Peugeot 205 GTI MI16 | Spotted
Want a 205 GTI that can actually be driven, not constantly fretted about? Voila!
That a good Peugeot 205 GTI is worth quite a bit of money isn't new news - that's been the case for a good few years now. Forlorn tales are told of good cars being flogged for buttons, even of GTIs struggling to sell in the really lean times. Imagine, if you will, a 1.6 GTI in more than presentable condition for £800 in this decade; it really did happen - see here if you dare.
Anyway, back to the point. Like so many iconic classic cars, the 205 GTI attracted attention for being pretty, plentiful, and excellent to drive. It seems more of a shame than usual, therefore, that with the model as highly prized as they are (and look to remain) that such a central tenet of their appeal is being denied. Could you drive a £30k 205 GTI without always worrying about it? Exactly.
But one at £4k? Not exactly standard and with a spec geared towards track days? Now we're talking. Hot hatches are meant to be driven, after all, and especially those like the 205. Hence so many being modified when the cars were more readily available, the tiny chassis responding beautifully to some choice changes.
Confession time: this 205 isn't perfect. There's a bit of rust, the paint is flat and the mileage is described only as "around 145k" because the clocks were changed. And it's been off the road for a serious chunk of time in this owner's 12 years with it. Not ideal, but also not ruinous, because there's a tonne of good stuff as well. In fact, the owner puts it pretty well: "Whilst the car is not show spec, it has had a lot of money spent on it. It is a fun, fast, reliable 31-year-old classic."
So there's an MI16 engine - remember when they were both cheap enough cars to do the swap? - fully rebuilt 1,000 miles ago with Jenvey throttle bodies, a Scorpion exhaust and uprated head, sufficient for 175hp and 143lb ft. A good start. There's also Bilstein suspension, a reconditioned rear axle (which is important on these), bucket seats and some new tyres.
So that's a 205 GTI lighter, faster and more focussed than standard - which sounds pretty good, right? Given the age and condition of this car, it's probably best considered a rolling project, one to tinker with as the miles continue to pass rather than endlessly beat on like something newer. But what joyous miles they should be, driving a 205 GTI around how it's meant to be driven with nary a concern for mileage, scuffs and scrapes. Probably quite liberating. All the Clio track day drivers won't know what has happened.
Should the worst happen on track or on road, the market is such for 205s now that bits can surely be sourced - there's money in restoring and repairing these that there wasn't a little while ago. And however hard it's used, it's easy to imagine someone wanting a 205 GTI like this again in another few years. The mystique surrounding the model isn't going to die down anytime soon.
The hype is sufficient, in fact, for cars to be advertised at 10 times this 205's asking price. They're not really comparable GTIs, though the point is interesting nonetheless. Best thing with this little Pug, surely, is to get another MOT on it - or negotiate that into the price - sort the rust and get on with enjoying it. By driving it. As much as possible. Immediately. What are you waiting for?
SPECIFICATION - PEUGEOT 205 GTI 1.9
Engine: 1,905cc, four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 132@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 119@4,750rpm
MPG: 28
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1987
Recorded mileage: 145,000
Price new: £9,295
Yours for: £4,500
(Spec for standard car)
*applause*Someone, probably someone in their 40's, is going to have a lot of fun with that. There would be cheaper ways of doing the same basic things (track day and B-road blasting) but other more modern cars would never have that certain 80's gallic charm. I can see it being an irresistible prospect to someone who either had one back in the day, or lusted after one. I had a humble 1.1 GL 205 as my first car, and always looked up to the GTI.
I'm currently doing a similar exercise with a 944. Bought cheap, and with issues, with the plan to get it up to a moderate track-capable specification without spending too much. For reference, this is what an ongoing mid-life crisis looks like.
1987 1.6 stage rally car bought 2008 for just over £4k, used for sold needing a lot of welding 2017 £1k
1991 1.6 road car bought 2009 £950, met its end against a stag (deer, not Triumph), insurance paid out £1550
1990 1.9 road car bought 2011 £1300, split for parts as it was rusty (split bulkhead, rear sills) and the engine was smoking badly
1989 1.6 road car bought 2010 £1700, sold briefly then bought back again. Probably needs restored now but completely original other than a front wing.
Like many I'm sure I'm sitting here wishing I'd bought many more a decade ago when rough ones were in the hundreds and good ones were £2k tops.
*applause*Someone, probably someone in their 40's, is going to have a lot of fun with that. There would be cheaper ways of doing the same basic things (track day and B-road blasting) but other more modern cars would never have that certain 80's gallic charm. I can see it being an irresistible prospect to someone who either had one back in the day, or lusted after one. I had a humble 1.1 GL 205 as my first car, and always looked up to the GTI.
I'm currently doing a similar exercise with a 944. Bought cheap, and with issues, with the plan to get it up to a moderate track-capable specification without spending too much. For reference, this is what an ongoing mid-life crisis looks like.
Regardless, a cool little car, and I'd much rather have this than an immaculate standard garage queen.
)I think this one ended up getting broken for parts by a guy from Birmingham after I sold it (J656 TVC)
Then I had a track prepped steel grey (rare colour!) 1.9 that was originally running on twin Webers. The engine had seen better days so was swapped out for a revvy Mi16 which was fantastic, unfortunately I killed the engine at Cadwell Park through oil starvation. Replaced it with a GTI6 engine which just made it mental
Sold that before moving to the USA for a few years, I still miss it and wonder what happened to it (J271 ARM)?
But, that engine is amazing. It revs and revs. Mine was running standard injection, so only about 150bhp, so I can only imagine what 175bhp on injectors must feel like. Someone's going to have a lot of fun with that
205 GTI 1.9 - bought Feb 2003 - £1100 - sold Dec 2014 - £2200... subsequently restored and insured for £10,000 - doh !!
One of only 2 or 3 of my long history of cars owned that I would actually love to be able to buy back. Actually it was the wife's car but I had some good drives in it.
The Clio comparison is an interesting one. Obviously as standard the Clio 182 is a much faster car and can take corners faster with the years of suspension development and is a great hot hatch- but - in Feb 2004 I went and test drove a Clio 182 with Cup suspension. Didn't buy the car and when I got back into the 205, I felt the 205 was the better car in some important ways. Steering feel, not a contest, the non assisted 205 is one of the best ever. Throttle response - the 205 didn't need any revs to feel brawny, the Clio did ... driving position, again no contest, the Clio is awful in that regard. The 205 is also about 200KG lighter than a Clio 182 and has better interior space and a bigger boot despite being the smaller car....I know this having sat in the back of both cars!!
So, personally given the choice between this £4K modified 205 GTI and a £4K Clio 172/182, I'd take the 205.
Never had a 205 but had a 309XS (basically a 1.6GTi) back in 98 which went from a 1600 to a 1900 to an Mi16, though in some ways I wish I hadn't... the car was brilliant, do light, cheap, bear death and quick but the engine had issues and it only lasted a week. Granted, a totally hillarious / oh my God sort of week but I adored it. Weirdly, just last week I happened upon a 205GTi parked up, spoke to the owner... it was like being back in 98 all over again. Just amazing cars, so light, delicate and intoxicating to drive. Classifieds...
Then I moved into MX5s and never looked back, until now when I recently bought a Swift Sport for local errands - great fun and cost buttons.
He had only 3rd party insurance and a large loan on the car, so we spent weeks stripping it of anything that could possibly end up in the local Auto Trader.
Fun times as a ‘90s teenager!
Bought a Mk2 Golf GTI 8v instead which I loved, but I can't help but think sometimes - you only regret the things you didn't do.
It’s similar to an Mi16 205 I saw making very good progress around the Anglesey track. I had a chat with the father & son owners (and lent them a tyre inflator).
Not a 'garage queen' by any means, but instead the money was being spent on making it a lighter, better driver’s car. I can’t think of a better way to use a 205 GTI.
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