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Angry little pepper
Renault 5 GT Turbo
Produced in two series from the mid 80s, the Renault 5 GT Turbo, first with 116 and then with 120 hp, has entertained many motorists and even today has a large group of loyal followers. Why? This question can only been asked by those who have not ever driven it, because it is a really great pepper car. With only a 1.397cc engine, but with a proper turborcharger, this hot hatch punished far more noble and choreography cars; camouflaged under the appearance of a normal city hatchback, small shanks, pronounced fenders, spoilers and alloy wheels, told something about its true character.
Inside the cabin, seats were great for sports use, the steering wheel had a comfortable grip, even if it was a little heavy during the steering maneuver. Acceleration was amazing, as well as its top speed. In normal use, it could also become a quiet city car with four comfortable seats. The main fault was not in the car itself, but in some owners who had the habit of ruining it in every way, from exaggerated wings, to absurd colors, or kitsch disco-like interiors, oversized air intakes: in short, all the ways for becoming a clown with a clown car.
But fortunately, there are plenty of original ones, well-preserved or restored. It has the advantage that it can be rearranged without fainting and purchase prices are human, although the really perfect models start to rise. Given the age, you can enjoy very good insurance rates. Surely a recommended car, with which it is impossible not to become attached. Who sold it, regrets that.
Our friend Ricky has gave his one for a photo shoot and I have to say that it’s a little gem, in really fantastic condition.
Ricky himself has compiled a scorecard:
Renault 5 GT Turbo
1.397cc
4 cylinders in line
120-hp at 5750 rpm
830 kg
Front-wheel Drive
Votes (* = poor, ** = average, *** = fair, **** = good, ***** = excellent)
– ENGINE: ***** without ifs or buts. Combined with excellent reliability, if well maintained.
– ENGINE FLEXIBILITY: *** poor before the intervention of the turbocharger, high above.
– ENGINE NOISE: **** with the stock exhaust is quieter than a R5 with 45-hp, various aerodynamic whistling.
– TOP SPEED: ***** 204 declared, 206.4 as tested. For a 1.4cc with 20 years on its back, there is no better.
– ACCELERATION: ***** 0-100 kph: 7″3. Excellent and exciting progression
– TORQUE: *** as the elasticity of the engine. Very little before the turbocharger, very good after.
– BRAKES EFFICIENCY: *** long braking distances, hard with locks of the front, you can get better.
– BRAKES RESISTANCE: **** good already with the original ones, with Tarox at the front and F400 lining pads is great (but make sure they’re warmed up, otherwise, it does not stop at all!)
– GEARBOX HANDLING: ***** sports gearbox but not with precise engagement, quiet and fast; clutch is “heavy”.
– OVERALL GEARBOX: **** good acceleration thanks to its quite short gears; very powerful fifth gear and a first gear too short and not very exploitable.
– OVERALL GEAR: **** it does not deserve “excellent” for the retro, slightly tricky when hot.
– STEERING PRECISION: **** steering comes from the 80s, good up to medium speed, a bit “evanescent” over 180 kph.
– STEERING SWEETNESS: ** what? Heavy while maneuvering, dangerous with irregular road surface, non-existent steering return, and when overwhelmed by torque, in the first three gears, tends to close to the side your pointing at. If you don’t know that, it kills you!
– CONSUMPTION AT LOW SPEED: ***** up to 130 kph you get 13.
– CONSUMPTION AT HIGH SPEED: *** over 160 kph, or if you “pull” the gears quickly it collapses to 7 km/l
– URBAN CONSUMPTION: **** driving normally, not on economy run, between 9 and 10 km/l. If you floor it, no more than 6.5-7 km/l.
– COMFORT: with original suspension and exhaust, the only limit is the lack of climate and that mechanical warms crazy, mine it adds a rigid and noisy structure: nice to travel on the hills, a pain in traffic.
– GRIP ON DRY SURFACE: ***** very good, especially with sports suspension, to be known for “degrees” for not getting hurt: one star less, if original.
– GRIP ON WET SURFACE: **** always better with sports suspensions than stock: aquaplaning always there, regardless of the tires you have; with original trim and Dunlop SP Sport, 2 star less.
– GRIP ON TWISTY SURFACE: ***** reactions always contained and excellent directionality in every situation, with sports suspension, say goodbye to your back.
– STABILITY: *** I have to be honest: with a very stiff setting and 15″ wheels, it forgives everything, including accelerator release and corrections through corners, but with standard suspension and 13″, a simple correction of the steering or the lightening of the throttle through a corner, make the rear “beat” from side to side, while the nose points to the ground: very easy to find yourself sideways – at 40 kph is fun, if it happens at highway speeds, difficult then that you can tell the story to your friends.
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