RE: Tell me I'm wrong: Peugeot 205 GTI
Discussion
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 -
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 -
screwloose said:
TEKNOPUG said:
1.6 good, 1.9 better, Mi16 great, 1.9 Turbo-Technics best 
205s don't suit turbo's. They really, really don't.
Chris, you're wrong.
I've had a couple of each and although they're both fabulous cars I prefer the 1.6, and it's one of those I've got tucked away in the garage now. It's an utterly wonderful little car and I'll never sell it.
I prefer the way the 1.6 delivers its power, I prefer the shorter gear ratios, I prefer the brakes (the drums are much better than discs) and I prefer the handling. Although this doesn't register on any scale of importance, I even prefer the cloth seats.
I've had a couple of each and although they're both fabulous cars I prefer the 1.6, and it's one of those I've got tucked away in the garage now. It's an utterly wonderful little car and I'll never sell it.
I prefer the way the 1.6 delivers its power, I prefer the shorter gear ratios, I prefer the brakes (the drums are much better than discs) and I prefer the handling. Although this doesn't register on any scale of importance, I even prefer the cloth seats.
Me and a mate had an Mi16 conversion a couple of years ago solely for track use, and it was absolutely epic. Didn't really get to drive it on the road much (nor as a std 1.9 for that matter) so can't comment on how the two compare there, but for out and out track driving, it was excellent.
OlberJ said:
To quote a new over-used buzzword, the 1.6 had better flow.
But that's the whole point of this article - a motor journo disagreeing with that statement. The vast majority of owners and people who haven't experienced the awesomeness of an Uno Turbo agree that the 1.9 was better. That you disagree is perfectly OK - if we all liked the same thing, the world would be magnolia and s
t.Edit to add - 20 years on the tiny difference in HP and lbs/ft is meaningless compared to getting a good example.
Edited by _dobbo_ on Thursday 24th May 21:50
205 Gti the name brings back memories and not good one's my twin brother sold his Mk1 Scirroco Storm (gorgeous car) to get a 1.6 205 Gti i took him to Stockport in my Mk1 Scirroco in mid 1989 i wanted him to keep the Scirroco as i was an out and out "Dubber" i still am. I drove the 205 a few times but it felt to light and it wasn't as planted and predictable as the Scirroco it all came to a head later that year Christmas day to be exact i had spent all Christmas Eve waiting for my Bro in town for our usual Xmas knees up i waited all night. I was continually asking people we knew if they had seen him no-one had, this was bm (before mobile's) something that we take for granted now. I eventually got home and fell asleep in a drunken stupor the next thing i knew there was a loud and urgent banging on the front door i heard my Mum get up and answer the door. I caught the words "there's been an accident, your son's seriously ill in hospital" i sobered up almost immediately ! and was at the hospital with my parents within the hour. My brother had been racing a Mk1 Golf Gti when he lost the 205 on a left hand bend right next to a row of allotments if it had been a foot either way he would have been ok but the car spun and he hit a lamppost drivers side on which broke his ribs and collarbone i always wondered how it had happened but over the years I've heard more and more people talk about the 205's propensity to swap ends mid corner on a trailing throttle. My bro lost his fight for life and the thing that makes this even more poignant was that my last words to him were "drive carefully bro" because i had only just recovered from being flung out the back window 2 months previously of a flipped and rolling Citroen Visa Gti a car that had the same Peugeot 1.6 Gti engine as the 205. So Mr Harris in my opinion you're not wrong.
OracIe said:
When new:
1.6 = 115bhp
1.9 = 128 bhp
Your all banging on about power this, speed that with 13bhp more?
Do me a favour.
If you wanted a real power hike then 1.9TT was where it was at. 180bhp wasn't it?
as mentioned about 5000 times, its not just the power! (im not repeating the other reasons, just read the thread)1.6 = 115bhp
1.9 = 128 bhp
Your all banging on about power this, speed that with 13bhp more?
Do me a favour.
If you wanted a real power hike then 1.9TT was where it was at. 180bhp wasn't it?
Chris I don't hear/read/watch you talk about the Lancia Delta Integrale much. Would love to see a video comparison of the 8v/16v/Evo and find out your thoughts.
By the way, if you want a go in a proper 3.8 M5 to compare against your E28 and you're around the Peterborough area, give me a holler.
