RE: Fiesta ST vs 205 GTI: PH Blog
Discussion
zygalski said:
Having owned a mk3 mx5 I agree. They're a fairly dull drive.
Give me a 205 any day, thanks!
Agree. I've owned a mk2 MX5 and an S2 106 Rallye. The Rallye is my daily drive. I find the Rallye pretty similar to a 205 GTi; small foot print, basic interior, great seats, old fashioned feeling, superb handling, great feel from the non-PAS steering etc etc. The Rallye having an engine that requires a little more in terms of revs to get going, as opposed to the slightly gutsier 1.9 GTi engine. A moot point, as you'll no doubt end up revving either engine out in pursuit of hot hatch joy. Both a bit of a chore in traffic. In that respect, I can relate to a lot of the points made about owning and driving a 205 GTi and the joys of a lightweight French hot hatch. Give me a 205 any day, thanks!
Compared to my old MX5, there isn't a massive difference! That had a basic interior, better gearshift, worse seats, similarly neutral handling characteristic, engine that needs to be above 4000rpm to deliver the fireworks you seek. I'd take the Peugeot any day of the week over the MX5, unless it was a very sunny day when I might get the roof down. Though, if I sought to have a fun drive on said sunny day, the 106 would win again. It probably tempts the dogmatic, RWD-only blowhards into a frenzy of self-flagellation and onanism to say so, but the Rallye is far better if you're after a fun drive. The engine a little less well mannered than the MX5's twin cam, but infinitely more rewarding when you thrash it and it comes alive. Better handling, too. Demanding respect and as much of an eye for catching and countering oversteer, yet so much more precise when you're making progress. It's a little bit of a hooligan.
I spotted someone over the page moaning about the 205's manners in traffic. Being jerky when pulling away. Sounds as if this PH'er was looking for Mumsnet and ended up here by mistake. Probably loves his soft touch plastic and automatic gearboxes. Why complain about such a triviality? You'd forgive the 205 GTi any sin when you get it flowing down a quiet B road!
GreatCornholio said:
This just makes me miss my mk1 XR2, always been a fan of small fast Fords!
Where are you now EWD 58Y ??
The last tax run out on 12/01/1995 and it wasn't exported. So likely it was scrapped some time in 94/95.Where are you now EWD 58Y ??
Date of Liability 12 01 1995
Date of First Registration 30 06 1983
Year of Manufacture 1983
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1598cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLACK
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
). She ended up trading it in for a Merc A Class when they came out. It made me sad. currybum said:
How much additions pleasure do people actually get in the real world when driving two great handling cars..but in one the steering feel is slightly more direct?
Makes a massive difference IMO, I used to work for Saab, droves Saab's day in day out but my most stand out memories of working for that company was of a trade in. Somebody traded in a lotus Elan (M100), in just the short run to the compound the steering feel and feed back really stood out hugely, especially compared tho the numbness of the average Saab set up. Surely good steering feel/feedback should be a must for a performance car? Its one of those key things which should lift a special car and make it stand out from all the run of the mill stuff.sandys said:
1989 Man would probably find it upsetting that most 2.0 diesels on the road could outpace his flimsy hatchback despite being twice the weight, a quick diesel in 1989 was unheard of.
Quick diesels weren't far away. When did the 205 D Turbo come out? 1991? Not as fast as the GTI obviously, but one of the first diesels to be specced and marketed as "sporty".excel monkey said:
sandys said:
1989 Man would probably find it upsetting that most 2.0 diesels on the road could outpace his flimsy hatchback despite being twice the weight, a quick diesel in 1989 was unheard of.
Quick diesels weren't far away. When did the 205 D Turbo come out? 1991? Not as fast as the GTI obviously, but one of the first diesels to be specced and marketed as "sporty".collateral said:
excel monkey said:
sandys said:
1989 Man would probably find it upsetting that most 2.0 diesels on the road could outpace his flimsy hatchback despite being twice the weight, a quick diesel in 1989 was unheard of.
Quick diesels weren't far away. When did the 205 D Turbo come out? 1991? Not as fast as the GTI obviously, but one of the first diesels to be specced and marketed as "sporty".Root Ginger said:
GreatCornholio said:
This just makes me miss my mk1 XR2, always been a fan of small fast Fords!
Where are you now EWD 58Y ??
The last tax run out on 12/01/1995 and it wasn't exported. So likely it was scrapped some time in 94/95.Where are you now EWD 58Y ??
Date of Liability 12 01 1995
Date of First Registration 30 06 1983
Year of Manufacture 1983
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1598cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLACK
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
The date the tax ran out looks a bit weird but that was the date some utter b
d stole it from outside my mate's house in Manchester. Its also the date of my 25th birthday 
some day that turned to be!It turned up 3 months later in Moss Side being driven by some scally. To this day i regret not buying it back from the insurance company as i'd love to have it now, i expect they're worth a pretty penny now too. The other reason for regret is that the Opel Manta GTE i replaced it with turned out to be an utter lemon!
A131 WBO.....I don't give a sh*t where you are now.excel monkey said:
collateral said:
excel monkey said:
sandys said:
1989 Man would probably find it upsetting that most 2.0 diesels on the road could outpace his flimsy hatchback despite being twice the weight, a quick diesel in 1989 was unheard of.
Quick diesels weren't far away. When did the 205 D Turbo come out? 1991? Not as fast as the GTI obviously, but one of the first diesels to be specced and marketed as "sporty".It's tough to google because all you find is loads of gumpf about the new one
Edited by collateral on Tuesday 21st May 18:44
HereBeMonsters said:
Even the 306 D Turbo predates that, if you're not going to count the 205.
The 306 D Turbo may have been a nice rounded package, but I'd hardly call it even warm as a hatch.The 110/130ps Golfs were reasonably nippy though and are really the only candidates for first quick diesels.
loudlashadjuster said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Even the 306 D Turbo predates that, if you're not going to count the 205.
The 306 D Turbo may have been a nice rounded package, but I'd hardly call it even warm as a hatch.The 110/130ps Golfs were reasonably nippy though and are really the only candidates for first quick diesels.
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