R5 GTT - opinions for a cheap bit of fun??
Discussion
Dare I say it, but I'm having thoughts I've not had since I was 17 (not those thoughts 
), and that is............ about buying an R5 GTT!!
I've seen a couple of decent condition standard ones around recently and they still turn my head. More so as you hardly see them anymore, and it's refreshing to see std ones after the whole barry boy phase!!
I said to myself the other day that I'd probably (very reluctantly) sell my mk1 Eunos in the spring. Need to get sensible really, should still be worth what it was a year ago, maybe more if I do a cheap FI job on it in the coming months. I'd only really be selling to pay off some money I owe, and be a little more sensible for a while
That's where something like an R5 GTT could come in though. Get a cheap one, keep it original, cherish it a bit and use it. I imagine decent handling, never driven one though, and again, could end up holding or making money.
Would probably make a viable alternative daily to my 850 T5 anyway, economy must be better anyway!!
So - few questions. Am I mad??
Can a reasonable example needing TLC be had for a few hundred? What sort of economy would you get from a std or mildly breathed on one?
Do they handle well? Do they drive nicely? The dash layout does a look a little odd to me, the wheel looks a little laid down, like an old mini?
Other than rust and shagged turbos/engines, much to look out for?
), and that is............ about buying an R5 GTT!!I've seen a couple of decent condition standard ones around recently and they still turn my head. More so as you hardly see them anymore, and it's refreshing to see std ones after the whole barry boy phase!!
I said to myself the other day that I'd probably (very reluctantly) sell my mk1 Eunos in the spring. Need to get sensible really, should still be worth what it was a year ago, maybe more if I do a cheap FI job on it in the coming months. I'd only really be selling to pay off some money I owe, and be a little more sensible for a while
That's where something like an R5 GTT could come in though. Get a cheap one, keep it original, cherish it a bit and use it. I imagine decent handling, never driven one though, and again, could end up holding or making money.
Would probably make a viable alternative daily to my 850 T5 anyway, economy must be better anyway!!
So - few questions. Am I mad??
Can a reasonable example needing TLC be had for a few hundred? What sort of economy would you get from a std or mildly breathed on one?
Do they handle well? Do they drive nicely? The dash layout does a look a little odd to me, the wheel looks a little laid down, like an old mini?
Other than rust and shagged turbos/engines, much to look out for?
I had a 5 turbo when i was 19 and i am 36 now and still rememeber it fondly. Handle like a go cart on rails and for 115 bhp( i had a phase 1) they do go well.I found most owners had a permanent fan going on a switch to cool the engine as they do run hot as the bay is as lycra on a fat birds bum.I would LOVE another if only to experience the old school turbo boost rush and sound of the straight through stainless side exit exhaust 
Regarding the dash...well it is very quirky. The stalk on the right of the wheel that protrudes from the dash is the wiper stalk. Very french indeed.
Regarding the dash...well it is very quirky. The stalk on the right of the wheel that protrudes from the dash is the wiper stalk. Very french indeed.
On an old french car, when I say needing TLC, I would fully expect it to need some welding!!
Probably going to be a flash in the pan this one, as it does sound like even unmolested ones can be problematic, and I'd possibly end up spending as much as I saved my selling my Eunos!!
Maybe I should just stick with the T5 and the 330!
Probably going to be a flash in the pan this one, as it does sound like even unmolested ones can be problematic, and I'd possibly end up spending as much as I saved my selling my Eunos!!
Maybe I should just stick with the T5 and the 330!
I've had 3 GT turbo's
Great fun and easily tunned, Mine was running around 200bhp with 35psi of boost by the time I decided to change it.
I'd have a very good look for rust on the cills and around the rear wiper. Mine was starting to rust quite badly underneather 8 or so years ago and it was a reasonable example so I expect most are suffering by now.
Mine never really suffered with overheating but I didn't tend to use it in traffic and kept it well serviced.
Great fun and easily tunned, Mine was running around 200bhp with 35psi of boost by the time I decided to change it.
I'd have a very good look for rust on the cills and around the rear wiper. Mine was starting to rust quite badly underneather 8 or so years ago and it was a reasonable example so I expect most are suffering by now.
Mine never really suffered with overheating but I didn't tend to use it in traffic and kept it well serviced.
I always remember mine as a great car, but I do wonder how it would stand up to modern standards.
For one, the suspension was touring car stiff (ok, I know that's an exageration, but it was bloomin' stiff!) and the car weighed next to nothing.
In standard form 0-60 was around 7 seconds, so it's still quick by today's standards, but not earth shattering - I suspect, though, that it would feel much quicker than a heavy hot-hatch doing high 5 second 0-60s just because it's so light.
When I had mine people used to say "I wouldn't drive such a fast car that was so small", but I always felt safer in it than the Calibra which followed it as the Calibra always felt as though it had huge amounts of momentum that would be hard to scrub off, whilst the Renault felt you could stop on a pinhead if you needed to (Although with no ABS of course you'd probably lock it up, I know I did a few times ).
I think finding a truly GOOD one will be very hard - They're not worth restoring and far too many have been chaved to death and suffered from amateur tweaks (There was a story that you could just adjust a nut on a rod to get extra boost - Not sure if it was true, but I knew people who made the mod regardless!)
M.
For one, the suspension was touring car stiff (ok, I know that's an exageration, but it was bloomin' stiff!) and the car weighed next to nothing.
In standard form 0-60 was around 7 seconds, so it's still quick by today's standards, but not earth shattering - I suspect, though, that it would feel much quicker than a heavy hot-hatch doing high 5 second 0-60s just because it's so light.
When I had mine people used to say "I wouldn't drive such a fast car that was so small", but I always felt safer in it than the Calibra which followed it as the Calibra always felt as though it had huge amounts of momentum that would be hard to scrub off, whilst the Renault felt you could stop on a pinhead if you needed to (Although with no ABS of course you'd probably lock it up, I know I did a few times
).I think finding a truly GOOD one will be very hard - They're not worth restoring and far too many have been chaved to death and suffered from amateur tweaks (There was a story that you could just adjust a nut on a rod to get extra boost - Not sure if it was true, but I knew people who made the mod regardless!)
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Monday 11th October 19:50
im thinking about getting one of these for my second my next year when i turn 19. what do you guys think of this one, would it be ok for a 19yr old or should i avoid things like this?
http://www.spinning-wheel.net/prod2134.htm
its also on the pistonheads classifieds.
http://www.spinning-wheel.net/prod2134.htm
its also on the pistonheads classifieds.
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