Renault Fuego Turbo
Somewhere in the few remaining rational recesses of my brain, I know that owning a Renault Fuego is an awful idea. Terrible reliability, expensive parts, and nonexistent dealer support aren't exactly a great combination in a used car. Standard Fuegos were bog slow, and even the hot-rod Fuego Turbo wasn't exactly fast. Its mollusk-like contours and dated detailing are also very likely to inspire much derision and abuse from your friends. Driving a Fuego is unlikely to win you friends or to influence people.
Happily, I have a long track record of suppressing those flashes of rational thinking. Because, you see, I love the Fuego. Like the Isuzu Impulse, the Fuego upon its 1980 debut was an early adopter of the smoothly rounded hatchback contours that would come to characterize so many of the great sports coupes of the decade. The Renault 15 and 17 that preceded the Fuego were typical 1970s wedges, but the Fuego was slick enough to cheat the wind with a .34 cd--a good figure today, stellar in 1980.
Fast? Well ... no. The base Fuegos made do with double-digit horsepower ratings, with the turbodiesel coming in at 88 horsepower. The Fuego Turbo brought 130 horsepower and 9-second 0-60 ability to the table--albeit for a substantial price increase. That still wasn't fast, even by the standards of the time, but it was at least something close to respectability. The handling wasn't particularly special, which helped undermine the Fuego's sporty intentions.
Fuegos came out of the gate fast; they sold well in Europe for the first few years and were one of the last Renaults that sold in the United States in any real numbers. That is all relative, though; in absolute terms Fuegos were never particularly common, possibly because AMC dealers and customers didn't really know what to do with this quirky European. Since most began a remarkably rapid decomposition process upon purchase, there aren't many left here.
Sadly, most of the few remaining Fuegos are completely knackered; it has been ages since I've seen one that didn't have badly faded paint, a broken window, or white smoke trailing from the exhaust. It's sad, really, both because Fuegos aren't very good beaters--repairs are too expensive, parts are too rare--and because these were once boutique cars that, if remembered at all, are only remembered with derisive chuckling.
It's sad to me that so many Fuegos are unloved, even by their owners. I noticed a classified ad for a Fuego a few years ago in which the seller was asking for $400 and was "VERY flexible on price." Ouch.
So, why do I love the Fuego so? First, I love the style. I have a well-established weakness for turbocharged 1980s European sports coupes, and a similar one for sporty hatchbacks. The Fuego wraps up all of that in a sleek, lovably unique package. I like the aerodynamic lines, and I love the ribbing, rear spoiler and the fine, ribbed detailing. It is distinctive inside and out and stylish for its time; I think in a different situation and from a different marque it might be remembered reverently instead of forgotten.
The videos embedded here are the best videos I've run on Car Lust for a long time. We kick off with a Fuego Turbo commercial that hits me at every level.
0:04 - The guy in the sports jacket is driving with his hands at the 11 and 1 o'clock positions, which is strange enough, but when the road turns he's not moving his hands. No, he's tilting his entire upper body to steer. Does anybody actually drive like that?
0:05 - "Renault Fuego invites you to enter ... the TURBO ZONE." Sure, that trips my irony circuit breakers, but as a turbo true-believer, that line gets me genuinely pumped up. Heck yeah, the turbo zone! And what's even better, I now have a new phrase I can use when turning off the air conditioning in my buddy's car.
0:06 - Hooray, a driving glove purposefully changing gears! Shades of Ride, Pontiac, Ride.
0:08 - Ah, the obligatory reference to the dominant (though not championship-winning) Renault Formula 1 turbos of the early 1980s. Though I doubt Alain Prost or Rene Arnoux would have driven a Fuego.
0:09 - Evidently when the turbo kicks in the Fuego emits a jet-like sound and a pale blue light? I'm not sure whether that's supposed to imply turbine-like thrust, or if the strange light and the noise are meant to imply something alien. Regardless, this persists for the rest of the commercial, so it's obviously something Renault wanted to emphasize.
0:19 - "Priced to move you from the here and now ... to the TURBO ZONE." So the Turbo Zone is the opposite of the here and now? If it implies the future, perhaps that's the explanation for the light?
I won't give the other videos the same in-depth treatment--partially because they aren't in English--but they are equally as entertaining. The ad seems to make the point that a man, mincing about from side to side (see the reflection at 0:19), can't lasso a Fuego. This stands to reason, though I don't understand the purpose of the exercise. But then he does ... and the car doesn't stop, the video stops. And then it is inexplicably branded with the Fuego logo. So Fuegos ran wild until Renault hired vaqueros to round them up and brand them?
The third video is a clip from Knight Rider in which a Fuego Turbo made a cameo appearance, overdubbed in French. There are some great moments here. My favorite moment is when the dramatic, purposeful music kicks in as Michael Knight fumbles slightly with the Fuego's strange door handle to climb in. Nearly as good is the ending, when the Fuego executes a gratuitous handbrake turn in the parking lot and then accelerates away at redline--still in the parking lot.
The images come from a variety of sources. The image of the red European Turbo up top comes from Fuego.net.pl, which gives a nice overview of the Fuego's history. The second image, of the silver GTX, comes from Flickr user Davydutchy. The gray Fuego in the ad shot shows the American front end; thanks to Flickr user cbilleque for the picture. The print ad at the bottom came from Flickr user Little Harp Seal.
--Chris H.
POlson on February 17, 2009 at 07:38 AM
I believe the 13" rims from any 80's Renault car fit. They won't be the original cast aluminum, but you can at least get non-metric tires for it.
Billy on February 17, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Okay thanks. I was actually intrested in a larger set of rims that are aftermarket because it is tough for me to find ANY renault parts whatsoever. Belive me I've tried. However if you know the bolt-pattern that would be useful, because then I could match catalgues. Thanks again
Nick on March 10, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Almost everything I have read on the Fuego makes these cars out to be real dogs. Sophisticated car that is fun to drive.
Pablo Cena on September 01, 2009 at 10:57 AM
What to say about this car...but that it is amazing to look at, that's what I do most with mine. Long story short: came to New Zealand for some working holidays, found an i phone on the street, unlocked it for 100 NZ$, and swapped it for the car. Now Im out of money so i can't have it checked for some irregular behaviour it shows at times, still beautiful and space like, and running of course, I still fantasize with taking it back home with me..anyway, good to know there's still some crazy people out there that simply loves cars.
alan on September 27, 2009 at 12:18 PM
i have a renault fuego turbo 1.6 for sale. 1 owner from new, A reg,FSH in black,90K used once a week, west yorkshire united kingdom call alan 07767494009
Warren on December 29, 2009 at 06:07 PM
Still growing interest in Fuego- more in various places are restoring them and forums are becoming more active.
http://renaultfuego.myfreeforum.org/index.php
skylar on January 22, 2010 at 10:50 AM
i have found a fuego with 2,500 original miles and perfect paint , it has been stored for the past 10 years, dont know if it runs but for the 800 im payin for it i will take the gamble
David McLachlan on August 11, 2010 at 08:36 AM
I have a 1985 (not a turbo) Fuego with 130,000 miles. It needs a new paint job and battery. Anyone interested in it?
germain on September 05, 2010 at 10:43 PM
David, I am interested if not too far from Quebec. Where is the car ?
Billybobturbo on October 16, 2010 at 06:36 PM
I have an 82' fuego turbo here in canada. Love this car. 148,000k, 1.6 turbo, gold with tan leather interior, 5-speed, and full targa roof. Not a speck of rust, and it still runs on the origional trx rims, although it has snow tires now (not driven in winter, they were the only tires i could find) I need a track for the moonroof, and the turbo needs to be rebuilt. otherwise, awesome car.
Pierre on October 27, 2010 at 05:13 AM
I've still mine...
...she is now 25 years old and in a pretty good shape!
I consider her like a relic and make only between 500 and 1000 miles per year.
People are always surprised being overtaken on the highway by an old car spinning like a missile. Sometimes a greenhorn wants to race and finds himself sheepishly realizing that he can't catch me.
Somebody on this forum asked who was the Fuego designer, I think it was Bertone.
Pierre on October 27, 2010 at 06:07 AM
Just wanted to tell to Buster that the "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" have lost 85310 soldiers during the battle of France. At this moment France and Great Britain were almost alone facing the nazis...
Back to the Renault Fuego turbo 132Hp : I've heard that Renault spent very few money to study and develop this car. The result couldn't lead to perfection.
Anyway, the fuego imperfections make her endearing, like an Alfa-Romeo of the same era: low reliability and funny performances for the cost.
Pierre on November 01, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Correction: The Fuego was designed by Michel JARDIN and Robert OPRON.
johnson-rod on March 17, 2011 at 02:21 PM
I had an 82 Turbo Fuego for 9 months. During that time I was on a first name basis with every flatbed towtruck driver in 3 states. It died at 44 miles and mostly every 44 miles after that. I bought it because I wouldn't pay Saab prices but I wanted that type of car. This car gave my wife and I stomach ulcers. It ruined a vacation. It hurt me financially. (you trade in a car after 9 months and see what you get for it) Just seeing one again gives me stomach pains.
