fiestaturbo.com

[Swanick]

one has come up fairly cheap. my dads seen it and says its in good condition apart from needing the bonnet spraying or somethin.

personally i just wanna buy i but what experience has any of u had with these? i know its gonna blow up etc tc as everyone keeps tellin me but i want someone to persuade me 2 buy it

[chumkila]

buy it.




















there u go.

[festasi]

i'd love one.......and if one came up cheap id buy one

dnt [ERRR] i'd dare use it as an evryday car....but phwoarrrrrr they are sexi

[JamieFRST]

I like them as long as they haven't got stupid kits on them, they can look really nice. 4 of my mate have them, and they do break down all the time, mainly dodgy electrical conections and head gaskets, but they are alot of fun.

[chumkila]

watch ur money and already non-existent back account drain away into oblivion.

[Rich si]

Recent engine bay shot of a 5GTT

[Swanick]

i wont be using it everyday as i have a works van so its probably going to be a weekend sort of thing. going to go down myself and have a look at it this weekend

if condition is nice im having it i reckon

[JamieFRST]

When looking at a Renault 5 Turbo Check the following things:

Remember the Renault 5 GT Turbo is one of the worst cars for people getting rid of because they have major problems so look over any potential purchase with great detail and take some-one with you who knows about these cars as they are not your average small hatchback.


With engine off

1. Check the coolant bottle for signs of oil in it (rainbow effect on top of the coolant). This means that either the head gasket has blown or there is a crack in the head itself (Very Expensive to repair).

2. Also following on from no.1 another sign that the head gasket has blown is that if you pull the dipstick out and there is a creamy substance on it the head gasket has gone.

3. Start the car up and get some-one to go and watch the exhaust, if a puff of blue smoke comes out it means that the Turbo is on it's way out (£250 for a recon plus fitting £80-£100)

4. Inside the car when you turn the ignition(Not start the car), make sure that the oil light/Battery light and Handbrake light comes on, and that the oil pressure gauge shoots up. This acts as an oil level reading until the engine is switched on and then it turns into an oil pressure gauge. When you start the car give it a little rev and make sure that the oil pressure gauge moves up and down with the revs. The higher the oil pressure the better. If the pressure gauge is sitting flat on the bottom it either means there is no oil pressure and that the head gasket has gone or something major internally wrong with the engine, or the gauge is simply not working. So take some-one with you who knows about these cars to make judgement.

5. Check that all the electrics inside work as French 80's/90's cars are not the best when it comes to electrics. Also the trim is flimsy so make sure everything is bolted on properly. Also make sure that the seats don't wobble about to much as the seat frame under the seats are known for braking.

6. Check that Damage to the body work as these cars are like tin cans and the metal work is really thin so look for any covered damage. Check alignment of Body panels. Rust on rear wheel arches, wings, tailgate, doors and floorpan.

7. Once the car has been running for a while switch the engine off after about 5 minutes listen out for the perc fan to cut in (A slight humming sound). This is located on the right side of the engine bay. What it does is cool the fuel in the bottom of the carburettor and aids starting of the car after it has been switched off. The reason it needs this is because these cars run so hot when you switch the car off the engine is hot and it makes the fuel in the bottom of the carburettor hot making the car hard to start, the perc fan cools this petrol making the car start better.

With engine running

8. Leave the car running at idle for about 10 mins and make sure that the cooling fan cuts it, make a note of how long it took to cut in and also where on the temperature gauge it cut in. If you take it for a test drive, while driving normal make a note of where the temp gauge sits at (Just below halfway - halfway is ok). Remember the cooler these cars run the better. If a 5 has a dodgy thermostat and the fan does not cut in the car will overheat "DANGER" if you let a 5 overheat then chances are you'll either blow the head gasket or warp the Alloy Head which then has to come off and be reskimmed(Expensive mistake).

9. If while on idle the cars starts puffing out smoke it means that the oil seals on the Turbo are gone. Time to get a new Turbo(£250 plus fitting).

10. When the car is warmed up try to put it into reverse, if it crunches like hell then its new clutch time(Not cheap to be done properly with the engine being dropped out £500 approx). Can be done for £250 with just dropping the gearbox out but getting correct alignment is almost imposible so chances are you'll have to replace it again soon.

11. The 5 Turbo with it's now old pushrod 1397cc Engine is prone to the tappets making a bit of a noise but this is not something to be worried about. If you listen to the engine and it sounds at bit tappety then don't think that it has something major wrong with it as this is common amoungst GT Turbos. The noise to worry about will be a slightly more deeper sound than the tappets and this is the Camshaft. If the pospective GT Turbo has this then it means the Camshaft is worn and than it won't be long before you have to replace it (No cheap as this involves the Head coming off to replace it).

On test drive

12. When out on a test drive put the car in 5th gear at about 35mph and put your foot on the accelerator and look in your rear view mirror. If you see a cloud of blue/white smoke then also the turbo is on it's way out.

13. While out for a test drive make sure that you drive the Vehicle. Because these cars handle so well chances are if its been owned by a boy racer then its had the arse raged of it. Take a series of turns left and right. While going round the corner listen out for a knocking coming from the opposite side you are turning into. If you hear a knocking the Driveshaft needs replacing. Not that expensive to replace but if you like the rest of the car and everthing seems fine then mention it when haggling over the asking price.

14. When driving along at about 30mph on a flat road put the car into 4th gear so the car is underload and with the window open listen for a knocking noise coming from the engine. This is the big end bearings knocking and if you do hear this then walk away from the car. (Needs engine rebuild). Very expensive.

15. Also listen for the wheel bearing (A huming coming from the wheels at about 40mph, this is when you normally start to really notice them). Again not terribly expensive to replace but also something to haggle the price down.

16. Once the car has warmed up and the car gets to about 2 1/2 thousand revs put you foot down and feel the turbo kick in and enjoy but also watch the boost gauge on the dashboard and see how far up the gauge it goes. If it goes up to about 2 3rd of the way (this is standard), if it goes up past this then someone has either altered the wastegate actuator to increase the boost or the car has a Hybrid Turbo which is set to run more boost. But the more boost run the more strain you put on the head gasket. So if the car is running more boost then the Head Gasket should be uprated to handle it.

17. Make sure that the car does not mis-fire on boost (ignition timing problem or serious engine fault).

Finally

Check the cars service history. Make sure that the oil has been changed at least every 6,000 miles. Make a note of where the car serviced and get in contact with them and ask their opinion about the car. Check when the work was carried out. Was there any other problems with the car and was it rectified.

Remember if the car is owned from new by an old age pensioner with 50,000 miles on the clock and a full Renault Service History you know that you are getting a good buy.

Lastly do a HPI check on the vehicle, because of the nature of these cars they may have been in accidents and so on. So just to be on the safe side get it checked.

If you have checked all the above and are satisfied then haggle a good price which suits you and the owner and hopefully enjoy the thrills and spills of owning a Renault 5 GT Turbo.

[AndyRS1800]

Well there is a nice little xr2 for sale as u know, But if i were u i would just go for the R5 [ERRR] u have a van so its not gonna be an every day car so should be ok, + i know Ant and Dean who can re-build a R5GTT in like 5 secconds, If the R5 is sweet then go for it...

[dumpy]

they go like stink, but have you seen how many hoses they've got, they take a fair bit of looking after. But not an everyday car, good fun.

[Swanick]

im still interested in this xr2 tho. i get paid again friday so we will see what i have left over

[Swanick]

and cheers for that mix. only took me an hour to go through it all

[AndyRS1800]

Sweet, So we go n have a look on sat then, Then we need to let neil know about the xr2 [ERRR] it can be sold if ya dont want it...

[Swanick]

if the xr2 sells then it sells. atm i cant afford it with my wages all going 2 s**t

[SPo0n]

My sister has had like 4-5 R5's now, and she's the secretary of some club thing at rtoc.org. They seem pretty unreliable to me, and the interior looks cack imho, but i guess if you know alot about cars and like working on them they're good

[Stoned]

1.4?

Is that it!

They must run a hefty amount of boost

[1600power]

1.4?

Is that it!

They must run a hefty amount of boost

#

They do m8 thats why they tend to go bang crash wallop alot!!

[ianFRST]

get it dude

i was looking at a few before i got the FRST. cheap 2 buy, cheap 2 rebuild the engine 2!!!

[Billy C]

1.4 = Cheaper Tax doesn't it

Mate got one and its quite phat.

Take it to GT Tuning get adjustables boost and Uprated the head gasket and you'll be Flying

[~nomad~]

If its dirt cheap buy it, if it turns out to be a crapper some boy racer will by it off you. (probably me)

[Mr Jungle]

Pushrod spork

But seriously, friends of mine who own/have owned one all cant get rid of em cause the blow up left right and centre. Make sure the head gasket is in good condition cause they seem to suffer

[Brycey]

R5 - Carisma. . .































Need i say anymore Dooooooooooooooo it! You know you want to

[Stoned]

Yeah but how many R5's look that good....

answer: not many.

[DaveZetec]

basically, theyre very fast and once lowered a bit to reduce the stupid amount of body roll as standard they handle pretty well too.


7.3 ish to 60 iirc - Thats fast for standard!

[Mr Jungle]

Yeah but how many R5's look that good....

answer: not many.

Unlike your XR which looks shweet

[fiestakingfisher]

my experience with a mates R5....



dodgy wiring on the 5 meant it wouldn't charge up... Apparently that car needed many engines / boxes He eventually sold it for a Saph Cossie 4x4

[AndyRS1800]

Got a bit bored, They were all i could find, There are some really sweet ones out there, They look best dropped on 17s with subtle bodymods...

[fiestakingfisher]

4th one down... Williams wheels

and 9th one down has Clio 16v ph2 rims.

[Brycey]

If its good enought for jakki to pose by its good enough for me

Love those twister rims on the R5 though,or the TechnoMagnesios

[Canwell]

one has come up fairly cheap

u get what ya pay for really, good fun for a week but whos gonna pay for it when its gone bang? u can sell the kit for £50 then use that money to give to the scrapyard to pick it up!!

really does depend on the condition and how cheap it is. maybe theres a reason for it being cheap??!! cos theyve had to tow it home verytime they use it!

ive never owned one or driven one so i dunno to be honest!

but dont go posting on FT.com when u wanna know how to fix it!!









... and does this one just drive in a straight line??? cant see how the wheels turn, unless its on pneumatics!


Rich

[Brycey]

Rear wheels on R5 usually are under the rear arch.

I reckon it would roll no probs,look in Fast Car at the R5 on 17s runs fine.

[DaveZetec]

r5s love being low:
80mm drop all round:

then lowered more with comedy rims on:



This usually sports 15s and is now another (!!!!) spline lower at the back. Never catches either, suspension bottoms out before that happens

shame its beige 1.7 tho

[Canwell]

Rear wheels on R5 usually are under the rear arch.

thats cus the rear wheels dont turn!

[AndyRS1800]

My mate Dean had a blue Raider, It was slammed on its arse on 17in black chrome wheels, Looked so sweet its untrue, It also had a flamer kit, Had mucho power, Bad boy bonnet And some sly mesh in the front and rear bumpers in small amounts, It was just sweet, Shame he sold it...

Also my mate Ant is running over 200bhp in his, So far he has managed 14sec 1/4, It should be quicker but he gets wheelspin and it needs a bit of settin up maybe and some stronger transmission, It has 2 nice big seats and a shiney roll cage, Its slammed on standard rims, Oh he has just added Nos to...

I like em, But... Couldnt have 1 as an everyday car, 2 much hasstle,

Dean sold his and bought a BMW, Due to high runnin costs and proplem after problem,
Ant is in the middle of re-building his engine again, There in a knock from the bottom end, Also all Valves, seats and guides are loose, Great fun,
Also my mate Rob has just blown his up so thats a re-build for him,

Nice...

[Swanick]

deans r5 was a sweet car.

there was one on our street a few weeks ago. red with 16 inch speedlines on. looked well sweet.

am going looking at the car on saturday