Peugeot 206 GTi (138)
Discussion
12 months on, I thought I would do a bit more of an update....
Now that I have finally finished with being a skint student, and fallen on my feet in Bristol I faced the dilemma that all of us are tormented by after a few years of ownership of the same motor. Get rid of and upgrade, or make the best of what you have, I have chose the latter
So I thought I would fix a few of the well know problems, and modify it enough to cope with the occasional outing on track whilst remaining tidy enough be my P and J.
First of the jobs were to replace the pathetic rattling OEM exhaust manifold with a stainless steel 4-1 manifold.
Then I added K and N panel filter (the above two mods added £58 to my insurance policy!)the engine now runs very smooth and is nice and torquey around town, so well worth the outlay IMO, not to mention the much improved sound.
I then booked a track day at Llandow, and my memory of near catastrophic brake fade heading into druids at Oulton Park prompted the following purchases!: Ezibleed brake bleed kit, DOT 4.1 Castrol Brake Fluid, front yellowstuff pads and brembo front disks. A lot of cursing, and rounded bleed nipple bolts later the fluid was changed a long with the pads.
And then changed my Avon ZZ3s for a set of Yokohmama AD08s, just for fun...
They are brilliant. Have transformed the car and give real kidney damaging grip! Cope with the wet much better than most would have you believe also. My only real complaint is they blister too quickly.
They allowed me to run around 10mph per corner faster than my mate in his Golf MK 4 GTi 150 at a typically wet Llandow!
And despite the modest 140bhp, I was able cruise quite a few phase 1 Clio 172s.
Overall I am still smitten with what is a very underrated and undervalued hatch. The driving position and seats are awful for long journeys and my back. But it easily returns 35mpg on a long run and 26 around town. The tractable nature of the engine and torque delivery means its feels almost as quick to be driven at 6/10ths as it is 10/10ths, if that makes sense.
My only other plans are for a wheel refub and trip to CatCams, which should bring it to just over 150bhp and 160lbft (more torque than a GTi 180
)
The following was first posted in January 2012:
Have run one of these for 18 months and nearly 20k now so I thought I'd give some feedback on an often overlooked motor. The motoring press slated this when it first appeared in 1999 with Autocar saying somthing like "competent but lacking the interaction of the old 205". Having never driven the 205 Gti, (try reading a review of an Gti Pug without it mentioning how it doesn’t live up to the 205 gti 1.9 in term of driving thrill) I cannot comment if I agree with this, however the old 1.9 GTi was recently voted the greatest hot hatch ever (Autocar 2010) so the newer GTi's have a lot and arguably too much to live up to.
Anyway, for anyone looking to get out of the car they learned in that is under the age of 21 and has just about managed to build up enough no claim bonus I think one of these fits the bill nicely. What people often forget is that for the young chaps buying these second hand nowadays is that in is the real clincher. The Pug is group 14, whilst the (more expensive) R52 Mini Cooper S is group 15 and the Clio 172 is group 16. Meaning that for the 20 yo lad that I was last year I was uninsurable on all but the Pug. I pay around £900 now full comp with direct line, (no flux advertising here). When I was looking, it was between a Saxo Vts and 106 Gti and this, I didn't fit in the saxo/106 shape especially when they put a sunroof in and I'm only 6'2 so had to go for the 206.
Mine has a decent amount of kit for a nearly 11 year old car, Climate control, ABS, Auto Wipers, Xenons, nice Alcantara trim on the door cards and glove box, Full leather seats, Trip Computer, and 16' Alloys. You really don't need traction control in fwd cars in my opinion anyone who knows what they are doing instinctively gets on the gas and gets themselves out of trouble.
Behind the wheel the driving position takes some getting used to and the pedals are far too small and close together, making for challenging heel and toe changes in size 11's. Performance is quoted at 8.0secs to 60, 22.0 secs to 100. It weighs in at 1100kgs and produces 138bhp at 6000rmp, and 140lbft of torque at 4000rpm. I am rarely left wanting for more power in normal driving so long as it's just me in the car. The car came as standard on 205/45/16 Goodyear Eagle F1's an excellent tyre that won Autocar's tyre of the year 2007 award, and mine is still on them, however will be changing to Avon ZZ3's soon.
I took it to Oulton Park last year where it’s more impressive than it is on a bumpy B road. Understeer is in abundance out of lower speed corners, However at higher speed 80-90mph cornering it is flat and superbly balanced, the steering is indirect about the dead ahead but has great weighting and is full of feedback once 45 degrees of lock is on. There is a definite amount of throttle adaptability for fun out of roundabouts and she responds well to a good flick. The ride and damping is well judged although the tail is easily unsettles by mid corner bumps.
I think that's about it. Look forward to people telling me that they're all a load of crap and their 172 will run rings around it! (I'm sure it will). They seem to go for around 2k nowadays and I picked mine up for 2.5k last year with 21k on the clock. So if group 14 is your limit for insurance, go for a spin in one of these! Although I’d find a post 01 face-lift model with better alloys and better damping.
Now that I have finally finished with being a skint student, and fallen on my feet in Bristol I faced the dilemma that all of us are tormented by after a few years of ownership of the same motor. Get rid of and upgrade, or make the best of what you have, I have chose the latter
So I thought I would fix a few of the well know problems, and modify it enough to cope with the occasional outing on track whilst remaining tidy enough be my P and J.First of the jobs were to replace the pathetic rattling OEM exhaust manifold with a stainless steel 4-1 manifold.
Then I added K and N panel filter (the above two mods added £58 to my insurance policy!)the engine now runs very smooth and is nice and torquey around town, so well worth the outlay IMO, not to mention the much improved sound.
I then booked a track day at Llandow, and my memory of near catastrophic brake fade heading into druids at Oulton Park prompted the following purchases!: Ezibleed brake bleed kit, DOT 4.1 Castrol Brake Fluid, front yellowstuff pads and brembo front disks. A lot of cursing, and rounded bleed nipple bolts later the fluid was changed a long with the pads.
And then changed my Avon ZZ3s for a set of Yokohmama AD08s, just for fun...
They are brilliant. Have transformed the car and give real kidney damaging grip! Cope with the wet much better than most would have you believe also. My only real complaint is they blister too quickly.
They allowed me to run around 10mph per corner faster than my mate in his Golf MK 4 GTi 150 at a typically wet Llandow!
And despite the modest 140bhp, I was able cruise quite a few phase 1 Clio 172s.
Overall I am still smitten with what is a very underrated and undervalued hatch. The driving position and seats are awful for long journeys and my back. But it easily returns 35mpg on a long run and 26 around town. The tractable nature of the engine and torque delivery means its feels almost as quick to be driven at 6/10ths as it is 10/10ths, if that makes sense.
My only other plans are for a wheel refub and trip to CatCams, which should bring it to just over 150bhp and 160lbft (more torque than a GTi 180
)The following was first posted in January 2012:
Have run one of these for 18 months and nearly 20k now so I thought I'd give some feedback on an often overlooked motor. The motoring press slated this when it first appeared in 1999 with Autocar saying somthing like "competent but lacking the interaction of the old 205". Having never driven the 205 Gti, (try reading a review of an Gti Pug without it mentioning how it doesn’t live up to the 205 gti 1.9 in term of driving thrill) I cannot comment if I agree with this, however the old 1.9 GTi was recently voted the greatest hot hatch ever (Autocar 2010) so the newer GTi's have a lot and arguably too much to live up to.
