Who's got a Pug 205 GTi?
Discussion
TVR Moneypit said:
T40ORA said:
Got myself a 306 Rallye instead.
Stil hankering after a 205 though, so I'll probably keep my eyes open and if a good one comes up I may well change.
The Rallye is pretty good, but somehow it doesn't move me like a 205. But maybe I'm just being nostalgic.
After hearing many a well respected motoring journo rave about them, I'd love to do a back to back test of a 205GTI / Clio Williams 106 / 306 Rallye etc.Stil hankering after a 205 though, so I'll probably keep my eyes open and if a good one comes up I may well change.
The Rallye is pretty good, but somehow it doesn't move me like a 205. But maybe I'm just being nostalgic.
Mind, I haven't taken it on a really interesting twisty yet where power isn't as important as carrying speed you already have through the bends. But I really do have to try a sorted 205 though..
Los Angeles said:
I used to own a 1.9 until a double decker bus took it out, the driver looking one way, turning the other.
Sniff.
The current Classic and Sports Car (£4.20) has a large feature on the Pug - the 1.9 is the one to get. I recall a company in middle England that renovated them. They are, as you know, great cars but tend to rattle a bit with age, but cheap to custom or pimp.
Everyone is dumping either the Mi16 or GTi-6 lump in them. Ups the power to 167bhp for the Gti-6 transplant, which is becoming respectible.Sniff.
The current Classic and Sports Car (£4.20) has a large feature on the Pug - the 1.9 is the one to get. I recall a company in middle England that renovated them. They are, as you know, great cars but tend to rattle a bit with age, but cheap to custom or pimp.
Los Angeles said:
I had the proverbial white with red interior 1.9 - but would get one renovated its exterior a royal blue under, black over, (NOT metallic - wrong for the car's period) and tint the windows ... heavily. 
Both mine were black. Still prefer them black. Polished alloys with black enamel on sides of spokes. Tinting would be good.minimatt1967 said:
Alloy block Mi16 on webbers with a slip diff masses of grip and 200bhp, yet still as economical as a standard 1.9GTi, the way forward! Maybe throttle bodies and management for more power and better fuel efficiency!
Turbo! When I were a lad, Guttman turbos were the thing. The Gti-6 lump will take a supercharger, so that would be a very interesting proposition.T40ORA said:
minimatt1967 said:
Alloy block Mi16 on webbers with a slip diff masses of grip and 200bhp, yet still as economical as a standard 1.9GTi, the way forward! Maybe throttle bodies and management for more power and better fuel efficiency!
Turbo! When I were a lad, Guttman turbos were the thing. The Gti-6 lump will take a supercharger, so that would be a very interesting proposition.
Any plans in that direction for your Rallye? I think we need some pics of the beast aswell
I've recently got my 1.9 on the road, i've put alot of time and money into it but have avoided changing the engine, trying to keep it as original as possible. You don't need to change the engine to get good power out of a 205, my 8v which is injected and not timed properly has repeatably abused my friends 205 on twin 40's which is proven to be a quick car (Peugeot mechanic who has been mentored by a rally genius). The MI16 engines suffer on the track, we all know that and the newer engineers, 406 Turbo for example or a V6 407 engine are just too damn heavy and will cause you no end of trouble IMO haven driven a couple, the stright line power really dosent make make up for the awful corner taking ability.
Buy one, strip it out, change every bush possible for Grp N or Grp A, new shocks all round, 40 - 60mm down on the front, rear to match or visa versa, magnex manifold, OMP Grp N Exhaust, not too larger air filter or a standard replacement one in the box, some damn good tyres and someone who can sort the timing out and get it spot on (Plus other things but i'm getting bored of typing) and trust me, they are absolutly amazing fun!
Depends what your after tho...
SP
Buy one, strip it out, change every bush possible for Grp N or Grp A, new shocks all round, 40 - 60mm down on the front, rear to match or visa versa, magnex manifold, OMP Grp N Exhaust, not too larger air filter or a standard replacement one in the box, some damn good tyres and someone who can sort the timing out and get it spot on (Plus other things but i'm getting bored of typing) and trust me, they are absolutly amazing fun!
Depends what your after tho...
SP
ironictwist said:
Soton Pug said:
I've recently got my 1.9 on the road,
Good man! Los Angeles said:
I used to own a 1.9 until a double decker bus took it out, the driver looking one way, turning the other.
Sniff.
The current Classic and Sports Car (£4.20) has a large feature on the Pug - the 1.9 is the one to get. I recall a company in middle England that renovated them. They are, as you know, great cars but tend to rattle a bit with age, but cheap to custom or pimp.
With respect, bSniff.
The current Classic and Sports Car (£4.20) has a large feature on the Pug - the 1.9 is the one to get. I recall a company in middle England that renovated them. They are, as you know, great cars but tend to rattle a bit with age, but cheap to custom or pimp.
ks.The arguments run for pages on gtidrivers.com, the 1.6 is much more revvy (4K+ is much fun!), while the 1.9 is more torquey, but a bit lazier.
Buy on condition, not engine size!!!!
my baby...
TVR Moneypit said:
I'd dissagree with that mate, (although that might just be rose tinted specs?).
My last 309 had had some decent head work done to it, and pulled like a train.
My Chim is only a 4.0, so thats 180bhp at the wheels? The handling is a little sloppy in my opinion, and the power, well, what power?
Believe me, if i had the garage space, or didn't need to travel 40'000 miles for work, I'd have another in a flash. As it is, I just dont have the room on the driveway with the Chim, the Disco, the Rover, and the wifes Skoda.
And as seen as others are recounting what they have had, mine was a 1.6 205, 309 GTi, then a heavily fettled 309 GTI Goodwood.
Too manycars! We now have FIVE with the Rallye, but the dead Nissan has to go My last 309 had had some decent head work done to it, and pulled like a train.
My Chim is only a 4.0, so thats 180bhp at the wheels? The handling is a little sloppy in my opinion, and the power, well, what power?
Believe me, if i had the garage space, or didn't need to travel 40'000 miles for work, I'd have another in a flash. As it is, I just dont have the room on the driveway with the Chim, the Disco, the Rover, and the wifes Skoda.
And as seen as others are recounting what they have had, mine was a 1.6 205, 309 GTi, then a heavily fettled 309 GTI Goodwood.
I notice the difference in power massively between the Tiv and the Pug, but so saying I used the Rallye fo work today and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's so nippy, and takes off without the drama of the Tiv. But....it still lacks the oomph.
However, I wouldn't want too much more power in it though as I think it would spoil the whole nature of the car. Apparently there is someone with a 'charged pug running 550bhp and capable of a 0 - 60 sprint in 4.2 seconds.
Scarey.....
Go on, £2.5k would get you a good example, but one you'd be happy to leave parked in the road. And great for half your 40k miles per year.
minimatt1967 said:
T40ORA said:
minimatt1967 said:
Alloy block Mi16 on webbers with a slip diff masses of grip and 200bhp, yet still as economical as a standard 1.9GTi, the way forward! Maybe throttle bodies and management for more power and better fuel efficiency!
Turbo! When I were a lad, Guttman turbos were the thing. The Gti-6 lump will take a supercharger, so that would be a very interesting proposition.Any plans in that direction for your Rallye? I think we need some pics of the beast aswell
I'll clean and photo it and get some pics up. Quite pretty looking really.
T40ORA said:
minimatt1967 said:
T40ORA said:
minimatt1967 said:
Alloy block Mi16 on webbers with a slip diff masses of grip and 200bhp, yet still as economical as a standard 1.9GTi, the way forward! Maybe throttle bodies and management for more power and better fuel efficiency!
Turbo! When I were a lad, Guttman turbos were the thing. The Gti-6 lump will take a supercharger, so that would be a very interesting proposition. Any plans in that direction for your Rallye? I think we need some pics of the beast aswell 
I look forward to the pics!
TVR Moneypit said:
T40ORA said:
Go on, £2.5k would get you a good example, but one you'd be happy to leave parked in the road. And great for half your 40k miles per year.
I cant mate, and believe me, I'd love to.....I drive a hell of a lot of miles for work. I usually buy something for £2500-£3000 that is going to be comfortable, very reliable, and frugal on fuel, then run it for a year, by which time it is very used. It must also be a decent size, and blend in with the other rep-mobiles in your average car park, (hence why I never take the Chim to a client meeting, too much envy).
The current Rover 75 fits this bill, and after xmas, it will be replaced with a Renault Laguna, Vauxhall Omega, Saab 95, etc.
With the mileage that I do, a 205 / 309 just wouldn't be big enough, would be too heavy on fuel, definatly wouldn't be reliable enough, and wouldn't set the right impression upon my customers. Plus, I just don't think that it would handle the mileage too well.
After the wife has gained two years no claims, (if she ever does), and does her IAM, then I promised that I would get her something nice. I have argued the case aplenty for a mint 205GTI, but she has her heart set on a MX5
Not much wrong with that I'll agree, but I would really like another hot little Pug in the fleet.If ever I can get to the position whereby I can cut my mileage by 75% then I will get one as an everyday car. Failing that, we earn a shed load more dosh and we can afford to move to somewhere with a triple garage + parking for at least two.
Personally, my realistic stable would be the following;
Off road toy, (my trusty old Disco). Got it already.
Nice British V8 GT. Again, I have that with the Chim.
Mentalist sportscar. A Caterham would be nice. Still working towards that one.
Funky old school hot hatch to re-live my youth. I don't have the space for it I'm afraid.
Just been looking at my car history. 1.6 205 was the third car that I owned, (a white E reg one). I loved it. This was followed by a Toledo GTI, (too big and heavy, but not bad). Next car of note was a V6 vectra SRI, again, too big and heavy. I went back to a 309GTI, but it was a tatty black E reg one, so that was replaced by an E30 318is, a car highly praised at the time. Rear wheel drive was fun, but it just didn't have the raw energy of my two fast Pugs. I hoped that a MK2 Golf GTI would fit the bill. Although a good effort from VW, it still lacked that last little bit of magic.
At the time, every Tom, Dick and Harry was singing the praises of Fords then new 1.7 Puma. Man, what a let down. Sure, it was fun, but it was kinda like having sex whilst wearing a condom. It was just too safe, too sterile. I then saw the light and replaced the Puma with a late model 309 GTI Goodwood
I replaced all the suspension bushes with Powerflex ones. I replaced the engine mounts for Peugeot Sport groupe N ones. Swapped the gearbox for one out of a 1.6. Changed the clutch to an uprated item, upgraded the brakes, (discs, pads, and brakelines). Fitted a shortshift kit, fully adjustable Koni dampers, and a whole host of other stuff to sharpen the experiance. All of this coupled with the documented head work that had been done prior to me buying it resulted in by far the best all round car that I have ever owned.
On a bad day, (and there were several), you felt like putting a match to it. But on the right day, on the right road, it was simply motoring nirvanna, and I wouldn't have swapped it for anything, litterally. Man, I had plenty of
in that car. It was like a playfull little puppy dog. Always eager, always goading you into have a play, and calling you a homo if you didn't want to. Then I started to do a hell of a lot of miles, and this started to take it's toll on the wee French whipersnapper, so he had to go
I replaced it with a Golf VR6. What a mistake. Yes, it eat the miles well, was comfatable, and bloody quick in a straight line, but show it a corner and it was understeer city, with zero throttle adjustability. Bloody heavy on fuel too.There has been a long running thread on here about the greatest hot hatch ever, with, IMHO, a lot of crap bounded about.
To put it simply, nothing, and I mean nothing that is a hot hatch can match the magic that Peugeot created when it gave birth to the 205 / 309 GTI. It was the benchmark back then, and still is now. To this day, I have yet to experiance anything else in that class that comes close. Sure, there are many that are quicker, safer, better equiped, certainly better built, but the 205 / 309 just felt special. This isn't something that can be digested, dicected(sp) and put into words. It was just a special kinda magic that you felt. You felt it through your fingertips, through your feet as they danced a merry dance on the perfectly placed pedals, through your bum on the seat. To take one of these grandfathers of the genre out onto a beautifull, deserted Peak District B road and thread it from apex to apex, kissing each one just so, whilst watching the sun rise on another glorious summers day is an experiance that I shall never forget, but one day hope to re-live.
Mere words can never do such an experiance justice. You've either felt it, been touched by the magic, or you have not.
Nice evocative bit of writing there matey!
shalmaneser said:
Los Angeles said:
I used to own a 1.9 until a double decker bus took it out, the driver looking one way, turning the other.
Sniff.
The current Classic and Sports Car (£4.20) has a large feature on the Pug - the 1.9 is the one to get. I recall a company in middle England that renovated them. They are, as you know, great cars but tend to rattle a bit with age, but cheap to custom or pimp.
With respect, bSniff.
The current Classic and Sports Car (£4.20) has a large feature on the Pug - the 1.9 is the one to get. I recall a company in middle England that renovated them. They are, as you know, great cars but tend to rattle a bit with age, but cheap to custom or pimp.
ks.The arguments run for pages on gtidrivers.com, the 1.6 is much more revvy (4K+ is much fun!), while the 1.9 is more torquey, but a bit lazier.
Buy on condition, not engine size!!!!
my baby...
Gassing Station | South Coast | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff