My comment comes as an owner of a Turbo 2. My love for these cars is, well... in my mind they are the barometer for determining a true car nut. Just a handful of cars ever produced are as interesting and special as an R5 Turbo. These cars reputation for being widow makers is utterly ridiculous. They are much better handlers then a long history of automotive journalists will have you believe. They are balanced and only will bite at you if you behave like a complete birk. They drive very similar to an early Porsche 911 Turbo but not as ominous. Tons of turbo lag which only makes things more thrilling one the boost comes on. In 1981, when the R5 Turbo was released, it was the very first production car to break the 100 horsepower per liter barrier, with 158hp from it's 1397cc engine. (The 62' Ferrari GTO is often credited with being the first but in reality it only made 291hp from it's 2953 cc's.) The 220mm wide metric TRX tires are less grippy then the optional 285mm Pirelli P7's and I agree, the Michelins are more fun since they can be made to slide around a bit. (I think my car is less fun with the big steam-roller rubber, but it looks so much better with the rear wheel wells filled.) Shifting in these cars is actually really accurate and much less balky then you describe so long as all the shift linkage is in good nick. It is a semi-complicated mechanism and it can take some work to get it right but once it is... it's darn good considering how far back the trans sits. Other interesting things of note not covered in this video... For those of you wondering about access to service the engine... the rear quarter lights (windows) are hinged and open fully to allow access to engine area. Also, behind the seats are removable access panels for servicing the alternator, waterpump, belt and Bosch fuel injection system. Also behind the seats sits the fuel tanks... all 93 liters (25 US gallons) of them. That's right, these cars carry their fuel INSIDE the passenger compartment! This gives them a 1000 km (600mile cruising range). No idea why they needed so much fuel as a rally car. Last little interesting fact is that these cars were made in the same production facility that constructed the Renault F1 cars of the era in Dieppe France. The longitudinal mounted engine, 2 seat layout and wild Gandini styling make this a TRUE 80's supercar. For those of you interested, these will run to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds if you're willing to abuse the clutch but in the real world, the lack of boost from a dead stop will mean that anything will get off the line faster then a R5 Turbo.
you’re not lying about them being widow makers. I grew up in a sleepy village. 2 people just in my village ( one was in the same cal de sac ). Were unalived by them. One of them only slid into a kerb which caused the car to flip which made the car fold.
I share your man crush on the 5 Turbo and the colour is perfect for me too! I'd take that particular 5 Turbo over loads of super cars...I absolutely love that car!
These would be cool if they were a $5k old car but they are not they are $150k , so has to be judged on that basis and that basis is rubbish . Not fast , not reliable , not comfortable. Just another Bboomer investment vehicle living in the past.
I'm 45. When I was growing up there was one on the street next to me, it was parked in the street and I passed it most days, I liked it but never payed it that much attention. Now I'm in love with the bloody thing and wish I could go back!
😂😂 oh, you got to love the "balls" the Frenchies had to let Bertone have his way with the dashboard.....brilliant daring move! The entire R5 1st is purrrrrrr. Great video 🎉❤
I had a Turbo 2 back in 92. I also had a Gordini Turbo at the same time. The Turbo 2 was 18inches wider at the back. Mine had a 180 kit and a Devil exhaust on it. Absolutely bonkers car and one I always wish I’d kept!
I used to be VW mad so got a '72 Beetle when I was 17 and had a '61 bug also... used to say shit like "air cooled all the way", but then one freezing cold winter's night I got a lift from a girlfriend's brother in his black R5 Turbo, with blacked out windows and a nice sound system, all dark and warm and cosy inside. I had been scraping ice off the inside of my windscreen in the bug that day... Something fundamental changed within me that night, and within a year I had my very own R5 Turbs. I worked my arse off and got myself a sound system too - Cerwin Vega sub, Alpine 6x9s and a big Kenwood amp. Owning and driving that car was an amazing feeling - I used to drop my friends off and try to head home, but I was addicted to the feeling of driving this car with my favourite tunes blasting, just carving up the country roads by myself. Then one day me and a friend were racing down one of our regular country roads late at night. He was in his Clio 16v (Mk1), and behind me putting some pressure on. As I was coming around a gradual bend at 80-odd mph, I saw the mud tracks on the road where a tractor had been coming in and out of a field during the day. I hit the mud, and the car instantly spun, sliding sideways over the kerb which deleted all of the wheels. The car the smashed into the drainage ditch between the road and field, and ricochet back out and over the road into the ditch on the other side. I came around to the fire brigade getting me out of the back seat of the car, the driver's seat was there empty with the seatbelt still done up. My Sub box, shelf and amp, along with everything else that was in the car like tools, was scattered all over the road, as well as in the hedge and field. I suffered a broken shoulder so went off in the ambulance and got loads of drugs and gas which was nice. I came to again in A&E, to the sight of about 6 friends looking down at me, all of them absolutely gurning their faces off on E's - they were out at a rave (Exodus) and heard about the accident and just left the rave mid session to come to the hospital. I'll never forget that - the 90's were a wild time! Anyway that turned out to be more waffle than I planned. But cars can do that to us... I am very passionate and emotional about certain cars and the R5 will always hold a special place in my heart.
