205 GTi as a daily driver/commuter?
Discussion
I've got a proper itch that needs scratching and that is to own a Peugeot 205 GTi. Values are creeping up and they're not getting any younger, but the only realistic way I can own one is if it gets pressed in to daily driver and commuting duties, as owning 4 cars will result in divorce and swapping the others is not feasible (Caterham for weekends and trackdays and newish Octavia VRS Estate for family duties). My commute is 13 miles and consists of NSL and country lanes so it would be great fun, but I need the car to be reliable as phoning in to work saying the car won't go is not an option! I'm pretty handy with the spanners so can do practically all servicing jobs myself however.
My current daily is a near mint Clio 172, it's worth buttons but is only on 65k miles and costs nothing to run. It's quick (rather than fast!) handles beautifully and it's also extremely reliable having never let me down in the 3 years I've owned it.
So...opinions on whether swapping the Clio for a 205 GTi appreciated!
My current daily is a near mint Clio 172, it's worth buttons but is only on 65k miles and costs nothing to run. It's quick (rather than fast!) handles beautifully and it's also extremely reliable having never let me down in the 3 years I've owned it.
So...opinions on whether swapping the Clio for a 205 GTi appreciated!
Loads of folk run these as daily drivers, can't see the problem. If you like refinement then don't bother.
Easy, simple and cheap to maintain with a loyal following.
Get one before they go silly price and don't discount the 1.6.
www.205gtidrivers.com
Easy, simple and cheap to maintain with a loyal following.
Get one before they go silly price and don't discount the 1.6.
www.205gtidrivers.com
Keep the 172 for daily drive purposes (much as I loved the 205 Gti's I've had the 172 does everything much better). Just the basic things of it being 22+ yrs old French wafer thin hot hatch with no PAS, 3 keys, rattly inside, great fun on a good day but can you give up the easy to live with nature of the 172 and step back in time (winter mornings with a steamed up car etc).
rallycross said:
Just the basic things of it being 22+ yrs old French wafer thin hot hatch with no PAS, 3 keys, rattly inside, great fun on a good day but can you give up the easy to live with nature of the 172 and step back in time (winter mornings with a steamed up car etc).
3 keys? Thats not right.Rattly? My 15 year old 120k mile one was fine
PAS? Don't need it
Steamed up car? Leaking - new rubbers would have sorted that plus the heater is pretty good.
Buy a crap example and it could be a trial but a sorted one will be more than livable.
Thanks all, much appreciated. Unfortunately, using the Caterham as backup is not an option as it's aeroscreened with no weather protection, it never goes out in the wet and is SORN'd over the winter!
I think the best way to resolve this is to go and have a look/test drive and go from there
I think the best way to resolve this is to go and have a look/test drive and go from there
I have run several as daily drivers and would have no qualms about using my current weekend toy as a daily driver. Like many cars, it definitely benefits from regular use rather than being left standing for weeks on end and only driven at the weekend.
Mine have been a mixture of 1.6's and 1.9's and I'd happily recommend both, although I think it's fair to say you should expect to have to do a good bit of retrospective and preventative maintenance if you are going to run a 20+ year old French hatchback as a daily.
I do think the 1.6 feels a little sweeter than the 1.9, but the 1.9 is inevitably a bit quicker, although neither are "fast" these days. But it's not about how fast you go, it's about how you go fast!
All of mine have been pretty reliable, although I do like to keep on top of things and end up fiddling with something or other most weekends.
Check for rust - although they were galvanised some seem to rot a bit more than others, - check inner wings, the boot floor and the floorpan. The other major points I can think of are the electrics - 20+ year old French electrics can give you some headaches with plenty of corroded connectors and bad earths. Smooth and even idling can be a pain to achieve but the 205 GTi Drivers' forum is an excellent resource.
If you get a decent one and keep on top of things they're great. Fun without being ridiculously fast, and whilst not remotely refined they are quite comfortable and ride pretty well over the s
tty roads in Oxfordshire. I've had quite a few cars in the 15 years I've been driving but have always had a 205 and wouldn't be without one. Mine have always been fairly standard (although my current one is Mi16 powered) and look original and I get a fair few people come and talk to me about it at petrol stations and in car parks etc. Missus still thinks it's far too boy racer/Max Power for a 35 year old though!
Justin.
Mine have been a mixture of 1.6's and 1.9's and I'd happily recommend both, although I think it's fair to say you should expect to have to do a good bit of retrospective and preventative maintenance if you are going to run a 20+ year old French hatchback as a daily.
I do think the 1.6 feels a little sweeter than the 1.9, but the 1.9 is inevitably a bit quicker, although neither are "fast" these days. But it's not about how fast you go, it's about how you go fast!
All of mine have been pretty reliable, although I do like to keep on top of things and end up fiddling with something or other most weekends.
Check for rust - although they were galvanised some seem to rot a bit more than others, - check inner wings, the boot floor and the floorpan. The other major points I can think of are the electrics - 20+ year old French electrics can give you some headaches with plenty of corroded connectors and bad earths. Smooth and even idling can be a pain to achieve but the 205 GTi Drivers' forum is an excellent resource.
If you get a decent one and keep on top of things they're great. Fun without being ridiculously fast, and whilst not remotely refined they are quite comfortable and ride pretty well over the s
tty roads in Oxfordshire. I've had quite a few cars in the 15 years I've been driving but have always had a 205 and wouldn't be without one. Mine have always been fairly standard (although my current one is Mi16 powered) and look original and I get a fair few people come and talk to me about it at petrol stations and in car parks etc. Missus still thinks it's far too boy racer/Max Power for a 35 year old though!Justin.
grenpayne said:
Justin, thanks for the lengthy reply, all really useful stuff. Will be looking to test drive one in the next few days.
Oh, and I'm 38 and my lovely wife thinks the same as yours
she even had the audacity to say her old mk2 Golf GTi was better!
My wife put up with a 3000mile round trip to the South of France in my throttle bodied 205mi16! Oh, the days before kids!!Oh, and I'm 38 and my lovely wife thinks the same as yours
she even had the audacity to say her old mk2 Golf GTi was better! trickywoo said:
rallycross said:
Just the basic things of it being 22+ yrs old French wafer thin hot hatch with no PAS, 3 keys, rattly inside, great fun on a good day but can you give up the easy to live with nature of the 172 and step back in time (winter mornings with a steamed up car etc).
3 keys? Thats not right.Rattly? My 15 year old 120k mile one was fine
PAS? Don't need it
Steamed up car? Leaking - new rubbers would have sorted that plus the heater is pretty good.
Buy a crap example and it could be a trial but a sorted one will be more than livable.
My current 205 is a 1991 XS (only 85 bhp ) but with Gaz suspension its so much fun to be had at relatively low speeds. Current plan is to break if anyone needs some nice bits let me know.
Sold my 911 and have now commuted daily in my 1.9 Gti for the last 4 years - 40 miles a day…A and B roads.
Hasn't let me down in all that time and always puts a smile on my face. Every now and again I delve into the classifieds to look for a replacement. Sometimes I even go for a test drive, but ultimately just can't find anything that comes close.
Buy a good one and it's easy to maintain and look after. Cheap to insure. Parts readily available (mostly). Mpg is OK. Basically, when you take everything into account it's about as cheap as motoring gets.
Hasn't let me down in all that time and always puts a smile on my face. Every now and again I delve into the classifieds to look for a replacement. Sometimes I even go for a test drive, but ultimately just can't find anything that comes close.
Buy a good one and it's easy to maintain and look after. Cheap to insure. Parts readily available (mostly). Mpg is OK. Basically, when you take everything into account it's about as cheap as motoring gets.
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