RE: SOTW: Renault Fuego GTX
Discussion
zcacogp said:
Look at the under-bonnet picture, and look at the position of the front suspension turrets in relation to the engine. Yes, the engine is almost entirely in front of the front wheels ...
If the owner thinks it will give any other car a run for it's money down anything less straight than a Lib Dem MP's morals, he is in cloud cuckoo land.
Oli.
Ever driven one Oli?If the owner thinks it will give any other car a run for it's money down anything less straight than a Lib Dem MP's morals, he is in cloud cuckoo land.
Oli.
Let's not rubbish the poor old Fuego too much - without it TVR would have had to look elsewhere for tailights on the 350
I'm dead jealous of all you flash types who had Renault 18 turbos etc in the 80's - I had an 18GTD ( yes GT Diesel) as a company car and when I left, partially because I couldn't stand the car I wound up a couple of years later with a 25 - much underestimated car in the world of motorway cruising but not so clever on the twisty bits...
I'm dead jealous of all you flash types who had Renault 18 turbos etc in the 80's - I had an 18GTD ( yes GT Diesel) as a company car and when I left, partially because I couldn't stand the car I wound up a couple of years later with a 25 - much underestimated car in the world of motorway cruising but not so clever on the twisty bits...
SVX said:
zcacogp said:
Look at the under-bonnet picture, and look at the position of the front suspension turrets in relation to the engine. Yes, the engine is almost entirely in front of the front wheels ...
If the owner thinks it will give any other car a run for it's money down anything less straight than a Lib Dem MP's morals, he is in cloud cuckoo land.
Oli.
Ever driven one Oli?If the owner thinks it will give any other car a run for it's money down anything less straight than a Lib Dem MP's morals, he is in cloud cuckoo land.
Oli.
I'm guessing from your username that you may be a fan, in which case no offence meant.
Oli.
ETA: Sorry SVX, your username refers to subarus SVX's (checked your profile), not renault GTX's.
Edited by zcacogp on Friday 13th November 13:11
Lot of people here who've never driven one, obviously. I bought one in the late 80's and to be fair to Renault, the handling was very good for the time and the car had good steering and always felt very planted. Mine was a downgrade from a Scirocco GTI Mk II which was the car that always beat it in the motoring tests of the time.
FOr me, the most disappointing aspect of the car was it's 2.0 ohc engine which was harsh at the top end and the VW unit annihilated it in terms of smoothness and response. It was Renault's equivalent to the Cortina engine. However, it handled far better than any Capri, MBGBGT and most of the coupes that were around at the time - GTVs, Celicas and the like, this being the swansong of the coupe at that time. Obviously, the Scirocco was a lot more expensive but the Renault had it's own list of things to love.
The first was those wacky alloys, the second the "petal" seats which gave fantastic support and the colourful instruments made the driving seat a good place to be. One of it's downfalls was that this was the era of the hot hatch and these coupes were being ditched in favour of the new hot hatches and were a dying breed.
This was mine and despite the fact it doesn't stand out as one of the graets, it did have that French quirkiness that makes a car interesting and which is so lacking these days. I would agree that it had a "poor man's 924" image due to that huge rear window but that wasn't a bad thing.
FOr me, the most disappointing aspect of the car was it's 2.0 ohc engine which was harsh at the top end and the VW unit annihilated it in terms of smoothness and response. It was Renault's equivalent to the Cortina engine. However, it handled far better than any Capri, MBGBGT and most of the coupes that were around at the time - GTVs, Celicas and the like, this being the swansong of the coupe at that time. Obviously, the Scirocco was a lot more expensive but the Renault had it's own list of things to love.
The first was those wacky alloys, the second the "petal" seats which gave fantastic support and the colourful instruments made the driving seat a good place to be. One of it's downfalls was that this was the era of the hot hatch and these coupes were being ditched in favour of the new hot hatches and were a dying breed.
This was mine and despite the fact it doesn't stand out as one of the graets, it did have that French quirkiness that makes a car interesting and which is so lacking these days. I would agree that it had a "poor man's 924" image due to that huge rear window but that wasn't a bad thing.
Garlick said:
tim milne said:
Did you know that the rear window is exactly the same as that of the Porsche 924 / 944 / 968, except stuck on the other way round?
Really?.....pops off to window to look at my 944.Mine didn't but as you can see, the rear wiper was missing on mine. I did enquire with Renault as to a new one but the price was fairly hilarious. Incidentally, I ended up spraying those wheels in gloss black and it looked great.
The rear window was not a Porsche item!
The rear window was not a Porsche item!
Edited by LuS1fer on Friday 13th November 13:27
Steamer said:
Garlick said:
tim milne said:
Did you know that the rear window is exactly the same as that of the Porsche 924 / 944 / 968, except stuck on the other way round?
Really?.....pops off to window to look at my 944.I don't think the rear windows break easily but if they are the same as a 924/944 then they're very expensive. Used to be about £900 back in the Eighties.
My mate bought a Fuego Turbo about 20 years back for about 60 quid. He sold it a few weeks later for £380 but not before we'd ragged it around. Very whistly turbo, as quick as my Alfa 2000 GTV and the handling wasn't bad at all considering the huge lump of iron hanging over the front bumper. Lots of body roll in corners though.
Typically crazy French car!
My mate bought a Fuego Turbo about 20 years back for about 60 quid. He sold it a few weeks later for £380 but not before we'd ragged it around. Very whistly turbo, as quick as my Alfa 2000 GTV and the handling wasn't bad at all considering the huge lump of iron hanging over the front bumper. Lots of body roll in corners though.
Typically crazy French car!
I used to lust over its predecessors the R15 and R17,but Dad bought the R12 and then really splashed out and went for the R16,no amount of arm twisting would get him to buy what i wanted.Then the Fuego came along and trust me it was cool in Ireland back then.i think it was actually the 5 speed box which blew my socks off as most cars were 4 speed.also you could get a passenger door mirror which most cars didn't have in those days.a friend had a GTX which went through a few ditches in its time but i can't say whether it was his driving,the Fuego's handling,the Irish roads or a combination of all.There was one in one of the Bond movies where two Chicks got out of it in jodphurs,very Jilly Cooper...!i had to settle for a R4,probably the best car i have ever owned.
Edited by dhf on Friday 13th November 14:31
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