1994 Renault Clio Williams 2 Review - The Greatest Hatch Of All?

Today, for my second part in a week of famous Renaults, we are looking at one of the most celebrated of all. They may have annoyed initial customers by making far too many of them, but there is no denying the Clio Williams is a legendary car. Let's see how it drives.
#Renault #Clio #Williams
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[@mrc7966]

I bought one of these last year for 5k. I had always been curious about them and figured I could do it up a bit and sell it on...after just a few weeks I was in love and all questions of selling it went out the window.

[@mac_le_maniac]

That's what these hot Reno's do to a person😂

[@gusboimackie4642]

You are so lucky

[@skumgadden]

That is sooo cheap 😮😮 I have been looking around in Europe for a Williams but they cost around 15-30k € 🤷‍♂️

[@eduardoreis5380]

22 years with one, selled about 5 y ago to a collector with 375 000km, now the price is the triple....😭 The BEST car ever had ❤️

[@_Turn-On]

@@skumgadden Between 15k and 30k there is a big gap

[@brianiswrong]

At 54 years old,Iam well placed to remember the commotion this car caused pre internet times.a car you could drive at 8/10ths on a public road,scare and excite yourself and (almost stay within the given roads speed limit.

[@Pooley650]

The parcel shelf compartment was known as a 'garment case' officially, and was present in the Baccara trim too 👍

[@tommyRfrancis]

Character and soul, that’s what is missing from cars these days, too clinical. My late cousin had a Williams, he was awesome, always looked up to him. When I was 21 I got a Clio 16v, great times. Thanks for the blast from the past ☺️👍🏼

[@_TheElMan]

Agreed. Original Suzuki Swift Sport was the last car like this IMO. Enough power for fun without having to go silly speeds to enjoy. They killed that with a turbo too.

[@markwalton8644]

@Dogs Bollocks The Williams has good low down torque and low weight. It certainly doesn't hang about.

[@chappy2121]

@@_TheElMan the swift gti before was even better

[@liamschannel6294]

chappy2121 agreed mate! The mk1 ignis sport was too bad either, cheap and cheerful and mostly placstic but nice wee 1.4 engine it lol

[@DaveJohnson]

My brother had one of those and loved it so much that when he sold it he bought it back a few months later. It did a good job of keeping up with a Fiat Coupe 20v turbo too! Thanks for reminding me of some great driving experiences from days gone by 👍

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I like the blue paint and gold wheels!

[@Zsword92]

Thanks for including the spec sheet in the new videos James. I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed and appreciates it!

[@garethlittlewood6344]

Awesome car, looking forward to the other fast renaults you've got coming up!

[@nick140i2]

Lovely car. I’m particularly enjoying this current crop of videos - keep up the good work

[@heikkiremes5661]

I've lusted after these as long as I remember, I was 9 when it first came out. Such a pretty little thing.

[@nzKnut]

My dream hatch too

[@Markknightexeter]

Haha same!

[@dannyconway2612]

Great videos, i grew up with all these cars, well jelous of the guys collection and fair play to him letting you put them on your channel.

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Bring back the old days ! Yes sounds good to me !

[@Develop4Media]

Loving the current 80s/90s nostalgia trip :)

[@gigglebob69]

My all time favourite hot hatch. Thankyou for taking it out for a blast

[@swiper1818]

Well done on surpassing 100k subscribers - these are great reviews!

[@markwalton8644]

I knew you'd enjoy this Jay!! One if thee best hot hatches ever, although I believe the 182 Trophy was pretty special. Maybe that could be your next drive. Then you'll have to admit your love for hot hatches 😄

[@lukewatts3284]

Love the variety of cars on this channel one of my favourite youtubers 👍

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Thanks Luke

[@grahamnutt8958]

I was going to question the rated hp as being either 172 or 182 but then realised (quick Google search) that those were VERY limited editions to the featured car. I'm almost shocked to see how few Williams 1/2/3 still remain as I used to see quite a few of these around at one point. Another quality review and thanks 👍

[@bassface8580]

Dude I think you would be at home presenting top gear. I'd be happy to watch that too. Very professional and you got that voice. Nice videos

[@youngstayoung6633]

Top car back in the day and they weren't everywhere then

[@andytims1]

Drove one "back in the day" fantastic car. Road so well for such a short wheelbase. Very much more refined than the 5GTT, but still bags of fun.

