Learn me: Renault Alliance GTA

So, I’m into some oddball cars. I do love French cars and have owned and driven a few. The Peugeot 405 Mi16 is one of the best all-around sports sedans I’ve ever had. Spent a lot of time in small Citroen, Peugeot, and Renault hatchbacks in Europe as well.

But I don’t know much at all about the AMC-Renault models we got here in the ‘80s.

A buddy of mine pointed me in the direction of an Alliance GTA coupe. They’re ugly in that distinctively ‘80s way: drowning in body cladding and oversized bumpers. But I remember them being pretty cool (maybe?) back in the day. I can get it for Challenge money. Should I?

don't you think you are asking the wrong enablers?

Made in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  Kenosha is home to The Brat Stop.  

That’s all I got.  

Is this a “Plymouth Horizon crossed with VW Fox” level of bad idea?

Buddy purchased one new. Great car. Loved it at the time. 

They were a pretty good, fast, well handling car new.  Hard to find parts for these days, I bet.

The Renaults I’ve driven in Europe all had really supple handling. They make no power, but are fun to toss around. I don’t know how these GTAs compare to a “real” Renault 9 in the handling department. They seem to be pretty light: under 2100 lbs. 

IIRC They pulled higher g's on the skidpad than the corvette did when introduced. 

I disliked them when new and really, REALLY want one now. 

About all I remember about them is that we called them le Appliance.

Does it come with the new heater core provided by the manufacturer recall for every Alliance built?

I mean, it looks pretty cool.

It looks like a Dodge Shadow and a B13 Sentra and, oddly enough, a Peugeot.

And when are you gonna see another one of these?

In reply to Turboeric :

“L’appliance.”

Yes, I remember reading a magazine article about them when they were new...don't remember if it was C&D or Motor Trend, but they ranted and raved about how well it handled.  But still built on an Alliance platform.  I think they're super retro cool.  Good luck finding one.  They were rare in the '80s and now are about as common as unicorn piss.  Go for the holy grail and find an Alliance GTA convertible...they made a handful of them.

Well, this one exists. It’s an ‘87 coupe in red (unfortunately). The horrid Zender body kit looks best in black and maybe silver. Red and white were truly awful. Anyway, it runs and I can pick it up for probably $1500.

I’ve already got two project cars: the 190E 2.3-16 racecar (needs transmission rebuild and some bodywork) and a TR6 restoration (almost done). I don’t really have time or space for another project. And my wife would probably freak out if I dragged home this paean to ‘80s poor taste.

If it weren’t such an odd duck, I’d never have considered it. 

If you're going to buy one, buy one that is still in Kenosha!

https://racine.craigslist.org/cto/d/1987-renault-alliance-gta/6467895669.html

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

Fast? Even in the day they weren't fast. I like Renaults but the more AMC got involved, the worse they became. This was at the end of the relationship. In this era, the best the USA got from France was the Peugeot MI-16.

In reply to RossD :

That one does look amazing. Especially for $1900.

In reply to markwemple :

10 seconds to 60 put the GTA right in the performance range of the VW GTI and other fwd sport econobox types of the period.  It seems spot on for what the car was, rather than slow.

consider the 85 Mustang GT with the 5.0 could only muster zero to sixty in 7.08 seconds. I would think 10.2 for a car with half the power is pretty damn good.

I'm going to have to cast a dissenting vote.  Run away!  It was by far the worst car we had in our 1987 comparison test, which I think was held in Orlando.

They were a direct competitor to the GTI.  Good handlers, but the engine left testers of the day down.

I always thought they were kinda 80's cool---- in a way that Escort GT's were kinda cool.   The GTI or Civic Si was a better car, but for weirdness and quirkyness--- the GTA wins!  

Oh, and the Mars Cheese Castle is also in Kenosha!   And yes....it's cheesy......very cheesy!  

Cheese Castle

In reply to Jumper K Balls :

That number was good in '83. This is several years later. 9 seconds was the benchmark. And, having been in one, and driven them when new, they weren't a 10 second car. More like 11, or more.

Looked at those back in the day.  Bought an FX16 instead.  Glad I did.

I'll put it this way, RUN AWAY!!!!!  My brother bought one when it was a year old, and I think in the 4 years he owned it he drove it twice, and both times ended with a ride with a nice man and a flatbed.  I was in it one of those times and remember absolutely nothing remarkable about it.  For most cars I can think of nice things to say about them, this is the exception.  It was poorly built, poorly designed, and cheap.  Those are not good combinations.  I would think age has not added to the appeal.  Just mentioning the name Renault to my brother sends him to therapy.  He was young, had a loan on it, drove it twice, and after it was paid off hauled it to the junkyard because no one would buy it.  Yeah, it was that bad.