You lucky sod Jack. That's also my all time favourite car let alone 80's rally special. I saw that very car at Bicester a couple years back and I would have one in an instant if possible.
Talk about a walk down memory lane, saw one, same colour in 1981 in st Ives Cornwall, on holiday with mum n dad as a 14 year old, on the rear it said rabbit injection, and a image of 2 rabbits mating! Awesome rare car, was a great watch jack 👍
I have also had a crush for the turbo 1 in red, after watching that chase in Bond as a kid 😄 I thought it was the coolest car ever. And that makes this your coolest episode ever 😊
Jack, it's a typically French car for it's time, a time when Renault said, "we are the French, we will make this car any way we like it", and they made fantastic "drivers" cars, pieces of stylish art. Beauty in the eye of the beholder. You come up with some very"entertaining " picks, excellent 👍.
Always loved these cars, had a ride in one when I was about 15, my mates step dad was a chauffeur to a rich family, the man had a Rolls Royce, he bought his wife a Renault 5 turbo - it was easily the fastest thing I had been in up to that point, about 160bhp which these days is nothing but cars were a lot lighter back then - it really shifted 😊
Have driven the Series 2 extensively & worked on it, not difficult to maintain, just time consuming as various bits of trim have to be removed to access the engine. Unbelievable to drive, even if it is slightly “cammy” & the boost delivery is a bit sudden. With modern tyres it’s absolutely amazing!
Had a 2 series in late eighties. May not be as mad design as the 1 but was fab to drive. Stuck to the road like glue. Once got asked by a copper what it was like to drive. Absolutely loved it and was praised by garage for not f'ing up the turbo as always let it warm up before giving it some. Very fond memories and would love to have one again.
Back in the early 90's a knew a lad who lad who had the R5 GT Turbo Raider (this was a facelifted version, basically, of the FWD Renault 5 GT Turbo). It was a quick and entertaining car. He replaced with with a Renault Clio Williams, trading in the Raider for an early one of those. The Clio was an altogether more civilised thing, but a few weeks later he was thinking of buying the R5 back for "high days and holidays" both because it was fun and because he was emotionally invested in it (it was the first thing he rewarded himself with when his business took off), but the dealers had already shifted it - never to be seen again. I ran into him around a decade later in about 2003 and he had his young family in tow and a Laguna. We chatted about the good old days but you know what they say - you can never go back.
We had a lad who was a few years older with a raider at school, dark blue. He worked outside school and I think parents helped him out. He tuned the balls off of it with dump valve exhaust etc. He crashed it up at Epsom downs and the insurance refused to pay out, this was around 97-98. It must have been worth 7-10k back then. I always questioned how the hell he afforded the insurance. Well now we know he never told them! Harsh lesson in life!
@@tombutcher3021I went to a few local car meet ups and if/when the police turned up that was something they checked. Back then they didn't seize the car but you had a week to produce documents proving you had declared the mods or you were in real trouble. I always declared any mods to be on the safe side - oddly it didn't effect insurance much
What a joy to see this on your channel Jack. Wonderful. I still remember CAR magazine raving about the car at the time. Apparently, it drives very well until it doesn't. If the back does go you are done for. I think you would have to be very silly to push that hard on road.
I can't tell you how lucky I was as an Irish immigrant growing up in Canada. Same age as you, and getting a R5 Gordini as my very first car. Took my license test in it. I remember the tester asking me, what was it? He hadn't a clue. They were somewhat popular in Quebec but not in English speaking, Toronto. Mine had the same Moto Lita steering wheel as the series 2 turbo cars had.... Loved that. Of course, I always wanted one of these so I did what any sensible teenager would do and put the widest set of tyres I could possibly fit on the back. 195 versus the 145's on the front. I'd kill to find another one!
If you want 80's bonkers this is most certainly it. It is so iconic and of its time but still looks good even today. I agree that you have to keep those wheels they help to make the car. Jack you said the stereo was 'not very good' but would you even hear it anyway unless you made your ears bleed?! I like the whole interior including the steering wheel and the window 'wipers', I knew what you meant. (we will let you off the odd mistake as you were sooo excited). The period extras were so well thought out. You probably didn't sleep that night Jack after that drive! Thanks for such a great review Jack. 👍👍
Can you imagine someone in 40 years time getting in a 1st gen Tesla and being so enthusiastic about it as you are in the Renault 5, nope neither can I.
Cool video, Jack! One can really feel how excited you are to drive one of your childhood dreams. 😊 My younger brother had a series 2 Turbo Renault 5 and he absolutely loved it.
Regarding the handling, I completely agree. It feels like a much bigger car. Utterly planted. I drove mine pretty enthusiastically, and never got close to its limits. I did get it sideways on a roundabout once, but just eased off the power slightly and it immediately came back into line. Fun, yes. Scary? No. Mind you, I never drove it hard in the wet! Don't forget that the Turbo 1 or 2 can corner at 0.94g. Only slightly less than the 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B, for example. Incredible for its time. Oh and the ride comfort? Sublime. Not even "good for a performance car". Sublime. Not Citroen-esque, but never harsh or hard. Puts many a modern car to shame.
Great you got your hands one one of these 😮I’m no fan at all of Renault cars but, the fact Renault went a bit mental with this (and the Clio V6) always brings a smile to my face so credit where credit is due😁
Absolutely phenomenal, the looks, the proportions, the details, that interior, just such a cult car!. And I'm so glad the driving experience didn't disappoint!
My first car was an R8. My dad had 4CV’s, a Dauphine, R4, and an R16. They all had that smooth Gallic ride and decent handling. I’ve always fancied the R5 Turbo.
Worked at a Renault dealer in the early 90's, occasionally a pearl white with red interior Turbo 2 came in for work or an MOT, everyone in the place went nuts when it did, everyone loved it, sadly i never got to drive it, as a 21 year old mechanic i'd never have been trusted with it and yet only a couple of years later i did get to road test a Lancia Delta Integrale evo which was LHD and probably way quicker than the Turbo 2.
I live in Menton, France and the little handbrake turn and tunnel clips were filmed here. Trivia part 2 is that the handbrake turn is just in front of the cemetery where William Webb Ellis is buried. A great car for our little roads 👍.
The R5 Turbo was on my dream list back in the day. I have only ever seen one, and that was parked on a side street one rainy evening in Paris. I still remember the moment. I'm really glad to learn that the driving experience does not disappoint. Too bad that we haven't seen more interactions of such a formula over the years.
Wicked machine! I can imagine myself driving it with the owner in the passenger seat reminding me how old it is and so on... Half an hour later, he's grinning a bit because I've been pushing it past his comfort zone for most of the last half-hour... I had the 1108cc version of this car. It was wicked too, in its own way ;)
My uncle bought a T2 in 1983. It was in a metallic brown with a lighter brown shade of seats and carpet. Not his first choice but it was someones order that he managed to get and it was still a good looking car. I do remember it being off the road for 3 months while tyres came from France though. Back in the day it felt very quick indeed when 160bhp was enough and cars weighed less than a tonne.
the late john price once took me for a spin in a rally prepared one on the welsh roads. it was quite something. very hard to drive though due to the short wheelbase and huge turbo lag.
I remember them from back then...and always wondered about the rumors that it would kill me I got the timing of the boost wrong. Your modern perspective shows a much friendlier car...a great vintage toy for francophiles with a touch of madness in their right foot. Many thanks.
The flying OXO cube! Thank you both for sharing this wonderful series 1. If I remember correctly CAR did an excellent job on one at the time. A beautiful cover shot. One of my dream garage
Smashed that like button right away! Always loved the way these sound, these old school flat plane inline 4s / v8s (like this and a F40) have so much more character than most of the newer ones IMO. Good stuff Jack 👍.
Great video Jack! You are a fantastic car journalist, I love how vividly you manage to describe everything. This is one of my all time favorite cars as well and I thoroughly enjoyed the video!
TRX millimetric tyres, austin rover + jags had them as well, 3 times the normal price... we had to fit a top-end stereo system to the one we sold, the stereo workshop was 5 miles away from our garage, the owner questioned why there was 30 miles on the speedo... keep it up young man
In the late 70,s I had a Renault 5TS as a company car then a turbo which was fun.Later on I recall driving a mid engined Turbo 2 down the Cromwell Rd in West London which had turbo lag you could measure with a sundial! It would come in with a thump & then you'd hit the fairly low RPM red line,not ideal in London traffic even in the early 80,s.They shared these quite scary characteristics with the BMW 2002 Turbo & the Saab 900 which were all,of course, preceded by the "widowmaker" beloved of yuppies Porsche 911 Turbo!
In college, I had a regular five TL. I remember when this came out in the car magazines. This certainly doesn’t look like the dashboard in my five! I couldn’t help but chuckle look at Jack driving this with those little thin doors, thinking about side impact testing on one of these rather like a Marc one mini.
I bought my T2 in the late 90's, ex Peter Stringfellow, trimmed in red leather and wearing 285 tyre's on the rear. Mine had the bigger intercooler and a few other period bits so was around 205 - 225hp depending on the weather. That was fine in the dry apart from exiting roundabouts but was a bugger to keep pointing in a straight line when it was wet. Should never have parted with it but did just after the FOS in 2003 where it was displayed on their cricket pitch and one guy offered me way over what I'd paid for it so decided to let it go. Never forgotten...
What a classic, ive had quite a few renaults and loved them all even a standard 5 gte was great fun, if i ever came into a bit of money this would be top of the list just for sheer fun, great video😊
My first Car was a 1978 Renault 5 TL. I loved that car! This bonkers brothers of it was my dream car, but I have never seen one IRL. It looks and sounds wonderful. Everything my TL with 44 horse power was not.
Thank you Jack. One went past me on my bicycle, I first heard the air flow displacement, the body shape was making from the road and then it went pass me. A motorcycle on 4 wheels!
That will be a proper scream to drive, i dropped a vvc 160 in a rover metro years ago, and 160bhp in a car like that, is a proper laugh, it would surprise a lot of people, but you got drive stuff like that with respect, My mate put his toe down in my vvc metro, and it bit him, to the point his hands were white with fright. Thanks for showing this off, as i have only seen photos of the Turbo 1. 80s and 90s were where the cars were like, mid 2000s we lost our way sadly.
I've loved these since I first saw them in magazines, sadly Renault left the US - although we owned an 18i sedan - never had a chance to even sit in an R5 Turbo. I would love a chance to drive one someday. Thanks Jack for the great video.
Very fun car that not everybody can appreciate. I do. The colorful interior oddly reminds me a little bit of my old Amstrad CPC 464's equally colorful keyboard... Some will certainly remember that. Great video by the way!
i owned back in the day a renault 5 gordini a 79 with the non turbo engine a really fantastic little car the 5 turbo 1 as always a dream car the rally cars were outrageous 400 bhp? good test jack of a brilliant little car .
Just loved everything about this Jack. What a cool little car. I'm of an age that I remember them and share your thoughts. What surprised me was how approachable this wee devil actually is.
I'd take one of these over almost any modern car - gorgeous, quirky and bonkers! Makes you grin standing still and at speed. That roof mounted Panasonic unit is chef's kiss.k
The owner has an IMPECCABLY eclectic taste in cars.
What a marvelous collection!!!
I'm SOOO jealous.
Avant garde all the way
My comment comes as an owner of a Turbo 2. My love for these cars is, well... in my mind they are the barometer for determining a true car nut. Just a handful of cars ever produced are as interesting and special as an R5 Turbo.
These cars reputation for being widow makers is utterly ridiculous. They are much better handlers then a long history of automotive journalists will have you believe. They are balanced and only will bite at you if you behave like a complete birk. They drive very similar to an early Porsche 911 Turbo but not as ominous. Tons of turbo lag which only makes things more thrilling one the boost comes on. In 1981, when the R5 Turbo was released, it was the very first production car to break the 100 horsepower per liter barrier, with 158hp from it's 1397cc engine. (The 62' Ferrari GTO is often credited with being the first but in reality it only made 291hp from it's 2953 cc's.) The 220mm wide metric TRX tires are less grippy then the optional 285mm Pirelli P7's and I agree, the Michelins are more fun since they can be made to slide around a bit. (I think my car is less fun with the big steam-roller rubber, but it looks so much better with the rear wheel wells filled.) Shifting in these cars is actually really accurate and much less balky then you describe so long as all the shift linkage is in good nick. It is a semi-complicated mechanism and it can take some work to get it right but once it is... it's darn good considering how far back the trans sits.
Other interesting things of note not covered in this video...
For those of you wondering about access to service the engine... the rear quarter lights (windows) are hinged and open fully to allow access to engine area. Also, behind the seats are removable access panels for servicing the alternator, waterpump, belt and Bosch fuel injection system. Also behind the seats sits the fuel tanks... all 93 liters (25 US gallons) of them. That's right, these cars carry their fuel INSIDE the passenger compartment! This gives them a 1000 km (600mile cruising range). No idea why they needed so much fuel as a rally car. Last little interesting fact is that these cars were made in the same production facility that constructed the Renault F1 cars of the era in Dieppe France. The longitudinal mounted engine, 2 seat layout and wild Gandini styling make this a TRUE 80's supercar. For those of you interested, these will run to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds if you're willing to abuse the clutch but in the real world, the lack of boost from a dead stop will mean that anything will get off the line faster then a R5 Turbo.
*than
Very interesting car any pictures
you’re not lying about them being widow makers. I grew up in a sleepy village. 2 people just in my village ( one was in the same cal de sac ). Were unalived by them. One of them only slid into a kerb which caused the car to flip which made the car fold.
@@smith2781 Not widow makers. Very capable and predictable handlers.
Great insights - thank you!
I share your man crush on the 5 Turbo and the colour is perfect for me too! I'd take that particular 5 Turbo over loads of super cars...I absolutely love that car!
Glad we’re in agreement mate.. she’s a beauty!! Possibly my fav car from any Bond film.
@@Number27which bond film was this car in .out of intrest
@@user-kc3fn1gu6g @1:00
@@user-kc3fn1gu6g Never say never again.
@@user-kc3fn1gu6g He said it in the intro. It was the non official Bond movie, the last with Sean Connery; Never say Never again!
The Renault 5 Turbo oozes personality, such a unique car. We have lost that in the modern cars.
Toyota yaris GR enters the chat.
@@kimwalton2873 totally agree, this is what the French do so well.
@@KimiMD You may be right but I don't think I have seen a Yaris GR in the US.
These would be cool if they were a $5k old car but they are not they are $150k , so has to be judged on that basis and that basis is rubbish . Not fast , not reliable , not comfortable. Just another Bboomer investment vehicle living in the past.
@@KimiMD 1000%
I'm 45. When I was growing up there was one on the street next to me, it was parked in the street and I passed it most days, I liked it but never payed it that much attention. Now I'm in love with the bloody thing and wish I could go back!
Paid...
Same age as me, miss the old school cars.
The michelin trx and the pirelli p7 tyres back in the day had the 2 coolest tread patterns in the business to my ,now old eyes.
The Michelin TB rally intermediates were the business, We went from nowhere to 3rd fastest stage time in a Talbot 1600ti all down to the tyres
😂😂 oh, you got to love the "balls" the Frenchies had to let Bertone have his way with the dashboard.....brilliant daring move! The entire R5 1st is purrrrrrr. Great video 🎉❤
That interior is really special. I love it.
I had a Turbo 2 back in 92. I also had a Gordini Turbo at the same time. The Turbo 2 was 18inches wider at the back. Mine had a 180 kit and a Devil exhaust on it. Absolutely bonkers car and one I always wish I’d kept!
Only recently sold my Gordini Turbo and Turbo 2. I also owned both concurrently. Miss both tremendously.
I used to be VW mad so got a '72 Beetle when I was 17 and had a '61 bug also... used to say shit like "air cooled all the way", but then one freezing cold winter's night I got a lift from a girlfriend's brother in his black R5 Turbo, with blacked out windows and a nice sound system, all dark and warm and cosy inside. I had been scraping ice off the inside of my windscreen in the bug that day... Something fundamental changed within me that night, and within a year I had my very own R5 Turbs. I worked my arse off and got myself a sound system too - Cerwin Vega sub, Alpine 6x9s and a big Kenwood amp. Owning and driving that car was an amazing feeling - I used to drop my friends off and try to head home, but I was addicted to the feeling of driving this car with my favourite tunes blasting, just carving up the country roads by myself.
Then one day me and a friend were racing down one of our regular country roads late at night. He was in his Clio 16v (Mk1), and behind me putting some pressure on. As I was coming around a gradual bend at 80-odd mph, I saw the mud tracks on the road where a tractor had been coming in and out of a field during the day. I hit the mud, and the car instantly spun, sliding sideways over the kerb which deleted all of the wheels. The car the smashed into the drainage ditch between the road and field, and ricochet back out and over the road into the ditch on the other side. I came around to the fire brigade getting me out of the back seat of the car, the driver's seat was there empty with the seatbelt still done up. My Sub box, shelf and amp, along with everything else that was in the car like tools, was scattered all over the road, as well as in the hedge and field. I suffered a broken shoulder so went off in the ambulance and got loads of drugs and gas which was nice. I came to again in A&E, to the sight of about 6 friends looking down at me, all of them absolutely gurning their faces off on E's - they were out at a rave (Exodus) and heard about the accident and just left the rave mid session to come to the hospital. I'll never forget that - the 90's were a wild time!
Anyway that turned out to be more waffle than I planned. But cars can do that to us... I am very passionate and emotional about certain cars and the R5 will always hold a special place in my heart.
The best episode yet? Fabulous, so many memories.
Born in 1975, for me, this is the OG of hot hatches. Love that stereo too. Credit to the owner.
That's such a rare option - impossible to find back then let alone now.
You lucky sod Jack. That's also my all time favourite car let alone 80's rally special. I saw that very car at Bicester a couple years back and I would have one in an instant if possible.
Finally my dream car being reviewed.. grew up with these cars .. nothing has come close to these
Talk about a walk down memory lane, saw one, same colour in 1981 in st Ives Cornwall, on holiday with mum n dad as a 14 year old, on the rear it said rabbit injection, and a image of 2 rabbits mating! Awesome rare car, was a great watch jack 👍
I have also had a crush for the turbo 1 in red, after watching that chase in Bond as a kid 😄 I thought it was the coolest car ever. And that makes this your coolest episode ever 😊
Jack, it's a typically French car for it's time, a time when Renault said, "we are the French, we will make this car any way we like it", and they made fantastic "drivers" cars, pieces of stylish art. Beauty in the eye of the beholder. You come up with some very"entertaining " picks, excellent 👍.
The 205 gti as well
The French did make sweet cars in the 80’s n 90’s for the new boy racers ❤🎉😂
Always loved these cars, had a ride in one when I was about 15, my mates step dad was a chauffeur to a rich family, the man had a Rolls Royce, he bought his wife a Renault 5 turbo - it was easily the fastest thing I had been in up to that point, about 160bhp which these days is nothing but cars were a lot lighter back then - it really shifted 😊
Have driven the Series 2 extensively & worked on it, not difficult to maintain, just time consuming as various bits of trim have to be removed to access the engine.
