RE: Tell me I'm wrong: Peugeot 205 GTI
Discussion
I've owned many Peugeot 205's in my car history, to name a few more sporty types.
the XS the lovely Rallye 1.9 some 1.6 GTI en a few
1.9 GTI with also some special versions like the luxury Griffe types with a lot extra's, here a example
but also a small-body (normal) Gutmann 1.9 wich had 160hp
but also a wide body purple metallic Dimma (T16 look) with Gutmann tuning 1.9 also 160hp but with a lower top-speed because of the more drag it causes because of the wide body see example>>
it looked strange but nice though...everywhere you stopped people looked and you saw them pointing out those wide hips
the XS the lovely Rallye 1.9 some 1.6 GTI en a few
1.9 GTI with also some special versions like the luxury Griffe types with a lot extra's, here a examplebut also a small-body (normal) Gutmann 1.9 wich had 160hp
but also a wide body purple metallic
Dimma (T16 look) with Gutmann tuning 1.9 also 160hp but with a lower top-speed because of the more drag it causes because of the wide body see example>>it looked strange
but nice though...everywhere you stopped people looked and you saw them pointing out those wide hips look at this crazy Dimma with Cosworth engine (longitunidal) and AWD
oh...and 500hp.
205 Dimma Cosworth 4x4 - H20 COS (1990)
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3772345.htm
that must be some animal...love it.
oh...and 500hp.
205 Dimma Cosworth 4x4 - H20 COS (1990)
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3772345.htm
that must be some animal...love it.
I've always thought the same CH. My Grandad had 1.9s and my Gran had 1.6s in the 80s. Gran was a better driver, but Grandad had the 1.9, so I tended to travel with him. 
I've had a couple of 1.9s since (along with a rev 1 MR2 Mk2) and never found the oversteer as lethal as i'd read about - I wonder how much modern tyre technology has altered that viewpoint though?
I've had a couple of 1.9s since (along with a rev 1 MR2 Mk2) and never found the oversteer as lethal as i'd read about - I wonder how much modern tyre technology has altered that viewpoint though?
GTRene said:
I've owned many Peugeot 205's in my car history, to name a few more sporty types.
the XS the lovely Rallye 1.9 some 1.6 GTI en a few 1.9 GTI with also some special versions like the luxury Griffe types with a lot extra's, here a example
but also a small-body (normal) Gutmann 1.9 wich had 160hp
but also a wide body purple metallic Dimma (T16 look) with Gutmann tuning 1.9 also 160hp but with a lower top-speed because of the more drag it causes because of the wide body see example>>
That's a nice one - a friend had a couple of Dimma kitted ones - one had the Turbo Technics conversion with 175bhp - pretty quick.the XS the lovely Rallye 1.9 some 1.6 GTI en a few
1.9 GTI with also some special versions like the luxury Griffe types with a lot extra's, here a examplebut also a small-body (normal) Gutmann 1.9 wich had 160hp
but also a wide body purple metallic
Dimma (T16 look) with Gutmann tuning 1.9 also 160hp but with a lower top-speed because of the more drag it causes because of the wide body see example>>Performance Car did a back to back test of the standard body cars with a Gutmann 160 engine vs the TT175. Pretty quick cars back then
I have had plenty of 205 GTI's and a 309 as well.
I never had a standard one that I kept. The closest I had to a standard one was a K reg 1.9, black that had a bit of front end damage. I was too short on time to fix it so broke it instead. It had different shocks and solid engine mounts so felt super "go-karty". Can imagine I would have enjoyed it a lot.
The others I had were either flipped quickly (not experienced)or meddled with.
The most fun one I had was a low, loud, big-braked, rallycross engoned scremer of a 1.6 with an MI-16 final ratio box (apparently) so that went well.
I have seen enough of them now and have moved on. If I get one later in life it will either be mint condition and one of these three:
- A 205 rallye
-A pre-cat 1.9 (standard)
-(Dream car considering the way tax +fuel duty is going) an STDT
I never had a standard one that I kept. The closest I had to a standard one was a K reg 1.9, black that had a bit of front end damage. I was too short on time to fix it so broke it instead. It had different shocks and solid engine mounts so felt super "go-karty". Can imagine I would have enjoyed it a lot.
The others I had were either flipped quickly (not experienced)or meddled with.
The most fun one I had was a low, loud, big-braked, rallycross engoned scremer of a 1.6 with an MI-16 final ratio box (apparently) so that went well.
I have seen enough of them now and have moved on. If I get one later in life it will either be mint condition and one of these three:
- A 205 rallye
-A pre-cat 1.9 (standard)
-(Dream car considering the way tax +fuel duty is going) an STDT
Keeping on topic as best I can, my only experiences are of the 1.9 as a passenger so perhaps I'm not in a position to comment...
...however one test drive 4 up in a 1.9 (that was apparently standard) etched itself in my memory forever and probably did in the astounded Celica at the time who was definitively burned off!
