RE: Spotted: Peugeot 309 GTI

[uncle tez]

I've always thought the 309 was better looking than the 205 especially as a 3 door rather than the 5. I cant remember the last time i saw a 309 on the road and for me thats another reason to have one over the 205.

[r1ch]

I think 309's look cool, especially in 3 door goodwood variety. Rare sight these days, they seemed to rust worse than the 205.

[TheDoggingFather]

The 309 GTi is a great looking car, I'd love that.

[marshall100]

405dogvan said:

I didn't know they did one of those - that's not bad really, looks like a slightly fatter/longer 205!

Starts to look a bit better in that guise....

[furtive]

I had a 390 "Look" in my youth. It looked like a GTi from a distance if you squinted - it was black with red stripes, but it only had a tiny engine and skinny tyres.

[XJSJohn]

405dogvan said:

nosuchuser said:

Gratuitous Dimma pic:

I didn't know they did one of those - that's not bad really, looks like a slightly fatter/longer 205!

was thinking ot looked like a French Integrale

[uncle tez]

furtive said:

I had a 390 "Look" in my youth. It looked like a GTi from a distance if you squinted - it was black with red stripes, but it only had a tiny engine and skinny tyres.

I would have loved that as my first car. Set of gti alloys on it and take the badges off. Much better than the shed of a corsa i had.

[TheDoggingFather]

nosuchuser said:

That dash pic takes me back... Loved my phase 2, thought it was a better drive than the 205 1.9 gti I had prior.. Wife hated the 309 though so it had to go..

Gratuitous Dimma pic:

That really does look awesome. Shame most of the ones I saw back in the day weren't real Dimma's, so they looked ste.

[dbdb]

I like the 309 and to me they are attractive. I agree about the dash plastics though - they weren't great.

[CarlosV8]

Great article, nice to see the 309 getting some attention for a change! I'm a big fan of both the 205 and 309 GTis, and have just fulfilled a boyhood dream by (accidentally) buying a 309 GTi Goodwood

Edited by CarlosV8 on Thursday 6th September 11:42

[Limpet]

To me this car looks better now than it did when it was current. This example is in the best colour too. The last 309 I saw on the road was a good few years ago now, and was just a cooking model in that baby blue colour they used to do. I haven't seen a GTI in ages.

I've driven a few of these over the years, and the thing I always remember about them (and all other performance Peugeots of this era) is the way they not only handle brilliantly, but manage to combine such impressive body control with such a supple, comfortable ride. They make the hot VWs and Fords of the same era feel very crudely sprung and harsh.

Would love to own this car.

[Prawnboy]

lucky i'm not in the country right now.......i want it.

[HonestIago]

My first memory of a car is my Dad's old 309 GTi! Just like the one pictured it was F250KSH he owned from 1988 to 1996 I think.

[Braintax]

That is fantastic, pugs of this era get under your skin like nothing else! That would look great next to my red 205 XS

[hman]

I had 205 gti in 1.6 & 1.9 and a chum at the time had a 309 gti.

We swapped one day and both agreed that the saloon was more comfy but the hatch was the winner!

[Pixelpeep]

28mpg?! wow - how far we have come

always thought of the 309 GTi as the 205 GTi's uglier brother. Looking at it now, its still not as pretty as a 205 but it's no longer a munter in my eyes.

[Rammy76]

dbdb said:

I like the 309 and to me they are attractive. I agree about the dash plastics though - they weren't great.

I agree I think they are a good looking car. The dash in the early ones weren't great but I'm sure the up dated (phase 2?) ones were much improved.

[X5TUU]

very odd coincidence since a white 309 rallye (thats what it looked like anyways) passed me this morning in Newcastle! very dated but classic french ... although I am a biased french obsessive

[anything fast]

A little know fact for you!

There was a very potent Mi16V version that was never offically sold in the UK, was the fastest mainstream car sold by Peugeot at the time..

Of course there are plenty of conversions out there, but I wouldnt mind finding an original 16V car..

[LesKellet]

Beware of slipping clutches. And yes, also more of a scream with the 405 Mi16 lump installed - a lot of enthusiasts did this in the UK