RE: PH Heroes: Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9
Discussion
BountyHunter said:
as for crashes - well i guess we will have to agree to disagree
but im old enough to have been around at the time and i well remember them being stacked regularly when inexperienced drivers bowled into a corner too quick so lifted and then ended up in ditch/lamp post/hedge etc etc
A good friend of mine got one for his 18th birthday and crashed it on the same day on near Whitley Bay seafront after he lost it cornering too quickly. Shame...but im old enough to have been around at the time and i well remember them being stacked regularly when inexperienced drivers bowled into a corner too quick so lifted and then ended up in ditch/lamp post/hedge etc etc
Edited by BountyHunter on Thursday 31st March 23:52
BountyHunter said:
dont even try an compare it with an ashtray gte, it just doesnt happen.
ive had 4 205's (1.9 and mi16) all great, all skittish in the wet. (the 309 was much better in this regard)
dont get me wrong theyre massively fun, but not a car you can relax when driving in the wet.
i also had an escort rs1600i (and access to a mk2 golf gti) at a time when i was running a 205 GTI 1.9 as my daily for a yr, and the 205 was easily the most fun. However when i was travelling after work on a friday from essex to worcestershire to visit my then girlfriend i often took the escort or borrowed the golf if rain was likely.
the reason for this is the back end was lively - which is great on a blast or track session, but not so good when your tired after a weeks work followed by a 2 - 3 hrs drive.
modern tyres do help - but fortunately still leave the tail somewhat mobile if you want, which is just what you desire for a good fwd track/b road weapon
as for crashes - well i guess we will have to agree to disagree
but im old enough to have been around at the time and i well remember them being stacked regularly when inexperienced drivers bowled into a corner too quick so lifted and then ended up in ditch/lamp post/hedge etc etc
xr3i was a lot more benign (not to mention sturdier) which led to it being both safer and less fun.
the main issue that XR/RS fords had was iirc theft.
gte 16v was a pile of sh*te with only 2 redeeming features - good seats and a great engine and shouldnt even be mentioned in the same breath as other 80's and early 90's hatches.
'turn it in' the 205 Gti was five had 4 205's (1.9 and mi16) all great, all skittish in the wet. (the 309 was much better in this regard)
dont get me wrong theyre massively fun, but not a car you can relax when driving in the wet.
i also had an escort rs1600i (and access to a mk2 golf gti) at a time when i was running a 205 GTI 1.9 as my daily for a yr, and the 205 was easily the most fun. However when i was travelling after work on a friday from essex to worcestershire to visit my then girlfriend i often took the escort or borrowed the golf if rain was likely.
the reason for this is the back end was lively - which is great on a blast or track session, but not so good when your tired after a weeks work followed by a 2 - 3 hrs drive.
modern tyres do help - but fortunately still leave the tail somewhat mobile if you want, which is just what you desire for a good fwd track/b road weapon
as for crashes - well i guess we will have to agree to disagree
but im old enough to have been around at the time and i well remember them being stacked regularly when inexperienced drivers bowled into a corner too quick so lifted and then ended up in ditch/lamp post/hedge etc etc
xr3i was a lot more benign (not to mention sturdier) which led to it being both safer and less fun.
the main issue that XR/RS fords had was iirc theft.
gte 16v was a pile of sh*te with only 2 redeeming features - good seats and a great engine and shouldnt even be mentioned in the same breath as other 80's and early 90's hatches.
Edited by BountyHunter on Thursday 31st March 23:52
kin great in the wet you great big nonce.geeteeaye said:
'turn it in' the 205 Gti was fkin great in the wet you great big nonce.
there always has to be one who lowers the tone and resorts to insults.kin great in the wet you great big nonce.look im not the only one who has commented on the skittish rear in this thread, nor others in the past on various other forums.
i have owned 4 of them (plus a 309 gti with mi16 fitted) so im well qualified to comment.
obviously we are both entitled to an opinion, but in my defence mine is the one thats been posted many many times by lots of different people over the years.
it does amuse me when people get too blinkered by a car and seemingly ignore its faults.
the 205 gti is a wonderful toy - but pls pls dont think its perfect - in fact the flaws are in a way what helps make it so great, to ignore them is to do both yourself and the car a disservice.
I've had a few gti's and loved every one...they feel alive on every journey. In fact an xs with it's twin choke carb was my first car.
Neighbour of mine has one with 332k miles and it's still in daily use and on it's original bottom end.