Another test drive more recently left me feeling a little underwhelmed, perhaps it wasn't a great one, nice colour Miami Blue and a 1.9 but felt old and had 'money pit' written over it, so I left that one too.
The car I ended up with was a wee Swift Sport... A car I probably wouldn't even notice but a Ring drive in one opened my eyes. 125 bhp, 1.6 and light. Perhaps a spiritual successor to the Pug? It is a rev happy little firecracker so perhaps more similar to the smaller engined 205 that I never got to drive?
R
...however one test drive 4 up in a 1.9 (that was apparently standard) etched itself in my memory forever and probably did in the astounded Celica at the time who was definitively burned off!
Another test drive more recently left me feeling a little underwhelmed, perhaps it wasn't a great one, nice colour Miami Blue and a 1.9 but felt old and had 'money pit' written over it, so I left that one too.
The car I ended up with was a wee Swift Sport... A car I probably wouldn't even notice but a Ring drive in one opened my eyes. 125 bhp, 1.6 and light. Perhaps a spiritual successor to the Pug? It is a rev happy little firecracker so perhaps more similar to the smaller engined 205 that I never got to drive?
R
Edited by Evoman on Friday 25th May 09:30
only experience of 205s were my grandads:
1.9
amd later Dimma turbo:
Remember the Dimma had a two stage boost, and the rear screen heater button (Well, one of the round buttons on the lower dash anyway) was the 'overboost'! Remember him pressing it on a cold morning mid exceleration and the car making a rather loud back-fire!
He said the handling was never as good as his std 1.9 thanks to the wider split-rims, and wider at the rear (just for looks).
1.9
amd later Dimma turbo:
Remember the Dimma had a two stage boost, and the rear screen heater button (Well, one of the round buttons on the lower dash anyway) was the 'overboost'! Remember him pressing it on a cold morning mid exceleration and the car making a rather loud back-fire!
He said the handling was never as good as his std 1.9 thanks to the wider split-rims, and wider at the rear (just for looks).
I was working in a bodyshop in the GTI heydays and we would dread 205's turning up... dire build quality... bumper bolts every time was an angle grinder as the top of them was plastic for instant... panels would dent when you looked at them.. paint lacquer that would fall off... the other GTI mentioned was.. and still is the best.. the Golf
Why compromise?
Why compromise?
Edited by Geeba on Friday 25th May 11:28
velocgee said:
CampDavid said:
_dobbo_ said:
Any excuse to post a pic of mine - most people must nearly be bored of this...
Everyone knows the Sorrento green 1.9s are the best
Correct.Everyone knows the Sorrento green 1.9s are the best
Colour wise, the green worked superbly, not sure on the grey
I had two... an '86 1.6 105bhp in red with 1.9 alloys. Heavy but direct steering with sublime handling, lovely short ratios with a gearchange that you threw into the 'slot', never used a gearbox since that was so sloppy and yet so useable. Awesome four years of fun.
The second was a '90 1.6 115bhp special edition that the PO had modified to 140ish bhp. Whilst obviously quicker than the 86 and able to rev higher, old red was more fun and exciting to drive, although Miami Blue was very pretty. Miss them both, old red more as that was the sweeter car yet all it took was a short drive in a 1.9 to know I needed one! Will plug that gap one day.
Any excuse to dig this pic out again...
The second was a '90 1.6 115bhp special edition that the PO had modified to 140ish bhp. Whilst obviously quicker than the 86 and able to rev higher, old red was more fun and exciting to drive, although Miami Blue was very pretty. Miss them both, old red more as that was the sweeter car yet all it took was a short drive in a 1.9 to know I needed one! Will plug that gap one day.
Any excuse to dig this pic out again...
In mid-nineties amongst my assorted group of friends at one time were 2 XS', 2 1.6 GTi's and 1 1.9 GTi. The XS was the first 'fast' car I had, and I loved it before someone pulled out on me and damaged the frontend...and then a few weeks later it self-combusted, gutted I was.
From the insurance payout I bought a 1.6 GTi, which was favourite car to this day. It was perfectly balanced for me and on the right road was happiness personified but I got rid because after 4 years and one new engine it was a pain around town. What a mistake.
4 years ago I bought another XS to play with. I loved it, my wife didn't. She wasn't use to cars with flimsy doors, manual chokes and no 'comfort'....plus apparently it smelt of petrol, what did she know? I still trawl the classifieds for anther XS or GTi, even though I know the reaction.
So what's my point? That 1.9 GTi that my friend had was mental, and effortless at being mental. I swear it would do 80mph in 2nd, which to us was amazing. The wheels made it look better. It had leather and it just seemed to be easier to wag its tail on a roundabout.
I can't say which was better, I didn't have enough time driving it, but amongst my friends we looked up to that 1.9 and that to me made it better.
From the insurance payout I bought a 1.6 GTi, which was favourite car to this day. It was perfectly balanced for me and on the right road was happiness personified but I got rid because after 4 years and one new engine it was a pain around town. What a mistake.
4 years ago I bought another XS to play with. I loved it, my wife didn't. She wasn't use to cars with flimsy doors, manual chokes and no 'comfort'....plus apparently it smelt of petrol, what did she know? I still trawl the classifieds for anther XS or GTi, even though I know the reaction.
So what's my point? That 1.9 GTi that my friend had was mental, and effortless at being mental. I swear it would do 80mph in 2nd, which to us was amazing. The wheels made it look better. It had leather and it just seemed to be easier to wag its tail on a roundabout.
I can't say which was better, I didn't have enough time driving it, but amongst my friends we looked up to that 1.9 and that to me made it better.
EdM said:
agree nor do they suit the 16v head. the 1.9 and no doubt the 1.6 were designed ground up. Had a Bx Gti which (whether or not you're a fan of the looks)had the same engine and as a package it was brilliant - taking 4 adults & luggage comfortably (well of adult age) up into the alps in the depths of winter with everything that could be thrown at it and it never put a foot wrong. The 16v variant I bought a year later may have been marginally more powerful but it never really worked or felt as 'complete' a car. (coincidentally the same with my mk2 golf gti 8v /vs 16v - 8v was just a better allround motor...
point being purity of design and package...many manufacturers lose this early on bowing to economies of scale in roll out of multiple variants in the range where a degree of compromise is inbuilt from the outset - unfortunately this means that as a result we rarely see affordable truly great/unique cars these days - hail the 205 GTi 1.9 a cracking drivers car -
You're basing you opinion on owning a completely different car, a Citroen BX Gti? Have you owned a 205 MI16/GTi-6/Turbo? You'll never find anyone who has, saying "it was much better when it was just an NA 8v"point being purity of design and package...many manufacturers lose this early on bowing to economies of scale in roll out of multiple variants in the range where a degree of compromise is inbuilt from the outset - unfortunately this means that as a result we rarely see affordable truly great/unique cars these days - hail the 205 GTi 1.9 a cracking drivers car -
The Mi16 was fitted by Peugeot to the 309 (although never released in the UK) and an official 205Mi16 was simply killed off buy insurance premiums. It's the perfect marriage of car and engine. If it had been released by Peugeot, it would be the undisputed hot-hatch king and no one would have said that the 8v was better. I struggle to believe that a 16v BX isn't a better car than an 8v or that a 405Mi16 isn't better than an 8v Sri.
"purity of design and package" is just a sweeping generalisation that doesn't apply to the cars being discussed.
Fist car was a 1.6 in Miami blue and loved it, had a 1.9 later and still hanker after my 1.6 back but I think that's down to the blind love you have for your fist set of wheels......especially when everyone else had 1.0 MK1 Fezzers and 1.4 Escort Encores.
1.6 was better on the back roads near me due to the smaller wheeels but the 1.9 would have been faster just more scary and in the air alot more.
would have another of either in the collection, still my favorite of the first Gen of hot hatches.
1.6 was better on the back roads near me due to the smaller wheeels but the 1.9 would have been faster just more scary and in the air alot more.
would have another of either in the collection, still my favorite of the first Gen of hot hatches.
Back in '97 when i passed my test i had always lusted after a 205 GTI, mainly for the looks of the 1.9 alloys and always said i'd get one in the future when insurance became reasonable after a few years. Finally managed to get hold of one back in late '08 and i've still got it now. One of the most enjoyable cars to drive that i've owned over the years and i can't see myself parting with it any time soon.
In all honesty when i went looking for a 205 originally i'd have been happy with either a 1.6 or 1.9 as all i really wanted was a fairly well looked after example, but ended up with my 1.9 after seeing one on ebay which caught my eye. I had considered dropping a GTI-6 lump in if the engine ever went but the old 8v is still going strong and even if it did go now i still think i'd rebuild it to keep the originality.
Also having owned a Renault 5 GT Turbo and an Escort RS Turbo previously over the last 10 odd years i'd say the 205 is the most fun/rewarding of them.
Mine as it currently looks after a bit of a clean earlier this week (any excuse for a pic or two
In all honesty when i went looking for a 205 originally i'd have been happy with either a 1.6 or 1.9 as all i really wanted was a fairly well looked after example, but ended up with my 1.9 after seeing one on ebay which caught my eye. I had considered dropping a GTI-6 lump in if the engine ever went but the old 8v is still going strong and even if it did go now i still think i'd rebuild it to keep the originality.
Also having owned a Renault 5 GT Turbo and an Escort RS Turbo previously over the last 10 odd years i'd say the 205 is the most fun/rewarding of them.
Mine as it currently looks after a bit of a clean earlier this week (any excuse for a pic or two
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