205 1.9 GTi, Mk2 Golf GTi 16V or Megane RS?!
Discussion
Hi all - just looking for advice/experience from yis guys and girls. I'm sick of driving my van for work AND leisure - it's time for a bit of fun. I've a borderline fetish for e39's in their various guises, but I'd love something smaller with a bit of character and chuckability. The options are;
Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi. Great fun, great looks, shoddy build, character.
VW Golf GTi 16v. Great fun, not as great looks IMHO (hate the big front bumper), solid build, character.
Renault Megane Mk2 RS. Great fun, great looks, quick, probably cheapest, but does it have character?
That's a very simplified list and I'd really like some input from people with experience of any of the cars. I'm leaning toward the Megane as I don't have bags of money but I really love the classics. I'm saving for a Citroen DS but would like to scratch this hot-hatch itch first.
Any ideas?
Dom
Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi. Great fun, great looks, shoddy build, character.
VW Golf GTi 16v. Great fun, not as great looks IMHO (hate the big front bumper), solid build, character.
Renault Megane Mk2 RS. Great fun, great looks, quick, probably cheapest, but does it have character?
That's a very simplified list and I'd really like some input from people with experience of any of the cars. I'm leaning toward the Megane as I don't have bags of money but I really love the classics. I'm saving for a Citroen DS but would like to scratch this hot-hatch itch first.
Any ideas?
Dom
It's an interesting list you've drawn up....
I'll highlight an area that is rarely addressed when comparing old vs new(ish) - Safety!
Take the 205 as a starter for 10. The body is made from old crisp packets and if crashed or crashed into by, say a modern suv, I'd hate to think of the outcome for the poor pug. But they are great handling little rascals.
The golf is much higher up on the safety scale but you mention build quality as a plus. I'd disagree. If it was an E30 BMW, sure. Great build quality n those but a mk2 golf.... hmmmm, not convinced. The golf is also woefully underpowered by modern standards.
Personally, out of that lot I'd go megane.The renaultsport guys know their stuff.
I'll highlight an area that is rarely addressed when comparing old vs new(ish) - Safety!
Take the 205 as a starter for 10. The body is made from old crisp packets and if crashed or crashed into by, say a modern suv, I'd hate to think of the outcome for the poor pug. But they are great handling little rascals.
The golf is much higher up on the safety scale but you mention build quality as a plus. I'd disagree. If it was an E30 BMW, sure. Great build quality n those but a mk2 golf.... hmmmm, not convinced. The golf is also woefully underpowered by modern standards.
Personally, out of that lot I'd go megane.The renaultsport guys know their stuff.
Do you need the praticality of a hatch? If not how about a MK3 MR2 6 speed or dare I say it an MX5.
Don't go for the cliche poor 205 build and awesome Golf build. I'd actually say at their age the Pug is preferable due to ease of working on and the body being very well galvanized. Although at age you obviously buy on condition anyway.
Don't go for the cliche poor 205 build and awesome Golf build. I'd actually say at their age the Pug is preferable due to ease of working on and the body being very well galvanized. Although at age you obviously buy on condition anyway.
I've had the pug and the golf, and absolutley loved them both. Granted they arent fast by todays standards, but you get the impression with both that they were built to be fun to drive, theres no electronics no piped in noise, its a much more raw experience. If i had to choose between them it would be hard, would probably go for another 205 but i cant quite explain why
ClockworkDog said:
Hot hatches tend not to be RWD, tho. (Are there any? New twingo?) I've had 4 e39's (2 of them 540's) but want something light and tight! (Don't we all). Safety is a good point, tho. I wouldn't fancy my chances in a crash in the 205
If you've got 205GTi money, get a 325ti, Quaife diff fitted , 205s all round, 3k all in RWD hatch, Journo reports at the time said the best-handling, most fun E46 bar an M-car.
Fast as a Clio 182 in a straight line, nearly as quiick as an EP3 CTR at Anglesey
Probably safer than a 205 1.9 in a crash but I've not tried
blade7 said:
s m said:
If you've got 205GTi money, get a 325ti, Quaife diff fitted , 205s all round, 3k all in
If there are any left for sensible money I'd rather have an E36 328 Sport.A bit newer in terms of rust as well
DoubleTime said:
blade7 said:
Every time I read how great the 205 gti was I remember the one that ended up on it's roof trying to keep up with me in a mk11 Escort RS2000.
Aye, best commit to the corner at pace regardless. Or maybe just a s
t driver? DoubleTime said:
The golf is also woefully underpowered by modern standards.
You know this is nonsense, don't you?139 bhp in something weighing a smidge over 1100 kg gives a very respectable bhp / tonne figure and an 8sec 0-60 time (if that's what floats your boat). Even the 8v doesn't feel slow. Yes, it lacks the mid-range shove of today's turbo'd engines, but to dismiss it as "woefully underpowered by modern standards" is just silly.
OP - any of those three cars would be a blast. Drive a few and see which you prefer.
blade7 said:
Maybe, but don't 205's have particularly nasty lift off oversteer ?
Not really no. If you are gormless enough to chop the throttle mid corner and aren't ready for the cars reaction you deserve all you get.I never had anthing more than a useful tightening of the line in mine.
trickywoo said:
blade7 said:
Maybe, but don't 205's have particularly nasty lift off oversteer ?
Not really no. If you are gormless enough to chop the throttle mid corner and aren't ready for the cars reaction you deserve all you get.I never had anthing more than a useful tightening of the line in mine.
Gruber said:
You know this is nonsense, don't you?
139 bhp in something weighing a smidge over 1100 kg gives a very respectable bhp / tonne figure and an 8sec 0-60 time (if that's what floats your boat). Even the 8v doesn't feel slow. Yes, it lacks the mid-range shove of today's turbo'd engines, but to dismiss it as "woefully underpowered by modern standards" is just silly.
OP - any of those three cars would be a blast. Drive a few and see which you prefer.
Now now Hans. I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself there... 139 bhp in something weighing a smidge over 1100 kg gives a very respectable bhp / tonne figure and an 8sec 0-60 time (if that's what floats your boat). Even the 8v doesn't feel slow. Yes, it lacks the mid-range shove of today's turbo'd engines, but to dismiss it as "woefully underpowered by modern standards" is just silly.
OP - any of those three cars would be a blast. Drive a few and see which you prefer.
I owned and enjoyed a mk1 golf gti 1.8 for several years. My hot hatch now is a 172 cup of renault flavour. It's night and day difference.
Like I say, woefully underpowered by [b]modern[/] standards. To argue the point is quite frankly, a bit silly.
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