1989 Renault 5 Reviews - Page 5 of 6

Original turbo was found to have cracks and chunks taken out of the blades due to previous owner using a Pipercross induction kit so replaced for a Turbo Dynamics MD28 and Green kit. Major improvement!!!

Carb replaced for Group A.

Gearbox replaced with a standard type.

Starter motor replaced.

Flywheel chewed up by the starter motor had to be replaced.

Ignition barrel faulty so replaced.

Radiator replaced due to a leak causing the car to overheat.

Electric window motors only got window half way up, replaced eventually.

Replaced nearly every dashboard bulb.

I always wanted a 5 Turbo, unfortunately I wasn't slightly mechanically minded when I bought it and feel that I bought the typical thrashed 5. Gutted.

I have replaced so much that the car is now as you would like it - after many £££££'s spent.

The cockpit is great, the seats are very comfortable - so comfortable that they definitely put you off fitting bucket seats!!!

Get it running right and you will be whipping bigger and newer cars all day long.

These cars are great in all scenarios - that is if your cooling system is OK!!!

Treat it good and it will be your best friend!!

Starter motor.

Head gasket.

Alternator.

Wheel bearings x 8.

Turbos x 4.

Awesome car, I will never sell it.

Very comfortable.

Very fast.

Handles Like a go-kart.

Mine has all GT tuning parts, is well over 220 bhp and still only weighs 800kg! Very similar to an Exocet missile.

Not much. The accelerator cable snapped on the motorway, usual things which go wrong.

Pretty damn good on the whole, though my right leg hurt after very long distances.

Drove it all over the UK in a year and it only let me down that once. It was easily fixed at the roadside by a very, very, very nice man.

Word of warning: When the fuel gauge says 'empty' it really is empty. Caught me out a time or two.

Brakes mainly, but that is probably because I rely on them a lot and drive relatively fast.

It is a pretty good all rounder, handles corners well, even at high speeds and is easy to drive once you get used to it. I've reached a top speed of 130 km'h, but I've never really had a chance to try her out. If you try to push her beyond her limits you're pushing your luck.

Clutch, starter, inlet manifold gasket, turbo, splits in nearly every hose, twisted tread on the sparkplugs, springs, whistling noises of all sorts, electric window motor, seized door lock, brake sensors, no oil pressure reading ever, not even when I rewired the loom.

I will never sell it. Amazing power in such a small car and cheap to buy, however it's not so cheap to run. My advice is don't buy one unless you have a lot of money to chuck into it. Cos it drinks petrol and every mechanical job costs a fortune in labour. If you are a competent auto technican you should have no trouble.

0-60 in 7.5secs for under £1000 isn't too bad. My final piece of advice is get a manual, you will need it at least twice a week.