Specification
| Engine Size | 1397cc | Max BHP/Rpm | 120bhp/5750 rpm |
| Weight | 831Kg | Power/weight | 146 bhp/ton |
| 0-60 | 7.8secs | Max Speed | 120mph |
General Information
The Renault 5 GT Turbo Phase 2 was available from 1985-1990 and overcame some of the shortcomings of the earlier phase 1 model, which suffered dreadfully from percolation (the petrol would boil in the carburettor), and premature turbo failure.
Both problems were caused by the immense under-bonnet heat generated from the turbo in the crowded engine bay. These problems were cured by fitting an anti-percolation fan to blow cold air over the base of the carburettor and a water-cooled turbo charger. The phase 2 GT Turbo also produced more power than the earlier model (120bhp). There were also cosmetic changes to bumpers and bodykit, and a rear spoiler and nicer alloy wheels.
Dans Car History
Dan bought this car in June 2005 - the previous owner had the car for 10 years, and looked after it meticulously, so Dan felt it should be a good trouble free example! The car was known to need a clutch, and hadn't been driven for a while. The car is in generally very good condition, but there are a few rust spots on the car, and some scrapes on the alloy wheels as you would expect from a car of this age, but it seems a really genuine car, so Dan was more than happy to buy it.
Dans Car Diary
6th July 2005 Update - Clutch Replaced, and first impressions
The seller had already told me that the clutch needed to be replaced, so I knew this and arranged for a local clutch specialist to collect the car from the seller, and replace the clutch before delivering the car to me - the car arrived today and looks fantastic, there are a couple of small rust spots which need to be sorted, but nothing you wouldn't expect from a car of this age. I also checked underneath the car, and it looks really clean. Rear tyres are very worn, also the alloys have a few bumps and scrapes, so I had already arranged to get some reonditioned alloys on an exchange basis, so fitted these, and two new rear tyres (Uniroyals), also car had no tax, so put 12 months ticket on it.I gave the car a run up the road, and it drives superbly, and goes like a rocket, so I am really pleased with the car so far !
7th July 2005 Update - real lights not working
Spoke to the place that changed the clutch, and they mentioned the reversing light wasn't working, also I have realised the rear brake lights were out as well so was a bit worried as I know french cars are famous for electrical problems, but started to check the wiring, and quickly found the bulbs were missing - I spoke to the previous owner, who explained he has another Renault 5 (he's a real enthusiast), and had forgotten he had pinched the bulbs from this one to replace faulty bulbs on the other.The bulbs were only a pound or so, and quick to fit, and all the rear lights are working correctly, so thats good news, and I'm really looking forward to driving the car tonight and giving it a blast !
8th July 2005 Update - front passenger side wheel bearing rumbling
Really enjoyed driving the car last night and today, it goes like a rocket, and the acceleration is just astonishing, overtaking performance is just fantastic !The front left wheel bearing is rumbling a bit, so decided to get that sorted out before it gets too hot and seizes up, as the last thing I need is for the car to be chucked into a hedge for the sake of changing a wheel bearing!
Arranged for a local garage to replace the bearing, and its not too costly, so hopefully will be done today so I can drive it over the weekend !
So far having seen the problems John is having, I am loving my choice of the Renault !
11th July 2005 Update - Car running well, new drivers seat needed
Just a note to say the car is running really well, today was a scorching hot day, and even on the motorway engine temp stayed OK, so looking good.The interior is very clean apart from the side of the drivers seat which is badly torn so need to look out for a replacement somewhere !
12th July 2005 Update - Dan has found a drivers seat on eBay
Dan found someone on ebay selling a drivers seat and a back seat for Renault 5 GT Turbo (no passenger seat bizarrely) for collection only. The seats need cleaning up, but have no rips or tears.
So we contacted the seller to say can we have the drivers seat only, can we have it picked up by Parcelforce, and what does it weigh ! He emailed back to say OK for courier, but he can't weigh the seat as its locked away !
13th July 2005 Update - drivers seat won on ebay
The good news is we won the auction for the drivers seat, so contacted the seller to ask him to wrap the drivers seat ONLY in plastic/tape, and let us know the collection address and weight so we can get parcelforce to collect it. I said we will paypal him the money when we have a consigment number as a reference to include in the details!The seller responded by email with a collection address (appropriately enough, he is in Barking - Essex, and gave his surname as TMGB which I don't think is pronouncable??), and says we will have to guess the weight.
I phoned him to check what the problem is with weighing the drivers seat, and he says he can't get to it - I said that Parcelforce will need to collect it, so he needs to have the seat ready for them (and he could weigh it at the same time), he said he has the seat 'in his office' but 'its under something' so he can't weigh it, but he will have it ready for Parcelforce tomorrow.
I also checked his surname (I wondered how TMGB should be pronounced), and he says he got that bit wrong and his surname is something else now (easy mistake to make) so he managed to spell it for me (third try).
From speaking to him, I do worry that it sounds to me like the engine is running but there is no-one at the wheel, so I figured we're on a losing battle with this phone call, so gave up. I wondered afterwards if perhaps he is sitting on the seat, and found it too heavy to lift onto his scales :-)
I spoke to Parcelfarce (tm) by phone and explained the situation, and they say they deal with a lot of 'special needs' people doing ebay collections, and its not a problem, they can pickup the item between 1pm and 4pm tomorrow, and they will charge us for max weight now (30Kg for £26) and then refund the difference once they have a chance to weigh it - so thats good.
I paypal'd the guy with the consigment number and delivery address, and also emailed him as well explaining the exact text for a label to stick on the drivers seat after he has wrapped it in plastic/tape.
14th July 2005 Update - ebay drivers seat - not going brilliantly
I checked the paypal website at lunchtime and it looks like the seller has registered an unknown email address on eBay for his paypal payments to be sent to, so the paypal money we sent is still 'unclaimed' and address is 'unknown'.I phoned the seller to explain he needs to claim the money before Parcelfarce (tm) arrive to collect it between 1pm and 4pm, he didn't seem to think it was going to be collected so quickly, I did point out that we had agreed this when I spoke to him yesterday, and I had confirmed this by email, and he said he would sort out the paypal problem.
I got an email from the seller at 6pm complaining that Parcelforce only collected one of the seats, and he has the other packed up ready for them to come back for - the email he was replying to had the subject 'ebay item XXXXX - Drivers seat ONLY', so I don't think he is a strong reader.
Other bad news is I tried to use the Parcelfarce (tm) website to check the consignment had been collected, and tracking details page is completely blank - hopefully they just don't update their website straight away, so should be updated by tomorrow !
Seller still hasn't claimed the paypal money either - I checked at 8pm :-)
15th July 2005 Update - eBay drivers seat - may be wrong seat & may be lost?
I figured Parcelfarce (tm) must be up to speed by this morning, so checked the website and tracking details page around 11am, but its still showing as completely blank ! I dropped Parcelfarce (tm) an email to check status on the package, but got an autoreply straight back to say due to volume of emails, they can't reply for 2 working days so thats no use, also tried the phone and got an announcement 'due to volume of calls please hold ...' I sat on hold for 15 minutes before giving up.So it looks like there is a 50/50 chance the guy has given Parcelfarce (tm) the wrong seat (the back seat which we don't want), and its now looking quite likely that Parcelfarce (tm) have lost it anyway !
The good news is that as the seller can't seem to manage to claim a paypal payment, at least it hasn't cost us anything yet - but I think Parcelfarce may have taken £26 off my credit card for collecting the wrong seat - which they may have now lost.
I gave Dan a ring to give him the good news on the seat progress, and he told me car is running fine, but he was checking under the bonnet last night, and noticed when he revs the engine the top hose from the radiator is sucking in and collapsing - so Dan thinks the hose has just got soft with age, so he has ordered a new one as a precautionary change - the car isn't overheating or leaking anywhere, so hopefully its just a soft hose and not a blockage somewhere in the coolant circuit which is causing the vacum :-)
Afternoon update - I phoned Parcelfarce (tm) as there is still nothing showing on the tracking info for this package, conversation ran something like this:
Parcelforce woman (PW): Our 'delivery system' shows it is awaiting collection
Me (ME): But Parcelforce were due to collect this yesterday afternoon
PW: I'm just checking our 'collection system' - that shows it as collected
- the systems contradict each other, so I can't tell if its been collected
- I can email the depot and get them to ring you ?
ME: So they will phone me before the end of the day ?
PW: No, they won't phone back for 24 hours
ME: So thats tomorrow then
PW: No, they don't work weekends, it won't be till Monday now.
ME: But Monday is the scheduled delivery day?
PW: Yes it is.
ME: So your telling me you can't tell me if Parcelforce have collected the
package until after you deliver it ?
PW: No, sorry.
ME: Can I speak to a supervisor please
PW: Ok, I'll just put you on hold
Music
### disconnected ###
Nice !!
Also Dan just told me they delivered a hose about 3" long (his top hose is nearly 2 foot, as he told them when he ordered it), he phoned to say they have delivered the wrong part and the guy said 'are you sure it won't stretch' :-)
16th July 2005 Update - No news on seat, but now have right top hose !
Dan ended up phoning the Renault dealer yesterday afternoon for his top hose, who had the right part in stock, so he has got that now, but not yet fitted.Also, Dan knows someone at Parcelfarce (tm) who checked the tracking number, and confirmed they don't know if they have colected it or not (their two systems contradict each other still), but it will definately be delivered on monday - thats amazing ! - apparently Parcelfarce (tm) call these 'ugly' parcels - charming !
18th July 2005 Update - Waiting for seat, and top hose changed
Dan changed the top hose over the weekend, but the new one is still sucking in when engine is revved, so Dan is now thinking there must be air getting into the circuit, so will bleed it and flush coolant to see if this helps.Parcelfarce (tm) called this morning to say they have the seat, and its on a van, so will be delivered today !
Seat arrived after lunch, and looks good, it has one tiny rip in it, but is loads better than the one Dan had, and fitted straight in !
Also, Dan had a play with the cooling system, and realised the top hose only sucks in when engine is cold and thermostat is closed - once it opens, its fine, so this is probably normal !! He had already changed the thermostat and flushed/replaced coolant by the time he realised this, but thats never a bad thing !