Friday 15th February 2013

30 years of the Peugeot 205

Peugeot celebrates the launch of the car that made its name

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Hitting 30 is something of a milestone for most people. It’s the age by which time, for most of us, youthful abandon is slowly being replaced by middle-aged responsibility, when comfortable routine replaces edgy spontaneity; when a nice cup of tea starts to sound more inviting than a night on the tiles.

Still looking youthful at 30

Some of us, though, buck the trend. Just like the Peugeot 205, which is celebrating the big three-zero today, and showing no sign of growing up. Indeed, the GTI versions so beloved of PHers across the country are still introducing drivers to the raw thrill of pure, unfettered hot hatchery, complete with the obligatory trailing-throttle oversteer and delightfully torquey XU-series engines. The GTI became such a legend that it almost single-handedly transformed Peugeot from an also-ran manufacturer of comfortable-but-dull family cars into a company with a reputation for producing the best-looking, best-handling family cars out there. It's a good job they haven't squandered that reputation and returned to the former, isn't it? Oh hang on...

As you might expect, Peugeot has sought to recapture the magic of the 205 with each successive 20x GTI,  its latest attempt coming soon in the shape of the 208. But unless they pull off something really special, the only way to experience the thrill of driving the 205 GTI is still... well... by driving a 205 GTI.

Tidy 1.6 is appealing - and good value!

Good job they’re still one of the unexpected bargains of the performance used car market, then – as we highlighted in our awards last year. How’s about this slightly jaded but (mostly) unmolested 1.9, for a remarkably reasonable £1,300? It won’t win any concours awards, but it look like it’s been well cared-for and should offer all the flavour of the larger-engined 205 for a bargain basement price. Of course, if only a near-immaculate GTI will do, you’ll have to pay a bit more – although the price demanded for this 152,000 mile example seems a little on the steep side.

Alternatively, if you disagree with Mr Harris and reckon the 1.6 is actually the 205 of choice, you’ll be well-catered for too. This clean-looking 1.6 can be yours for £2,500 which, bearing in mind its condition and reasonable mileage, feels very reasonable indeed. There’s certainly something enormously appealing about clean, original examples these in red with amber indicators all round.

Whichever model floats your boat, if you’ve always had a hankering for an example of Peugeot’s finest hour, get in quick – prices aren’t likely to hang around at this level forever. For a car that’s still spoken of in such hallowed terms and loved by most, these are still fantastic buys.

Oh, and happy 30th, 205. Don’t ever grow up.

[Nors]

Fantastic little car!!

Kind of ironic that this celebration of an icon is annouced whilst Peugeot are in financial dire straights and announcing lay off's all over the place.

Perhaps they should look back at this car and see if they can re-kindle some of it's spirit!!

Pug's are really not nice to look at these days and are made more brittle than Oscar Pistorious's defence

[SidewaysSi]

I have had a couple of 205s and dearly loved them. Superb driver's cars. Peugeot has really gone backwards in the past 15 years or so with nothing of any value to the enthusiast. Big shame.

[macdeb]

SidewaysSi said:

Superb driver's cars. Peugeot has really gone backwards in the past 15 years or so with nothing of any value to the enthusiast. Big shame.

I had one, a 'turbo technics' 1.9 with adjustable boost, I so wish I still had it. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. Fab' little car.

[mooseracer]

I had a C plate phase 1 like the one linked in the article. Loved that car although it was falling apart even then and that was almost 20 years ago! Followed up with a phase 2 1.9 a few years later and it was great. They really are a lovely looking hatchback, everything just seems right and the drive is just fantastic.

[TonyHetherington]

Just when I was beginning to get over my "must need one" phase, you go and do this to me, PH.

[m444ttb]

I had £500 1.6 GTi in 2004 after having had a heavily modified (Bilstein dampers etc) 106 XSi. I think 2004 was near where prices hit rock bottom. Mine had sat for 6 months on te eside of the road after the owner (2nd since 1990) had acquired a company car. A little work and some fresh petrol and she was fantastic! It had spent its life being serviced and repaired in the Peugeot dealer network and the Pug specialist i took it to (Storm Autos in Witney) thought it was one of the best they had driven. It even looked the part once the chap i sold it to had it machine polished back to red and put in a slightly nicer half leather interior. During the previous owners tenure something had gone wrong with the dash and Peugeot had replaced it with a new zero mileage dash so the car read 45k. The service history documented it as having been close to 145k but i gather it was sold on as being a genuine low mileage car, which was naughty.

[stumpage]

Most days I see a white one of these driving through Welwyn.

D111 SAW... If you're reading this, I love you daily driver.

