Pug 205 GTi 1.6 or 1.9
Discussion
I know it maybe a silly question but which one? In the next few months I am going to buy a toy, but coz i am skint I am going to have to sell the Festa to fund this purchase.
That means I need a car that I can both have fun in and drive on the road (and insure, I am 21).
I can afford the £700 quid to insure a 1.6 but not the £1000+ to insure a 1.9.
So, what exactly is the difference? The 1.6 has 115 BHP, the 1.9 has 130bhp. What about suspension etc? Anyone driven both?
Plus, I reckon it will be easier to find a lower mileage example in better condition if I go for the 1.6.
Any comments?
That means I need a car that I can both have fun in and drive on the road (and insure, I am 21).
I can afford the £700 quid to insure a 1.6 but not the £1000+ to insure a 1.9.
So, what exactly is the difference? The 1.6 has 115 BHP, the 1.9 has 130bhp. What about suspension etc? Anyone driven both?
Plus, I reckon it will be easier to find a lower mileage example in better condition if I go for the 1.6.
Any comments?
Have you got an insurance quote from www.elephant.co.uk
I'm 24, no NCB, clean licence, car parked on street (in north london) and got £650 fully comp quote from them.
Seems very competitive to me.
I'm 24, no NCB, clean licence, car parked on street (in north london) and got £650 fully comp quote from them.
Seems very competitive to me.
I know it maybe a silly question but which one? In the next few months I am going to buy a toy, but coz i am skint I am going to have to sell the Festa to fund this purchase.
That means I need a car that I can both have fun in and drive on the road (and insure, I am 21).
I can afford the £700 quid to insure a 1.6 but not the £1000+ to insure a 1.9.
So, what exactly is the difference? The 1.6 has 115 BHP, the 1.9 has 130bhp. What about suspension etc? Anyone driven both?
Plus, I reckon it will be easier to find a lower mileage example in better condition if I go for the 1.6.
Any comments?
Go for it! I have a 1.6 and I love it! (Slight Plug.. I may be selling it in a few months, to make way for something a bit bigger and RWD)
From what I have heard the 1.6's are slightly easier to handle than the 1.9's but to be honest I doubt there is too much in it. The 1.9 comes with rear discs rather than the drums of the 1.6 but they are essentially the same. I think the 1.9 has a longer stroke than the 1.6 making it less revvy but i'm not sure. The 1.9 also comes with 15" alloys rather than the smaller ones of the 1.6.
I would definitely buy the car on condition rather than milage. When I was looking for mine I saw several with up to 30k less miles than the one I bought and they were complete dogs - and cost 2x as much!
Which insurance company did you get the quote though?
Hmm, agree with buying the best condition one you can find – which are usually the 1.6s.
But can't agree with them being more fun than 1.9s. Mine was SO much better than all the 1.6s I drove, but I did thrash the tits off it constantly. I also wonder if it felt so good because it was always on the verge of breaking very spectacularly.
In the end I sold it for more than it was worth – the buyer came round, sat in the passenger seat for a short balst, then thanked me profusely for the test drive. He didn't even want a go himself – he paid full whack there and then.
Great little cars. Get the 1.9.
But can't agree with them being more fun than 1.9s. Mine was SO much better than all the 1.6s I drove, but I did thrash the tits off it constantly. I also wonder if it felt so good because it was always on the verge of breaking very spectacularly.
In the end I sold it for more than it was worth – the buyer came round, sat in the passenger seat for a short balst, then thanked me profusely for the test drive. He didn't even want a go himself – he paid full whack there and then.
Great little cars. Get the 1.9.
I know it maybe a silly question but which one? In the next few months I am going to buy a toy, but coz i am skint I am going to have to sell the Festa to fund this purchase.
That means I need a car that I can both have fun in and drive on the road (and insure, I am 21).
I can afford the £700 quid to insure a 1.6 but not the £1000+ to insure a 1.9.
So, what exactly is the difference? The 1.6 has 115 BHP, the 1.9 has 130bhp. What about suspension etc? Anyone driven both?
Plus, I reckon it will be easier to find a lower mileage example in better condition if I go for the 1.6.
Any comments?
Er, aren't you answering you're own question here? Either way you shouldn't feel shortchanged in a 1.6GTi. Still the seminal hot hatch experience. Still the ultimate design - wheel at each corner, perfect blend of aggression / beauty. Wish I had room for one now...
Ive had a 1.6 and i loved it, bags of fun.
Id shop around for the insurance tho - 1.9 is only 2 insurance grps higher (its grp14) so shouldnt be more than £120 extra. I paid £1000 TPFT to insure mine at 20 years old.
Im not paying £700 TPFT on a grp15 Corrado at 21years old - so it will go down
try Adrian Flux - 08700 765450
Id shop around for the insurance tho - 1.9 is only 2 insurance grps higher (its grp14) so shouldnt be more than £120 extra. I paid £1000 TPFT to insure mine at 20 years old.
Im not paying £700 TPFT on a grp15 Corrado at 21years old - so it will go down
try Adrian Flux - 08700 765450
I know it maybe a silly question but which one?
Not a silly question at all.
There are many people who consider the 1.6 not to be an inferior car to its bigger brother. The 1.6 is lighter and is more eager to rev than the 1.9.
I have passengered many miles in both 1.6 and 1,9s and I think it is true what they say that 1.6 handles better (less weight up front) - having said that they are both great wee cars.
Just to throw oil on the fire how's this for an idea: The best 205 i have ever been in is my mate chris' 205 ralley.
The ralley is relatively rare, cheap (and cheap to insure), it is lighter than either of the GTIs, and its 1.4 carb lump is easily tunable to 100-110 BHP (getting towards 1.6 territory). It also has a shorter ratio box which is not much fun on the motorway but would be perfect for the track. Yes it does have rear drum brakes but up front the discs from a citroen berlingo van will slot straight in - dead cheap and loads of stopping power!!
Just a thought...
Moonie
WOW!
Cheers for the advice everyone
I was afraid the consensus would be "save up for the 1.9, you wont be happy with a 1.6" but no, it seems the 1.6 also comes highly praised!
With regards to insurance, I am getting tired of filling out online quotes and being told right at the end "sorry, we cant give you a quote" coz I am 21 trying to insure a 1.9. Adriun Flux have still not got back to me.
I know a few of you argue the 1.9 is the better car ( I dont doubt that) but in my circumstances it is almost a case of pug 1.6 or keep the festa for another 12-18 months.
So I think that settles it, the Festa is up for sale!
Cheers for the advice everyone
I was afraid the consensus would be "save up for the 1.9, you wont be happy with a 1.6" but no, it seems the 1.6 also comes highly praised!
With regards to insurance, I am getting tired of filling out online quotes and being told right at the end "sorry, we cant give you a quote" coz I am 21 trying to insure a 1.9. Adriun Flux have still not got back to me.
I know a few of you argue the 1.9 is the better car ( I dont doubt that) but in my circumstances it is almost a case of pug 1.6 or keep the festa for another 12-18 months.
So I think that settles it, the Festa is up for sale!
willdew said: Have you got an insurance quote from www.elephant.co.uk
They are my current insurers and have not offered me a good renewl of the fiesta, I will give it a go though.
robp said:
With regards to insurance, I am getting tired of filling out online quotes and being told right at the end "sorry, we cant give you a quote" coz I am 21 trying to insure a 1.9. Adriun Flux have still not got back to me.
Keep trying with Flux. They have a deal with the Peugeot Autosport Club, and came out the cheapest for me when I renewed last year (21, 3yrs NCB, Oxford, £500TPFT)
egomeister said:
Go for it! I have a 1.6 and I love it! (Slight Plug.. I may be selling it in a few months, to make way for something a bit bigger and RWD)
Well, I wont have the cash until late May, early june so if you remember, drop me a mail or something when you come to sell it coz I could be interested!
robp said:
egomeister said:
Go for it! I have a 1.6 and I love it! (Slight Plug.. I may be selling it in a few months, to make way for something a bit bigger and RWD)
Well, I wont have the cash until late May, early june so if you remember, drop me a mail or something when you come to sell it coz I could be interested!
No problem. It would be going in the PH classifieds anyway.
theboymoon said:
I know it maybe a silly question but which one?
The 1.6 is lighter and is more eager to rev than the 1.9.
I have passengered many miles in both 1.6 and 1,9s and I think it is true what they say that 1.6 handles better (less weight up front) - having said that they are both great wee cars.
Moonie
Er, I think the handling difference between the 2 is not down to weight. I've never understood this idea that as soon as the engine is bigger the car gets much heavier - as mentioned the 1.9 is a stroked version of the 1.6 unit, so extra weight comes from a longer throw crank.. not a lot? Also, the 1.6's rear drum brakes are heavier than the 1.9's rear discs. This should level out the weight difference fron the engine. I suspect any difference in handling can be found in the wheels and tyres - bigger, and less forgiving on the 1.9. Probably weigh a little more too...
Still, fabulous cars the pair. I want one. Anyone wanna let me have a drive?
egomeister said:
robp said:
egomeister said:
Go for it! I have a 1.6 and I love it! (Slight Plug.. I may be selling it in a few months, to make way for something a bit bigger and RWD)
Well, I wont have the cash until late May, early june so if you remember, drop me a mail or something when you come to sell it coz I could be interested!
No problem. It would be going in the PH classifieds anyway.
Nice one
I hope the used market is not too saturated with cheap Fiesta's so I can sell mine quickly
I currently own a 1.9 Gti - mint condition and when i go up against 1.6's, they fall behind so easily. I say go for the 1.9. If you bought the 1.6 and you found it too slow then you will be killing yourself for not getting the 1.9.
Also, 1.9 looks so much better. Wider and nicer wheels and the 1.9 just has so much more to give.
Also, 1.9 looks so much better. Wider and nicer wheels and the 1.9 just has so much more to give.
trackdemon said:
Er, I think the handling difference between the 2 is not down to weight. I've never understood this idea that as soon as the engine is bigger the car gets much heavier - as mentioned the 1.9 is a stroked version of the 1.6 unit, so extra weight comes from a longer throw crank.. not a lot? Also, the 1.6's rear drum brakes are heavier than the 1.9's rear discs. This should level out the weight difference fron the engine. I suspect any difference in handling can be found in the wheels and tyres - bigger, and less forgiving on the 1.9. Probably weigh a little more too...
Fair enough - i stand corrected!
Subjectively, from having driven (albeit briefly) and passneger'd (for God-knows-how-many-miles) 205s, that the 1.6 felt like it handled 'better' than a 1.9. By 'better' i mean more adjustable mid bend with a lift of the throttle and just generally more connected with the road - it felt like a more sorted car.
However, I fully accept that the 'less weight' argument is, well, pretty much nonsense so i guess its just down to tyre size/wear/pressures on the day...
Back to the topic - In the end I would have thought that at 21, rather than paying through the nose for insurance it would be better to save the cash, buy a good 1.6 and spend the difference looking after it...
Moonie
edited for some awful spelling!
>> Edited by theboymoon on Thursday 24th April 18:09
theboymoon said:
Back to the topic - In the end I would have thought that at 21, rather than paying through the nose for insurance it would be better to save the cash, buy a good 1.6 and spend the difference looking after it...
I am inclined to agree. I could always change it for a 1.9 a few years down the road
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