renault 5 gt turbo,

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Discussion

exgtt

Original Poster:

2,067 posts

211 months

Wednesday 6th August 2008
quotequote all
come on guys it didnt handle like a 205, but the lightweight, plus all the ainchent pushrod torque, it cant be that bad?? i see it as the lunatic hot hatch! the lack of engineering- the noise - the looks (at the time) the way it can kill you in a light crash - - - does this not appeal to no one? My car gave me so much feedback from the engine - suspension - brakes etc

what was it like for renault garages offerering warranties,when selling cars to divs with no idea. what this car a long headache for renault

Pigeon

18,535 posts

245 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
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First Turbo 2 I saw had the number plate TUR 802...

The plain 5GTT... chap here has got one and it seems to spend more time off the road than on...

Darkslider

3,071 posts

188 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
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Hey, apologies to the OP for a minor hijack but not sure this question is worth starting a new thread. Can anyone name any cars that are in a similar class to the 5? Looking for ideas for cars less than 1600 cc that are quick but fall into the lower (pre 2001) tax bracket. Got the common ones such as Punto GT Turbo 1.4, Starlet Turbo, Swift GTi, any quick 1.5 civic, RX-7???? But any more would be appreciated.
And to answer your question the looks of the 5 have never grown on me particularly, and the fact that most of them have deteriorated now makes them less desirable. Got to respect manufacturers having the guts to turbocharge such small engines though, sticking two fingers up in the face of reliability smile

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
I worked on these when they were new at a Renault main dealer in the early '80's.

The basic engineering - like most French cars - was pretty tough, and the 1.4 engine was an ancient design. But they were let down by poor component and build quality, some were much better than others but they were a world apart from what people expect today.

Even when they were new though we had lots of problems - like snapped exhaust bolts, carburettor and electrical failures. All in all they were a PITA.

The driving experience was a bit of a let down too - lots of torque steer, turbo lag and if it came on boost halfway round a wet corner it'd kill you.

RA500

251 posts

195 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
Darkslider said:
Hey, apologies to the OP for a minor hijack but not sure this question is worth starting a new thread. Can anyone name any cars that are in a similar class to the 5? Looking for ideas for cars less than 1600 cc that are quick but fall into the lower (pre 2001) tax bracket. Got the common ones such as Punto GT Turbo 1.4, Starlet Turbo, Swift GTi, any quick 1.5 civic, RX-7???? But any more would be appreciated.
And to answer your question the looks of the 5 have never grown on me particularly, and the fact that most of them have deteriorated now makes them less desirable. Got to respect manufacturers having the guts to turbocharge such small engines though, sticking two fingers up in the face of reliability smile
RX-7 *may* not be classed as a 1.3, it is sometimes classed as a 2.6 for insurance etc.

A similar class Metro GTi (don't knock it till you've tried it!)

Darkslider

3,071 posts

188 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
I have actually very briefly driven a Metro Gti/GTa with a 1.8 VVC engine, I honestly don't think there'd be any other hot hatch with an engine smaller than say a 1.8 that could touch a properly set up one of those through the twisties or even straights. I currently own a Rover 216 among others and the head gasket issues slightly put me off another K series though. Also the Metros aren't the toughest built cars, I think I'd want a bolt in cage and buckets at the least before I started pushing one tongue out

Not sure about the RX 7 insurance, do they fall into lower tax brackets for engine displacement? I have seen them listed on insurance websites as 2.6/7s though which to my mind isn't right, but have fun trying to explain that to a customer advisor on the phone.

Thanks for your suggestions smile Starting to think of maybe getting a Punto Sporting or some similar 1.2 16v and saving on tax/insurance/fuel but still having something that's nippy.

Onzlouk

897 posts

194 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
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My first car after i passed my test a 1985 R5GTT, in blue, ended up with about 175bhp i think, with a straight through side exit exhaust, it went and sounded fantastic. I loved that car to bits and wouldnt sell it so ended up breaking it. Although in the two years or so i owned it i did the head gasket myself three times as i upped the power and abused it! a real pita to work on but great fun.

chuntington101

5,733 posts

235 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
from what i have heard the later and bigger 1.7 turbo engines fit intothe GT5s. also might be woirth finding an old Volvo 480 turbo as its a Renault lump that was tuned by porsche!

Cheers

Chris.

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
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I'd love a Raider if there was a standard and unmolested version left.

The 205 was loved and covetted for its standard perfection. Turbo hatchs like the R5 and RST were loved for their potential. Very few standard cars exist .... except for quite a few S1 RSTs that have been restored to standard.