Anyway, for anyone looking to get out of the car they learned in that is under the age of 21 and has just about managed to build up enough no claim bonus I think one of these fits the bill nicely. What people often forget is that for the young chaps buying these second hand nowadays is that in is the real clincher. The Pug is group 14, whilst the (more expensive) R52 Mini Cooper S is group 15 and the Clio 172 is group 16. Meaning that for the 20 yo lad that I was last year I was uninsurable on all but the Pug. I pay around £900 now full comp with direct line, (no flux advertising here). When I was looking, it was between a Saxo Vts and 106 Gti and this, I didn't fit in the saxo/106 shape especially when they put a sunroof in and I'm only 6'2 so had to go for the 206.
Mine has a decent amount of kit for a nearly 11 year old car, Climate control, ABS, Auto Wipers, Xenons, nice Alcantara trim on the door cards and glove box, Full leather seats, Trip Computer, and 16' Alloys. You really don't need traction control in fwd cars in my opinion anyone who knows what they are doing instinctively gets on the gas and gets themselves out of trouble.
Behind the wheel the driving position takes some getting used to and the pedals are far too small and close together, making for challenging heel and toe changes in size 11's. Performance is quoted at 8.0secs to 60, 22.0 secs to 100. It weighs in at 1100kgs and produces 138bhp at 6000rmp, and 140lbft of torque at 4000rpm. I am rarely left wanting for more power in normal driving so long as it's just me in the car. The car came as standard on 205/45/16 Goodyear Eagle F1's an excellent tyre that won Autocar's tyre of the year 2007 award, and mine is still on them, however will be changing to Avon ZZ3's soon.
I took it to Oulton Park last year where it’s more impressive than it is on a bumpy B road. Understeer is in abundance out of lower speed corners, However at higher speed 80-90mph cornering it is flat and superbly balanced, the steering is indirect about the dead ahead but has great weighting and is full of feedback once 45 degrees of lock is on. There is a definite amount of throttle adaptability for fun out of roundabouts and she responds well to a good flick. The ride and damping is well judged although the tail is easily unsettles by mid corner bumps.
I think that's about it. Look forward to people telling me that they're all a load of crap and their 172 will run rings around it! (I'm sure it will). They seem to go for around 2k nowadays and I picked mine up for 2.5k last year with 21k on the clock. So if group 14 is your limit for insurance, go for a spin in one of these! Although I’d find a post 01 face-lift model with better alloys and better damping.
Edited by GTiFrank on Sunday 6th January 21:09
I used to test drive these for Peugeot when they were new.
They look cool.
I like the interior.
They're fast enough.
I used to enjoy driving my 205 XS more when I finished work.
Hated the offset steering/pedals.
Problem was, Peugeot had set the bar so high - the 205 GTi was phenomenally good, as were cars like the 306 Rallye and various hot 106s.
I went for the latter - it's more amusing to drive - but there's no doubt that the 206 is a bargain.
Either way, they're definitely not s
t cars. Hope you enjoy it, looks nice.
They look cool.
I like the interior.
They're fast enough.
I used to enjoy driving my 205 XS more when I finished work.
Hated the offset steering/pedals.
Problem was, Peugeot had set the bar so high - the 205 GTi was phenomenally good, as were cars like the 306 Rallye and various hot 106s.
I went for the latter - it's more amusing to drive - but there's no doubt that the 206 is a bargain.
Either way, they're definitely not s
t cars. Hope you enjoy it, looks nice. Ive tried a few different tyres on a similarly weighted similar performance hatch. Best ive had so far are the Yokohama Spec 2 Parada. Wear rate really isnt an issue (well hasnt been for me), the wet handling is actually very good(not as good as some but the feedback near the limit is better and more progressive).
Give them some consideration. I did contemplate the 180 before I bought my car.
Give them some consideration. I did contemplate the 180 before I bought my car.
Looks like a nice example, but it doesn't have Xenons. Well not factory fit anyway.
My dad had one a couple of years back and I agree with everything you said, it just seemed to lack a bit low down the rev range. Handling was great though.
Can I recommend fitting a facelift bumper grills and rear lights? Changes the look quite a bit I think..
My dad had one a couple of years back and I agree with everything you said, it just seemed to lack a bit low down the rev range. Handling was great though.
Can I recommend fitting a facelift bumper grills and rear lights? Changes the look quite a bit I think..
rb5er said:
Looks a nice car, I have driven loads when they first came out as i worked at a car superstore, they just dont shine in the handling department, not driven a 180 though.
I would seriously reconsider buying avon zz3's. They are useless.
What was your problem with the avon zz3? I have heard very mixed reviews but all who have put them on lower powered light hatches seem not to have a problem. I just replaced a front driver side with one today as same tread pattern as the Goodyear and they have discontinued making them now. I would seriously reconsider buying avon zz3's. They are useless.
Edited by rb5er on Tuesday 3rd January 19:08
Max M4X WW said:
Looks like a nice example, but it doesn't have Xenons. Well not factory fit anyway.
My dad had one a couple of years back and I agree with everything you said, it just seemed to lack a bit low down the rev range. Handling was great though.
Can I recommend fitting a facelift bumper grills and rear lights? Changes the look quite a bit I think..
I disagree most of the torque comes in at 1900rpm so it is easy to drive quickly like you would a diesel. I can just about tell the difference with the front bumper i think. And the rears lights do look good. I think that model has a nicer steering wheel also. Very tidy example by the looks of it but a good 3-4 years younger I think? My dad had one a couple of years back and I agree with everything you said, it just seemed to lack a bit low down the rev range. Handling was great though.
Can I recommend fitting a facelift bumper grills and rear lights? Changes the look quite a bit I think..
pthelazyjourno said:
I used to test drive these for Peugeot when they were new.
They look cool.
I like the interior.
They're fast enough.
I used to enjoy driving my 205 XS more when I finished work.
Hated the offset steering/pedals.
Problem was, Peugeot had set the bar so high - the 205 GTi was phenomenally good, as were cars like the 306 Rallye and various hot 106s.
I went for the latter - it's more amusing to drive - but there's no doubt that the 206 is a bargain.
Either way, they're definitely not st cars. Hope you enjoy it, looks nice.
Nice 106 that a GTi? I know the 1.3 rallye is a riot with only 100hp. Tbf I would have gone for a 106/Saxo over the 206 because of the better reviews if only there was an inch more headroom!They look cool.
I like the interior.
They're fast enough.
I used to enjoy driving my 205 XS more when I finished work.
Hated the offset steering/pedals.
Problem was, Peugeot had set the bar so high - the 205 GTi was phenomenally good, as were cars like the 306 Rallye and various hot 106s.
I went for the latter - it's more amusing to drive - but there's no doubt that the 206 is a bargain.
Either way, they're definitely not s
t cars. Hope you enjoy it, looks nice. The zz3's i had on a mk5 fiesta zetec-s, they took ages to wear but they did not offer much grip in wet or dry conditions, i think they are made from quite a hard compound. A friend bought a set of 4 for his 330ci and was quite disappointed too.
I replaced them with falken 452's which were much better but not as hard wearing. But in that price range i prefer the toyo t1r to anything else i have tried, although apparently they are not very well suited to heavier cars.
I replaced them with falken 452's which were much better but not as hard wearing. But in that price range i prefer the toyo t1r to anything else i have tried, although apparently they are not very well suited to heavier cars.
Edited by rb5er on Tuesday 3rd January 19:42
I have a Moodstone Blue that I use for work and to keep the miles off the VXR. I also wanted a VTS/106 Gti but this was local and came with a load of history, also had Goodyear F1's and has uprated suspension. Makes the morning drive down the back roads of Cumbria slightly more intresting.