A mate has a truly immaculate 309 gti at the minute, elderly owner before him racked up 32k in 22 years!
Neighbour of mine has one with 332k miles and it's still in daily use and on it's original bottom end.
A mate has a truly immaculate 309 gti at the minute, elderly owner before him racked up 32k in 22 years!
BountyHunter said:
there always has to be one who lowers the tone and resorts to insults.
look im not the only one who has commented on the skittish rear in this thread, nor others in the past on various other forums.
i have owned 4 of them (plus a 309 gti with mi16 fitted) so im well qualified to comment.
obviously we are both entitled to an opinion, but in my defence mine is the one thats been posted many many times by lots of different people over the years.
it does amuse me when people get too blinkered by a car and seemingly ignore its faults.
the 205 gti is a wonderful toy - but pls pls dont think its perfect - in fact the flaws are in a way what helps make it so great, to ignore them is to do both yourself and the car a disservice.
Show me another quote that it was skittish in the wet.look im not the only one who has commented on the skittish rear in this thread, nor others in the past on various other forums.
i have owned 4 of them (plus a 309 gti with mi16 fitted) so im well qualified to comment.
obviously we are both entitled to an opinion, but in my defence mine is the one thats been posted many many times by lots of different people over the years.
it does amuse me when people get too blinkered by a car and seemingly ignore its faults.
the 205 gti is a wonderful toy - but pls pls dont think its perfect - in fact the flaws are in a way what helps make it so great, to ignore them is to do both yourself and the car a disservice.
There aren't any - so either you couldn't drive the car or you poorly modified it.
Edited by geeteeaye on Friday 1st April 00:57
irish boy said:
I've had a few gti's and loved every one...they feel alive on every journey. In fact an xs with it's twin choke carb was my first car.
Neighbour of mine has one with 332k miles and it's still in daily use and on it's original bottom end.
A mate has a truly immaculate 309 gti at the minute, elderly owner before him racked up 32k in 22 years!
he didnt get that of a old man lived on the sandown road in east belfast?Neighbour of mine has one with 332k miles and it's still in daily use and on it's original bottom end.
A mate has a truly immaculate 309 gti at the minute, elderly owner before him racked up 32k in 22 years!
Never found my 1.6 or 1.9 skittish in the wet. Lift off oversteer was there for the stupid to discover come rain or shine.
Loved reading the article as they really were cars that hated to be driven slowly and the razor sharp throttle just begged to used. Would love to drive one again.
Loved reading the article as they really were cars that hated to be driven slowly and the razor sharp throttle just begged to used. Would love to drive one again.
benn84 said:
ive just sold my 205 1.9 turbo technics - loved it, wont be the last 205 gti i will own im sure of it! in my opinion by far the best classic hot hatch!
What was the TT like? Looking in the classifieds there are a few for sale, but I always feel swayed away from them and I don't know why.Regarding being rich to buy one at a young age, mine cost me £2600 for an E-plate in 1998. Insurance was £1100 TPFT (I had just turned 18 with 1yr NCB).
However it was all paid for by me as I'd spent the previous summer holidays working 60hrs/wk in Tesco. Not very glamorous, but being in the upper 6th form with a 1.9 GTi when all my mates had 1.1L Fiestas was rather satisfying.
However it was all paid for by me as I'd spent the previous summer holidays working 60hrs/wk in Tesco. Not very glamorous, but being in the upper 6th form with a 1.9 GTi when all my mates had 1.1L Fiestas was rather satisfying.
TonyHetherington said:
benn84 said:
ive just sold my 205 1.9 turbo technics - loved it, wont be the last 205 gti i will own im sure of it! in my opinion by far the best classic hot hatch!
What was the TT like? Looking in the classifieds there are a few for sale, but I always feel swayed away from them and I don't know why.I thought it might be slightly faster than the tests showed though
Great article. Me and my friends spent our teenage years romping over the moors in a 1.1GL 205 which we thought was brilliant (and it was I guess!). Then one of us managed to get a 1.6Gti and another somehow sorted the insurance on the 1900 model as well.
These were both awesome cars - great to look at, poised and rapid. I favoured the German marques and opted for an 8v Gti which I loved but always hankered after the smart lines of the Pug. Having read this write up I think I may check the classifieds as well...
These were both awesome cars - great to look at, poised and rapid. I favoured the German marques and opted for an 8v Gti which I loved but always hankered after the smart lines of the Pug. Having read this write up I think I may check the classifieds as well...
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