Many many abominations out there for modifed R5s







I'd love this one, but would have to "tweek" a little poke from the engine.


minimatt1967

17,089 posts

205 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
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chuntington101 said:
might be woirth finding an old Volvo 480 turbo as its a Renault lump that was tuned by porsche!

Cheers

Chris.
confused Tuned by Porsche, I bet they kept quiet about that one, it was only blessed 119bhp, 4 more than the GTT!

A couple of my friends have had GTT's , both of them spent more time off the road than on and unfortuantely both were subject to barry modifications!!


Now one of these with a set clio williams alloys would look great!

randomman

2,215 posts

188 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
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A to the L to the I to the G.

Sorry, even without barry mods I think there are better cars out there that are more reliable and more fun.

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

207 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
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randomman said:
A to the L to the I to the G.
what?

randomman

2,215 posts

188 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
Ali G, he drived a Barry'd Renault 5 in 'In da House'

Probably a 1.1 though

7 Sevens

658 posts

220 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
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I use to race against them with my Honda CRX in a saloon car cup. Great little cars, more go than the Honda in a straight line and out of corners but their three wheeling antics in corners cost them some time.

During my first race the guy behind put a wheel on the dirt around Coram at Snetterton and pitched his 5 into a dozen and maybe more barrel rolls. Despite being fully caged it was a right mess with the pedals/wheels moving and causing him a lot of injury. That put me off buying a road car but ten years later I wouldn't mind one.

There are a couple of nice race 5's in the race classifieds.

OllieBirmingham

5,645 posts

191 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
I had one when I was young(er) and stupid(er). The thing was on its last legs, and full of rust and filler, but had been extensively tweaked so had about 180bhp and no interior to speak of. Not much will stay with one up to about 50mph ish... RIP.....

caduceus

6,069 posts

265 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
I had one of these as a courtesy car when my 350i was at Tower View Racing in London. It was Daves (on of the owners/mechanic) car and was highly modified. And it was a HOOT to drive. The torque steer was hilarious and made driving a FWD car a real joy and a challenge. It was also hugely quick and would have trounced my 350 hehe

Greatest hot hatch of its time IMO.

Fire99

9,844 posts

228 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
minimatt1967 said:
confused Tuned by Porsche, I bet they kept quiet about that one, it was only blessed 119bhp, 4 more than the GTT!
Not wishing to be pedantic but the phase 2 with the watercooled turbo had 120bhp..

Atleast 4 of my friends owned one from one time to another.. One had had a bit of a home tune-up job and was a bit of a PITA... Onother had a Pace Intercooler, Decent Stainless Exhaust etc and never missed a beat in 2 years..

Was running 15 second 1/4 miles on mild boost upgrades with a heavily pregnant lady at the wheel..

Bit of a Marmite car IMO but i thought they were ace...

SleeperCell

5,591 posts

241 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
Darkslider said:
Hey, apologies to the OP for a minor hijack but not sure this question is worth starting a new thread. Can anyone name any cars that are in a similar class to the 5? Looking for ideas for cars less than 1600 cc that are quick but fall into the lower (pre 2001) tax bracket. Got the common ones such as Punto GT Turbo 1.4, Starlet Turbo, Swift GTi, any quick 1.5 civic, RX-7???? But any more would be appreciated.
Most of these are hard to find now, but:

Daihatsu Charade GTti 993cc I3 Turbo 99bhp


Suzuki Swift GTi 1298cc I4 NA 101bhp


Nissan March SuperTurbo 930cc I4 108bhp


Nissan Cherry Turbo 1.5 1488cc I4 Turbo 114bhp


First Gen Honda City Turbo 1237cc I4 Turbo 108bhp


Second Generation Honda City CZi 1.3 1296cc I4 NA 100bhp


Toyota Starlet GT 1331cc I4 Turbo 130bhp




chuntington101

5,733 posts

235 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
minimatt1967 said:
chuntington101 said:
might be woirth finding an old Volvo 480 turbo as its a Renault lump that was tuned by porsche!

Cheers

Chris.
confused Tuned by Porsche, I bet they kept quiet about that one, it was only blessed 119bhp, 4 more than the GTT!
It true! i hear Porsche went to town on the engine and Volvo detuned it.

i have heard the Renault version dioing pretty well to!

Chris.

chuntington101

5,733 posts

235 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
might be worth looking at next months PPC mag as they have their second fastest car for £999 thing they do each year!

Chris.

PS last year a guy with a Nissan Sunny GIT-R won! shows what you can do if you put your mind to it!wink