[juansolo]

Peugeot were on a roll back then. The 205 was magnificent and they followed that with the 306 and 106 Rallyes which were enormous fun. Shame that car companies have forgotten how to do this and think we actually want ever faster, heavier, grippier cars with loads of toys so we can pretend we're racing drivers. It was a golden age. Renault Clio Williams, even the Citroen ZX Volcane got in on the action. The French really had the hot hatch market by the bks back then.

[ajh38]

I picked up a 1.6 limited edition in Sorrento Green last month. Cracking little thing, getting a 208 GTi in April and will have them side by side, can't wait!

I haven't driven my Boxster since the day I picked up the 205, it wants the wheels refurbed and a tiny bit of rust taken care of but apart from that it's in great order for a 23 year old car. Absolutely love it! Having previously had a 206 GTi 180 and having recently driven a mates remapped 207 GTi running at 200 bhp I can confirm that although these replacements will beat the 205 for outright speed there is not nearly the level of excitement or driver involvment as experienced in a 205.

Love it.

[PeXy]

I miss mine... often think about it, bought it in 98 sold it in 03/04 happy days. I don't agree with that bks about being heavy on the front end, my Ex's father at the time had a Mk2 golf gti and lent it to me when mine was having a service, was underwhelmed.

If anyone on here has G870 BDF, put a picture up! Saw her about 4/5 years ago near Pershore. worcester.

[s m]

stumpage said:

Most days I see a white one of these driving through Welwyn.

D111 SAW... If you're reading this, I love you daily driver.

I wonder if that came from Newcastle Motors in Ketley. My friend had D95 SAW from new which was one of the first 1.9s they supplied

Edited by s m on Friday 15th February 09:30

ETA - I remember the first 1.9 they supplied was D91 SAW which was around our area for a fair while

Edited by s m on Friday 15th February 09:34

[belleair302]

I had 3 1.9's, two red and one BRG. Wonderful cars, heavy steering, amazing throttle response, interesting torque steer, crappy interiors but oh what a chassis. Not great in congestion but on the open roads, oh what a joy.....

Cars with character, comfortable, nothing broke and every drive put a smile upon my face. Better than a 16v Golf, RS Ford and R5 GT in my eyes...Sold the last one in 1994 for a Subaru !!!!

[NAS]

TonyHetherington said:

Just when I was beginning to get over my "must need one" phase, you go and do this to me, PH.

+1

I miss mine so much

[r1ch]

My 205 is currently being resprayed, i've missed it! One of the best cars i've ever driven. Not great for commuting, but on the right road it all makes sense. Brilliant, brilliant little cars. I've always preferred the 1.9.

[ZesPak]

juansolo said:

Shame that car companies have forgotten how to do this and think we actually want ever faster, heavier, grippier cars with loads of toys so we can pretend we're racing drivers.

Have to disagree, Mazda has kept it's MX5, despite regulations, surprisingly light, small and low powered.
However, I do think that a car like the GT86 is more of this age.
A good hot hatch? Hmm, haven't driven a lot of them, but I'm thinking a Fiat 500 Abarth? A shame Fiat they doesn't make a fast (+-120bhp) Panda, that would be great, their current Twin/Multiair engines are a treat.

Peugeot however have lost the plot completely. Their styling is ever more overgrown. The 407, on release, actually looked good (it's only merit though, imho). And the 406 coupé true Ferrari styling for the common man. At least Citroën makes some very good looking cars.

[Frimley111R]

My all time favourite. A red 1.9 from 1989. Did 80,000m in it. Loved it to bits, awesome speed and handling in a time when there were no speed bumps, scameras, etc. Just masses of twisting Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire roads. Happy, happy days.

(PS: In the ad for the 1.9 in the story it says 115bhp...)

[Andy75]

I've had three (2 x 1.6's, and 1x 1.9), loved them all. My favourite was the 1.9, felt a little less strained, and as it was a later model, had better seats and nicer steering wheel.

[sc4589]

I'm always worried that I'll drive one and it'll not live up to the hype, or it'll try to kill me.

Doesn't stop me wanting a go, or thinking about buying one once the guitar is paid off... old cars rule.

[Adz The Rat]

Fantastic little cars!

When I was 18 and could only afford a Nova 1.2, 2 of my friends had 205 GTI's.

1 was a black 1.9 GTI with black leather and red carpets, stunning car.

The other was a black Dimma with MI16 conversion, that was a complete beast!

Ive still never owned 1, maybe 1 day.

[Ben Magoo]

I snapped the cam belt on my 1.9 Gti and still regret selling it - though now I'd quite like one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-Very-Rare-Low-Mileage-...

If you buy a proper French Rallye you get a 1.3 with twin Webber carbs! Mmm