Tuesday 17th June 2014

Peugeot 205 GTI: Spotted

Peugeot will mark 30 years of the 205 GTI at Goodwood this month; what better car to arrive in?

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Something of a French theme may have been apparent on PH this week. As well as that 24-hour race and the latest Renaultsport wildchild, Peugeot has today confirmed a 30th Anniversary Edition 208 GTI. So far nothing more than its name and Goodwood debut have been announced but that's all the information required to celebrate the - insert superlative here - 205 GTI. It will at least alleviate the nagging doubt the 30th Anniversary 208 could just be a paint and stickers job.

Ain't she a beaut?

Choosing a 205 GTI to feature is far more of a task than might first be imagined. The cars at £10K and above are surely too pristine to drive now, and what would be the point of that? Some scruffy cars at Shed money are around too, as well as the inevitable MI16-engined track crusaders. But a presentable, driveable, standard GTI would be just fine, and this one looks to be ideal.

Is there a bad colour for a 205? Alpine White, Graphite Grey and Cherry Red are just three of the standard colours that worked so well. But the limited edition Sorrento Green and Miami Blue, the latter as seen here, are perhaps the most desirable. Everyone's harped on about it before but the 205 really is a very pretty little car. Three decades after its launch and it still looks absolutely spot on.

Restored last year and ready to be enjoyed

That impression is reinforced further by this 205's recent restoration. All panels bar the bonnet are original but refreshed, the entire shell resprayed and the wheels refurbished. Alright, the front seats are due a retrim but everywhere else the car looks like completely stunning. So there's the ideal combination of immaculate bodywork and refreshed mechanicals without the car having been overly pampered. Indeed the advert says 'I built this car to be used not to be a garage queen so at this point in time under bonnet and underside of car have not been resprayed.'

What more is there to say? One of the greatest hot hatches ever made in an ideal spec and with apparently plenty of care lavished upon it. It's taxed, the MoT is long and those 1.9 wheels must surely be available with some negotiation. Lovely.

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PEUGEOT 205 GTI 1.6
Engine: 1,580cc four-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual, FWD
Power (hp): 116@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 98@4,000rpm
MPG: 30
CO2: N/A
Recorded miles: 97,000
Year registered: 1991
Price new: £6,295 (1984)
Yours for: £4,500

See the original advert here.

 

[Howrare]

Fantastic!! My Cherry Red J Reg 1.6 was one of my best cars, and the company I worked for at the time picked up the insurance tab too. Sadly sold it to a family member who wrote it off. I just love the way these sound, drive, look. Superb.

[ajh38]

I have a Sorrento one, fun little things and it's used daily unless the weather is really nice then I use the convertble.

My mum had several new when I was a child and 'our' last one was a Miami blue one when I was about 5.

Love them.

[Contigo]

[HereBeMonsters]

gah! Might have to actually pay (something I've never done before) for a Goodwood ticket now!

[MGZTV8]

When i first met my now missus she had a very last of the line "L" registered 1.9.

I knew from that day she was the one for me. A blonde in a car like that!!!

God we had some fun in that car!!!

[alpha channel]

If that'd been closer...

[anonymous-user]

Really, really really like these. Back in the 90's I had the XS which was a hoot. A friend had mildly tweaked 1.9 which remains one of the most fun cars I've driven. I'd be happy with either of those as a toy nowadays.

[j90gta]

Back in the 80's I had a 1985 GTI in silver. It was tremendous fun. The only way you could get 30 mpg is to drive it like an old man. I seem to recall I only used to get around 26/27 out of it.

[dom9]

That's a lovely thing and sounds like it could be a pretty good paint job.

If I hadn't just bought my Williams (more expensive, more miles and not a good refurb) then I'd be all over this

[FrankUnderwood]

I would really love a go in one of these.

I've just bought a small hatch myself, a 2001 Polo GTI. Same power, similar weight etc. However I strongly suspect the 205 GTI is the more fun drive and a hell of a lot more raw.

Never the less, I think small, fun hatches suit the UK really well. They're fun to drive at lower speeds and the size doesn't feel intimidating on B Roads.

Only thing I have noticed compared to RWD cars I've owned/driven is that fun hatches require faith through a corner. One of my friends with a 205 GTI said you never lift in a corner otherwise you'll end up backwards in a hedge. Same story with my Polo GTI, except without throttle I get horrible understeer.

Keep the power on and the satisfaction is incredibly thrilling. You feel like it was your driving commitment that gave you the grip. It's like you are being pulled through the corner.

I think another hatch I would like to try is a 106 Rallye

[aw51 121565]

Contigo said:

!

My father had a couple of 1.6s in the late '80s and early '90s; my 309SR has the same basic XU5 engine but only a single weber yet still makes nostalgic noises on occasion .

[iloveboost]

Contigo said:

A genuine LOL from me.
That shiny body and wheel colour combo of grey and blue is great even on that boring old boxy hatch.
That's a lot of money for a 205 I guess you're buying it for the driving experience and you hope it's price at least goes up in line with inflation. I wish there was a company that rented eighties and nineties hot hatches, sportscars and sports saloons for a relatively low price so I could try cars like this.
Anybody rich on here want to start a business for me?

[TEKNOPUG]

Who are these people paying £5k+ for an old, stock 205??

You could build a new one from scratch for less than that

[Moospeed]

The 'shed' one even has FOS as the number plate, ideal for Festival Of Speed.

[V8 FOU]

MGZTV8 said:

When i first met my now missus she had a very last of the line "L" registered 1.9.

I knew from that day she was the one for me. A blonde in a car like that!!!

God we had some fun in that car!!!

Pictures?

















(Not the car...)

[iplod999]

I still have the one featured in the Holiday article.



It's never going to be sold.

[angelicupstarts]

Had a few of these now ..sell them regret it and buy another !
best memories was years ago living in New Zealand and the dirt roads out past a place called Ragland , used to part of the world rally course .
this car on winding dirt roads ..dust everywhere ...heal and toe .....nothing could keep up .
truly one of the great cars !
ahhh now i want another !

[angelicupstarts]

Had a few of these now ..sell them regret it and buy another !
best memories was years ago living in New Zealand and the dirt roads out past a place called Ragland , used to part of the world rally course .
this car on winding dirt roads ..dust everywhere ...heal and toe .....nothing could keep up .
truly one of the great cars !
ahhh now i want another !

[iplod999]

Holiday article?

Bloody auto correct on phone.

Hooligan article!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&...

[johnnyBv8]

TEKNOPUG said:

Who are these people paying £5k+ for an old, stock 205??

You could build a new one from scratch for less than that

I bet you couldn't!