Excuse me I have to go to the bathroom. BTW - I still won't pay Saab prices.
Carey Taylor-Forbes on September 12, 2011 at 11:05 PM
I had two of them, a gold 1983 1.6L which ran well for 11 years on the original tyres even though it was 9 years old when I got it, and a silver 1984 2.2L which I got at the same time and was still on its original tyres 11 years later as well. The 2.2 left a number of Porsches standing, although they usually caught me in a bit because of their (much) bigger engine giving them a higher top speed. I once drove from Calgary to Red Deer in an hour flat in that one, in a white-out snowstorm. It was one of those weird blizzards coming up over the US border, the road was dry and I was trying to get out in front of the leading edge. I passed a couple of Mountie cruisers and disappeared into the snowstorm too fast for them to get my plate I suppose since I didn't get a ticket. They weren't silly enough to try a high speed chase under those conditions. Passing an 18 wheeler at 160kmh in a blizzard was an experience I'll always remember, but never try to repeat. The whole mad adventure makes me shudder to think of it now. I was only 41 then: a young crazy Kiwi loose in Canada. Loved that car and wish I still had it.
steve on September 13, 2011 at 04:48 AM
I had three of them. In about '90, a gold and red 84 2.2L that was ok, but the hood latch failed while driving putting the hood through the windshield in a spectacular glass and metal show. Amazingly, I was able to stop without crashing. At the same time, I had a parts black 84 2.2L from the rust belt that I bought for $150 sold because of a failed head gasket. I had replaced this to move it around and learned about floating cylinder liners. However, the rust bucket didnt fit my version of cool, and I stumbled across a black '83 Turbo that ran well, but a dog had eaten the interior. After and interior transplant, I was up an running. I drove the car through my university years (and on about 7 in total), though mostly not in the winter as the heater core was the size of a choclate bar. I recall hitting 205 kph according to the speedo, but had to take past redline in 4th before upshifting or it would choke at 185 kpk. the transmission developed a leak that I attempted to keep filled up but evidently missed as it locked in 5th gear. So I abandoned the lot I had a bizarre fettish for these cars that is so gone now. But I have to say, I learned alot about electrics, mechanics, electrics, early FI computers, brakes & suspension, and electrics.
Gary S. Cochrane on November 27, 2011 at 02:02 PM
Ok, not only did I own a Feugo but I actually worked for AMC / Renualt when the Fuego was being imported. AMC closed our Zone office in Cincinnati and I decided to leave SO I bought a Feugo. I actually wanted a Turbo but the only one available was the one that was used at the training center to teach technicians how to work on Renault's. It had been taken apart SO many times there was no way I wanted to take a chance on that one. I needed a car SO I ended up buying a loaded Feugo minus the turbo. I had that car for about a year. It was silver. It was a very unusual car and that was part of the charm of owning it. Most people didn't know what it was. But, besides that it was not a very good car. The drivers leather seat was worn out in less then a year. I also had a lot of electrical problems. It was very slow. At 60 mph the engine was turning over 3500 rpm, even in 5th gear SO it was loud at highway speeds. I sold it to a Professor in Dayton for almost what I paid for it. Two years later I was at a car auction and a Turbo Fuego (good shape) went over the block. There was no reserve and sold for, $800.00. I was shocked. In just a couple of years Fuego's were almost worthless. Of course you can blame a lot of this on Renault. I worked for these pricks and they thought we were all stupid Americans. They provided no service or support. When they left the country they also left there owner base holding the bag. Even when Renualt was selling cars in the USA, it was a bitch trying to get parts. I remember one Fuego customer who's car was down for over a year trying to get parts. I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road. Despite everything I have a soft spot for the Fuego. It would be fun seeing one running down the highway.
theragirl on December 28, 2011 at 05:41 PM
OMG can't believe I found this blog. I owned two of them our family had three altogether. I loved those vehicles but yes they were very unreliable but thank god my dad was a mechanic. We bought my mom's new and that had several electrical issues. Then when I became old enough to drive, low and behold my dad found a used one. I loved the sunroof, it was a great first car. After all the electrical and computer problems( they were ahead of their time in that regard)my dad got pretty proficient at fixing them. I ended up smashing the first one I had. Shortly after that we went out and found another one. It was dirt cheap at that time a mere 750 dollars because it wouldn't run. We went to the junk yard got a computer out of a junker there( it was under the passenger seat) we plugged it into the (new) car and low and behold away she went. That's not to say I didn't need rescuing because that darn thing would break down from time to time but with even all that I still loved those vehicle.