RE: SOTW: Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6
Discussion
[quote=damianke]Is there any chance one or two of you older lads owned an Alfasud as well and could me run down a comparison? Till now the Alfasud Sprint Veloce is my holy grail in anything Italian or FWD.
Now that takes me back.. My Brother had a stunning green Alfasud Sprint 1987 model, it had just 13,000 miles when he bought. Even though it looked mint (it had spent the first 7 years of it life stored in an Alfa dealership) it suffered from the dreaded tin worm and he got rid of it.. but the sound of the boxer engine was just wonderful and it handled like a little terrier
Now that takes me back.. My Brother had a stunning green Alfasud Sprint 1987 model, it had just 13,000 miles when he bought. Even though it looked mint (it had spent the first 7 years of it life stored in an Alfa dealership) it suffered from the dreaded tin worm and he got rid of it.. but the sound of the boxer engine was just wonderful and it handled like a little terrier
Helicopter123 said:
These were basically "a bit too exciting" back in the day, I'm not sure how much better they will be after 25 years of abuse...
You have to maintain it regularly, and it will feel the same. Regarding excitement one shouldnt sneeze at the wheel, otherwise unbeatable. Twingo is great little car, but much more benignly setup, while steering is much lighter and not as proportionally weighed(talking about hydraulic steer. in 205). One car magazine explained Mclaren F1´s steering feels like unassisted 205 GTI´s.itsrodders said:
4 205s for me, all unblown derv rattlers. The first was an A reg that my then girlriend's Dad had bought new, and came to me in '97 with 263k on the clock. I did another sixty thou in it and then it became the farm hack. Would go anywhere over muddy fields or up snowy hillsides with hay/feed/livestock in the back. In this respect, I've always thought of the Pug as the true spiritual successor of the deux-cheveaux, especially in 5 door form.
As to the gti, it's a car I've always wanted to own. Apart from a Delta hf ie and an Alfa 33 cloverleaf I've never really "done" the hothatch thing, but I've driven a few 1.6 and 1.9s and enjoyed myself immensely.
Un haut abris, messieurs.
I had a diesel variant, mechanically unbreakable, never missed a beat in 150,000 miles. A 306 D Turbo ran to 360,000 miles before we sold it on. As to the gti, it's a car I've always wanted to own. Apart from a Delta hf ie and an Alfa 33 cloverleaf I've never really "done" the hothatch thing, but I've driven a few 1.6 and 1.9s and enjoyed myself immensely.
Un haut abris, messieurs.
A friend has just sold her Powder Blue C plate 86' GRD, which she has had pretty much from new. Even though she is a producer and has a good wage, she just liked the car, the odometer stopped working at 305,000, ten years ago, it could have done 500,000 miles! She used to travel non-stop looking for locations.
We went to Moors Valley (our local outdoors park) today in the GTi and my wife said, "cant be many families of 4 going out on a sunday in a 205 GTI" and she's probably right. My daughter (5 foot 3) sits on the back seat behind my wife (5 foot 10) with plenty of legroom to spare. Plenty of modern superminis you wouldnt be able to say that about!! In my opinion, the most brilliantly packaged and designed supermini of all time....
Helicopter123 said:
These were basically "a bit too exciting" back in the day, I'm not sure how much better they will be after 25 years of abuse...
On modern tyres they're fine. They also ride loads better than most moderns, in fact Id go as far as to say as the modern Clip Cup is probably more hardcore to live with than a standard GTI...provided you can live without power steering and arent a complete girls blouse!!
k22wes said:
i am on my 7th gti now after owning them in various forms but the 1.6 was always more fun in my opinion.
i have had my current one for 4 years now and hoping that i never have to sell it. it was a standard 1.6 when i got it, now gti6'd which brings it up to date and is reliable.
Cracking hot hatch i have had my current one for 4 years now and hoping that i never have to sell it. it was a standard 1.6 when i got it, now gti6'd which brings it up to date and is reliable.
I had a 1.6....great fun around my local country roads but severly irritating having a new 1.2 Corsa come hammering past me on the motorway at 100mph ...anything near that and the 1.6 i found was tending to be revving too hard and noisily to be comfortable? Maybe that was just mine being knackered towards the end.
Great fun while I had it but moved on....
Great fun while I had it but moved on....
I'm still gutted I sold my 79k mile mint white 1.6 last year but due to being made redundant, it was that or not eat/pay the mortgage.
The white one was my 3rd 205 GTi. The previous 2 being a red 1.9 and a (originally back but resprayed red) throttle bodied Mi16'd Dimma wide-arched stripped 212 bhp monster. I say monster as if you've ever driven a 200+bhp car that light, you'll know what I mean! My Nissan 200sx has around 300bhp and, while it would annihilate the baby Pug once rolling, it doesn't change direction nor take off anywhere near as fast. I would really like to build another one day. But the list of projects I want to do would take up most of a double rollover lottery jackpot (not to mention a few years!) to complete!
The 1.6, whilst being a little slower than the 1.9, was still zingy and handled fantastically. It revved quicker and felt more responsive than the 1.9 which was a little more lazy. I'd go a little controversial and say that the 1.6 would be more the drivers car and the 1.9 oriented more toward the speed demon in us.
The white one was my 3rd 205 GTi. The previous 2 being a red 1.9 and a (originally back but resprayed red) throttle bodied Mi16'd Dimma wide-arched stripped 212 bhp monster. I say monster as if you've ever driven a 200+bhp car that light, you'll know what I mean! My Nissan 200sx has around 300bhp and, while it would annihilate the baby Pug once rolling, it doesn't change direction nor take off anywhere near as fast. I would really like to build another one day. But the list of projects I want to do would take up most of a double rollover lottery jackpot (not to mention a few years!) to complete!
The 1.6, whilst being a little slower than the 1.9, was still zingy and handled fantastically. It revved quicker and felt more responsive than the 1.9 which was a little more lazy. I'd go a little controversial and say that the 1.6 would be more the drivers car and the 1.9 oriented more toward the speed demon in us.
Considered buying one about 10 years ago and went to look at one in the Classifieds. Had a 20 min test drive on mostly good driving roads, it was ok, but I wasn't at all blown away tbh.
Maybe I tried a bad one, although it was only on it's 2nd owner, in very good condition bodily and very good service history, but I was not over impressed by the performance or handling.
I think because the Car mags of the time, raved about these cars, so some folk have a high opinion of them, but the magazines were only comparing them to other 'hot hatches'of the time, such as the Golf gti MK2. Which again I have driven and it is very over-rated imo.
They are ok, no more no less. Above average for it's type of car, not a bad car at all. But after driving one, I would never want to buy one, even at only £1k. I wonder how many people on here who say there are so good, have ever even driven one?
Maybe I tried a bad one, although it was only on it's 2nd owner, in very good condition bodily and very good service history, but I was not over impressed by the performance or handling.
I think because the Car mags of the time, raved about these cars, so some folk have a high opinion of them, but the magazines were only comparing them to other 'hot hatches'of the time, such as the Golf gti MK2. Which again I have driven and it is very over-rated imo.
They are ok, no more no less. Above average for it's type of car, not a bad car at all. But after driving one, I would never want to buy one, even at only £1k. I wonder how many people on here who say there are so good, have ever even driven one?
350Wedge said:
Great shed there
I picked up a 1.6 GTi in Miami Blue two weeks ago for just a little bit more than shed money (£1500). Its nice low(ish) miles with history and most importantly no rust at all!! Oh and its totally standard!!
It needs some paint and a few small dents doing as well as the usual re-trim but once thats done it'll be a cracking little car....
Here she is as of now...
Swoon. My favourite colour for a GTi. £1500 for that is criminal! It would be double or more if a 1.9.I picked up a 1.6 GTi in Miami Blue two weeks ago for just a little bit more than shed money (£1500). Its nice low(ish) miles with history and most importantly no rust at all!! Oh and its totally standard!!
It needs some paint and a few small dents doing as well as the usual re-trim but once thats done it'll be a cracking little car....
Here she is as of now...
(Long time owner of a cherry red 1.6)
Here's my 1.9 1992 with 90k on the clock.
It's my daily driver and I love love love driving it.
I had a Cherry Red 1.6 20 years ago and always said I would get another.
I turned 40 last year and this was my birthday present to myself.
No regrets what so ever!
The car was also used in the PH Hero article.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's my daily driver and I love love love driving it.
I had a Cherry Red 1.6 20 years ago and always said I would get another.
I turned 40 last year and this was my birthday present to myself.
No regrets what so ever!
The car was also used in the PH Hero article.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Cracking cars....always had a soft spot due to my 1st car being a 205 xs in white, I was 17 in 1994 and it was an '89 model. Had a couple of gti's since, last one being a 94 Miami blue 1.9 with 60k. Got £5k for it and the guy says he'll never sell.
They are classics now and you can't expect to jump in to something that's going to eclipse a Clio cup but they are absolutely fantastic cars which still reward in many ways. I found the 1.6 too short geared for longer trips but the 1.9 box sorts that out.
They are classics now and you can't expect to jump in to something that's going to eclipse a Clio cup but they are absolutely fantastic cars which still reward in many ways. I found the 1.6 too short geared for longer trips but the 1.9 box sorts that out.
ITech said:
Considered buying one about 10 years ago and went to look at one in the Classifieds. Had a 20 min test drive on mostly good driving roads, it was ok, but I wasn't at all blown away tbh.
Maybe I tried a bad one, although it was only on it's 2nd owner, in very good condition bodily and very good service history, but I was not over impressed by the performance or handling.
I think because the Car mags of the time, raved about these cars, so some folk have a high opinion of them, but the magazines were only comparing them to other 'hot hatches'of the time, such as the Golf gti MK2. Which again I have driven and it is very over-rated imo.
They are ok, no more no less. Above average for it's type of car, not a bad car at all. But after driving one, I would never want to buy one, even at only £1k. I wonder how many people on here who say there are so good, have ever even driven one?
You drove the bad one, and probaly not exploring its capabilities. Comparing to modern competition now it is even better than 20 years ago(except in crash test standards).Maybe I tried a bad one, although it was only on it's 2nd owner, in very good condition bodily and very good service history, but I was not over impressed by the performance or handling.
I think because the Car mags of the time, raved about these cars, so some folk have a high opinion of them, but the magazines were only comparing them to other 'hot hatches'of the time, such as the Golf gti MK2. Which again I have driven and it is very over-rated imo.
They are ok, no more no less. Above average for it's type of car, not a bad car at all. But after driving one, I would never want to buy one, even at only £1k. I wonder how many people on here who say there are so good, have ever even driven one?
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