[@NeonXXP]

I had the 1.8 version that wasn't a Williams and it was insanely fun. Lowered, it handled like a go kart, K&N induction kit made it properly grunt, and de-cat had it popping flames XD Different times.

[@callytheblueparakeet]

Had a Renault Clio RT 1.4 in Midnight Blue… bought the RSi scoop bonnet to make it looks Williams-esque given I was 18 years of age and cash strapped. Loved this video, nostalgia inducing and yearning for a proper Williams now I’m in my 30s!!

[@rtorbs]

I had a mint 'valver' as my first proper car and absolutely loved it, can only imagine the williams to be better still........much like the 205 1.9, a big lump in a car that weighs as much as a roller skate was insane.. Balls to the wall hot hatch days lol

[@D4rkS4v4nt]

Funny you should mention the seats my mate had a Renault 9 when we were at college and the seats were like something from a fighter plane or space craft. Extremely comfortable and endlessly adjustable, perhaps ergonomics is something the French are quite good at??? Looking forward to the Clio 172 and the Peugeot 306 GTi6 👍

[@Scoodee17]

I had the Williams 3, 15 years ago and before seeing this vid did not know about the zip bag thing under the parcel shelf

[@cameronhall6733]

My dream car growing up. Probably why I have a Clio 172 in a similar colour. French hatch’s are great, cheap fun.

[@gcntech9071]

I remember many of the 1.8 16vblue owners got the the same golden wheels and the stickers because it was really so cool back then. Beautiful car indeed.

[@davidgeorge9233]

I recall wanting one of these when I was younger, I was in a 106 1.4 XSI at the time and the Williams seemed like another league up in performance! Anyone wanting to get some of the nostalgia of these hatches should take a look at the current gen Swift Sport, 140hp (actually 155ish) 170ft lb and 980kgs, the handling isn’t as sharp as the older cars but with such low weight and useful torque they are surprisingly good fun. Suzuki have just “detuned” the current model with an ISG and whilst it makes less peak hp it does have a stronger midrange.

[@woodsy555]

I remember these coming out right in my hay day one hell of a car I've also owned a clio 182 cup excellent cars 👍👍

[@jameslatimer1432]

My old Renault 5 turbo loved it all ways wanted one with a Megha body kit fitted I remember you could pick them up very reasonable price back 25 years ago Corsica body kit I think

[@nealadsett8484]

A test of the Renault 21 Turbo would be interesting. I believe they were rather rapid for the time. Another underrated 80’s hot hatch was the Fiat Strada (Ritmo) Abarth. In motoring tests it fared well against Golf Gti’s and Astra GTE’s.

[@LarsAgerbk]

This video taught me about the holy trinity of late-ninetees F1-hot-hatchbacks. Never heard of them before.

[@peterhurst]

I had a 19 16v for 10 years, basically same engine in a bigger chassis. Loved it

[@DLIN666]

The 19 16v had a 1.8 engine, the same one they put in the Clio 16v, both put out around 137bhp. The Williams had a 2.0 16v lump producing 147bhp.

[@drazenbudis7881]

Yes the 19 had the 1.8 version of the engine, however, when you swap in the Williams powertrain, it really is extremly close to the Williams as they actually used 19 16v front subframe, suspension design, steering rack and seats in a Williams.

[@liamschannel6294]

Love these old clio’s mate quality video👌

[@Brickhazard]

You need to get in a 205 Gti at some point.

[@saunlloyd1475]

Factory spec.

[@markcompton6750]

I’ve had both and to be honest I preferred the Clio, the 205 in Miami blue looked better tho....

[@andrewradford1334]

The Clio Williams were the better cars for me other than throttle response - nothing beats a 1.9 205 for that in this era! I'd rate the 205 more against the R5 GT Turbo as the Clio is a huge step forwards in so many ways due to it being 8 years (...ish) or so newer. The Clio 16v may have been a slightly less sharp car pitched against a 205 and also a fair 2nd to a 205, but for me, the Williams was enough to surpass the 205. Would be excellent to see the 205 featured - reignite the 1.6 sweet-spot on handling vs the 1.9 comparative brute performance debate all over again!

[@Brickhazard]

@@andrewradford1334 I have no qualms that a Clio Williams is a better car but the 205 GTi is the ultimate hot hatch.

[@andrewradford1334]

@@Brickhazard It's a close call, but for me it was still the Williams that was the ultimate (possibly surpassed itself by the later 182 Trophy, but I've never had/driven one of those so couldn't comment for sure). Now, a 205 with the Mi16 conversion - there is something that I'd love to have a proper go in as potential to tip the scales! Either way, both great great iconic cars that need to be kept going.

[@wightangel]

They also did the Williams trim and colour in several other of the Renault model range about the same time. My mate had a Renault 14(I believe) that was in the same trim. It was gorgeous, but then my mate had all the quick cars out of all of us due to having a well paid job. Wasn't jealous of course.

[@BarneyWobba]

Fantastic cars and bloody rare now. I've had a Raider R5GTT and Willy 1 and 172 Ph1 and 182 Trophy. The Williams has the most character, it's got that retro-racer feel, and those arches and bonnet bulge... Loved the R5 as well but get a gear wrong and the lag kills it, with the Willy the low down torque is amazing. That car you drove would easily go for £20k now and rising fast. The shelf in the boot is a suit carrier! *Edit: I also had a Series McRae Impreza Turbo, which is what I assume the 'blue car with gold wheels' was referring to!

[@SPW0708]

I’m proud to say that I have owned a Clio Williams.

[@Tom_murray89]

Love your videos my dad had Renault 5 turbo I think it was a 2nd generation

[@JJ-zg1hh]

Loved this vid so much I watched it twice. Great car from my youth - shame that Williams is currently a back marker team but when this car came out they were on top of the world. I always thought that the Williams 2 looked far better than the 1, so this is exactly the classic car of my dreams. One day...

[@julienbee3467]

There's been 2 phases of Clio Williams ?

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Three actually

[@JamieR1988]

Do the Honda Civic Jordan!!!! Please!!

[@ghost.driversuk]

Very informative, now I want one ha 😎👍🏻

[@Ryancrypto121]

I had one of these in 2002. Ran it on pirelli drago's 195/55/15's went through a set every 2- 3 months, Best hot hatch I ever had. Was so much better than a golf mk2 gti, 205gti 1.9 and even 11turbo. It would go across roundabouts at 70mph on 2 wheels.

[@ciaranburke3243]

Keep them coming, old school is what its all about, modren cars are for the most part detached from the driver, and therefor sappiing a lot of the fun 😭

[@spainter1985]

They genuinely put a fair bit of effort in back then to hot hatches - the fact it's got such butch arches and a bonnet make it look very purposeful.

[@debbiepeter112]

New subscriber her. Love the content. I drive a 2001 Mini Cooper (first year of BMW) and love older cars. Dont really like new cars as they are just missing that something special.

[@johnbeagley1195]

Hmm...the genuine replacement for the Renault 5 Turbo was actually the Clio 16V. It had a 1.7 engine...and 137BHP - only 13 less for the bigger engine in the Williams. It was only 0.1sec less to 60mph. It was out before the Renault Williams 1. I loved it. It was faster than a 1.9 Peugeot 205 GTI It was out a couple of years before the first Williams.. It had the flared arches, same suspension, same wheels/tyres without the blue and gold.

[@palethorpe01]

Less than 24 hours ago I made cheeky comment about reviewing a Clio Williams, and here are with that very request fulfilled. You work fast my friend.

[@markwalton8644]

Me to.🤘

[@jameslatimer1432]

Great video Jamie son 👍

[@shockwave.studios]

I've seen one for sale for a bargain price of 2000$, been considering getting one to restore and sale it

[@haveyoueverwondered23]

Jay, that shirt is brilliant!!!

[@1968leg]

Who really cares about a Golf R? Cars were full of heart and soul in these days. Keep the gems coming. Love it.

[@stuartliddle7228]

You lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky BXXXXXXD!!!! Very nice... Now find a really good r19. challenge!

[@FuelwithDave]

Filming in my neck of the woods in Herefordshire I see 😎😉

[@thatsbod1041]

Great vid as always but I wonder if you could have some longer sustained POV driving shots when you're on it - that would be cool 👍🏻

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Unfortunately not for obvious reasons

[@thatsbod1041]

@@JayEmmOnCars surely pixels can be your friend or even slightly off centre shots?

[@vladimirpolitov168]

Nice Clio, great review!

[@linoabreu5477]

Some quality review 👌

[@westsideeasy3241]

Im a 45 year old man...had a gt turbo phase 2 then a gt turbo "Raider" then a clio Williams 2. The best fun cars I've ever had and would love to have one of them again but sadly they weren't released in Australia where i am now. They are all terrible electrically but AMAZING to drive..miss u all😚

[@ListingViews]

I absolutely adored my Williams 2! The seats held you in place perfectly, the steering was really well weighted, lift-off oversteer around large roundabouts... amazing. I bought mine in ‘99 and the previous owner had chipped it, removed the cat and replaced it with a stainless straight system. It sounded fantastic. I eventually sold it when my dad gave me his old Porsche 944, which felt like a heavy, lumbering car. I regret selling the Williams as it’s perhaps my favorite car I’ve ever owned.

[@markwalton8644]

Get another one or you'll regret it!! I have had mine since 2001. Such a lovely drive and I regret to say it's in the garage having a complete rebuild. Really really miss driving it🥺

[@ListingViews]

@@markwalton8644, hey that's a long time to have kept it. Sounds like you'll be keeping that forever! That's going to be fantastic once it's rebuilt; you should make your own KZbin video of it. I moved to California about 15 years ago and it's possibly the most strict state in the US for imports. So even if I could afford to import one, I wouldn't be able to legally drive it here. My current car is a '17 Camaro 2SS, just like JayEmm reviewed in one of his very recent videos. With 455hp and 455lbs. ft. of torque, it's incredibly quick, but I still miss the Clio.

[@markwalton8644]

It's definitely a keeper, my wife has been told!! I'm not sure doing the You Tube channel would be the idea. It's a long term project, maybe it could be one where people take photos and speed it up so it looks like its being rebuilt really quickly. Shame you couldn't have a Williams clio. Could you have a more modern Renault Sport, the Californian hills look really fun.

[@ListingViews]

Mark Walton, nah, modern or old, California doesn’t really care. They’re just pretty much against anything that wasn’t originally sold in the US market. It’s next to impossible to register an import here. Probably emissions related. Other states are more lax. I was supposed to be moving to Michigan earlier this year, before the virus ruined my plans. Where California is mountainous, Michigan is flat with just straight roads. It’s where the big US manufacturers are based, so when you look at their roads, it’s easy to understand why America really didn’t care about producing cars that went around corners until fairly recently. My previous car was a 2012 WRX, so I wanted something that would still be fun on the mountain roads here. The Camaro was the lightest of the three “muscle” cars (Mustang and Challenger, being the others), and according to reviews was the best drivers’ car of the three. Until you got to the much more expensive Shelby versions of the Mustang anyway. So I’m not sure there’s any point in me finding something fun in the corners for Michigan. I’m going to have to deal with 4 or 5 months of snow, so I’m going to have to look at something with ground clearance and AWD/4WD. Boring really.

