Faults:

This car has never broken down in the 13 years it has been in my family.

It is well maintained, but we have never had to spend more than about £150 on it in a year.

The paint has started to fade, but a day waxing it solves this.

General Comments:

I learned to drive on this and love it.

It has a small engine and if you want it to perform you have to put some effort in, but it pays off.

It will cruise on the motorway faster than it says in the brochure. Ours only has 4 gears which means it will get though petrol faster than you think on the motorway.

This car is great fun to drive and as long as it keeps going I will run it forever.

Faults:

Engine fried due to alternator belt coming off.

Electrics were a little faulty.

Car heater also did not work.

General Comments:

This car is a fantastic pocket rocket, problems with car except engine were already there, but didn't cost a lot to fix.

So light, the performance gain on modifications is excellent and nothing will keep up with one if looked after!

Faults:

Starter Motor decided to give up the ghost

Manifold Gasket blew a hole

Door Latch broke and could pull open the door without using the handle

General everyday kind of things.

I don't think I blame the car for the sorry state they get into, but the owners for neglect.

General Comments:

I owned a Phase1 before and have been wanting another for ages now I have found the one I want which is a RAIDER. Seeing as only 1000 of them were made and now only so few left.

Very quick little car and would agree that they are kind of of flimsy. Seats start to wear out quickly although the standard brakes are good providing the calipers haven`t decided to go on you.

The doors have a nice way of dropping due to the weight of the doors. Rear seats are uncomfortable for long journeys. They do also have a tendency to eat wheel bearing too and not forgetting tires. But I'm pleased with what I have even though you tend to curse the car for when it goes wrong. Overall a good car, not bad on reliability (depending if its been looked after properly or not) cheap tax and not bad on fuel.

Faults:

Head gasket blew twice

Couldn't deal with traffic - temp gauge went skywards after 5 minutes stationary.

Refused to start when hot despite two separate "percolator" kit installations!

CV joint failed

Front discs warped.

Rear suspension needed rebuild.

General Comments:

In the time I had this car, my mate put 11,000 miles on a Triumph Stag. He broke down 4 fewer times and spent £600 less keeping it running than I did in my tin can rocket.

'Nuff said really. The car's good when it goes, but nowhere near good to make up for such terrible engineering and build quality. If you get one, make sure you want it really bad. Otherwise, avoid it at all costs. There are much more capable cars out there which hold together better.

Faults:

Steering bearings, due to wear and tear, driving up in the mountains.

No real problem at all.

General Comments:

Very reliable, and nippy car. Would keep it for ever if it lasts.

It can still keep up 150km/h for a non stop 6hrs, fully loaded!

I'll really get myself another Renault.

Totally satisfied for a cheap running trendy and reliable little car.

Faults:

Drive shafts worn-out (common problem with Renault 5s).

Rear brake cylinder leaked.

Control lever defect/worn-out, replacement is quite expensive!

Passenger-side electric window went defect, quite easy to repair.

Lots of maintenance costs due to previous owner, he didn't take care very well of the car.

Lots of squeaks and rattles from the dashboard.

Remote control (central locking) defect.

Bumpers and paint fade, probably because my car is flame red.

Engine support rubber broke, causing exhaust connection (to engine) and gear rubbers to break down as well.

Leaking fuel tank (inexpensive to repair)

General Comments:

This GTR is one of the last luxurious Renault 5s. After 1991 only the Campus was left over (inexpensive, but also sober, with a Renault Express dashboard).

This Renault 5 GTR is basicly a GTX, with a less powerful 60 HP 1.4 engine (same engine is used in the Renault 9/11/19 and Volvo 340). Engine is very reliable.

Road behaviour is averagely, but much better than the pre-1987 Renault 5 generation. Suspension is comfortable.

Lots of standard features, e.g. central locking with remote control, electric windows, tinted glass, injection engine, velour upholstery, fog lamps (yellow, typical French), re-designed bumpers with metal striping, good sound system, comfortable bucket seats, etc.

Pretty fast car, especially in 2nd gear, but acceleration after 70 km/h is quite slow (despite its 1.4 engine). The same engine is still used in the new Clio, but of course with 16 valves technology.

Nowadays it's not easy to find a Renault 5 in good shape. Watch out for corrosion, especially at the bottom of this car.