RE: Renault 5 GT Turbo: Pic Of The Week
Friday 15th April 2016
The countryside in spring is a tranquil and benign setting; what could disturb such a peaceful environment? Namely, a legendary French hot hatch classic tearing down the quiet roads. What could be more entertaining than chucking this cheeky little Renault around country lanes?
Renault 5 GT Turbo: Pic Of The Week
There's a full PH Hero story coming, so here's your desktop preview!
Plastered across the Renault's boot is the 'turbo' font, a word back in the 80s that simply meant bigger and better. Seeing the 5 GT turbo lift-off oversteer at a hairpin, followed by the whoosh of the turbo is a sight and sound to behold that is now so rare. A standard 5 GT Turbo this nice is an awfully rare sight nowadays, as of course so many were bodykitted beyond the realms of good taste. And then crashed.
So dig out your rose-tinted spectacles for a wallpaper to remind yourself of the hot hatch glory days. Is it as good as you remember? Hero story coming soon!
Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone etc)
Photo: Tim Brown
[Lee Stern]
Discussion
I saw a R5GTT the other day on the road it was a wide bodied one, i think the V6, said 'Turbo 2' on the back? it also looked completely standard with a middle aged guy driving, i was following in my Abarth and it certainly was quick ! . I actually thought to myself that its rare you see them lately, standard or chaved up.. but let alone seeing someone gunning it 
A Raider you say ... lovely things. Here's two of mine ...
... on the day I switched plates over.
My Mum had a couple of R5 Monaco's. Leather seats made it feel rather slidey in the bends and the power steering was so light it wasn't really the most appealing vehicle to drive.
I remember when I had my first very early R5GTT and despite large "turbo" stickers down the sides (it was the 1980s after all) I seem to remember quite a few folks being a bit surprised by the turn of speed a little R5 had to offer.
... on the day I switched plates over.
My Mum had a couple of R5 Monaco's. Leather seats made it feel rather slidey in the bends and the power steering was so light it wasn't really the most appealing vehicle to drive.
I remember when I had my first very early R5GTT and despite large "turbo" stickers down the sides (it was the 1980s after all) I seem to remember quite a few folks being a bit surprised by the turn of speed a little R5 had to offer.
I test-drove a new one back in the day, H-plate white with white bodykit - this was late-80s Essex. Wicked fast but felt like it was made of KitKat wrapper (other snacks are available). I would have loved one but the insurance...
The Raider was a great-looking car, hinting at the Clio Williams almost! I still have an original brochure somewhere.
The Raider was a great-looking car, hinting at the Clio Williams almost! I still have an original brochure somewhere.
I got into quite a lot of trouble for taking my company 5GTT to Brodie Brittain Racing. They boosted it to 155bhp from 115 and fitted a much stiffer and lowered front suspension. It knocked 10 secs a lap off its time around Goodwood. It did however develop quite an appetite for front tyres and intercoolers as a result, and the clutch cables gave up up even more frequently than they had before. I wonder what happened to D514 SGP. Imagine it's been melted down by now.
Here's another one ...
They were great weren't they? Although I seem to remember getting some adverse comments about it from my Mum who didn't find them that comfortable. Something about the seats pinching her hips ..
I also seem to remember carrying around a spare supply of clutch cables as they were always breaking, the most unfortunate time was when I was in Spa for the Belgian GP and had to "make progress" the Monday morning (following a hasty cable replacement by the Renault garage that used to be at La Source hairpin) in order to catch my ferry, which of course we made with minutes to spare.
They were great weren't they? Although I seem to remember getting some adverse comments about it from my Mum who didn't find them that comfortable. Something about the seats pinching her hips ..
I also seem to remember carrying around a spare supply of clutch cables as they were always breaking, the most unfortunate time was when I was in Spa for the Belgian GP and had to "make progress" the Monday morning (following a hasty cable replacement by the Renault garage that used to be at La Source hairpin) in order to catch my ferry, which of course we made with minutes to spare.
Wonderful and iconic cars. I haven't seen a 5 on the road for many years.
The only one I call seeing was a few years ago at Goodwood and it belonged to the young chap who had recently become the Stig and was proudly showing me the car.
My mother had a tungsten green 1.7 GTX. I recall it had walloping torque steer but was great fun. It was written off one night when some cabinets came off the garage wall. The old Ferguson VideoStar VHS recorder that had been on top of one of the cabinets comprehensively demolished the roof.
The only one I call seeing was a few years ago at Goodwood and it belonged to the young chap who had recently become the Stig and was proudly showing me the car.
My mother had a tungsten green 1.7 GTX. I recall it had walloping torque steer but was great fun. It was written off one night when some cabinets came off the garage wall. The old Ferguson VideoStar VHS recorder that had been on top of one of the cabinets comprehensively demolished the roof.
R66STU said:
I saw a R5GTT the other day on the road it was a wide bodied one, i think the V6, said 'Turbo 2' on the back? it also looked completely standard with a middle aged guy driving, i was following in my Abarth and it certainly was quick ! . I actually thought to myself that its rare you see them lately, standard or chaved up.. but let alone seeing someone gunning it
that'll been me. I've had a hard paper round I'm not quite middle aged though & it isn't a V6 or a GTT. Just a Turbo 2..1397cc four pot. Similar to the GTT but at the other end & longitudinally mounted rather than transversepaulyv said:
bargain! hope those seat belts are heat resistantEdited by jamesy12345 on Friday 15th April 23:30
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