Clio Williams; Help Me Convince the OH!

[DanB7290]

So, the plan is to treat myself to a Clio Williams when I graduate in November and begin the next stage of life. I've relished one of these for at least 17 years, and soon I will be in a position to get one. There is however, one obstacle. The OH is extremely difficult to convince that a 20 year old hatchback with gold wheels is utterly brilliant and won't put me in the same demographic as the chaps who bounce off the limiter in their mum's 1.1 Saxo down BEach Boulevard on a nightly basis. I've tried to convince her that it's one of the greatest hot hatchbacks of all time, but she isn't having it, and instead reckons we should be sharing her 1 litre Micra, as she's just passed her test, and wouldn't afford the insurance on a Williams. She didn't take into account however, that I didn't intend to insure her on it. In fact, as we're both under 25 (only just in my case!), it's actually cheaper to insure only her on the Micra, and me on a Williams, than put us both on a Micra in most cases.

Any advice on wearing her down, or any funny stories of how PHers have convinced the OH that something is a good idea?

Just as I was about to hit send, I remembered an anecdote from Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men (before his meltdown). "It is far easier to ask for forgiveness, than to ask for permission"

[BaronVonVaderham]

If it's your money you're spending then it's got nothing to do with her. If it's her money, then it's her decison.

[Krikkit]

Just buy it - explain how much it means to you to own it, and if she's not a total knob she'll begrudgingly understand. My Mrs hated my car at first (in a similar vein to yours, it looks a bit too similar to the chav-specials), but once she realised it was a) a bit different and b) important to me, she got a grip.

[300bhp/ton]

I'd just keep quiet and turn up at home with one.

[ikarl]

You're under 25 and asking us how you should convince your OH?

Tell her to fk off, you're young and you're buying it. That should convince her!! FFS

[Captain Muppet]

My girlfriend at uni was dead set against me having fun cars, or even driving in a fun way.

By the time I was married I had a track day car on slicks, an MR2, a bike, my wife had an Astra GTE and we were both desperately saving for an Elise.



Different women.

[em177]

If you do it now your going against her wishes.

Hence why you shouldn't have asked in the first place

[ezi]

ikarl said:

You're under 25 and asking us how you should convince your OH?

Tell her to fk off, you're young and you're buying it. That should convince her!! FFS

This. Just grow a pair OP and buy it

If a girl kicked up a fuss about me buying a car/car bits at my age I'd be seriously thinking about our relationship...

[s1rallyemark]

I got my Williams before I got a GF so not quite the same but she was skeptical on why I had a 17 year old hatch with no MOT or TAX in bits at first. Once I explained that it was fairly fast, had an f1 connection, was rare and may be worth something in the future she soon came around and has now came up with the original nickname of 'William'. Once you start showing some enthusiasm about the car she should come round (if she likes you enough!) in the end.

[Ali Chappussy]

BaronVonVaderham said:

If it's your money you're spending then it's got nothing to do with her. If it's her money, then it's her decison.

I take it you're single, right?

It should be a joint decision if you are married. There's no it's my money, it's your money about it. If there is, your relationship is in deep s**t.

[ar 145]

ezi said:

This. Just grow a pair OP and buy it

If a girl kicked up a fuss about me buying a car/car bits at my age I'd be seriously thinking about our relationship...

^^ This

if she doesnt like it tell her to get her own car or own form of transport.

[ar 145]

Ali Chappussy said:

I take it you're single, right?

It should be a joint decision if you are married. There's no it's my money, it's your money about it. If there is, your relationship is in deep s**t.

Why should she have a say in what car he buys with his money? Even if he is married? (Im not married but live with my mrs, if I want something that Im paying for with my money, I'll go out and get it - done the same with my current car).

[ezi]

If you're married, own a home together and/or have children then yes you should consider her thoughts and feelings about your car choice but he's 21, about to leave uni and has the opportunity to own a nice car, if he lets his OH dictate his decisions now imagine in 5 years time! Do the silly car thing while you're young because you might not get that opportunity again for a very long time.

[Paul Dishman]

If you're single and agree to sharing her 1.0 litre Micra instead of going for a Clio Williams, then you'd better hand your PH card in.

[aka_kerrly]

Ali Chappussy said:

BaronVonVaderham said:

If it's your money you're spending then it's got nothing to do with her. If it's her money, then it's her decison.

I take it you're single, right?

It should be a joint decision if you are married. There's no it's my money, it's your money about it. If there is, your relationship is in deep s**t.

OP doesn't mention that he is married but does mention he is about to graduate and his Mrs has only just passed her test and has her own car.

OP- if you have the money and need a car go and buy what the hell you want. Or is this one of those occasions where you have saved up money and she wants it put into a "buy a house fund" when she has the sum of FFF all to add?

[Perd Hapley]

My advice as a respected relationship councillor (lie) is that you should buy the Clio now and face the wrath. You've not got long to enjoy a fun car because I get the impression that your OH is going to force you to buy a Citroen Picasso the second her period's late.

DanB7290 said:

...and instead reckons we should be sharing her 1 litre Micra, as she's just passed her test, and wouldn't afford the insurance on a Williams. She didn't take into account however, that I didn't intend to insure her on it.

[tigger1]

Is she hot?

[BaronVonVaderham]

Ali Chappussy said:

BaronVonVaderham said:

If it's your money you're spending then it's got nothing to do with her. If it's her money, then it's her decison.

I take it you're single, right?

It should be a joint decision if you are married. There's no it's my money, it's your money about it. If there is, your relationship is in deep s**t.

Nope, i'm in a fantastic relationship with a wonderful girl.

The OP is 24 and a student, not married with kids. His dream for 17 years is to buy this car, if his OH has any objections whatsoever about him spending (presumably) his money on his dreams then the relationship is doomed as it's none of her busniess what he spends his money on.

stting on peoples dreams is the way to ensure your relationship is in deep st.

[Cockey]

Sounds too hard to convince her. Far easier to just go buy one and wait for forgiveness

[Baryonyx]

Krikkit said:

Just buy it - explain how much it means to you to own it, and if she's not a total knob she'll begrudgingly understand. My Mrs hated my car at first (in a similar vein to yours, it looks a bit too similar to the chav-specials), but once she realised it was a) a bit different and b) important to me, she got a grip.

This.

Me and Krikkit have nearly the same car (both 106 Rallyes, his an S1 and mine an S2). Not entirely dissimilar to the Clio Williams, really; both are ageing hot hatches! The Mrs was a little perplexed that I was after getting rid of my Audi A8 for a 106. I had to, really, due to a situation at work that left me without room to park the Audi there, but I think she expected me to get something smaller and just as luxurious like an E39 5 series or something like that.

So it was a bit of a sidestep to go from a big V8 luxury cruiser than she quite liked to a stripped back, basic 106 on steel wheels! That said, I went and did it, and she even drove me to Dumfries to pick the car up. Whilst she couldn't understand the appeal of it at first, she quite likes it now though she wouldn't drive it unless she had to, I don't think!

She's always been supportive of me changing cars but she has rolled her eyes at a couple and thought the Rallye looked a bit 'chav' in the pictures but she quite liked it in the metal, particularly the Indigo Blue colour. That and I was able to show her the fact I'm saving between £200-£300 in petrol a month over the 4.2 A8 and I could stop sitting on the 'war chest' of funds I had stashed to bail the Audi out of any technical problems it encountered! She has now decided she wants a new car, I can't really refuse her since she never complained about me having my fun!


In any event OP, you must go for it. Just buy it - her reaction will tell you a lot about her. If she bhes and moans, she is likely a control freak and this will only get worse as things go on and decisions get bigger. If she trusts you to spend your own money wisely, she might be a keeper. I would be wary of insuring her on it though, if she is new to cars. The last thing you want is her lifting off mid-corner and sending your pride and joy sideways through a hedge. The Clio Williams is quite rightly spoken of as one of the best hot hatches ever, and there is nothing better for having fun on British roads than a good hot hatch. The Williams was on my shortlist of cars to buy when I bought the 106 Rallye along with Fiesta RS Turbos, 205 GTi's, R5 GT Turbos, XR2i's...etc etc. If it floats your boat then definitely get one and look after it.