By the way, if you want a go in a proper 3.8 M5 to compare against your E28 and you're around the Peterborough area, give me a holler.
mckay99 said:
205 Gti the name brings back memories and not good one's my twin brother sold his Mk1 Scirroco Storm (gorgeous car) to get a 1.6 205 Gti i took him to Stockport in my Mk1 Scirroco in mid 1989 i wanted him to keep the Scirroco as i was an out and out "Dubber" i still am. I drove the 205 a few times but it felt to light and it wasn't as planted and predictable as the Scirroco it all came to a head later that year Christmas day to be exact i had spent all Christmas Eve waiting for my Bro in town for our usual Xmas knees up i waited all night. I was continually asking people we knew if they had seen him no-one had, this was bm (before mobile's) something that we take for granted now. I eventually got home and fell asleep in a drunken stupor the next thing i knew there was a loud and urgent banging on the front door i heard my Mum get up and answer the door. I caught the words "there's been an accident, your son's seriously ill in hospital" i sobered up almost immediately ! and was at the hospital with my parents within the hour. My brother had been racing a Mk1 Golf Gti when he lost the 205 on a left hand bend right next to a row of allotments if it had been a foot either way he would have been ok but the car spun and he hit a lamppost drivers side on which broke his ribs and collarbone i always wondered how it had happened but over the years I've heard more and more people talk about the 205's propensity to swap ends mid corner on a trailing throttle. My bro lost his fight for life and the thing that makes this even more poignant was that my last words to him were "drive carefully bro" because i had only just recovered from being flung out the back window 2 months previously of a flipped and rolling Citroen Visa Gti a car that had the same Peugeot 1.6 Gti engine as the 205. So Mr Harris in my opinion you're not wrong.
Sorry to hear of your loss.And with absolutly no disrespect to your brother, it seems a 205 needed a very good driver/crazy driver in order to keep it in check. Ie no lifting off mid corner when your brain thinks your going way too fast!
Husker said:
If you want to go the 16S way, do it the proper way : the good period approach was the Ruggeri one.
Put a cylinder head from Turbo 16 and two Weber 45DCOE.
I am so glad I never saw that article when I was 18. I'd have totally tried that and still been trying to sort it out now Put a cylinder head from Turbo 16 and two Weber 45DCOE.
I've always been in the 1.9 camp. I drive my 1.9 every day.
I think it depends what you want out of a 205. The 1.9 suits my driving style - longer gearing, more torque. I also like the obvious benefits like brake discs all round, half leather, more power yada yada yada.
There are people that prefer a revvier car and that is their idea of fun, screaming around like a maniac. Many people think the XS and Rallyes are better variants.
The 1.6 vs 1.9 debate will alway be there. The 1.6 just felt considerably slower to me. I think the smaller wheels do make it more nimble, and I agree a healthy 1.6 is probably just as quick as a 1.9'. Never understand that argument though. My healthy 1.9 would be as fast as a knackered 911 turbo what's your point :-b
I think we can all agree they are ALL great fun, it's just a matter of which flavour you prefer ;-)'
I think it depends what you want out of a 205. The 1.9 suits my driving style - longer gearing, more torque. I also like the obvious benefits like brake discs all round, half leather, more power yada yada yada.
There are people that prefer a revvier car and that is their idea of fun, screaming around like a maniac. Many people think the XS and Rallyes are better variants.
The 1.6 vs 1.9 debate will alway be there. The 1.6 just felt considerably slower to me. I think the smaller wheels do make it more nimble, and I agree a healthy 1.6 is probably just as quick as a 1.9'. Never understand that argument though. My healthy 1.9 would be as fast as a knackered 911 turbo what's your point :-b
I think we can all agree they are ALL great fun, it's just a matter of which flavour you prefer ;-)'
Nikolai said:
I can't stand 'all day long' either.
But anyway, I've not driven 205s, but mk1 Uno Turbos were better in every way. Although for some reason, only Uno Turbo owners seem to know this...
The Uno which you had is better than 205s you never experienced. What a complete ridiculous post. Up there with 'because I said so...' But anyway, I've not driven 205s, but mk1 Uno Turbos were better in every way. Although for some reason, only Uno Turbo owners seem to know this...
HighwayStar said:
The Uno which you had is better than 205s you never experienced. What a complete ridiculous post. Up there with 'because I said so...'
can also comment on this, as i also had 2 uno turbos, the mk1 and mk2, both tuned, both caned within an inch of their lives. mk1 uno door card came off in my hand when i pulled door shut again at 40mph as it wasnt quite shut fully, typical of the build quality. like st off a shovel both of em in the day!my 1.9gti was tuned and played with and made 120odd bhp at the wheels, which was blindingly quick, and also very very twitchy on lift off. it all ended in tears with a twht who ran me off the road during an impromptu race one night, he lost his and nudged me on a bend (private dual carriageway)
i ended up backwards into a bridge parapet and destroyed the car :-( while my new friend cleared off without stopping.
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