Should I invest my money in a Clio Williams?
Discussion
Right, due to living across the road from work and very close to uni, the Panda is going. I've brought it down to England and my dad is advertising and selling it for me. The original idea was to keep the money in a bank account for when I graduate and I can use it to buy a different car, but I've had a possibly better idea. Since I was a child I've always loved the idea of a Clio Williams, until I decided I wasn't driving enough to warrant the £10 a week charge to park outside my own flat I was toying with the idea of chopping the Panda in and getting one. As long as they're looked after, the only way I can see Williams Clio prices going is up (there's already far less of them available within my budget as it is, 4 months after I was toying with having one) so my question to PH is, instead of sticking my money into some sort of ISA, which no doubt will not have the greatest interest rate, should I buy a Clio Williams, SORN it and keep it at home, where in a few years time it'll be worth more money, and I have one of my dream cars to drive if I so wish when I finish uni? We're expecting between £2000 and £2500 for the Panda, there's a few Williams Clios in that price range, high mileage and could perhaps do with a little TLC, but I think it's a more fun way of stopping me blowing the money on other useless s
te than dads suggestion of putting it into a bank.
te than dads suggestion of putting it into a bank.my head would say NO
my heart would say YES
seriously if I were you I'd sell the panda and keep the money
following this thread with interest, A good friend of mine had two of these..a williams and a williams 2...the first one he sold to another mate, who wrote it off within a couple of weeks...the 2nd one is still local (with a different owner)
the are a fantastic little car
my heart would say YES
seriously if I were you I'd sell the panda and keep the money
following this thread with interest, A good friend of mine had two of these..a williams and a williams 2...the first one he sold to another mate, who wrote it off within a couple of weeks...the 2nd one is still local (with a different owner)
the are a fantastic little car
Very few cars make good financial investment imo - a Clio Williams, again imo will not significantly grow in value over a few years.
From previous experience over Williams clio and 1.8 16v (Valvers) they are getting a litte sensitive in their old age and parts are becoming hard to come by.
The only Clio Williams that will significatly hold their value and increase IMO will be those rare 1 owner very low mile, never had paint work on original tyres etc examples not high mile thrashed examples.
Good luck though!
From previous experience over Williams clio and 1.8 16v (Valvers) they are getting a litte sensitive in their old age and parts are becoming hard to come by.
The only Clio Williams that will significatly hold their value and increase IMO will be those rare 1 owner very low mile, never had paint work on original tyres etc examples not high mile thrashed examples.
Good luck though!
Thanks guys, shame it isn't such a good idea as it seemed when I thought about it. The thing is, after uni, or maybe next year when I move out of my current flat and find a car would be useful, I would more than likely use it if I bought one. I was surprised to learn that right now I can insure one for as little as £700, which may sound a lot, and it is compared to £300 for a Panda, but at 21 I should apparently still be getting ridiculous quotes, despite 4 years NCB.
I was hoping this would be a better way of convincing my dad that I should have a Williams Clio, but despite owning a heap of classics and previously owning an RS6, he thinks that throwing £2500 at a 20 year old Renault is catastrophically stupid no matter how good it supposedly is. And I'd just convinced the OH that the gold wheels aren't chavvy and she would love it on those lovely Scottish country roads
I was hoping this would be a better way of convincing my dad that I should have a Williams Clio, but despite owning a heap of classics and previously owning an RS6, he thinks that throwing £2500 at a 20 year old Renault is catastrophically stupid no matter how good it supposedly is. And I'd just convinced the OH that the gold wheels aren't chavvy and she would love it on those lovely Scottish country roads
Pull yourself together! Go and get on bought!
I've never driven the Williams but I've driven a few valvers and even they were awaesome fun!
If I had the choice of sticking £2.5k in a bank or put it into a car which certainly won't go down in value that I can keep in a garage and ticker with every now and again I'd be going for the Clio.
However, have you seen prices of a Phase 1 Clio Sport 172? They're becoming sought after by the enthusiasts but are still way witin budget. If you can get a Monaco Blue one in decent condition with low'ish mileage that shouldn't be a bad investment (if you can call a frech tin box an investment!).
I'd be doing it for the fun / hobby aspect rather than thinking I'd get £10k for it in 2 years time.
I've never driven the Williams but I've driven a few valvers and even they were awaesome fun!
If I had the choice of sticking £2.5k in a bank or put it into a car which certainly won't go down in value that I can keep in a garage and ticker with every now and again I'd be going for the Clio.
However, have you seen prices of a Phase 1 Clio Sport 172? They're becoming sought after by the enthusiasts but are still way witin budget. If you can get a Monaco Blue one in decent condition with low'ish mileage that shouldn't be a bad investment (if you can call a frech tin box an investment!).
I'd be doing it for the fun / hobby aspect rather than thinking I'd get £10k for it in 2 years time.
SteveS Cup said:
Pull yourself together! Go and get on bought!
I've never driven the Williams but I've driven a few valvers and even they were awaesome fun!
If I had the choice of sticking £2.5k in a bank or put it into a car which certainly won't go down in value that I can keep in a garage and ticker with every now and again I'd be going for the Clio.
However, have you seen prices of a Phase 1 Clio Sport 172? They're becoming sought after by the enthusiasts but are still way witin budget. If you can get a Monaco Blue one in decent condition with low'ish mileage that shouldn't be a bad investment (if you can call a frech tin box an investment!).
I'd be doing it for the fun / hobby aspect rather than thinking I'd get £10k for it in 2 years time.
Hmm will take a look at 172s, have fond memories of beating my dad in them on the playstation when I was younger. Williams is top of the pile at the minute though, has been my number 1 "sensible" car for many years now. Thing is at My current flat, they charge £10 a week parking, and I've sadly been told by dad he doesn't have the room for another classic to be hanging around, which is a shame as mum has already said the problem with selling my car is I'm stuck at home when I next come back, possibly around Christmas. I've never driven the Williams but I've driven a few valvers and even they were awaesome fun!
If I had the choice of sticking £2.5k in a bank or put it into a car which certainly won't go down in value that I can keep in a garage and ticker with every now and again I'd be going for the Clio.
However, have you seen prices of a Phase 1 Clio Sport 172? They're becoming sought after by the enthusiasts but are still way witin budget. If you can get a Monaco Blue one in decent condition with low'ish mileage that shouldn't be a bad investment (if you can call a frech tin box an investment!).
I'd be doing it for the fun / hobby aspect rather than thinking I'd get £10k for it in 2 years time.
Then again, it's already tricky enough convincing them a 20 year old Renault is a classic, but they'll come round. I won over the OH, but then again her dad is rather the petrol head so it wasn't that difficult.
I'm sure the Williams will be a right blast to sink your money into...
oh, wait, you didn't say invest did you?
As above, doubt it'll go up enough to be classed an investment, plus sitting idle on SORN for two years it will still need a bit of looking after to ensure it ages gracefully and doesn't seize up or fall to bits.
As you're on Pistonheads surely the biggest question is, if you got one are you really going to let it sit there or wouldn't you be siphoning off a cheeky bit of road tax out of your student dosh and finding excuses to go up and get it out 'just for a quick run to turn it over?' but if you start to drive it, you'll never get your money back
oh, wait, you didn't say invest did you?
As above, doubt it'll go up enough to be classed an investment, plus sitting idle on SORN for two years it will still need a bit of looking after to ensure it ages gracefully and doesn't seize up or fall to bits.
As you're on Pistonheads surely the biggest question is, if you got one are you really going to let it sit there or wouldn't you be siphoning off a cheeky bit of road tax out of your student dosh and finding excuses to go up and get it out 'just for a quick run to turn it over?' but if you start to drive it, you'll never get your money back
Maybe worth joining www.williamsclio.co.uk, friendly & knowledgeable bunch of us on there 
The good ones that have been coming up for sale recently have been slowly going up in price but don't seem to be selling very quick so maybe now is the right time to go get one.
I know a chap on the williams forum who is considering selling his soon, it will be advertised very expensive but it will be worth the money as I'd say it's probably the best example you're ever likely to find, it's in even better condition than the original 0001 that's owned by renault
The good ones that have been coming up for sale recently have been slowly going up in price but don't seem to be selling very quick so maybe now is the right time to go get one.
I know a chap on the williams forum who is considering selling his soon, it will be advertised very expensive but it will be worth the money as I'd say it's probably the best example you're ever likely to find, it's in even better condition than the original 0001 that's owned by renault
I owned a Clio Willy back in the day - as well as Valver.
In terms of an "investment", you should probably consider a savings account or something. Even when I owned mine in the 2001-2004 period, the Clio Mk1 was getting on a bit and it was very common to need to do surface bodywork and electrics periodically.
That said, the handling on my Willy was truly outstanding and I think only my old Clio 197 has since gotten close. The induction fizz and bark on a Clio 16V / Williams is truly awesome too, if you replace the airbox with a filter. Happy memories.
It's a common misconception that the Willy was somehow breathed-on by the F1 team - it wasn't; it was all RenaultSport's work - it was a celebration of the Renault Williams F1 victories at the time.
So, they're really good - but you'll need relatively deep pockets to keep a Willy in tip top condition. You need to use your "investment" then, rather than leave it static / off road.
In terms of an "investment", you should probably consider a savings account or something.
Even when I owned mine in the 2001-2004 period, the Clio Mk1 was getting on a bit and it was very common to need to do surface bodywork and electrics periodically. That said, the handling on my Willy was truly outstanding and I think only my old Clio 197 has since gotten close. The induction fizz and bark on a Clio 16V / Williams is truly awesome too, if you replace the airbox with a filter. Happy memories.
It's a common misconception that the Willy was somehow breathed-on by the F1 team - it wasn't; it was all RenaultSport's work - it was a celebration of the Renault Williams F1 victories at the time.
So, they're really good - but you'll need relatively deep pockets to keep a Willy in tip top condition. You need to use your "investment" then, rather than leave it static / off road.
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