Friday 9th December 2011

SOTW: Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6

Once a Shed-territory mainstay; now an endangered sub-£1k species

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It must be fate. As we were casting around for today's Shed earlier in the week, the collective PH office eye fell upon this Peugeot 205 GTi. Was it time for the return of the hot hatch king to the halls of Shed, we wondered?

More or less simultaneously I noticed an e-mail from PHer BMWill in my inbox, with 'SOTW suggestion: 205 GTi' as the subject line. Somebody, somewhere (apart from BMWill) wants the 205 GTi as SOTW.

And who are we to argue with a higher power? So here it is, a 1991 1.6, resplendent in (slightly faded) Miami Blue and half-leather interior. Perhaps we wish it had the slightly more powerful 1.9-litre engine, but then they do say the 1.6 is the sweeter-balanced of the two versions... so we'll settle for that.

And here are some of Will's arguments as to why the little Pug deserves our sub-£1k adulation:

"Ask a petrolhead to name an 80s hot hatch, and the chances are it will be the Pug 205 GTi...Many argue it is one of the most rewarding FWD cars ever made...It has minimal driver aids, and is prone to lift-off oversteer - which makes it fun!...

"It's light! Nowadays, 1200kg is seen as light. Wikipedia tells me the stripped-out Rallye version weighed in at 794kg! The concept of 'light weight' was taken seriously back then! Oh, and it's about time for another one. The MR2 has featured twice in just over a year, and pretty much all versions of the 7-series up to the E38 have also been elected SOTW.

"They're becoming a rare sight on the road these days, too, and the ones in pristine condition are appreciating in value (some are up for £6k!!!). Definitely a classic then! The ones at affordable prices are becoming rarer as rust eats through them, or they are broken for parts."

There's not really a lot more to say really, other than get one while you can, because the days of the (decent and unmolested) 205 GTi in Shed territory might just be numbered. And if you are tempted, then you could do a lot worse than this 112k-mile chap, especially for just £800.

Although if we're being strict with ourselves it should have a tax disc to go with that half-year of MOT. But hey, we make the rules, so we can bend 'em from time to time...

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1991 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 (1991)
112,000 miles £800

Up for sale due to new car is my 205 GTI.

Finished in Miami Blue with the 1.9 half leather interior.

History stamped in the book and receipts as well as most MOT certificates. Recently replaced 2 tyres and have some new spare parts that will go with the car.

A brilliant sunroof model which does NOT leak! not sure when or if the seals have been replaced but they look fairly new and it does not leak. Only modification is the installation of a CD player.

Lacquer on boot and roof is faded but for a 20 year old car the paintwork is bright. A chance to get an appreciating classic.

MOT until June 30th 2012, currently no tax due to being SORNd as I have purchased a new car.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for further details, if I am unable to answer leave a name and number and I'll get back to you.

 

[AdamPT]

when I was 17 there was nothing on this earth I lusted after more than one of these (except maybe Linda Lusardi).....

[melvster]

Awesome, top shed this week, for £850 it looks a bargain.

[sday12]

Miami Blue? Sunroof? PAS?

[thewheelman]

Bargain fun! I noticed some rather well priced 106 GTi's for similar money. Head out to some country lanes &......

[DavidHM]

sday12 said:

Miami Blue? Sunroof? PAS?

It's clean, it's £800. It's not concours and it's not a 1.9 either but so fking what?

I like the colour although red interior doesn't suit it. Not sure how they drive with/without sunroof or PAS but this car is probably in the "daily driver for a few years then broken or restored" category and sunroof and PAS won't really ruin it here.

[DavidHM]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

You say that like it's a bad thing... you'd have fun getting there.

[sparkster8]

Has to be worth a go? I thought they'd all crept out of this territory now......

[Steamer]

HELLLLLO!!

[Madmatt74]

Whats wrong with the Blue and the sunroof?

I thought the blue was the best colour back in the day.

Gotta be a future classic so worth holding on to.

[davidcharles]

....my mate had one identical to this...don't shoot me but i always thought it was a bit "tinny" and didn't overly like it.

it was pretty quick mind but wasn't as good as i was expecting....

...perhaps i was expecting too much...anyway, i can see how some would like its rawness and chuckability.

[the_stoat]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Why? I don't get the ditch bound reputation they have. Having owned 2 neither one has been as twitchy as reports from the motoring press would have you believe.

[Henry Fiddleton]

The good old days.

Good memories.

CRX VTEC.
5 GT Tubby.
205 GTI.

Awesome little cars.

[g7jhp]

Had a red 1.6 as my first car at 19, fantastic fun car.

Picked up a mint 1.9 some years later with 40k on the clock for £2.5k ran for 6 months and sold on for £4.5k.

They are great and still look fresh today as the design is so good.

Removing the rose tinted specs they are slighty tinny and not that fast, but do make a great weekend runabout!

This looks like a bargin!

[thewheelman]

Madmatt74 said:

Whats wrong with the Blue and the sunroof?

I thought the blue was the best colour back in the day.

Gotta be a future classic so worth holding on to.

+1 Always thought the Miami blue set the car off well.

[sparkster8]

Is it just me or is there no phone number ?

[43034]

sparkster8 said:

Is it just me or is there no phone number ?

07071689941 In the article?

[DavidHM]

sparkster8 said:

Is it just me or is there no phone number ?

Just you. Phone safe on the bottom left.

[dbdb]

I'm not a hot hatch fan, but if I got a hot hatch the 205 GTI would be it. It's a good shed of the week.

[the_stoat]

dbdb said:

I'm not a hot hatch fan, but if I got a hot hatch the 205 GTI would be it. It's a good shed of the week.

I just so happen to have a rather nice one with a 16v engine conversion that is kind of for sale due to a lack of garage space........

[Attym3]

Let's all jump on the "it's got a sunroof" bandwagon

Brilliant shedding. And the sunroof on them is brilliant, it opens up almost half the roof, but you really need a deflector on the front, they can be a bit bufferty(is that even a word?)