Unbelievable to drive, even if it is slightly “cammy” & the boost delivery is a bit sudden. With modern tyres it’s absolutely amazing!
Wow, just wow. I remember being 11 when Renault & Audi were going hammer & tong at each other in WRC. What a great car!!
Had a 2 series in late eighties. May not be as mad design as the 1 but was fab to drive. Stuck to the road like glue. Once got asked by a copper what it was like to drive. Absolutely loved it and was praised by garage for not f'ing up the turbo as always let it warm up before giving it some. Very fond memories and would love to have one again.
Another great review thanks Jack. It would be great to see an interview with the owner and to be shown around his wonderfully eclectic collection
Back in the early 90's a knew a lad who lad who had the R5 GT Turbo Raider (this was a facelifted version, basically, of the FWD Renault 5 GT Turbo). It was a quick and entertaining car. He replaced with with a Renault Clio Williams, trading in the Raider for an early one of those. The Clio was an altogether more civilised thing, but a few weeks later he was thinking of buying the R5 back for "high days and holidays" both because it was fun and because he was emotionally invested in it (it was the first thing he rewarded himself with when his business took off), but the dealers had already shifted it - never to be seen again. I ran into him around a decade later in about 2003 and he had his young family in tow and a Laguna. We chatted about the good old days but you know what they say - you can never go back.
I had 2 GT Turbos back in the day - a D reg mk1 and an F reg mk 2 - both red - happy days 😊
We had a lad who was a few years older with a raider at school, dark blue. He worked outside school and I think parents helped him out.
He tuned the balls off of it with dump valve exhaust etc. He crashed it up at Epsom downs and the insurance refused to pay out, this was around 97-98. It must have been worth 7-10k back then.
I always questioned how the hell he afforded the insurance. Well now we know he never told them! Harsh lesson in life!
@@tombutcher3021I went to a few local car meet ups and if/when the police turned up that was something they checked. Back then they didn't seize the car but you had a week to produce documents proving you had declared the mods or you were in real trouble. I always declared any mods to be on the safe side - oddly it didn't effect insurance much
Would love one of these. I remember when they came out and I saw the first pic it blew me away.
One of our loved cars 🇨🇵
I drooled over these when I was a lad and nearly came to grief in a mk2. Great car, just like the Alpines you mentioned
What a joy to see this on your channel Jack. Wonderful. I still remember CAR magazine raving about the car at the time. Apparently, it drives very well until it doesn't. If the back does go you are done for. I think you would have to be very silly to push that hard on road.
I can't tell you how lucky I was as an Irish immigrant growing up in Canada. Same age as you, and getting a R5 Gordini as my very first car. Took my license test in it. I remember the tester asking me, what was it? He hadn't a clue. They were somewhat popular in Quebec but not in English speaking, Toronto. Mine had the same Moto Lita steering wheel as the series 2 turbo cars had.... Loved that. Of course, I always wanted one of these so I did what any sensible teenager would do and put the widest set of tyres I could possibly fit on the back. 195 versus the 145's on the front. I'd kill to find another one!
My Secondary School teacher had one of these back in the late 80s! Notley High School, Braintree, Essex. What a legend!
BOY. That interior is so French in the best possible way. You could mistaken it for Centre Georges Pompidou.
If you want 80's bonkers this is most certainly it. It is so iconic and of its time but still looks good even today. I agree that you have to keep those wheels they help to make the car. Jack you said the stereo was 'not very good' but would you even hear it anyway unless you made your ears bleed?! I like the whole interior including the steering wheel and the window 'wipers', I knew what you meant. (we will let you off the odd mistake as you were sooo excited). The period extras were so well thought out. You probably didn't sleep that night Jack after that drive! Thanks for such a great review Jack. 👍👍
iconic car , now you have to try the Clio V6 :)
What a total beauty.... It takes me back.... I was 19 when these were out and a wealthy friend had one...
2:01 I love it. This is the cool future car aesthetic we never got.
Can you imagine someone in 40 years time getting in a 1st gen Tesla and being so enthusiastic about it as you are in the Renault 5, nope neither can I.
There was one Renault 5 turbo 2 in Jersey in the 80s and it was the head turner of its day. Blue ans white, huge flares and 2 seats. Loved it.
ルノーサンクturbo2を日本で乗っています❤宜しくお願いしますね
エンジンはOHVですがturboで素晴らしい運転が出来る、ミッションリンケージが壊れて
ピロボール化に加工したあとはミッションの入りも良くなりました
日本は交通渋滞でクラッチ板の減りがはやくクラッチ板ツインプレート、マスターシリンダーも
自分で交換修理しました🧑🏻🔧👍turbo 1は憧れてます❤ホイールはゴッティ製でマフラーはdevilです
とても良い動画を見てHappy Day ❤有難うございます♪JAPAN東京👍💯❤️🤝
Fantastic to see your car on here, Richard!
This car and the AC 427 Cobra was my ideal 2 car garage as a young fella. Only seen 1 on the road. Thanks for featuring it.
I think this car sounds fantastic! Especially for a 4 cyl engine, the induction, the growl from the exhaust and the turbo whistle!😁😎
Cool video, Jack! One can really feel how excited you are to drive one of your childhood dreams. 😊
My younger brother had a series 2 Turbo Renault 5 and he absolutely loved it.
Regarding the handling, I completely agree. It feels like a much bigger car. Utterly planted. I drove mine pretty enthusiastically, and never got close to its limits. I did get it sideways on a roundabout once, but just eased off the power slightly and it immediately came back into line. Fun, yes. Scary? No. Mind you, I never drove it hard in the wet!
Don't forget that the Turbo 1 or 2 can corner at 0.94g. Only slightly less than the 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B, for example. Incredible for its time.
Oh and the ride comfort? Sublime. Not even "good for a performance car". Sublime. Not Citroen-esque, but never harsh or hard. Puts many a modern car to shame.
This and the Delta. All time childhood dreams 🙂
An absolute gem, you manage to review the most interesting cars on YT.
At the time it was an absolute gorgeous car and still is , would love to own one
Huge smile on your face when you're driving this!
They are Michelin TRX tires. The wheels are sized so that you can ONLY run TRX tires on them. Renault also shod the Fuego with them.
Thanks for the memories, my uncle had one in Kenya and enjoyed very minute driving it, what a beast.
American here who loves these and other cool cars we didn't get here. Like the channel. Thanks
Great you got your hands one one of these 😮I’m no fan at all of Renault cars but, the fact Renault went a bit mental with this (and the Clio V6) always brings a smile to my face so credit where credit is due😁
Love these. I was so excited to see one. Brought back the 13 year old me.
Absolutely phenomenal, the looks, the proportions, the details, that interior, just such a cult car!.
And I'm so glad the driving experience didn't disappoint!
My first car was an R8. My dad had 4CV’s, a Dauphine, R4, and an R16. They all had that smooth Gallic ride and decent handling. I’ve always fancied the R5 Turbo.
Worked at a Renault dealer in the early 90's, occasionally a pearl white with red interior Turbo 2 came in for work or an MOT, everyone in the place went nuts when it did, everyone loved it, sadly i never got to drive it, as a 21 year old mechanic i'd never have been trusted with it and yet only a couple of years later i did get to road test a Lancia Delta Integrale evo which was LHD and probably way quicker than the Turbo 2.
Right there with you for this one Jack, absolutely epic! Retaining the original wheels is a must, they are part of the cars identity.
Living in France so many years ago, these cars fascinated me. So cool.
I also figured out from this video that I'm older than Jack. 😮
I love this car. I have many diecast versions. This and the Peugeot 205 T16 have got to be the cutest little rockets ever.
I live in Menton, France and the little handbrake turn and tunnel clips were filmed here. Trivia part 2 is that the handbrake turn is just in front of the cemetery where William Webb Ellis is buried. A great car for our little roads 👍.
Fantastic machine, it’s like being back in the 81 watching Jean Ragnotti hurl it round Monte Carlo!
For a turbo it sounds absolutely bloody beautiful. So much induction. Lovely over run. Always loved these. Lucky man.
Yeah, the growl on those exterior shots are quite spectacular :)
The R5 Turbo was on my dream list back in the day. I have only ever seen one, and that was parked on a side street one rainy evening in Paris. I still remember the moment. I'm really glad to learn that the driving experience does not disappoint. Too bad that we haven't seen more interactions of such a formula over the years.
Wicked machine! I can imagine myself driving it with the owner in the passenger seat reminding me how old it is and so on... Half an hour later, he's grinning a bit because I've been pushing it past his comfort zone for most of the last half-hour...
I had the 1108cc version of this car. It was wicked too, in its own way ;)
My uncle bought a T2 in 1983. It was in a metallic brown with a lighter brown shade of seats and carpet. Not his first choice but it was someones order that he managed to get and it was still a good looking car. I do remember it being off the road for 3 months while tyres came from France though. Back in the day it felt very quick indeed when 160bhp was enough and cars weighed less than a tonne.
the late john price once took me for a spin in a rally prepared one on the welsh roads. it was quite something. very hard to drive though due to the short wheelbase and huge turbo lag.
The world's simply a better place with cars like this in it. What a fabulous thing the 5 Turbo is and MK1 is definitely one to have.
Such an iconic car and still as cool as hell. You are so lucky to get to drive one of these. 😎
I saw one of these coming down the hill above Grasse - 30 years ago but I can still see it today - grip ,grip,grip - it swooped.
With the addition of the roof-mounted stereo and those rear speakers, that might just be THE best interior of any 80s car for the vibe of it.
I remember them from back then...and always wondered about the rumors that it would kill me I got the timing of the boost wrong. Your modern perspective shows a much friendlier car...a great vintage toy for francophiles with a touch of madness in their right foot. Many thanks.
I remember the mid 90's where you saw these driving on the street. Crazy car :) Greetz from Holland!
Jack, yet another awesome video, great car!
An absolute unicorn of a car 🦄
Beautiful.
The flying OXO cube! Thank you both for sharing this wonderful series 1. If I remember correctly CAR did an excellent job on one at the time. A beautiful cover shot. One of my dream garage
I lived opposite a Renault main dealer back in the 80s & they had Gordinis in occasionally plus the 5 Turbos - absolutely lovely things
Smashed that like button right away! Always loved the way these sound, these old school flat plane inline 4s / v8s (like this and a F40) have so much more character than most of the newer ones IMO. Good stuff Jack 👍.
That interior and the crazy steering wheel is so cool.
Very nostalgic car. I remember these from childhood too. Such a presence, but in a good way. I love them 😍
Such a mad car! Absolutely love it! And my fascination was triggered by “Never say never again” as well 😃
Great video Jack! You are a fantastic car journalist, I love how vividly you manage to describe everything. This is one of my all time favorite cars as well and I thoroughly enjoyed the video!
TRX millimetric tyres, austin rover + jags had them as well, 3 times the normal price...
we had to fit a top-end stereo system to the one we sold, the stereo workshop was 5 miles away from our garage, the owner questioned why there was 30 miles on the speedo...
keep it up young man
In the late 70,s I had a Renault 5TS as a company car then a turbo which was fun.Later on I recall driving a mid engined Turbo 2 down the Cromwell Rd in West London which had turbo lag you could measure with a sundial! It would come in with a thump & then you'd hit the fairly low RPM red line,not ideal in London traffic even in the early 80,s.They shared these quite scary characteristics with the BMW 2002 Turbo & the Saab 900 which were all,of course, preceded by the "widowmaker" beloved of yuppies Porsche 911 Turbo!
In college, I had a regular five TL. I remember when this came out in the car magazines. This certainly doesn’t look like the dashboard in my five! I couldn’t help but chuckle look at Jack driving this with those little thin doors, thinking about side impact testing on one of these rather like a Marc one mini.
i had a g plate raider which i wish i had kept forever. loved it
I bought my T2 in the late 90's, ex Peter Stringfellow, trimmed in red leather and wearing 285 tyre's on the rear.
Mine had the bigger intercooler and a few other period bits so was around 205 - 225hp depending on the weather.
That was fine in the dry apart from exiting roundabouts but was a bugger to keep pointing in a straight line when it was wet.
Should never have parted with it but did just after the FOS in 2003 where it was displayed on their cricket pitch and one guy offered me way over what I'd paid for it so decided to let it go.
Never forgotten...
Such a historical car!!!!
Bonkers mad 80's it just oozes character, what an epic little package. Thank you Jack it was a brilliant review👍
What a classic, ive had quite a few renaults and loved them all even a standard 5 gte was great fun, if i ever came into a bit of money this would be top of the list just for sheer fun, great video😊
Thanks Jack! My dream car since I was a teenager in the 80’s!
That interior is so gallic! I've always loved these
Love that crackle! Also, those overhead controls look COOL 😎
My first Car was a 1978 Renault 5 TL. I loved that car! This bonkers brothers of it was my dream car, but I have never seen one IRL. It looks and sounds wonderful. Everything my TL with 44 horse power was not.
Thank you Jack. One went past me on my bicycle, I first heard the air flow displacement, the body shape was making from the road and then it went pass me. A motorcycle on 4 wheels!
Just to see one go past would put a massive smile on my face
That will be a proper scream to drive, i dropped a vvc 160 in a rover metro years ago, and 160bhp in a car like that, is a proper laugh, it would surprise a lot of people, but you got drive stuff like that with respect, My mate put his toe down in my vvc metro, and it bit him, to the point his hands were white with fright. Thanks for showing this off, as i have only seen photos of the Turbo 1. 80s and 90s were where the cars were like, mid 2000s we lost our way sadly.
I've loved these since I first saw them in magazines, sadly Renault left the US - although we owned an 18i sedan - never had a chance to even sit in an R5 Turbo. I would love a chance to drive one someday. Thanks Jack for the great video.
Very fun car that not everybody can appreciate. I do. The colorful interior oddly reminds me a little bit of my old Amstrad CPC 464's equally colorful keyboard... Some will certainly remember that. Great video by the way!
i owned back in the day a renault 5 gordini a 79 with the non turbo engine a really fantastic little car the 5 turbo 1 as always a dream car the rally cars were outrageous 400 bhp? good test jack of a brilliant little car .
Just loved everything about this Jack. What a cool little car. I'm of an age that I remember them and share your thoughts. What surprised me was how approachable this wee devil actually is.
So much fun, I can't even imagine what it must be like to take a blast down the roads in that!
I'd take one of these over almost any modern car - gorgeous, quirky and bonkers! Makes you grin standing still and at speed. That roof mounted Panasonic unit is chef's kiss.k