RE: SOTW: Renault Fuego GTX
Discussion
I was in business with a guy who bought a black top of the range - 2.0 GTX? I drove it often but can't remember a thing about it - so it obviously made little impression on me. But I do remember the Fuego boot was useless - very shallow. I usually drove it when the usual driver borrowed my Cavalier 1.8SRi when he needed to carry a couple of computers and monitors (no chance in the Fuego).
GregE240 said:
Basically, as hugo alluded to, its the huge rear window, and also the wiper - there were a number of instances of the big brush lifting the wiper and smashing it back on to the rear screen, breaking it, or the big brush pressure could break it.
Interesting. There are no such problems (that I am aware of) with the 924/944/968. Maybe more proof that the rear screens aren't the same!
Oli.
zcacogp said:
GregE240 said:
Basically, as hugo alluded to, its the huge rear window, and also the wiper - there were a number of instances of the big brush lifting the wiper and smashing it back on to the rear screen, breaking it, or the big brush pressure could break it.
Interesting. There are no such problems (that I am aware of) with the 924/944/968. Maybe more proof that the rear screens aren't the same!
Oli.
|http://thumbsnap.com/v/EGmqkvZv.jpg[/url]odysseyireland said:
Skyedriver said:
Friend of mine at the time had one, always got a bit of stick over it.
Charles Morrin, went to Houston Texas and we lost touch, anyone know where he is now?
Could this be your friend, if so contact details are listed.Charles Morrin, went to Houston Texas and we lost touch, anyone know where he is now?
http://whois.domaintools.com/valvenet.us
NB the 'Contact Settings: Getting back in touch".
Go for it!
jakeb said:
My tribute to the Fuego several years ago. It handled suprisingly well after i welded the engine mounts up and removed the interior
I have just remembered that mine suffered from a bit of rust on the A pillar (well more of a hole you could stick your hand in) so i filled it with builders spray foam and gave it a bit of a sand down before i painted it - i wonder where she is now.Edited by jakeb on Friday 13th November 14:19
jakeb said:
I have just remembered that mine suffered from a bit of rust on the A pillar (well more of a hole you could stick your hand in) so i filled it with builders spray foam and gave it a bit of a sand down before i painted it - i wonder where she is now.
What was the reg? Very unlikely it's survived but you never know, I know somebody who has a couple.Saw my first one as a nipper. Under spotlights at night in the showroom of AC Williams in Stamford. Must have been around 1980.
Loved the Porsche 924 style rear hatch. I was totally impressed with the electric windows, headlight wipers and wierd shaped seats.
30 years on I've got a real soft spot for these - and for some reason the other Renaults of that generation.
I can't halp but think it'd be a bit of a let down. Looks great but don't forget you've got the performance of a 1980s Renault.
Its a top shed and worth saving, though as others have said, it's probably a money pit in the making.
Loved the Porsche 924 style rear hatch. I was totally impressed with the electric windows, headlight wipers and wierd shaped seats.
30 years on I've got a real soft spot for these - and for some reason the other Renaults of that generation.
I can't halp but think it'd be a bit of a let down. Looks great but don't forget you've got the performance of a 1980s Renault.
Its a top shed and worth saving, though as others have said, it's probably a money pit in the making.
jakeb said:
My tribute to the Fuego several years ago. It handled suprisingly well after i welded the engine mounts up and removed the interior
That's a nice 80s Renault F1 paintjob!Edited by jakeb on Friday 13th November 14:19
modenaf7red said:
I had one of these when I was at college back in 1982 - loved that car. Great memories, but the one that stands out:
Some jealous dick poured a bad of sugar down the neck of the fuel tank. Luckily a drunken student spotted this on the way back from the union and gave me the heads up. I replaced the tank (which was rusty anyway) then started to plot my revenge.
The Student accommodation caretaker for our block was a bit of a strange chap and bought cans of food from somewhere - but they never had any labels on them - he would sell them on as pot luck. Sometimes you got beans or soup other times dog food!
He sold a few tins of awful dog food, even the students wouldn't eat it, they were quickly returned. I bought the whole batch off him! I then proceeded to mix it up in a big bucket, cant remember what else I added but it turned out to be pretty disgusting.
I then followed the sugar terrorist, waited until he was in a lecture, then went back to his flat. Popped the lock on his door and proceeded to cover every single item he owned with the dog food gunge mixture.
Basically wet myself laughing every time I saw him for the next 3 years!
Haha! How long have you been waiting for the SOTW to be a Renault Fuego just to tell that story?!?Some jealous dick poured a bad of sugar down the neck of the fuel tank. Luckily a drunken student spotted this on the way back from the union and gave me the heads up. I replaced the tank (which was rusty anyway) then started to plot my revenge.
The Student accommodation caretaker for our block was a bit of a strange chap and bought cans of food from somewhere - but they never had any labels on them - he would sell them on as pot luck. Sometimes you got beans or soup other times dog food!
He sold a few tins of awful dog food, even the students wouldn't eat it, they were quickly returned. I bought the whole batch off him! I then proceeded to mix it up in a big bucket, cant remember what else I added but it turned out to be pretty disgusting.
