RE: Peugeot 309 GTI | Spotted
Discussion
PistonHeads said:
More important were alterations made to the chassis settings, which contributed to the slightly more neutral handling dynamic.
I always thought the thing that made the 205 GTI special was handling that was 'on the edge', at a time when other hot hatches were 'reassuringly neutral', or safely understeering. It might have left the unwary spinning into a hedge, but it rewarded with an agility few could match.As for the 309, it was a good looking car. but it's 205 sibling was a stunning beauty.
I much preferred the drive on the 309 to the 205, I even bought another 205, just to see if I bought a previous dud.
They did feel like they were though, a French car made in the UK, parts undressing themselves and rattles galore, but the first corner soon took your mind off that fact.
Mine was one of the best handling FWD cars I've ever had, perhaps some rose tint but it was lowered with uprated spax adjustables and just seemed to handle everything thrown at it.
They did feel like they were though, a French car made in the UK, parts undressing themselves and rattles galore, but the first corner soon took your mind off that fact.
Mine was one of the best handling FWD cars I've ever had, perhaps some rose tint but it was lowered with uprated spax adjustables and just seemed to handle everything thrown at it.
Mate in uni had the model below the gti with the 1.6 engine (sxi or sri I can't remember) and he would absolutely send it at every opportunity. Sounded good too with an aftermarket exhaust and felt like a rocketship in comparison to the mk2 Fiesta 1.4s I had at the time.
A few years later I was working in a second hand car dealership and a 205 1.9 gti came in part ex. 'Borrowed' the keys and took it for a spirited drive one lunch break. Remember it pulled like a train but the handling was wayward and unpredictable and was left wondering what all the fuss was about. Only when I took the car back did I realise the tyres were of your budget variety and under the legal limit!
A few years later I was working in a second hand car dealership and a 205 1.9 gti came in part ex. 'Borrowed' the keys and took it for a spirited drive one lunch break. Remember it pulled like a train but the handling was wayward and unpredictable and was left wondering what all the fuss was about. Only when I took the car back did I realise the tyres were of your budget variety and under the legal limit!
Had this F reg 309 Sri for about a month back in the summer of 1997. It was low miles 70k or so from memory. Well looked after and all original. Damn that lift off oversteer
This pic was taken after it was towed out of the ditch further up the road, where it did a 180 degree spin complete with full roll and back onto its wheels.Ended up having a 205 XS as a stop gap car about 5 years later and it reminded me how much fun Peugeots from that era were to drive.
Always fancied a 309 GTI Goodwood though.
I had a 309GTI back in the day, and it was way better than the 205GTIs that I'd driven previously. Kept mine for 5 years.
But unfortunately silver was the worst colour. Black, white, red all looked good and the odd rare blue was very nice. The green Goodwood model was the pick of the bunch.
But unfortunately silver was the worst colour. Black, white, red all looked good and the odd rare blue was very nice. The green Goodwood model was the pick of the bunch.
thehardman07 said:
A few years later I was working in a second hand car dealership and a 205 1.9 gti came in part ex. 'Borrowed' the keys and took it for a spirited drive one lunch break. Remember it pulled like a train but the handling was wayward and unpredictable and was left wondering what all the fuss was about. Only when I took the car back did I realise the tyres were of your budget variety and under the legal limit!
Your experience exactly mirrors my own! Borrowed a 205GTI to see what the fuss was about as I enjoyed a bit of oversteer with my BMWs at the time, thought 'What is this wheelspinning, understeering mess all about?!" - stopped to check the tyres and sure enough a different cheap brand on each corner...Always preferred the 309 to the 205 (405 even more so for some reason), I was trying to remember - was it Autocar or another magazine that had a 309GTI they prepared for trackdays? Probably going back 20-odd years ago now, but I remember them having it in some bright/lime green, fully stripped out with different suspension etc etc.
CKY said:
thehardman07 said:
A few years later I was working in a second hand car dealership and a 205 1.9 gti came in part ex. 'Borrowed' the keys and took it for a spirited drive one lunch break. Remember it pulled like a train but the handling was wayward and unpredictable and was left wondering what all the fuss was about. Only when I took the car back did I realise the tyres were of your budget variety and under the legal limit!
Your experience exactly mirrors my own! Borrowed a 205GTI to see what the fuss was about as I enjoyed a bit of oversteer with my BMWs at the time, thought 'What is this wheelspinning, understeering mess all about?!" - stopped to check the tyres and sure enough a different cheap brand on each corner... Red_Kite said:
Learnt to drive in my mother's 309 GTI - black metallic 5 door G-reg facelift version. Not sure how it got insured! Fun to drive, although as a 17 year old, thought the 1.6 205 that proceeded it was way cooler. Fond memories!
I was 17 in 1990 as well, and I always saw the 205 GTi as really sexy back then, whereas I saw these as a bit plain Jane in comparison if you know what I mean. cerb4.5lee said:
Red_Kite said:
Learnt to drive in my mother's 309 GTI - black metallic 5 door G-reg facelift version. Not sure how it got insured! Fun to drive, although as a 17 year old, thought the 1.6 205 that proceeded it was way cooler. Fond memories!
I was 17 in 1990 as well, and I always saw the 205 GTi as really sexy back then, whereas I saw these as a bit plain Jane in comparison if you know what I mean. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff