1991 Peugeot 309 Gti
Discussion
So well for quite some time now I’ve been into French hot hatches, mainly Peugeot 205 so to speak. Heres one my own from a show on saturday
I then had a 306 Rallye only drove it for around 4 months and then a clio cup which to be honest I did nothing with. So I decided to sell these, they felt too fresh and they went to new homes.
A few years ago I had often thought about buying a 309 gti, as mainly people know they are the ugly ducking of that era and live somewhat in the shadow of the 205 gti.
I had a a few chances maybe 2/3 years ago but didn’t follow through. Recently after selling a few 205s and the others as mentioned I set upon getting a 309. There had been a few in England at 7k recently so it might have been a missed boat case here. After searching the internet for weeks on End, private messaging owners my eyes had well and truly burnt out of my end and I contemplated giving up.
I remembered on ‘northern retros’ I had seen a post about an IIL Reg silver one a few years ago, so after another few days I had a name and number. Gave them a call to find out they had sold it and had no details of the new keeper. She had told me it was bought by her family from New and had traded hands with a few members.
So, back to the drawing board.
Once again I joined a NI facebook newtonards/ portavogie buy sell it page and posted this photo (awful quality could barely make out the plate) of the rear end of the 309 someone had taken at a junction.
A few days and once again I had a name, found her on Facebook and yes a message or 2 and it was her husbands. To be honest I was feeling somewhat sad for going to that effort over an old piece of French junk that would have been scrapped years ago. Phoned up the husband and he had said he thought about selling but then probably wouldn’t now to my disappointment. Few days later I just asked one last time if he’d sell it and he gave me a rough idea on price which was more than I expected but not the worst.
Anyhow this morning I went and seen it, heard the story behind it and how he had put it back on the road etc
Took it a spin, happy enough bar a slipping clutch (handy bartering tool). Back at his he hmmmm’d and haaaa’d for a good 15mins after the offer and to be honest I thought it was off but he came up trumps and with a pet lip he had the keys handed over.
Anyhow it’s home now and in my possession, I gave it a quick clean and popped it in. It’s on 80k and in nice original condition. It has its 27 year old blemishes also but I’m very happy with it. It’s not every day you see one
on route home shot
it was minging inside, he had 2 dogs and cats that must have been on day trips as the hairs was something shocking, not sure it had ever seen a hoover.
anyway i got it home and after a quick wash and dry it was looking a tad better. still needs a good polishing/ wax which i will later tonight. interior is a tad cleaner now also!
so today the mission is
1. purchase a new clutch this one is slipping so may aswell
2. driving lamps & fog lamps SIM probably
3. source a new exhaust, i think this is the original and its very tired.
I then had a 306 Rallye only drove it for around 4 months and then a clio cup which to be honest I did nothing with. So I decided to sell these, they felt too fresh and they went to new homes.
A few years ago I had often thought about buying a 309 gti, as mainly people know they are the ugly ducking of that era and live somewhat in the shadow of the 205 gti.
I had a a few chances maybe 2/3 years ago but didn’t follow through. Recently after selling a few 205s and the others as mentioned I set upon getting a 309. There had been a few in England at 7k recently so it might have been a missed boat case here. After searching the internet for weeks on End, private messaging owners my eyes had well and truly burnt out of my end and I contemplated giving up.
I remembered on ‘northern retros’ I had seen a post about an IIL Reg silver one a few years ago, so after another few days I had a name and number. Gave them a call to find out they had sold it and had no details of the new keeper. She had told me it was bought by her family from New and had traded hands with a few members.
So, back to the drawing board.
Once again I joined a NI facebook newtonards/ portavogie buy sell it page and posted this photo (awful quality could barely make out the plate) of the rear end of the 309 someone had taken at a junction.
A few days and once again I had a name, found her on Facebook and yes a message or 2 and it was her husbands. To be honest I was feeling somewhat sad for going to that effort over an old piece of French junk that would have been scrapped years ago. Phoned up the husband and he had said he thought about selling but then probably wouldn’t now to my disappointment. Few days later I just asked one last time if he’d sell it and he gave me a rough idea on price which was more than I expected but not the worst.
Anyhow this morning I went and seen it, heard the story behind it and how he had put it back on the road etc
Took it a spin, happy enough bar a slipping clutch (handy bartering tool). Back at his he hmmmm’d and haaaa’d for a good 15mins after the offer and to be honest I thought it was off but he came up trumps and with a pet lip he had the keys handed over.
Anyhow it’s home now and in my possession, I gave it a quick clean and popped it in. It’s on 80k and in nice original condition. It has its 27 year old blemishes also but I’m very happy with it. It’s not every day you see one
on route home shot
it was minging inside, he had 2 dogs and cats that must have been on day trips as the hairs was something shocking, not sure it had ever seen a hoover.
anyway i got it home and after a quick wash and dry it was looking a tad better. still needs a good polishing/ wax which i will later tonight. interior is a tad cleaner now also!
so today the mission is
1. purchase a new clutch this one is slipping so may aswell
2. driving lamps & fog lamps SIM probably
3. source a new exhaust, i think this is the original and its very tired.
dibblecorse said:
That looks like a cracking car and a real 'find' .. even better all the black trim with red inlays looks great as thats a b
h to source .....
yeah believe me i had some background work to do to find this one from a photo.h to source .....it seems to be in decent condition, the car as a whole is good. its not restored or tarted which is nice.
Ruskie said:
Love that and it must be a very rare sight today. I personally have a soft spot for the 405 MI16.
Edited to add there are only 6 405 MI16 listed as being left!
78 309 GTI’s left though.
indeed the 405s are nice but i could never warm to them, here in NI they had a diesel cult following with cut springs, 3nicks at the beam lowering technique and an allen key at the pump lolEdited to add there are only 6 405 MI16 listed as being left!
78 309 GTI’s left though.
Edited by Ruskie on Monday 18th June 13:30
Bowlers said:
Cracking find, really suits it in silver! Genuinely can't think when I last saw one?
I used to see a red 309 GTi every morning back in my early school days, a parent would drop his kids off in it. Lovely thing.
couldnt have been many silver.I used to see a red 309 GTi every morning back in my early school days, a parent would drop his kids off in it. Lovely thing.
yeah especially here in NI i havent seen one (apart from a mates goodwood) on the road.
Ciaran-9el5x said:
Mike1990 said:
I'am sure I've read that these handle a little better than the 205 gti's? Or just internet talk. Either way it looks fantastic.
Yes I did read that, they are more stable as such. It would certainly be believeable after driving the 2 now405 Mi16 suffer from cruising-wide gear ratios, combined with a bit of weight required more work to keep in the fun-zone of the rev range than the 309 or 205 GTi, less rewarding to drive.
I knew someone that had a 405 Mi16, went really well around Silverstone until he popped a piston through the block, we think due to oil surge.
If a 405 T16 came up, I would of been prepared to pay £££ for one, but very rare, like the 309 Mi16 (which was French market only IRC).
Edited by NickGRhodes on Monday 18th June 21:18
Stunning, I do love the 309 GTi, i keep looking out for one but I either have no room or no money 
use to have a 309 GTI (3 door silver but a phase 1) and a 306 GTI-6 phase 1 at the same time, 2 totally different machines but both great fun to drive.
I would check that rear beam out though, looks quite low on the rear
use to have a 309 GTI (3 door silver but a phase 1) and a 306 GTI-6 phase 1 at the same time, 2 totally different machines but both great fun to drive.I would check that rear beam out though, looks quite low on the rear
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