Great expectations heaped on reborn GTI just increased by at least £2,000
In the market for a new hot hatch? You're in luck because 2013 looks like being a bit of a vintage year with a new Renaultsport Clio, the Fiesta ST and the return of the hot Peugeot in the form of the 208 GTI.
Worth a couple of grand over the Fiesta ST?
All carry the weight of expectation but the Fiesta has scored first blood with the announcement last week of a £16,995 starting price that gives it a near £2,000 advantage over the 208 GTI before a wheel has even turned. Like Peugeot wasn't already finding things tough...
OK, the 200hp 208 packs 20hp more than the Fiesta but at nearly £100 per pony that's a fair premium and if you're a numbers man you're going to be paying for the privilege.
Which leaves Renault to play its hand. Can it match its domestic rival's £18,895 starting price? Renaultsport's stock is currently higher in terms of pedigree and reputation but that controversial move to dual-clutch only could well cost both in terms of appeal among the more purist customer base and the bottom line. Given that the Fiesta's Focus ST big brother starts at £21,995 the Clio's not going to have much wriggle room on pricing and anything much more than £20K is going to be difficult to justify, despite Peugeot charging £20,495 for a limited run of 29 pre-launch Limited Edition 208 GTIs.
Rally know-how to go into 'ring 24H racer
Ahead of the new car's launch in the spring Peugeot is meanwhile working hard to establish that kind of competition credibility its Renaultsport and Ford rivals already bring to the party. Irish factory driver and Peugeot Rally Academy graduate Craig Breen has been helping shakedown the new 208 GTI R5 rally car, praising the gearbox and braking stability in particular. The evocative paint scheme with its hints of 205 T16 Group B glory days is a shrewd move too.
There's a track campaign in the offing too, with two cars entered into the Nurburgring 24-hour driven by winners from a Europe-wide competition that ran earlier in the month. The five UK representatives will be chosen at the national pre-selection level at the end of February, before heading to La Ferte Gauche circuit in France on March 4 for the final. One will then go on to fly the flag for the UK in one of the 208 GTIs, the car using technology gleened from both the R2 and R5 rally cars and 250hp RCZ Cup circuit racer.
Are they really trying to use rallying to sell a car again?
Shame about the price I really thought they'd price it atleast even with the competition
With a hot kia on the horizon which are the manufacture in my view that have replaced the french three for a cheap stylish car i'd of expected a lower price.
I did read a 208 gti broshore while my own pug was being mot'd at a dealer a good sign was you can turn esp off but I doubt we'll see the lift off oversteer from pugs of old.
Are they really trying to use rallying to sell a car again?
I wish more companies would. Whilst the rally car looks good, the road car looks pretty miserable. Those stripes down the wing echo the old Peugeot Talbot Sport livery but I'm used to seeing those colours on spritely little hot hatches and lightweight racers. The road car of this looks as heavy as a 5 Series.
Are they really trying to use rallying to sell a car again?
I wish more companies would. Whilst the rally car looks good, the road car looks pretty miserable. Those stripes down the wing echo the old Peugeot Talbot Sport livery but I'm used to seeing those colours on spritely little hot hatches and lightweight racers. The road car of this looks as heavy as a 5 Series.
I think it looks pretty good for a current-gen hatch. The new Kia looks a bit better to my eye, but this is the looker out of the Clio and Fiesta. As with anything in this category it's down to how it drives more than anything.
I wish more companies would. Whilst the rally car looks good, the road car looks pretty miserable. Those stripes down the wing echo the old Peugeot Talbot Sport livery but I'm used to seeing those colours on spritely little hot hatches and lightweight racers. The road car of this looks as heavy as a 5 Series.
Yes I wasn't critizing it would love to see more!
Another thing I find it strange so close to launch no press have driven the gti?
The cooking models have had a luke warm reception which is worrying seeing as in the past from cooking model 1.1 to fire breathing gti the whole range usually drove and rode well.
I was sat behind a sporty model 208 yesterday with twin pipes etc but from dead on from the rear, my god it is goping. Far worse than the fiesta's new front. I did wonder why they never show any pictures of it directly from the rear, now I know.
That is really quite a lot of money It's not that long ago that a Golf GTI used to cost £20,000 new (MK5)... and i'd be willing to bet that a MK5 Golf GTI would still be a better car when compared to a new 208 GTI.
That is really quite a lot of money It's not that long ago that a Golf GTI used to cost £20,000 new (MK5)... and i'd be willing to bet that a MK5 Golf GTI would still be a better car when compared to a new 208 GTI.
The 208 is a Polo sized car, so the Golf is not really equivalent. However I agree that 20k for a small French hatch is an astounding amount money, it would have to be exceptional to warrant that sort of price tag.
That is really quite a lot of money It's not that long ago that a Golf GTI used to cost £20,000 new (MK5)... and i'd be willing to bet that a MK5 Golf GTI would still be a better car when compared to a new 208 GTI.
The 208 is a Polo sized car, so the Golf is not really equivalent. However I agree that 20k for a small French hatch is an astounding amount money, it would have to be exceptional to warrant that sort of price tag.
What's being French got to do with it? Don't understand this mentality at all.
It's not that long ago that a Golf GTI used to cost £20,000 new (MK5)... and i'd be willing to bet that a MK5 Golf GTI would still be a better car when compared to a new 208 GTI. 
t looked better than dog s
