RE: Tell me I'm wrong: Peugeot 205 GTI
Discussion
Well, back in the day, I voted with my wallet - had Golf Mk1, Mk2, 405Mi16, then Corrado 16V.
The Corrado was much more entertaining when you were in the mood, and more relaxed for everyday/distance trips. My "running-in" drive was from London to Dundee and back the next day (I did have a client to visit so it was "work"!).
I much preferred the 106GTi, which is why we had two at one stage!
I loved the comment about the 205 being better built than an Alfa, too! Even most BL were (except Maxi/Allegro/Marina era cars)...
The Corrado was much more entertaining when you were in the mood, and more relaxed for everyday/distance trips. My "running-in" drive was from London to Dundee and back the next day (I did have a client to visit so it was "work"!).
I much preferred the 106GTi, which is why we had two at one stage!
I loved the comment about the 205 being better built than an Alfa, too! Even most BL were (except Maxi/Allegro/Marina era cars)...
Who cares which were the best, they were all great cars. 205 Gti, 309 GTi, Golf GTis and R5Turbos, they were all great cars which were a hoot to drive.
Not sure anyone has had such access to such entertaining handling ever since, imo. Nowadays everything needs massive power to overcome too much grip and weight, rendering cars too fast to be really entertaining on the public roads, imo.
Not sure anyone has had such access to such entertaining handling ever since, imo. Nowadays everything needs massive power to overcome too much grip and weight, rendering cars too fast to be really entertaining on the public roads, imo.
I often heard that the 8v was better than the 16v and the 1.6 better than the 1.9 etc. Can't say I ever agreed on any of those points as I spent so much time wringing the bits off things on the Autobahn that anything that made more speed got my nod!
The other one you hear is "can't cope with full bore acceleration as well as the lower power model" then lift your foot off the bloody carpet and act as a human asr - it doesn't take that much thinking about surely, but if the power isn't there at all you don't have an option. (yes I did end up with an Astra VXR and thought it perfectly OK)
The other one you hear is "can't cope with full bore acceleration as well as the lower power model" then lift your foot off the bloody carpet and act as a human asr - it doesn't take that much thinking about surely, but if the power isn't there at all you don't have an option. (yes I did end up with an Astra VXR and thought it perfectly OK)
As an avid 1.9 GTI owner, most of you have probably followed my Restoration thread in the readers cars section of the forum http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The 1.9 is better than the 1.6 in many ways....but the 1.6 isnt without its merits....it is revvier and probably more fun on the B road twisties but its no where near as comfy if you have to use a roads as the gearing is higher meaning that its revving its tits off doing 70mph which then lends itself to rather poor fuel MPG.
Then again what am I saying I never get more than 250 miles out of a full tank of Super in my 1.9.....why because it gets driven like it was stolen nearly every time I go out in it.
The noise, smell and driving dynamics are just jaw dropping even by todays standards...even though my 1.9 is 24 years old now it can keep up with the best in the twisties....I wont remind the Boxster S driver at Coombe a couple of years back that simply couldnt shake my little 205 off his tail on the twisty bits
If any of you are considering buying what has to be one of the most important cars that ever cam out of the 80/90's do it.
If you get a nice one it will bring a smile to your face every time and you will fall in love with it....trust me I have.....sad some might say but its the truth
The 1.9 is better than the 1.6 in many ways....but the 1.6 isnt without its merits....it is revvier and probably more fun on the B road twisties but its no where near as comfy if you have to use a roads as the gearing is higher meaning that its revving its tits off doing 70mph which then lends itself to rather poor fuel MPG.
Then again what am I saying I never get more than 250 miles out of a full tank of Super in my 1.9.....why because it gets driven like it was stolen nearly every time I go out in it.
The noise, smell and driving dynamics are just jaw dropping even by todays standards...even though my 1.9 is 24 years old now it can keep up with the best in the twisties....I wont remind the Boxster S driver at Coombe a couple of years back that simply couldnt shake my little 205 off his tail on the twisty bits
If any of you are considering buying what has to be one of the most important cars that ever cam out of the 80/90's do it.
If you get a nice one it will bring a smile to your face every time and you will fall in love with it....trust me I have.....sad some might say but its the truth
djon said:
Both were fun but tinny. 1.9 did pull well, but still prefer the 8v MK2 Golf GTI personally, especially in Oak green...
at the time, the problem with the MK2 golf gti was that you didnt want one of them if you were young and had a choice. there wasnt ever a time when a mk2 golf was fast and cool...... and you needed both.i personally think the design is aging very well but i wouldnt have been seen dead in one when it was in its day. a golf rallye was the golf to have.
agreed, you could say that about a whole bunch of car manufacturers that everyone under the age of 30 lusted over during the 80s and 90s. what is truly sad is that a few of them are still competing in motorsports with rally cars but dont bother bringing this level of exciting car to the showroom anymore.
A lot of interesting comments on here.
Few points:
The 1.6 gearbox is closer ratio and does make a difference, put the 1.6 box in the 1.9 and you have nailed that issue. (Peugeot should have done that anyway and given it a longer 5th)
For any 205, the back end can overtake you when pushed hard, put some decent rubber on the back.
The alloys on a 1.9 make the 205 look way more appealing visually than a 1.6 and looks to sit lower.
If you put a 1.9 or MI16/S16 on throttle bodies in a 205 you can forget your RS turbos and it'll keep up with Cossies. 200bhp+ in 850kgs is quick, but you need strong forearms on country roads.
1.9 all the way IMO.
ps There is no way that the 309 is a good looking car. Someone post a picture from the rear of a 309. Sooped up taxi. ;-)
Few points:
The 1.6 gearbox is closer ratio and does make a difference, put the 1.6 box in the 1.9 and you have nailed that issue. (Peugeot should have done that anyway and given it a longer 5th)
For any 205, the back end can overtake you when pushed hard, put some decent rubber on the back.
The alloys on a 1.9 make the 205 look way more appealing visually than a 1.6 and looks to sit lower.
If you put a 1.9 or MI16/S16 on throttle bodies in a 205 you can forget your RS turbos and it'll keep up with Cossies. 200bhp+ in 850kgs is quick, but you need strong forearms on country roads.
1.9 all the way IMO.
ps There is no way that the 309 is a good looking car. Someone post a picture from the rear of a 309. Sooped up taxi. ;-)
An MI16 conversion was much better than the 1.6 that it was when I bought it. But the big heavy engine made handling and braking a bit more frightening.
I think the problem as youngsters is that we tend to slam the accelerator pedal to the floor. If we didn't, the 1.9 could be driven almost the same as a 1.6 into bends. And of course they had discs all round, unlike the 1.6.
I think the problem as youngsters is that we tend to slam the accelerator pedal to the floor. If we didn't, the 1.9 could be driven almost the same as a 1.6 into bends. And of course they had discs all round, unlike the 1.6.
sandersc74 said:
ps There is no way that the 309 is a good looking car. Someone post a picture from the rear of a 309. Sooped up taxi. ;-)
205 GTi with a boot? By the same logic a 205 is a 'sooped up' shopping car. Yet we all know they're much, much more than what they look like or what they evolved from.I don't ever remember anyone rating the 1.6 over the 1.9! If that's what the road tests back in the day stated then it didn't filter down to the PH's or was completely ignored over common power to weight sense. Never had a 205, but my old dear had a 309 which was a complete hoot. It would glide round corners with completely controllable understeer. It was a 1.6 though and always wished it were the 1.9!
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