French cars spotted that we don't see often..

[Gibbo2286]

My first girlfriend had a Renault 5.... that turned into a bonfire. My uncle had a Renault 5..... that turned into a bonfire. My R5 GTt.... turned into a bonfire. My mate's R18... turned into a bonfire...

My sis-in-law's Scenic 07 plate auto.... didn't turn into a bonfire, but it's s**t.

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Did the insurers not catch on?

[Michel]

My first girlfriend had a Renault 5.... that turned into a bonfire. My uncle had a Renault 5..... that turned into a bonfire. My R5 GTt.... turned into a bonfire. My mate's R18... turned into a bonfire...

My sis-in-law's Scenic 07 plate auto.... didn't turn into a bonfire, but it's s**t.

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Did the insurers not catch on?

The only one that was ever claimed for other than my dad's Twingo was my DRK back in early 2015. The rest weren't worth the loss of NCB and hassle!

[ekjdm14]

The only R5s I have any first hand experience of didn't turn into bonfires although the GTT me & a mate caught in a car park had made a valiant effort to do so... It was parked up with steam & all gurgling hell spitting forth from the pressure cap & was just about to have cold water poured into it's overheated engine. (guess it had a bad BHG but at least they took part of our advice and boiled a few kettles worth to top it back up, whether it saved the engine or not I don't know, I'm sure they were adamant about driving home)

The other one never got near burning, the battery wouldn't have had the oomph to light a bit of wire wool & the brakes leaked all their fluid before the engine had a chance to get in on the act & overheat...

That said, an R5 (even a sporty one) is still on my bucket list to own, as are a 25, 21, Fuego and Vel Satis

[van ordinaire]

We hired on on Malta once, loved it (& I don't really like small cars) - I remember being particularly taken with the door pocket, carefully shaped to hold a wine bottle; si Francais!!

I then determined that a 205 would be even better - & a GTI was mooted that, however, somehow morphed into a BMW 323i. Would still entertain either now (even I have to concede that an XJ40 is not the ideal device for Devon lanes ) but I suspect that they are now collectable &, therefore, over priced.

[myglaren]

Almost posted a picture of a Fiat Vignale Samantha that I though looked nice, then realised it was Italian

Had never heard of that one previously.

[Michel]

The only R5s I have any first hand experience of didn't turn into bonfires although the GTT me & a mate caught in a car park had made a valiant effort to do so... It was parked up with steam & all gurgling hell spitting forth from the pressure cap & was just about to have cold water poured into it's overheated engine. (guess it had a bad BHG but at least they took part of our advice and boiled a few kettles worth to top it back up, whether it saved the engine or not I don't know, I'm sure they were adamant about driving home)

The other one never got near burning, the battery wouldn't have had the oomph to light a bit of wire wool & the brakes leaked all their fluid before the engine had a chance to get in on the act & overheat...

That said, an R5 (even a sporty one) is still on my bucket list to own, as are a 25, 21, Fuego and Vel Satis

If you ever have the chance and money, buy a well sorted late 5 GTT, E or F reg. They're the most fun you can have on 4 wheels, utterly bonkers.

[ekjdm14]

The budget I tend to buy cars within would dictate some extreme good fortune (and complete madness on behalf of the seller!). Never paid more than £400 for a car, in fact I think it's closer to 3 ton. Have to admit a GTT would be a laugh but perhaps not suited to my current style of driving, a really good base spec car with beige interior and a tiny engine would be more "me", or a bad one stripped out with a matt respray & lowered on wide steelies with hub caps...