RE: Spotted: Renault 21 Turbo
Tuesday 5th April 2011
If you started naming rapid turbocharged cars from the eighties (okay, this one was registered in 1990...), how long would it be before you thought of the Renault 21 Turbo?
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It certainly looks the part, and the vendor reckons it could be the best example in the country.
Spotted: Renault 21 Turbo
And you thought there were no clean ones left...
The commercial success of the Renault 5 GT Turbo and the competition success of all-wheel-drive contemporaries such as the Lancia Delta Integrale kind of left the 21 as the 'forgotten' fast Renault. So imagine our surprise when we spotted this 21 Turbo on eBay.
As you'd expect, it isn't without one or two issues, but there's nothing that should put you off if you want some retro Renault performance for a change, and can't find an R5 GT Turbo that hasn't been subjected to the 'Ali G' treatment.
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We can't really argue with that, because if you wanted to find another one in this condition with full Renault history, a pre-delivery inspection sheet, and only 92,000 claimed miles, you'd probably struggle...or is there perhaps a PH sub-culture for obscure fast eighties French saloons? Citroen CX GTI Turbo, anyone?
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Discussion
johnpeat said:
Weren't these available in 2 and 4 wheel drive and this one isn't claiming the latter - e.g. it's not a Quadra???
It's been a long time but I'd sure the 4x4 was a rarer variant and most were 2wd??
Ha! If that's true then that's an article fail!It's been a long time but I'd sure the 4x4 was a rarer variant and most were 2wd??
Having said that, I know nothing about these and that does look like a nice car.
They definately come in both flavours - I found this
The lack of the Quadra badge isn't a total loss but the seller doesn't mention 4WD at all - it's late enough to be one but who knows...
sotw said:
The 21 Turbo was introduced in 1988 and developed 175bhp from its blown 2.0-litre motor, which made it pretty swift. The only problem was that all that power was channelled via the front wheels and, since the car also weighed little more than a used Gauloise, the 21 had a distinct tendency to give a Gallic shrug and spin its tyres to oblivion if you tried to get it off the line too quickly.
That was solved in 1990 with the launch of the four-wheel-drive Quadra version. It weighed 155kg more than the two-wheel-drive model, however, so the print to 60mph only dropped from 8.1sec to 7.8sec.
Renault 21 Turbos are rare beasts now, and the all-wheel drive one even more so:
Right here - a SOTW from 2009.That was solved in 1990 with the launch of the four-wheel-drive Quadra version. It weighed 155kg more than the two-wheel-drive model, however, so the print to 60mph only dropped from 8.1sec to 7.8sec.
Renault 21 Turbos are rare beasts now, and the all-wheel drive one even more so:
The lack of the Quadra badge isn't a total loss but the seller doesn't mention 4WD at all - it's late enough to be one but who knows...
johnpeat said:
They definately come in both flavours - I found this
The lack of the Quadra badge isn't a total loss but the seller doesn't mention 4WD at all - it's late enough to be one but who knows...
Whoever wrote that was clearly the font of all automotive knowledge... sotw said:
The 21 Turbo was introduced in 1988 and developed 175bhp from its blown 2.0-litre motor, which made it pretty swift. The only problem was that all that power was channelled via the front wheels and, since the car also weighed little more than a used Gauloise, the 21 had a distinct tendency to give a Gallic shrug and spin its tyres to oblivion if you tried to get it off the line too quickly.
That was solved in 1990 with the launch of the four-wheel-drive Quadra version. It weighed 155kg more than the two-wheel-drive model, however, so the print to 60mph only dropped from 8.1sec to 7.8sec.
Renault 21 Turbos are rare beasts now, and the all-wheel drive one even more so:
Right here - a SOTW from 2009.That was solved in 1990 with the launch of the four-wheel-drive Quadra version. It weighed 155kg more than the two-wheel-drive model, however, so the print to 60mph only dropped from 8.1sec to 7.8sec.
Renault 21 Turbos are rare beasts now, and the all-wheel drive one even more so:
The lack of the Quadra badge isn't a total loss but the seller doesn't mention 4WD at all - it's late enough to be one but who knows...
I had a R21 Turbo as my company car in the early '90s. F Reg. Had it for close on three years and did 94,000 miles in it, almost trouble free except for a new turbo at 70,000 miles or so. It was a terrific car and a four door saloon as well! Most mates who drove it couldn't believe the performance, especially the torque, and there was not much that could beat it uphill. I well remember scaring a mate when he was driving his Toyota Supra: he gave up while I left him far behind! He still talks about that day.
Mine was black but I opted for the rarer cloth rather than leather interior: a good choice I found.
It was delivered new to me from Leeds to a hotel I was staying at in Sheffield. The elderly delivery driver had never experienced anything like it and was clearly fearful that he'd ever have to deliver one again!
Ah, where are you now F154 DWW?
Yes there was a Quadra model too, and it was quite a rare car even back in the early 90s. Most were a dark blue. Although initially considered a good development, it was rather heavy so suffered by comparison with the 2WD on outright performance and severely reduced MPG. It sure cornered well, though.
R.
Mine was black but I opted for the rarer cloth rather than leather interior: a good choice I found.
It was delivered new to me from Leeds to a hotel I was staying at in Sheffield. The elderly delivery driver had never experienced anything like it and was clearly fearful that he'd ever have to deliver one again!
Ah, where are you now F154 DWW?
Yes there was a Quadra model too, and it was quite a rare car even back in the early 90s. Most were a dark blue. Although initially considered a good development, it was rather heavy so suffered by comparison with the 2WD on outright performance and severely reduced MPG. It sure cornered well, though.
R.
Smike said:
C'mon DaveL485 - give us the real story on this 
Definitely a 2wd, as the '2L Turbo' badge is on the top right of the bootlid. 4wd had 'Quadra' there and the 2L Turbo one lower down.Quadra are very, very rare now. Only 146 RHD were made weighing in at 1423 kerb weight. Estimated 30 left at best, maybe 40 but i'd be surprised. Some of you will have met mine at the recent Sunday Services
I digress- back to the 2wd. 1190kg Kerb weight, Logtitudinal 2L Turbo 8v with 175bhp and 199lb/ft torque. UN1 transaxle, best 'box i've ever used. Hilarious torque steer in lower gears. Hugely addictive rush of power up and the T3 spins up around 2800rpm. Give it a free flowing exhaust, air filter and up the boost to 17Psi and it'll hammer Impreza's day in day out.
Anyone wants to know anything more feel free to ask I can bleat on about these things all day long
The Leaper said:
Just spotted that the car for sale does not have the original wheels that came with all 2WD R21 Turbos. In fact, they are quite like the standard R21 Quadra Wheels but I do not think they are exactly the same.
R.
Yes it does, these are the factory Phase 2 & 3 rims. Phase 1 came with the 15" sawblade style ones. All facelift models came with the ones on this car.R.
Ph1 rims-
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Love the Renault but re the last comment on the article, want a CX25 GTI sooooooooooooo bad!! Remeber seeing them min france on holiday as a kid in black with black leather and the rear window slotted spoiler thing, thought they where so evil! Been looking for a while and not found one this spec in UK for sale
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