[@markwalton8644]

@@ListingViews oh well mate. You'll have to take a new hobby up. Maybe shooting, seems to be the hobby of choice over there😄🤣🤣

[@andywoodqs]

Does your mate have a Citroen Saxo VTS in his collection? Had one back in the day and loved it. It was a proper pocket rocket

[@Birmingham_racing]

Probably has a body kit on it if he finds one

[@chappy2121]

They are deceptively quick little cars. Been in a cammed and stripped out one round cadwell park very quick. The 106gtis are basically the same but carry a premium

[@vinaychauhan7936]

Had a Williams phase 1 and then a 172 phase 2. Williams was simply sublime. 172 was appreciably faster, but didn’t have the Williams’ magic handling and feel

[@patrickbateman7122]

Same! Had a go in a phase 1 172 amd the Williams was in another universe for me as a driver's car..

[@melvinmartinali]

About a year a go i saw one of these rusting a rotting away on renault sport junkjard......seeing that made me want to cry

[@jameslatimer1432]

You can really do these engines up and make a lot of power

[@sSW-nu1lb]

I loved these cars, and back in the day was very fortunate to get about the last one available. No chance of having a test-drive, but they said if you want to put your money down then they can make a call, and i was very lucky. remember driving it out of the garage and thinking it was fantastic. Then the next generation arrived! had i known the consequences i would never have started. my wife decided she couldn't cope with a three door and car seats etc!! Calamity. So I went from a second-hand alpina b9 3.5 (auto unfortunately but i was trying to keep my licence) - which i bought for £7500!! to buying a brand new clio Williams 2. So, not bad. And then from the williams 2 to a second-hand Mondeo 1.6. So bloody awful!!

[@gusboimackie4642]

That's shit bit of a downgrade low

[@888johnmac]

you say clio .. i say Nicole ?? Papa ??

[@TheCarGuysTV]

That’s what I thought

[@richard-bt1lq]

If you could review a 182 that would take me right back!!! 💥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@syvee45]

The suit carrier or garment case in rear shelf 👍

[@SebLoeb09Cars]

😃😃😃 on this car i have learned driving 💪 that was 18 year’s ago 😍 what a car 💪

[@GreenandGold]

The seats were amazing you gave me a flashback from 15 years ago watching this video. Loved the car but I wasn’t really a fan of the handling.

[@harald.370]

The pouch is obviously there for your racing suit... 😎

[@grahammurphy5516]

Looking forward to seeing the Espace F1😎

[@JamesGadbury]

Haha, yes! Was the Espace F1 a one-off?

[@andrewgurney6019]

Please tell me the Renault 5 Turbo mid engined rocket will be in this series. That car was simply outrageous and stunning looking.

[@GTAjedi]

Have a go in a Clio 172. I remember being seriously impressed by one of those back in the day

[@FenderUsa]

he did a video on the 182

[@GTAjedi]

@@FenderUsa I'll check it out

[@nileaoux]

I drove the valver, 16v. The car was the best looking small hatch so even when approaching it I'd get excited... and then the first note of the starting engine would just build the drama... it was driving seat glued to the engine... And I'm told that willy had much more torque...

[@miljanzbork371]

My dream car 😍

[@Gibbo205]

Cracking cars, but eclipsed by the 172 Cup and 182 Trophy which are truly amazing, but agreed the stuff that came after and the very latest stuff is just so fast and too planted that to enjoy on the road at legal speeds is just near impossible.

[@patrickbateman7122]

IMO the greatest hot hatch ever made and I'm not the only one to think it..I've got a BRZ and the Williams was 100x more fun to drive! Everything feels like a video game now where all feel is hidden under layers further insulating you from the joy of driving. That car was so raw, used to make me pml! 🤣 i don't care that it's fwd,rwd,awd,1wd lol. That car was setup for people who enjoyed driving where my current car feels like a blunt instrument in comparison. That's it!! Off to the classifieds..

[@markhendry1]

Patrick Bateman I’ve looked at a selection of some of the greats from that era over the last 12 months, Clio, 205GTI, 325 sport and a few others, so expensive now unfortunately.

[@patrickbateman7122]

@@markhendry1 Yeah decent Williams go for 18-20k...

[@v4-goose147]

Get a 5gt turbo and a Williams on a ramp and the underside is basically identical. 182 is also the same bar the rear axle

[@timorgano]

I always loved the Williams. Was never a normal Clio fan, but really liked that one. Just a shame I was too young to drive them at the time.

[@s_s_s_cars]

The Williams is a great drive 👍

[@bign3ck]

I love that bonnet bulge, for my that and the gold wheels were the stand out features.

[@nicholasmassey3046]

The yellow top combined with the blue seat belt makes Jay look like a minion...

[@JayEmmOnCars]

MANANAAAA

[@eni3995]

Lancia Delta Integrale EVO is the greatest. But love the Willi too.

[@richtaylor5689]

like to know your thoughts on the 206 gti 180... and do a review.

[@km6832]

The vent in the hood, where does it go? What does it do?

[@Maurice_Moss]

The French loved putting velour upholstery in their cars didn't they 😅

[@markwalton8644]

It's a really nice place to be. Jay spot on with those seats, they truly are the most comfortable and supportive seats ever!!

[@chooseymomschoose]

@@markwalton8644 Big boi seats...

[@sebastiannaumanen1819]

Those seats are from Renault 19 16V and many other front suspension parts too.

[@WegrennerX]

Yes saxo 1.6 16v had that too

[@Will-pp8si]

Clio Williams 2 - weights in at the same weight as the Williams 1, being 970kg, the Williams 3 is heavier weighting in at 1025kg because it is fitted with ABS and other diluting comforts compared to the Williams 1 and Williams 2 which are basically the same apart from a few styling difference's.

[@Doubledeepfried]

My nephew had this Williams, I had a fiesta rs turbo. Always a "battle" who had the better car :-)

[@jimparry3499]

Yes, yes and more yes. 💪🏻

[@papapetad]

Sweet little machine. Def one of the best hot hatches ever built.

[@liamschannel6294]

8:56 RIP to my ear drums lying in bed watching this with head phones in ouch lol

[@andrejusgerasimovas1586]

I like this one 👍🏻

[@_BitJager_]

I almost died in one of those in a crash on the NS at fuchsröhre as a passenger.

[@radfordhall5148]

They were great cars. I had the 1.8 16v in dark blue. It had a very similar interior to the Williams & even had an electric sunroof. I treated myself to it when I split with an old girlfriend. Needless to say, driving one of these back then, I soon got a new girl! ;)

[@TheEarlofK]

I've never really been a fan of hatchbacks of any description, save for the little Mazda 323 that my father let me drive eons ago, which seemed to be glued to the road at what seemed then at impossible speeds. However, I have always had a soft spot for the Williams Clio, mainly because they were still 'top dogs' in F1 at the time, and this is the only car that they 'branded', as far as I know, although it was of course a connected to the BTCC programme that they were running with Renault at the time. I think I would go for the Williams Clio 3, mainly because it has a sun roof, because once you've had one with a car you can never go back.

[@drazenbudis7881]

They weren’t *yet* running the BTCC programme when this Clio was made, this connection was from the Renault-Williams cooperation in F1 at the time.

[@josho1994]

My dream car…

[@namAlexander]

owned 2 clio 16v good car but the engine likes redline to come to life and handling is better than the 5gt turbo , but i liked the turbo feel better, also the clio was not as reliable the 2nd i had one had 25k, the front springs is a common fault of fail but the oil pressure ect were bang on and thats another issue, the willams if you think its just 12 bhp its a different car due to suspension ect, mad difference.

[@sebastiannaumanen1819]

1.8 16V vs 2.0 16V the main difference is the longer stroke and therefore higher torque especially in lower rpm. I used to own R19 16V (F7P) and Megane I 2.0 16V (F7R) and Megane was only nicer because of the engine. Now I own Clio 172 ph1 and that F4R engine is just miles above the old but nice F7P/R engine.

[@zorbatec]

Dream car old school

[@niko_m_e36]

Clio Williams 😍

[@wallstock]

Fancy trying out my stock 205 GTI, James? 52k miles from new (1988).

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Hi Lew, I may do - drop me a line on [e-mail]- I have a few potential 205s to drive