I then followed the sugar terrorist, waited until he was in a lecture, then went back to his flat. Popped the lock on his door and proceeded to cover every single item he owned with the dog food gunge mixture.
Basically wet myself laughing every time I saw him for the next 3 years!
Edited by modenaf7red on Friday 13th November 14:40
Blimey - Did I read right when someone said these 'handled well for the times'?
Well the one I had in Jersey for a weekend definitely didn't!!!!!
I've NEVER encountered such terminal understeer in a car as with the Fuego (Something not dissimilar was uttered as it tried to pitch us over a cliff on the first bend we entered on a twisty road!), it was truly frightening.
This was 1983 and at the time I owned a Vauxhall Cavalier coupe - To make any kind of comparison about handling between the two is utterly pointless the Vauxhall went around bends, the Fuego just basically didn't!!!
Even my father's Triumph Acclaim was less frightening (it always felt as if the body was not actually connected to the wheels), but it didn't have enough power to try and kill you.
I had been thinking of buying a Fuego before that weekend - I bought a revolver and 5 bullets instead; it seemed safer.
M.
Well the one I had in Jersey for a weekend definitely didn't!!!!!
I've NEVER encountered such terminal understeer in a car as with the Fuego (Something not dissimilar was uttered as it tried to pitch us over a cliff on the first bend we entered on a twisty road!), it was truly frightening.
This was 1983 and at the time I owned a Vauxhall Cavalier coupe - To make any kind of comparison about handling between the two is utterly pointless the Vauxhall went around bends, the Fuego just basically didn't!!!
Even my father's Triumph Acclaim was less frightening (it always felt as if the body was not actually connected to the wheels), but it didn't have enough power to try and kill you.
I had been thinking of buying a Fuego before that weekend - I bought a revolver and 5 bullets instead; it seemed safer.
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Friday 13th November 20:53
I bopught one of these in 1992.
It was a 1985 gts, had a tuned 1750cc Gordini engine in it and went very well. Off the clock actually a couple of times.
Handling was very good compared to the capri I swopped it for and best of all it had a ful length electric webasto roof.
Driving out of the office on a Friday night along Broad Street with the roof back windows down and stereo loud was great.
funnily enough I've been to the classic car show at the nec today with a couple of mates and we all owned fuegos around the same time. We've reminisced a lot today but one thing we agreed with was that if a Fuego came up for sale we'd all consider buying one again.
It was a 1985 gts, had a tuned 1750cc Gordini engine in it and went very well. Off the clock actually a couple of times.
Handling was very good compared to the capri I swopped it for and best of all it had a ful length electric webasto roof.
Driving out of the office on a Friday night along Broad Street with the roof back windows down and stereo loud was great.
funnily enough I've been to the classic car show at the nec today with a couple of mates and we all owned fuegos around the same time. We've reminisced a lot today but one thing we agreed with was that if a Fuego came up for sale we'd all consider buying one again.
Oh dearie, dearie me.
I worked for a Renault main dealer in the early eighties as a mechanic. We had dozens of Fuegos coming through the workshop every week. Utterly, utterly joyless cars, the electrics were appauling, the engines were dog rough and gutless and the build quality was truly laughable. The turbo version let alone the 1.4 - was a complete no hoper - you'd need a calendar, not a stopwatch to measure the 0-60 times and when you eventually got some speed going on it'd try to kill you on every corner.
I just cannot understand how Renaualt even managed to produce any at all, let alone sell them in the numbers they did. Renault, with the possible exception of the R16 and R25, have never been any good at larger cars, and the Fuego was one of the very worst they ever made.
I worked for a Renault main dealer in the early eighties as a mechanic. We had dozens of Fuegos coming through the workshop every week. Utterly, utterly joyless cars, the electrics were appauling, the engines were dog rough and gutless and the build quality was truly laughable. The turbo version let alone the 1.4 - was a complete no hoper - you'd need a calendar, not a stopwatch to measure the 0-60 times and when you eventually got some speed going on it'd try to kill you on every corner.
I just cannot understand how Renaualt even managed to produce any at all, let alone sell them in the numbers they did. Renault, with the possible exception of the R16 and R25, have never been any good at larger cars, and the Fuego was one of the very worst they ever made.
forzaminardi said:
Very interesting choice of car this week, but not sure if I'd be tempted as much as usual! Even at that price I could easily imagine this car being a world of expensive pain even over a few months.
I remember back in something like 1982 one of my dad's colleagues had one of these and would sometime pick my dad up for a lift to work in it. I thought it was brilliantly cool then, but to my contemporary eyes its an odd looking machine.
Anyway, good 'off beat' choice.
Ditto!I remember back in something like 1982 one of my dad's colleagues had one of these and would sometime pick my dad up for a lift to work in it. I thought it was brilliantly cool then, but to my contemporary eyes its an odd looking machine.
Anyway, good 'off beat' choice.
Looking back at one now I can't really fathom why I used to think they were such a good-looking car when I was in my early 20s!
Chimune said:
TIGA84 said:
Chimune said:
I keep waiting for the Rancho to appear as SOTW ( or be mentioned at all on any car site.. )
Only 7 left according to the Rancho owners club guy I chatted to the other year at the Bromley Pageant apparently.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff