Faults:

The only thing I had to change on the car was the clutch, which was very noisy and finally wore out at 88,000 miles.

Bodywork problems: this car is very prone to rust and corrosion, and you have to be extremely careful, especially in very humid climates like Britain. Mine rusted around the rocker panels, particularly when it was parked outside the garage. The sheet metal isn't the best, so it's much better to keep it under cover to avoid this problem.

Brake pads wear out and don't fit properly.

Inside, there is premature wear of plastics and electric windows that become slow over time.

General Comments:

The car is reliable and very easy to maintain beyond the basic problems of a small, cheap car from the late 80s and early 90s.

The Monaco version (called Baccara outside the UK) was the most fully equipped in terms of accessories and features. It included air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes, and electric windows, among other notable features. It also boasted excellent suspension and brakes for its time, making it a stable and safe car to drive.

The interior is very pleasant, with leather seats and a striking speedometer, quite similar to those in higher-end cars like the R21 or R25.

For such a small car, it feels enormous inside; two people are more than comfortable (mine was a three-door).

The driving position is good, thanks to the position of the steering wheel, pedals, and seat; the only criticism being the seat's excessive softness. Thanks to the large glass area and the driver's position, visibility is good in all directions, and this remains true at night thanks to the effectiveness of the H4 headlights.

The best thing about the car itself is under the hood. The 1.7-liter engine is more than adequate; it even has more than enough power for a small car like the R5. It moves very quickly and is extremely agile. A reliable engine that doesn't require any unusual maintenance, although I must say that I always treated it well, never pushed it too hard, and always used the best oil (Elf, as recommended by the manufacturer).

With proper care, this little car runs like a Swiss watch.

Faults:

Electrics mostly.

The biggest problem I had, was the distributor to switch on the engine. I changed the battery, replaced the cables, but still had the same problem to start the car on cold and rainy days. The distributor got wet from inside and didn't made the sparks power up.

When I changed my stereo, the power turned crazy, probably my fault. Before the change, I had to replace the inner light. After, the power switches went off, and I had to replace some power fuses. Two weeks later, the rear signalization switched off for no known reason.

General Comments:

The car is perfect for city rides.

Economical and quick, and is quite comfortable inside.

Very enjoyable to drive with two persons inside, if more than 2 persons drive the car is not very powerful, especially on hilly roads.

Faults:

The hybrid turbo fitted to the car when purchased gave its last blow after 10 months.

Clutch replaced.

Water pump.

Rear pads.

Exhaust down pipe.

...Now on a standard turbo. OK, they can be a bit of a money pit, but given its mileage, mine has given little trouble since owning it. It's fun, fast and worth every penny!

Luckily for me, I have an old friend who owns one and is happy to graze his knuckles and put his back out repairing mine (free!). I just pay for parts, so this helps greatly with repair costs.

This said, they are not the black art to repair as people make out, and service parts for the engine & brakes etc work out no more expensive than the average family hatch. Change the oil & filter every 3000 miles, and keep a good quality antifreeze (50/50 mix) in it, and things should be OK unless you are running massive boost. On tuned cars, the low temp fan switch is a must; this kicks the cooling fan in just before halfway on the temp gauge, keeping things cooler sooner!

General Comments:

Many are now tired and modified, but good examples can still be had.

Don't be put off by mileage over 100,000 if the car has service history.

http://www.renault5gtturbo.com/

This link has all you need to know when buying a 5 Turbo.

Loads of fun with cheap road tax and reasonable insurance.