I had a few of these french hot hatches
- 106 Rallye Series 2
- 206 GTi
- 182 FF
I used the 206 GTi as a commuter car in my final year of University it saw well and i would say it was highly reliable more so than the 182 i had after - i did the oil and filters every 5k and gave it a good blast up and down the A3 everyday and it served me well. Only ever changed the thermostat, pads and the radiator when a stone hit it and the exhaust. Get a genuine exhaust not one of the pattern part ones they just dont work well with the 206 at all. I had 4 replaced after they totally blew through or started banging and popping before getting to a very high level within a fast fit company who finally agreed to replace the entire system with a Genuine Peugeot item FOC. (Bit of a result really)
I fettled with other hot hatches and was impressed to see this when it was fully stretch to be a good car. The doors are a bit soft and prone to the shopping dings but other than that i really enjoyed it.
I only had to let go when some tt from a Taxi Company near Ascot decided to accelerate into the side of me as he pulled out of a side road whilst stationary at a Zebra crossing but that said - If one came up again i'd have it for a bit of fun - i went for a change after that and got a Clio 182 different cars equally fun.
- 106 Rallye Series 2
- 206 GTi
- 182 FF
I used the 206 GTi as a commuter car in my final year of University it saw well and i would say it was highly reliable more so than the 182 i had after - i did the oil and filters every 5k and gave it a good blast up and down the A3 everyday and it served me well. Only ever changed the thermostat, pads and the radiator when a stone hit it and the exhaust. Get a genuine exhaust not one of the pattern part ones they just dont work well with the 206 at all. I had 4 replaced after they totally blew through or started banging and popping before getting to a very high level within a fast fit company who finally agreed to replace the entire system with a Genuine Peugeot item FOC. (Bit of a result really)
I fettled with other hot hatches and was impressed to see this when it was fully stretch to be a good car. The doors are a bit soft and prone to the shopping dings but other than that i really enjoyed it.
I only had to let go when some t
t from a Taxi Company near Ascot decided to accelerate into the side of me as he pulled out of a side road whilst stationary at a Zebra crossing but that said - If one came up again i'd have it for a bit of fun - i went for a change after that and got a Clio 182 different cars equally fun.frankthetank2 said:
Very tidy example by the looks of it but a good 3-4 years younger I think?
It was a 52 plate but the only difference between it and the earlier ones was the rear mounted ariel I think? I fitted the grille and lights. The later cars that come with those lights and grille are fully colour coded.chris80 said:
I have a Moodstone Blue that I use for work and to keep the miles off the VXR. I also wanted a VTS/106 Gti but this was local and came with a load of history, also had Goodyear F1's and has uprated suspension. Makes the morning drive down the back roads of Cumbria slightly more intresting.
Lucky bd commuting in somewhere as beautiful as Cumbria frankthetank2 said:
Nice 106 that a GTi? I know the 1.3 rallye is a riot with only 100hp. Tbf I would have gone for a 106/Saxo over the 206 because of the better reviews if only there was an inch more headroom!
Yeah, tis a GTi. They're fun little cars, surprising amount of front-end grip. I'm quite fortunate - at 5ft 8 I don't struggle to fit in any cars!!!
Still, more toys in the 206, and you can't knock it for value for money.
I've owned a 106 GTi, 206 GTi and now a 206 DTurbo for long commute purposes. I hear what you're saying, in long, sweeping bends they are composed and mid-corner bumps are dealt with easily. For me though the understeer and scrabbling on tight bends/roundabouts etc is so frustrating it takes some of the fun out of it, and this is why I think the mags/press etc say its nowhere near the standard of 306/205s etc, because it isn't. My 106 was brilliant because you could grab it by the scruff of the neck, throw it into bends at ridiculous speeds and balance it all, can't say the same for my 206.
Even the 180s are a bit of a bargain now though, I'm sure I've seen them at about 2.5K on the 'bay.
Edited to add a 106GTi is group 13
Even the 180s are a bit of a bargain now though, I'm sure I've seen them at about 2.5K on the 'bay.
Edited to add a 106GTi is group 13
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