Driven
Back to Library >
Driven
2024 Renault 5 review
I saw it before I smelled it, but only just. And I can spot one of these at a thousand paces. In the hills above the Côte d’Azur, a Peugeot 205 was working its socks off. I wish I could tell you it was a Rallye, or even a GTI, but I could see from a great distance by the lavish amounts of body roll on display it was something far humbler than that. There was no mistaking that acrid whiff either: there was oil in those cylinder bores, a 1768cc XUD7 smoking its way north as if its life depended on it.
As we approached, my amusement at the angles of lean was replaced by instant admiration for the dedicated student of motoring clearly behind the wheel inside that faded, rusty, 40-year-old shell. The lines were impeccable, the speed carried into the apex simply outstanding, the brake lights notable only for their absence. Perhaps they weren’t working, but I doubt it. I only overtook because I couldn’t stand the stench of undercooked diesel any more.
But as I whooshed silently past in my safe, modern electric appliance, I stole a glance across and saw a short, ruddy faced old man staring impassively into the distance, flat cap on head, near-spent Gauloise (or similar) dangling precariously off a lower lip. He could have looked more French, but not much. I reckon he and his Peugeot have been plying this route for half his lifetime. Or at least I very much hope so.
Start your 30-day free trial to continue reading this article.
Already subscribed? Click here to log in.



Library
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |