RE: Peugeot to sell factory restored 205 GTIs
Discussion
The notion of a reborn classic model doesn't bother me at all, in fact I would love to experience newish versions of a lot of cars I've had.
But it is down to price - and exactly how much better they would be compared to a well maintained secondhand example.
I'm guessing this could easily be 50k, and if so there are too many interesting alternatives in the marketplace for me to jump in.
But it is down to price - and exactly how much better they would be compared to a well maintained secondhand example.
I'm guessing this could easily be 50k, and if so there are too many interesting alternatives in the marketplace for me to jump in.
Funnily enough someone recently tried building a kind of Singer'esque E30 M3 but missed out on the fact that the 911 is kind of unique with it's 40+ years of development of essentially the same car. (Kind of anyway). Apart from attempting to reinvent the wheel with certain aspects, it wasn't anything that any enthusiast couldn't have achieved really. They then added a ridiculous price tag to make it 'special'. If Peugeot could do this at a sensible price point I think they could be on to a winner. I just wonder if the 'exclusivity' of a factory restoration won't mean it's priced out of the reach of most who would actually want one?
Arsecati said:
the Carguy said:
Lats all Hope they will also sell new parts to Owners...getting those 1.9 and GTI Badges and various trims new would be like a visit from Santa
You have literally just posted my thoughts exactly. Prices of specific GTi parts secondhand now is getting beyond ridiculous due to the values of the cars increasing so much. Luckily Pablo (my little 1.9) is bang on and needs nothing, but I do still like to drive the thing, so it would be nice to know there are parts available for it in the future without having to present my balls in a bowl for them.Unfortunately some of them have been out of stock for a while now due to lack of production to due Covid. I've got a number of window / body seals on back order at the moment but still no estimated date
Mr Happy said:
Realistically though, the price for a factory fresh GTI is probably going to be north of £50k, so the chances of someone paying that much to go razzing around the local B-roads will be approaching nil. These aren't going to be used in the manner in which they were originally designed, they're going to be garage queens and show cars.
There’s a good number of people out there with expensive cars that depreciate fast. If someone usually loses way more than that in depreciation on their other cars, why wouldn’t they take the same hit on one of these and use it properly?2020, you have redeemed yourself. Peugeot are restoring my first car, I almost can’t believe it. I won’t be able to afford one but I will enjoy seeing the factory fresh examples around at some point. They can also put one in a group test with the latest Uber hatches where it will get murdered on track but be all the journalists’ favourite on the road.
I actually like it when people deride the 205 GTi. It’s an easy way of knowing you can ignore anything else they say. Stirling Moss’s daily driver, after all.
I actually like it when people deride the 205 GTi. It’s an easy way of knowing you can ignore anything else they say. Stirling Moss’s daily driver, after all.
Plenty of bespoke suppliers for obscure parts these days, you can make a very good job of a restoration for 10k and a bit of looking around for bits - so unless you want absolutely every clip and switch new then there's little justification to fire 50k up the wall in my opinion (if that ends up being the cost)
Truth is the novelty wears off pretty quickly as a driving experience too - and thats from a self confessed anorak
TwigtheWonderkid said:
It was a great car in its day, and to keep one in good condition is cool. But to spend tens of thousands, not for me. Great as the were, they would be no match for a modern hot hatch, available new for probably way less money.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.
It depends what you want. I have a Mark II 1980s 16v Golf GTi. I recently had a drive in a Mk 6 Golf GTi with a Revo stage 1. It was maintained by a knowledgeable enthusiast, and was an immaculate car. It was for sale. Just as I’m sure you’re right that, by all measurable criteria, a modern Pug is better than the old 205, by almost all measurable criteria, the newer VW GTi was better than my old Mk II - more spacious, sturdier, safer, stuffed with toys and it was obvious that it would easily outrun my Mk II. Having drove it though, I decided not to buy it. As with all newer cars, they're all a bit fake and a bit inert - piped-in engine noise, all sorts of traction control, too much grip, DSG box. Had I been looking for a great GT car, it'd have been a great buy. However, it's just not as much fun as my Mk II; and I'm prepared to bet the exact same is true of the 205. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.
I have quite given up on all modern cars; I’ve tried lots of them. I thought about buying a new 911 a few years back, and ended up putting twice as much money into modding my old 1980s hot rod 911 instead. Again, I’m sure it’s trounced in the stats dept by a modern 911, but so what? As Chapman noted all those years ago, top speed? Irrelevant. I crave interactivity, honest, unfiltered responses, lack of grip, a bit of terror now and again, and a certain raucousness – and you just don’t get those things with moderns, though you certainly would with a 1.9 205.
Here's Harry Metcalfe's take on it: https://youtu.be/gzOYsxOi1Cw?t=992
For me, it’s wonderful news from Peugeot – perhaps a small sign of better things to come – perhaps, as we all become bored witless with our samey battery pods (oh look, it accelerates, yawn), manufacturers will realise that, as with horses and wind-up watches, there is a niche market of idiots like me for whom newer does not always mean better.
Bravo Peugeot!
Fantastic news !!
Let’s hope that Renault, take Serious interest in what their Hot hatch rivals are up too.
I had a really clean / full history, rot free and most importantly, Non sun roof, H reg, white 1.9, in 2011. My ideal spec.
Loved the half leather and red carpet. However, it just lacked “excitement”, compared to the circa 10, R5GT Turbos, that I had owned, from 93 on.
I advertised it but, with 147,000 miles, no one wanted it.
It finally sold to a complete knob from Belgium for just.......£1,100 quid.......
I told him that the off side rear trailing arm had seized on one side and that it needed a service etc etc.
We delivered it to Dover in the asking price and he loaded it onto his trailer. A few days later and he is sending bolshy e mails re sueing me.
Should have kept that car.
Edited by neutral 3 on Saturday 17th October 01:02
I think this is a wonderful idea. When I was in my mid-20s these were the hot-hatch to have, but most of my generation couldn't afford the sky-high insurance premiums, and the cars themselves were not that cheap either. 35 years later most of us have paid off our mortgages (and should be free of expensive kids too). Compared to boat or something a lot more exotic a really good 205 GTi (either a 16 or 1.9) will be a lot of affordable fun.
I had the 1.9 205 and then the 309 GTi. The 309 was better, you had more confidence to use the lift off oversteer as it was far more progressive and less snappy.
Best front wheel drive car I've ever tried. The only sweeter handling car I've owned is a Mk2 2.0ltr MX5.
It's all about lightness.
Best front wheel drive car I've ever tried. The only sweeter handling car I've owned is a Mk2 2.0ltr MX5.
It's all about lightness.
MadDog1962 said:
I think this is a wonderful idea. When I was in my mid-20s these were the hot-hatch to have, but most of my generation couldn't afford the sky-high insurance premiums, and the cars themselves were not that cheap either. 35 years later most of us have paid off our mortgages (and should be free of expensive kids too). Compared to boat or something a lot more exotic a really good 205 GTi (either a 16 or 1.9) will be a lot of affordable fun.
That’s the key. The generation that grew up liking these has reached the point where there is finally time, money and space to go and buy a crappy little tin box with some truly awful plastics inside and a penchant for falling apart and thoroughly enjoy it. The hot hatches were an incredibly iconic element of motoring history back then. Just like people desired Etypes and MGBs when they reached that mid point in their lives and then the 70s cars, there are a lot of iconic 80s cars and arguably it was a much more diverse era. It wasn’t just all about two seater sports cars but the arrival of the hot hatch as a dominant segment, along with the luxury SUV.
The advantage the OEMs have is that they have the money and clout to put silly little parts back into production. They can back someone to create the tooling or produce a run. And for many cars this is the missing link. Having to pay thousands of pounds for parts because non of the small restorers or owners can muster the might or take the risk to reproduce cloths or trim parts.
It would be great to see more manufacturers put key parts back into production as you can see what a great impact it has on then keeping vehicle values lower, fewer getting broken for parts and the vehicles being used more.
In addition, simple factory EV conversions would be great for taking a ghastly diesel version of something like the 205 and turning it into an interesting and fun city car. This article may be about the iconic 1.6 and 1.9 but there were bucket loads of awful diesels made that are prime for turning into something nice.
The key is for more manufacturers to start referring to this process as recycling and upcycling. They have to start using the modern parlance that simply switches the army of dimwits from despising a product and wanting its users lynched for their evilness to suddenly prostrating themselves at the users feet as a messiah.
Upcycled, cool EV runabouts without any of the flat screen utter b
ks that blight the £40k, 2 tonne, 10 year life cycle planet savers. And on the back of repurposing all those diesels and lesser 4 pots, we get to keep the models with the iconic engines. DonkeyApple said:
That’s the key. The generation that grew up liking these has reached the point where there is finally time, money and space to go and buy a crappy little tin box with some truly awful plastics inside and a penchant for falling apart and thoroughly enjoy it.
The hot hatches were an incredibly iconic element of motoring history back then. Just like people desired Etypes and MGBs when they reached that mid point in their lives and then the 70s cars, there are a lot of iconic 80s cars and arguably it was a much more diverse era. It wasn’t just all about two seater sports cars but the arrival of the hot hatch as a dominant segment, along with the luxury SUV.
The advantage the OEMs have is that they have the money and clout to put silly little parts back into production. They can back someone to create the tooling or produce a run. And for many cars this is the missing link. Having to pay thousands of pounds for parts because non of the small restorers or owners can muster the might or take the risk to reproduce cloths or trim parts.
It would be great to see more manufacturers put key parts back into production as you can see what a great impact it has on then keeping vehicle values lower, fewer getting broken for parts and the vehicles being used more.
In addition, simple factory EV conversions would be great for taking a ghastly diesel version of something like the 205 and turning it into an interesting and fun city car. This article may be about the iconic 1.6 and 1.9 but there were bucket loads of awful diesels made that are prime for turning into something nice.
The key is for more manufacturers to start referring to this process as recycling and upcycling. They have to start using the modern parlance that simply switches the army of dimwits from despising a product and wanting its users lynched for their evilness to suddenly prostrating themselves at the users feet as a messiah.
Upcycled, cool EV runabouts without any of the flat screen utter bks that blight the £40k, 2 tonne, 10 year life cycle planet savers. And on the back of repurposing all those diesels and lesser 4 pots, we get to keep the models with the iconic engines.
Almost fully agree, I just take exception with regards the 205 XRADThe hot hatches were an incredibly iconic element of motoring history back then. Just like people desired Etypes and MGBs when they reached that mid point in their lives and then the 70s cars, there are a lot of iconic 80s cars and arguably it was a much more diverse era. It wasn’t just all about two seater sports cars but the arrival of the hot hatch as a dominant segment, along with the luxury SUV.
The advantage the OEMs have is that they have the money and clout to put silly little parts back into production. They can back someone to create the tooling or produce a run. And for many cars this is the missing link. Having to pay thousands of pounds for parts because non of the small restorers or owners can muster the might or take the risk to reproduce cloths or trim parts.
It would be great to see more manufacturers put key parts back into production as you can see what a great impact it has on then keeping vehicle values lower, fewer getting broken for parts and the vehicles being used more.
In addition, simple factory EV conversions would be great for taking a ghastly diesel version of something like the 205 and turning it into an interesting and fun city car. This article may be about the iconic 1.6 and 1.9 but there were bucket loads of awful diesels made that are prime for turning into something nice.
The key is for more manufacturers to start referring to this process as recycling and upcycling. They have to start using the modern parlance that simply switches the army of dimwits from despising a product and wanting its users lynched for their evilness to suddenly prostrating themselves at the users feet as a messiah.
Upcycled, cool EV runabouts without any of the flat screen utter b
ks that blight the £40k, 2 tonne, 10 year life cycle planet savers. And on the back of repurposing all those diesels and lesser 4 pots, we get to keep the models with the iconic engines. 
Everyone in Ireland knows these were the fastest vehicle on the roads by far back in the day, mainly due to superfluous reserves of torque, extreme light weight in van/sub-woofer form, and with the near compulsory GTI kit they were as close to a 205 CSL as you could get. Mapped 335d eat your heart out, these #woke/#L’Oreal/#virtuesignaling/#otherontrendphraseIdontyetknow hiplennials will lap them up as fast as Peugeot can resto-old them again
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