205 GTi 1.9 vs. 106 Rallye
Discussion
I owned a laser green 205 GTi 1.6 back in 2002/2003 which is probably my favourite car to drive that I have ever owned. I loved how responsive and alive it felt and despite being very basic (no PAS or electric windows) everything that mattered was spot on (good visibility, slick gearchange, good driving position etc). It was even fairly economical to run. I would probably still have it today if I hadn't of written it off!
My dream car as a kid was always a 1.9 GTi. I thought about chopping in my 1.6 for a 1.9 after a year but the one that I looked at was older and I wasn't so keen on the colour. It didn't feel much faster than my 1.6 TBH but after writing off my car, I always promised myself a 1.9 GTi one day. Now maybe that day is now. I only have a 6 mile rural commute to work so don't need diesel economy.
However, I appreciate that even the youngest 1.9s are going to be 20 years old now, so will I be disappointed? I've always been a 205 man rather than a 106 man (+ the 106/Saxo crowd tend to be a bit chavvy) but I received the latest copy of evo last week and saw the Series 2 106 Rallye buying guide. I never really liked the white wheels and decals at the time but now I think I get it. Lighter, stiffer and no unecessary gadgets to get in the way of the driving experience. I've always found the driving position in 106s a bit offset compared to 205s but they are more modern, the heater is probably better than the 205 (mine was crap)and arguably they're even more exclusive than a 1.9 GTi (which I like). However, 103bhp doesn't seem like much (even my 1.6 205 had 115bhp if I remember rightly) and is a 15 year old Peugeot really any more reliable or easier to live with as a DD than a 20 year old Peugeot?
Any driving opinions, ownership experiences would be welcome. What problems do the 106 Rallyes suffer from (I can't find much information about them)? Do they offer anything above a 106 GTi? Are they better than a tidy 1.9 GTi?
My dream car as a kid was always a 1.9 GTi. I thought about chopping in my 1.6 for a 1.9 after a year but the one that I looked at was older and I wasn't so keen on the colour. It didn't feel much faster than my 1.6 TBH but after writing off my car, I always promised myself a 1.9 GTi one day. Now maybe that day is now. I only have a 6 mile rural commute to work so don't need diesel economy.
However, I appreciate that even the youngest 1.9s are going to be 20 years old now, so will I be disappointed? I've always been a 205 man rather than a 106 man (+ the 106/Saxo crowd tend to be a bit chavvy) but I received the latest copy of evo last week and saw the Series 2 106 Rallye buying guide. I never really liked the white wheels and decals at the time but now I think I get it. Lighter, stiffer and no unecessary gadgets to get in the way of the driving experience. I've always found the driving position in 106s a bit offset compared to 205s but they are more modern, the heater is probably better than the 205 (mine was crap)and arguably they're even more exclusive than a 1.9 GTi (which I like). However, 103bhp doesn't seem like much (even my 1.6 205 had 115bhp if I remember rightly) and is a 15 year old Peugeot really any more reliable or easier to live with as a DD than a 20 year old Peugeot?
Any driving opinions, ownership experiences would be welcome. What problems do the 106 Rallyes suffer from (I can't find much information about them)? Do they offer anything above a 106 GTi? Are they better than a tidy 1.9 GTi?
veevee said:
In standard rallye fashion they offer less than the 106 GTI. Plus are slower IIRC? 8v engine? I'd get a 205, will hold it's value better.
I guess it's the Peugeot equivalent to a Saxo VTR then but rarer and way cooler. I don't have large feet but the pedals may take some getting used to. I'm used to driving modern cars and haven't driven anything with that kind of pedal offset since my first car (a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting) 15 years ago!personally I would go for the rallye (but I am bias)
have a look at this (and the site in general)
http://www.106rallyeforum.com/forum2008/index.php?...
have a look at this (and the site in general)
http://www.106rallyeforum.com/forum2008/index.php?...
veevee said:
In standard rallye fashion they offer less than the 106 GTI. Plus are slower IIRC? 8v engine? I'd get a 205, will hold it's value better.
Performance Car mag timed a S2 Rallye at 8.8 and 28.5 for the 60/100 benchmarks.Autocar's timings were 8.5/25.6 - A 1.9 205 Gti or 106 Gti will be quicker.I had the Saxo VTS ( similar to 106 Gti ), have size 10 feet and honestly never had a problem with the pedals. Driven a few 205s, owned a 309 ....but I'd probably go for a 106GTi/VTS out of your choices.
Get yourself some drives in all the candidates
Edited by s m on Sunday 20th May 19:59
screwloose said:
If you want more power seek out a well converted MI16 engined one. The engine they should have fitted in them from the factory!
Gutmann used to do such a conversion.Performance Car tested one at 60 in 6.8 and 100 in 17.8 - straight line performance to match an E36 328i.
It went on to 134mph - over 10mph more than a standard 1.9 achieved with Autocar
screwloose said:
Why a 1.9 only? Don't discount the 1.6. More rev happy and very little in it when peddled hard.
Buy on condition.
If you want more power seek out a well converted MI16 engined one. The engine they should have fitted in them from the factory!
I've already owned a 1.6. Always promised myself a 1.9 next time but as I said in the OP, I drove one briefly and it didn't feel much quicker.Buy on condition.
If you want more power seek out a well converted MI16 engined one. The engine they should have fitted in them from the factory!
I've had a couple of each 1.6 & 1.9 GTis over the years. I've always prefered the 1.6s, I prefer the rev-happy engines with the lower gearbox ratios and the handling which I reckon is a bit more adjustable (the 1.6 has wider front track and narrower rear than the 1.9). The 1.9 is a cracking car though, but as with most things of this age it pays just to get the best you can find rather than holding out for your ideal spec.
The Mi16 conversion is fine unless you enjoy going round corners; they suffer really badly from oil starvation which at best will wind you up with the pressure guage flapping about every time you point it at a corner and at worst will destroy the engine.
I've also had a 106 Rallye (1.3), albeit a bit modified as it was a tarmac rally car. It was astonishingly quick for what it was, but I never got on with it. I've got size 13 feet but that was never a problem (maybe because I only ever drove it wearing racing boots) but I massively prefered the handling of the 205 road car I had at the same time and the non-PAS steering was ridiculously long winded. The 106s are pretty fragile too; the gearboxes are made of cheese, I lost count of the number of rebuilds it had.
The Mi16 conversion is fine unless you enjoy going round corners; they suffer really badly from oil starvation which at best will wind you up with the pressure guage flapping about every time you point it at a corner and at worst will destroy the engine.
I've also had a 106 Rallye (1.3), albeit a bit modified as it was a tarmac rally car. It was astonishingly quick for what it was, but I never got on with it. I've got size 13 feet but that was never a problem (maybe because I only ever drove it wearing racing boots) but I massively prefered the handling of the 205 road car I had at the same time and the non-PAS steering was ridiculously long winded. The 106s are pretty fragile too; the gearboxes are made of cheese, I lost count of the number of rebuilds it had.
Galveston said:
The Mi16 conversion is fine unless you enjoy going round corners; they suffer really badly from oil starvation which at best will wind you up with the pressure guage flapping about every time you point it at a corner and at worst will destroy the engine.
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