My first car I ever got was a Renault 5 GTS Panache, I fell in love with this car the moment I saw it I just wanted it, I went to see other R5's mainly prima's and campus's, but none really were that good condition wise.

I bought this car on June 9th 1998, the week after I went too see it for the first time, even though I didn't have my driving licence.

The Renault 5 GTS Panache was a special edition in 1987 its has the base unit engine of the R5 GT Turbo but with a different carburettor so it has 72bhp instead of 60bhp from the bog standard 1.4 engine in the campus, it also has a sun roof, electric windows, remote central locking and alarm and semi bucket cloth seats.

The biggest shock I received was when I went to insure it, I suppose insuring it before I passed my test didn't help much, but still £999.99 was a bit much for what it was. I suppose the letters GTS didn't help. Insurance people see the word GT and start foaming at the mouth.

While I was learning I did go out in a bit with my dad and I thought it was great, but at that point I was no expert too say, but when my dad took the car out it just seemed too come alive and fly but then again my dads like that with anything he drives but even he said it was a very nippy car.

Once I passed my test I started adding things to it but only cosmetic things, the things I did add over time were:-

• Rear spoiler, 
• Chrome wheel trims (which after 12 months got be replaced by 14" TSW Venom alloy wheels), 
• 2 big and 2 small spot lamps, 
• 2 fog lamps, 
• Panasonic CD/Radio player,
• Piranha remote central locking/alarm/immobiliser,
• New Renault 5 GTS Badge,
• GTS badges under side repeaters (off a Renault 21 GTS),
• Twin head lamp covers, which got taken off after about a day they looked crap,
• New Renault logo on the grill (off a Renault 19 16v),
• Renault mud flaps,
• Reflectors all over the place,
• Black and grey chunky pedals.
• Clear front indicators

When I passed my test I loved to scare my mates to death always going round corners fast and whizzing ever were. A few things I remember are going down the motorway at 100mph and its top speed is 104mph so not bad, and a bit of a hump back bridge just floored it got to 60mph and jump it and still in control it's a great car handling I cant fault it at all.

The spec is nothing to brag about but with it being very light, having excellent handling  and a reasonable 72bhp to boot it isn't exactly slow, the spec of the car is:-

• 0 to 60 12sec
• Top Speed 104mph (done 110mph)
• Brake Horse Power 72
• 96 Brake Horse Power Per Ton
• Weight 750kg

So like I said nothing brilliant but it felt mega to drive.

I've not had really any problems with this car the problems I had with it are:-

• Accelerator cable broke due to we found out the owner before us had just tied it on with a knot,
• Clutch cable snap, replaced easily, snapped to general ware and tare,
• Found a few leaks were the rain was getting into the car so sealed them up and no more leaks,
• Exhaust pipe was replace due to it was very rusty and very full of holes.

And that's it other than general maintenance, oil changers, oil filters, etc. I can say that this car has been very reliable in the 4 year period that I've had this car, plus every MOT we put it through it passed first time.

I have now sold my car to my best friend Alan who promises he will look after it. He passed his test in March 2003 so like me it should make him an excellent first car if he looks after it as much as I did. 

I didn't really want too sale it as I love this car too death its been a great little car its very rewarding to drive and very forgiving too, I bought this car with 88 thousand miles on it and it now has 106 thousand miles and it still drives great as it always has, and now it has done 130000 with Al the new owner.

To continue with the new owner click here.