309 GTI any good? Better value than 205 GTI
Discussion
GHW said:
I ran one as a road rally car a few years ago (and then sold it to a mate who rallied it for another season, and then sold it to a chap who got it featured in one of PPC's sub-1k performance car shootouts).
It was a fantastic-handling car and actually pretty reliable, given the amount of abuse it had to put up with during its time with me (and the subsequent owners). It cost me £350 in 2003....
Here it is on its way to winning the Kent Road Rally in 2004:
1 minute and 1 PC all night....... that's a fantastic result on the Kent.It was a fantastic-handling car and actually pretty reliable, given the amount of abuse it had to put up with during its time with me (and the subsequent owners). It cost me £350 in 2003....
Here it is on its way to winning the Kent Road Rally in 2004:
I Competed there the next year where your car won again!
It seems they've not run the event since 2005.. shame, it was one of my favourite road rallies, they used to do a really good stage event as well IIRC.
TVR Moneypit said:
GHW said:
Shropshiremike said:
Anyone who had a 3-door remember the little levers between the front seats for opening the rear quarters? 
Oh yes - very cool 
it was a bar which ran under the seat so you could push the seat forward from both sides - there was no cable
TVR Moneypit said:
GHW said:
Shropshiremike said:
Anyone who had a 3-door remember the little levers between the front seats for opening the rear quarters?
Oh yes - very cool Can't say I had any particular problems with mine apart from the engine undertray coming adrift and having to replace the Fog and driving lights a couple of times when they got smashed ( low down in front spoiler ). In the end I got the plastic guards from the dealer to cover them
Then again it was relatively new compared to the ages of them now so I wouldn't have expected many problems.
Can't recall ever struggling to keep up with my friends' 205s at the time anyway
TVR Moneypit said:
sleep envy said:
TVR Moneypit said:
GHW said:
Shropshiremike said:
Anyone who had a 3-door remember the little levers between the front seats for opening the rear quarters?
Oh yes - very cool it was a bar which ran under the seat so you could push the seat forward from both sides - there was no cable
On my black 3 door whatever it was that worked the rear windows came loose, a job which I never did get round to doing. I always (incorrectly) assumed that they were cable operated.
collateral said:
Is it true that the 306 chassis was based on the 309 one?
Never driven a 309 but my 205 was pretty hairy in the rain. 306 was much more sure-footed, although the extra weight probably helped keep it stuck
Possibly. My 309gti was very sure-footed in the rain, and very progressive and easily controlled when it did let go.Never driven a 309 but my 205 was pretty hairy in the rain. 306 was much more sure-footed, although the extra weight probably helped keep it stuck
I absolutely loved it! Even though it had been undoubtedly clocked, the headgasket was on its way out and the rear suspension used to knock like crazy!
Still great fun though.
ETA: It was my first real departure from owning Fords. I remember having to buy a whole new set of tools for it, annoying! Nothing I had fitted it - then came the attempted oil change. A special tool (square drive, had one made in the end) was needed to undo the sump plug. What was that about? Still loved it besides these irritations though.
Edited by useyourdellusion on Wednesday 28th October 16:27
useyourdellusion said:
[ Nothing I had fitted it - then came the attempted oil change. A special tool (square drive, had one made in the end) was needed to undo the sump plug. What was that about?
Hope you didn't pay a lot to have it made - they were about a fiver for the plug key from the dealer.The idea being is it's harder to round off or damage an inset bolt than an exposed one
Shropshiremike said:
useyourdellusion said:
[ Nothing I had fitted it - then came the attempted oil change. A special tool (square drive, had one made in the end) was needed to undo the sump plug. What was that about?
Hope you didn't pay a lot to have it made - they were about a fiver for the plug key from the dealer.The idea being is it's harder to round off or damage an inset bolt than an exposed one
After I'd had a quote for a new fuel tank for £240 (1996 price) for it, I decided not to bother with the main dealer again. I couldn't justify paying that for what was essentially a moulded piece of plastic/polyurothane or whatever. The prices for everything seemed astonishingly steep at the time compared to the XR3i's etc I'd previously been running.
Some main dealer stuff for Peuegeot is expensive, but a lot of it is bargainous. Got a new battery for £50 a couple of years ago (Halfords - £64.99) and things like trim are great.
I've seen badges go on ebay for up to fifteen quid, when you can buy them new from a dealer for a fiver.
I've seen badges go on ebay for up to fifteen quid, when you can buy them new from a dealer for a fiver.
The first fun car I had was a 309GRi, as far as I'm aware it shared the same engine as the 205GTi 1.6. It really was brilliant, Around 115bhp felt very lively having come from a 1.2 Nova! It loved to rev and it took alot of abuse. At the time I would have loved a GTi but even then (about 8yrs ago) they were very rare. The interiors aren't the best put together but if you can find a good one go for it.
MikeyMike said:
The first fun car I had was a 309GRi, as far as I'm aware it shared the same engine as the 205GTi 1.6. It really was brilliant, Around 115bhp felt very lively having come from a 1.2 Nova! It loved to rev and it took alot of abuse. At the time I would have loved a GTi but even then (about 8yrs ago) they were very rare. The interiors aren't the best put together but if you can find a good one go for it.
Before they did the Gri there was a 309 Sri with the 115bhp engine. They used to be pretty cheap secondhand compared to the 205. The 309 was originaly the Talbot Arizona , but didnt make it to market
http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/car-development/d...
http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/car-development/d...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff