Thursday 26th July 2018

Peugeot 205 GTI: PH Used Buying Guide

They don't come anymore famous than the 205 GTI. Here's what to consider if you're taking the plunge

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In the world of hot hatches, the flyweight Peugeot 205 GTI is one of the big hitters. Its feisty performance, handling, steering and looks all combined to forge a reputation that still ranks as benchmark to this day. It's made the French machine one of the most fanciable modern classics, which in turn has pushed the values of the very best to some dizzying heights.

Reports of immaculate, time warp 205 GTIs topping £30,000 at auction now seems normal when there are a handful of examples out there garnering price tags of more than £40,000. Yet, the 205 was always one of the most affordable and attainable sporting cars of its era and remains so today if you don't mind a car that's not been bubble-wrapped since the day it left the factory.

A scour of the classifieds shows that £4000 is the starting sum for decent GTIs with plenty of life left in them. They won't be perfect at this kind of money, but that makes them perfect to use and enjoy and experience everything that made the car great in the first place.

Also, that price floor is dependent on condition rather than specification, so you have the choice of either 1.6- or 1.9-litre models depending in which takes you fancy. There's also the CTI cabriolet, which offers a cheaper entry to the club, but doesn't have quite the same handling precision due to its open-top body.

If you find a very early 105hp 205 GTI, it's likely to be pricier as enthusiasts are keen to own what's seen as the purist version. Even with this modest power output, 0-60mph came up in 8.6 seconds thanks to a kerb weight of just 850kg. When Peugeot upped the power to 115hp in mid-1986, the 1.6's weight crept up to 900kg, so 0-60mph took 8.9 seconds.

At the end of that year, the 1.9-litre model arrived with different wheels, disc brakes all round and a half-leather upholstered interior. It could crack 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds. Speed against the clock was only half the story as the 205 was just as much about agility. Some reckoned the 1.9 wasn't quite as deft through corners as the 1.6, but any 205 GTI serves as a reminder of just how simple and effective a lightweight hot hatch can be.

Search for Peugeot 205 GTIs here

Buyer's checklist

Bodywork and interior
Rust isn't quite the major issue you might think for a 1980s hot hatch as the GTI was galvanised from new. However, you will need to check all the usual corrosion spots around wheelarches, sills, windows, front and rear screens, boot floor, door bottoms, suspension turrets and around the sunroof if fitted. You also need to inspect the join between the front bulkhead and floorpan, as well as around the petrol tank and rear brake lines

Gear lever often looks tatty but is quick and easy to replace.

Look for any evidence of crash damage in the chassis legs, inner wings and boot floor.

Interior trim and plastics are quite hard wearing, but many have been modified so look for an all-original cabin. Leather on the seats is thin and wears, but re-trimming sorts this. Original replacement trim parts are now hard to source.

Look for consistency of paint colour to prove it's either original or a good respray. Red cars suffer from the usual fade from this era if still wearing the factory paint.

Engine and transmission
First port of call is to check the timing belt and water pump have been changed regularly, which means every 48,000 miles or four years.
Valve stem oil seals fail, which shows up as a smoky exhaust on start-up.

Camshafts wear if the oil has not been regularly changed and topped up, and check the correct filter with a non-return valve has been used at oil services to ensure correct oil pressure on starting the car.

Don't worry about a lumpy idle when the engine is cold, it's common. A worn distributor can exacerbate this. Cleaning the air pipes helps with smooth running.

Gearboxes are tough. Spot the earlier BE1 'box with reverse up and to the left of first gear, while later BE3/5 transmission has reverse down and to the right below fifth gear. The 1.6's 'box has shorter ratios.

Gear linkage can become loose with age and wear, but replacement bearings will restore the shift's accuracy.
Stiff clutch action means a new cable is needed.

Suspension and steering
Torsion bar rear suspension commonly sags with age. Check the car sits square and level - too much negative camber is a sure sign it will need a rebuild.

Many GTIs have been lowered. Restoring the rear end's correct height is made simple by rotating the torsion bar.

Front suspension drop links and wishbone bushes are a common source of knocks.
Rust is an issue for the rear beam, but replacements are available from IM Axle for £400.

Wheels, tyres and brakes
Alloy calipers on the front of the 1.6 and rear of the 1.9 can cause the bleed screw to seize and then sheer when trying to remove it. The calipers from a 306 fit and can also allow fitment of larger discs at the front.

Handbrake on 1.9 model is a common MoT failure point, so make sure it works.

Search for Peugeot 205 GTIs here

Search for Peugeots here

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SPECIFICATION - PEUGEOT 205 GTI
Engine: 1580/1905 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed man
Power (hp): 105/115/130@6250/6250/6000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 97/99/119@4000/4000/4750rpm
MPG: na/na/28.1
CO2: na
Price new: £6245/£9295
Price now: £4000 upwards

[Dale487]

You didn't mention that cracking of the body shell along the rainwater gutter seam can be a problem to look for.

[Dale487]

s m said:

Dale487 said:

You didn't mention that cracking of the body shell along the rainwater gutter seam can be a problem to look for.

It never seems to come up in 205 threads but these willl fold up like a Saxo/106 in a crash......like a lot of old stuff.

Having said that, they are fun to drive


...but I bought the ugly sister 309GTi instead

The 205 was around prior to Euro NCAP, so I think we ignore it - plus who ever plans to crash, that would be saying you're a bad driver.

I think a £4K 205 GTI, which isn't perfect, shows what good value the 309GTI, 106GTI & 306GTI6 are - better value but not better investment.

[Dale487]

Arsecati said:

Always amuses me when others compare it to something newer (and inevitably DIESEL!). I drive a 3.0 Diesel estate tank every day: it is merely an appliance, perfectly suited to the job, and my Pablo (1.9 GTi) won't see which way it went if I put the foot down in it (same for my old 944 Cabriolet as well - yes, I have on occasion amused myself with the ways of progress, that my diesel dog carrier is quicker than my Porsche!). But like the old saying goes: 'it is better to drive/ride a slow car/bike fast, than a fast one slow, and EVERY time I take out the Puggo, it is a blast. EVERY roundabout and back lane just makes me giggle, as it is simply so easy to do. Try that - not just in a 2.0 diesel estate, but ANY modern hot hatch from a Fiesta ST to a Type-R, and you simply won't get anywhere near as much of a laugh, as you are just nowhere near their limits when driving on normal, public roads. They may well be 50% faster now, but you need to push them 50% more to get the same thrills....... and see how long your license lasts in that case, if you're giving it large every time you had to Tesco! I'm not looking at them in 'rose-tinted glasses', I LOVE modern cars too and how advanced their capabilities are. But it is simply impossible to get anywhere near exploiting their capabilities on modern jammed up and gatso'd up roads, so I'll be keeping Pablo for another while yet and keep making excuses to run to the shop for milk: couldn't afford one when I was a brat of a 17 year old back in 1989....... I guess there's one positive thing to come out of getting old!

I agree, if you look at a car as an appliance - a modern car wins hands down on every measurable criteria. But an older car is more likely to be more fun at any speed (something that a tape measure & stop watch won't record).

As its only sensible for me to have one car, I'll stick with my Leon FR but I'd love to have my first car (106 Quicksilver or better upgrade to a Rallye) tucked away for high days & holidays.

[Dale487]

MrScrot said:

alfapork said:

Dale487 said:

You didn't mention that cracking of the body shell along the rainwater gutter seam can be a problem to look for.

IIRC it doesn't actually crack the metal on the rainwater gutter. There is seam sealer there and that cracks, not the metal. Cosmetic but water can get in if not attended to.

I've just bought one (lucky me!). I checked everything and it's all perfect but I didn't notice that it had cracked until I got it home. What are the implications of these cracks? Are they critical to the structure or is it just something that needs patching?

Sorry, I know its something to look out for but can remember what the remedy is or how serious the problem is - there most be someone who'll be able to point you in the right direction.

[Dale487]

996GT3_Matt said:

Ah the 205, the only car I have written off during 20 years of performance motoring.

Alas I was just 18.. and bought a shonky 1.6 in graphite grey. At this stage of my motoring history (my paper licence was crease free and shiny) I blew the rest of my Barclays Bank loan on a K&N induction kit, a Kenwood mask head unit and of course a big bore exhaust. I may have added a Dimma petrol cap too (cringeworthy now, I know).

Having never visited a track or benefited from any driver training, the electric chassis was all too much for my dim-witted wrists and clumsy feet... 6 weeks later the car was upside down in a ditch having left a B road at approximately 70mph tailgate first. A baptism of fire in lift of oversteer!

Despite the tinfoil build quality, my friend and I both walk/staggered away, collecting two trees and rolling several times at ~70mph. We were extremely lucky of course but the 205 is perhaps not as flimsy as the internet will have you believe.

My next purchase (a year later) was a 106GTI. What a car that was too.

Which did you think was better the 205 or the 106?

[Dale487]

PTF said:

996GT3_Matt said:

Dale487 said:

996GT3_Matt said:

Ah the 205, the only car I have written off during 20 years of performance motoring.

Alas I was just 18.. and bought a shonky 1.6 in graphite grey. At this stage of my motoring history (my paper licence was crease free and shiny) I blew the rest of my Barclays Bank loan on a K&N induction kit, a Kenwood mask head unit and of course a big bore exhaust. I may have added a Dimma petrol cap too (cringeworthy now, I know).

Having never visited a track or benefited from any driver training, the electric chassis was all too much for my dim-witted wrists and clumsy feet... 6 weeks later the car was upside down in a ditch having left a B road at approximately 70mph tailgate first. A baptism of fire in lift of oversteer!

Despite the tinfoil build quality, my friend and I both walk/staggered away, collecting two trees and rolling several times at ~70mph. We were extremely lucky of course but the 205 is perhaps not as flimsy as the internet will have you believe.

My next purchase (a year later) was a 106GTI. What a car that was too.

Which did you think was better the 205 or the 106?

I actually preferred the 106, but I was comparing a nearly new (1year old) 106 to a leggy 205 with 80k on the clock.

There is an aura around the 205 and rightly so, but I think a well cared for 106 or 306 make for better value. Perhaps not quite as sharp, but you won’t be forking out £15k for a decent example!

The 106 is an epic steer.

I've been in a 106 GTI, and owned and driven a couple of 306 GTIs, and owned and driven a couple of 205 GTIs, plus driven a couple of saxos. I'd say that the saxo/106 experience does obviously feel much like a 205 (aren't they similar underneath?) yet irons out some of the 205s shortcomings - namely the build quality of the interior, the seats which aren't that comfy and the iffy electrics.

The 306 might seem like it's too big and lardy in comparison, but if you drive one next to a modern car they really do feel like they're from a different era!

Interesting to see what 106 GTIs have started creeping up. Good ones seem to be commanding strong money.

What i don't get is why 306s aren't doing similarly well. There are only around 1100 306 GTIs either SORN'd or on the road, yet there are 5,800 205 GTIs. There are no 306 GTIs on PH, none on Autotrader, and only a handful on ebay, yet those that come up are only in the £1k-£2k bracket, higher and they don't seem to sell.

Ironically the things you listed as the 106 being better over the 205 I hated about my 106 Quicksilver (all the GTI show & insurable); the seats were good enough but lacked anything beyond basic adjustments so it was awful on a long run, the electrics could be funny (a French rear wiper - went on strike for no reason - plus what I now believe to be cracked HT leads) & the interior was dated at launch (ventilation sliders even in the '90s let alone 2001 were old school). But I'd love to have either a 106 or 205 GTI or Rallye or even another Quicksilver.