Renault 5

~ ~ The Renault 5 “Gordini” Turbo was the predecessor to the highly rated and successful Renault 5 GT Turbo. This car was one of the first “hot” hatchbacks, and spawned such competitors as the Volkswagen Golf GTi and the Peugeot 205 Gti. ~ ~ I bought my “Gordini” in the late 1980’s. It was a 1984 model, and one owner, with average mileage. (about 50K, I think) Like a lot of the cars I have owned, this car was bought on impulse. I was indulging one of my hobbies, namely nosing around second hand car lots, when I spotted it sitting tucked away in a corner. It looked “different” to the standard models, ...  Read the complete review

I got one of these just recently and I must admit I am quite happy with it. Like all second hand cars it is not perfect but it does have things going for it. My own model is a 1108 cc and does 40+ mpg. Parker's guide tells us that it does in the range 38-62 mpg (as far as I remember). I had hoped for nearer to the 60 than I get but you can't have everything. It is quite a nippy vehicle, which comes I think as a surprise to the baseball cap wearing Nova drivers who you tend to find tailgating you at some point in life. You can see the look of bewilderment, as you glance into your rear view mirror, as you quickly speed up when you get into a ...  Read the complete review

I love my Renault 5, it's simply great. It looks cute and friendly, drives well, is cheap to run and insure, and will go on for ever. I bought my 5 in the summer of 1999. It's caused me no major problems really, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a cheap way of motoring. For starters, the fuel consumption is great. I've got a 1.1 campus, and she does about 40-50 mpg, which I can't complain about. Drive-wise, french cars tend to have soft suspension, giving you that "sailing in a boat" sensation. I love it, but some people don't, and the Renault 5 is one of the softest cars I've driven, you've been warned! ...  Read the complete review

I’ve owned my 1989 Phase 2 GT Turbo for a few months now – it’s my second car (to a Renault 19 16v), which I bought for something to work on, and something fun and smaller to throw around the country lanes. The build quality is typical of late 80’s Renault basically – although my car seems to suffer less squeaks and rattles than my 1994 Renault 19 – others aren’t so lucky. Mechanically sound in standard trim, they do tend to get abused – so watch carefully for thrashed, smokey and rattly engines. The bodywork can rust badly if not cared for – so that is another area to check before buying. Have a look at the ...  Read the complete review

If you want to buy a first car, or you are on a budget, then this is the car for you. I have owned three Renault 5’s so far and all three have been worth every penny I have spent on them. They are relatively cheap to buy (if you compare them with similar Ford Fiesta models or Metros) but can be more expensive than other makes to maintain as the parts have to be imported from France. They use very little fuel but do have a big tank so a full tank of petrol lasts me for just over a month at a time (I do about 6000 miles per year). I have also had a horrible crash in one of them, I turned the car upside down twice and while the car itself was a ...  Read the complete review