front grille, wing mirrors, bump strips, side repeaters and if you wanna get really anal, different radio ariel, strip along the bottom of the boot, rear wiper arm & rear lights.
Now onto the 3, they are a different colour, the 1 & 2 are 449 sports blue and the 3's are 432 monaco blue - sometimes called methyll blue iirc and have a sunroof & ABS as standard I belive these were an optional extra on the 2's. Now the issue that's been seen quite a bit with the 3 is serious rust in some major structural areas, under the windscreen, floor pan, inner & outer sills etc. It's been said this is due to renault being lazy feckers with the rust proofing on these cars as they were coming to the end of their production run & just couldn't be arsed to build them properly.

Yet despite how good they are, naples red valvers are much much better :P well mine is anyway 8)

[Clio-Girl]

erm cough cough!

paddy my naples's are blatantly better :wink:

anyway welcome over Matt, the williams/valvers are definatly a car with heaps of character dont you worry about that, never a dull moment thats for sure!

K-tec are based in Verwood, dorset they are a renault specialist, ive used them a few times for mapping and sorting my brakes out, i have nothing but praise for them :D

i personally wouldnt go for a willy 3, sadly they dont seem to age well ive broken 2 due to chronic rust!

[Jaymzfc]

Hi Matt, good choice in car first of all, take a bit of time looking around they do pop up quite often on various sites or even member on here decide to sell up. it's going to be hard to find a mint one, but don't be put off by bad wheels or small things here and there, parts are ok to find and members on here will more than help you out. Good luck with your search. oh and psss go for the 1 :)

There's 3 on ebay as we speak 2 and 3's.

[Wobba]

Obviously you'd need to view it, but this one looks well kept and is an original Williams 1 no. 67:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2060005.htm

[MattC1]

Thanks everyone for welcoming me and for the advice :D . I think I'll steer clear of the Williams 3 then by the sounds of it. K-Tec aren't that far away are they, I herd of them before but just thoought they were a tuning specialist so thats good to know that I could go to them for work/services. The Williams I will be purchasing will be kept as original as possible.


Obviously you'd need to view it, but this one looks well kept and is an original Williams 1 no. 67:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2060005.htm

I did notice this Williams and I agree it does sound good doesn't it :) . Unfortunately it is a little over budget at the moment :cry: , I am currently working with a £2500 budget at the moment (my future wife has locked the rest of the money from my Mini in the 'Wedding Fund Account' :lol: ). The Williams budget will be increasing monthly though so a Williams around this value should be hopefully more within my means in the next few months :)

[FATBOY]

welcome to the site! not all 3's are that bad......

[Red_Dash]

Hi Matt

Welcome to the forum :D

Cheers
Dave

[zmaster2k]

woop another local!

welcome aboard fella!

Ignor clio_girl and her hatred for Williams 3's! The come in 432 Monoco/methyl Blue and lookes amazing with polish!.........unfortuanly the N reggers seem to be prone to rust... believe me

[shag]

take myn for £1900 just needs a bottom end and matt brown got 1 for £200 just had recon box timing kit tensioners luk clutch waterpump lowered 40 mm jamex springs also just had 4 toyo proxy 4 tyres shells mint no rust wat so ever

oo aswell its a williams 2

if dont get a buyer gunna break it as mrs just found out no3 kid is on the way

[Tommo]

Welcome aboard mate :D

My advice would be to buy a Williams 1. I may be biased but they are the original, have the plaque ect and are the most sought after. Ignore what you read, they are all money pits if neglected....they can be money pits if they are cherished also so bear this in mind. Mine has been a love hate affair over the last 6 years but I just can't seem to let her go as when you get the right road and conditions the grin factor is amazing.

Take your time, as you have said you are in no rush so make sure you do your homework and view as many as possible. There is a buyers guide on this forum which will help you find a good one and what to look for. The one in that link looks ideal tbh, spending a little more on a cherished one with FSH ect will hopefully get you a trouble free Williams, rather than spending less on one which needs tlc in my opinion.

[MattC1]

Thanks again for everyones advice, it really does make me feel welcome :D . I think its a case of waiting for the 'right' one to come along. I would like to hold on for a Williams 1 but if obviously a really stunning example of a 2 or 3 came along I may not be able to resist. I'm checking on-line everyday so hopefully something will be in good condition and not over priced in the next 6mths or so. I'll post on here when I find something to ask you guys for your opinion.

Much appreciated

Cheers

Matt :D

[MattC1]

Oh yeah I want it as original as possible, well definately not lowered in any case. It just wouldn't work with all the speed bumps in my area :cry:

[walters300]

:P in defence of williams 3s (as I have one!!) it all depends on how they have been kept over the years, living by the sea side not garaged etc, mine is very good with minor rust starting to show on the rear arch and sill. common on all of them, down side is the sunroof and abs. sensors and abs rings are a pain.

Id say the 1s were more cherished as they were bought as collectors cars where the 3s were used as commuters etc, also the 3s are the rarest of the bunch as only 300 odd were produced and they didnt go into production in europe( I think?)

There we are :wink: I had to stick up for my blue bullet :D

[Wobba]

The 3's have a slightly different shade of blue as well which is attractive when cleaned up.

[manxseven]

Hi Matt,

I'm just into Hampshire, Fordingbridge.
Where are you?

I have a Williams 1 in the garage if you wanted to come and have a look at one to see whats, whats.

Cheers,

Simon.

[MattC1]

Hi Matt,

I'm just into Hampshire, Fordingbridge.
Where are you?

I have a Williams 1 in the garage if you wanted to come and have a look at one to see whats, whats.

Cheers,

Simon.

Hi

That would be great :D I'm only down the road in Bournemouth.

Cheers

Matt

[robi1000]

I think Williams 3 was produced for EU market. It's just that EU cars don't have numbers on the sides.

But there are some 432 cars (W3) here too.

[manxseven]

OK Matt,

Weekends best for me, as garage doesn't have an electric yet.

It is 'sorned' as well, but we can push it out of the garage and you can sit in it and make vroooooooom, vroooooom noises :lol:

This weekend??
Sat - pm is best
Sun - am - up to 1100 (then out for a family do)

Cheers,

Simon

[MattC1]

Can't do Saturday unfortunately but Sunday morning would be good for me, would 10am suit? Do you want to pm me your address or phone number or something.

Matt

[manxseven]

Matt,

Sunday at 10 will be fine.
I'll PM you this eve with address.

Cheers,

Simon