Cleanest 205 ever.

I have been looking at these of late, I really fancy a mint 205 GTi in original condition, without any modifications. The minters seem to be around £3K to £4K and I think that is great for such a fantastic old school hot hatch back. I wouldn't want new engines, new wheels, new anything other than stand parts to make it like new. Finding one like it was just out of the showroom would be epic.

No offence, but why? I'm sure that everybody who isn't a humongous Fanboy would agree that the 'new' engines (GTI-6/MI16) are superior to their 8V equivalents. The brakes can be firmed up to make it stop on a dime, and the suspension can be modified to make a 205 handle even better than it did in the 'old days'.

Times have changed. Even a lukewarm modern hatchback made within the last 10 or so year will trounce a 205 in just about every department you care to think about, but with a few choice modifications a 205 can still hang with the best of the 'Hot Hatch' crew.
 
Depends if you're doing it because you appreciate a car that is rapidly becoming a classic, with few unmolested examples left, or because you want to spend your evenings doing donuts in macdonalds carpark and racing your mates in their Corsas....
 
Depends if you're doing it because you appreciate a car that is rapidly becoming a classic, with few unmolested examples left, or because you want to spend your evenings doing donuts in macdonalds carpark and racing your mates in their Corsas....

Do you say idiotic things just to get a reaction?
 
Do you say idiotic things just to get a reaction?

An exageration perhaps, but it was a valid point - there are perfectly good reasons to buy a car like an original 205 that dont involve "hanging with the best of the 'Hot Hatch' crew"
 
since when has fitting more appropriate brakes from the 21st century to a 205 GTI been about doing doughnuts in mcdonalds car parks

Its perfectly possible to combine the best of old and new tastefully without turning it into a barryboys modification.
 
No offence, but why? I'm sure that everybody who isn't a humongous Fanboy would agree that the 'new' engines (GTI-6/MI16) are superior to their 8V equivalents. The brakes can be firmed up to make it stop on a dime, and the suspension can be modified to make a 205 handle even better than it did in the 'old days'.

Times have changed. Even a lukewarm modern hatchback made within the last 10 or so year will trounce a 205 in just about every department you care to think about, but with a few choice modifications a 205 can still hang with the best of the 'Hot Hatch' crew.

A fair question, but I am perhaps coming from a slightly different angle to you. I was working in a Peugeot garage when the original 205 GTi was launched so remember that car fondly. For me it isn't about being the quickest, my day to day mile muncher will eat up and spit out any hot hatch in most conditions, for me it's about having an original car like the one I remember. I know modern cars are quicker, but none are any more fun and in the same way I would love a nice original MK2 Golf GTi, like the one I used to have back in the day I would also love a nice Clio Trophy, which I also remember fondly from a test drive, nearly buying one for station duties.

For me I like the Tag Heur Steve McQueen Le Mans watch, but I'd never buy one, I'd prefer the original Heur version, for its the original and the one worth having. I am not looking to impress people with it, I want to get in it on a Sunday and take it for a blat simply enjoying its simplicity, lightness and agility and the fact it only does 120mph flat out with the wind behind it or 0-60 in 8 seconds ish means nothing to me. They were and still are cars to be enjoyed for what they are, light and sharp hot hatchbacks from a different generation, the one i'm from. ;)
 
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An exageration perhaps, but it was a valid point - there are perfectly good reasons to buy a car like an original 205 that dont involve "hanging with the best of the 'Hot Hatch' crew"

Such as?

You buy a car like a 205 GTi for no other reason than plain enjoyment, agree? I fail to see how you would get more enjoyment from owning what is an inferior car. Certainly not as much enjoyment that justifies looking down at people who have decided that they can improve on a 25 year old Peugeot design.
 

A fair question, but I am perhaps coming from a slightly different angle to you........

If I want a fast, modern hot hatch, I'd buy a fast modern hot hatch.

Just like the original Golf GTi, they're considered classic cars which are fondly remembered - you can gain plenty enjoyment out of a car without being as fast as modern technology allows.

Just like FLAC is technically a lot better than vinyl, but how many people still love listening to old records rather than downloading them in a new "superior" format?
 
Lovely lovely car. I've seen a lot of nice 205's - Main problem with them though is the plastic fades and the owners don't seem to do anything about it (exterior plastic that is) - If they treat this and make it look nice it makes the outside look 10x better imo :)
 
Fun isn't about balls out speed and racing people. Peope enjoy cars such as the 205 GTI as it's a car that lets the driver feel completely in control and enjoy the nible, agile and well balanced nature of the standard car. Start fitting modified parts and whilst it may excel in some areas then there are usually compramises.

Agree with Housey and Lashout. I have a completely original series 1 1.3 106 rallye in brand new condition with 40k miles. It's probably worth about £3k, I also have a 27k mile 16v gti engine that I was considering fitting to it. Although this would greatly improve the car in many areas it would take away its extremely revvy nature that requires you to have the car on the boil constantly and also weigh the front of the car down more due to it being an iron block engine. For this reason I think people would be less interested and prepared to pay less if I fitted this engine and then came to sell it. So it's staying original.
 
A fair question, but I am perhaps coming from a slightly different angle to you. I was working in a Peugeot garage when the original 205 GTi was launched so remember that car fondly. For me it isn't about being the quickest, my day to day mile muncher will eat up and spit out any hot hatch in most conditions, for me it's about having an original car like the one I remember. I know modern cars are quicker, but none are any more fun and in the same way I would love a nice original MK2 Golf GTi, like the one I used to have back in the day I would also love a nice Clio Trophy, which I also remember fondly from a test drive, nearly buying one for station duties.

For me I like the Tag Heur Steve McQueen Le Mans watch, but I'd never buy one, I'd prefer the original Heur version, for its the original and the one worth having. I am not looking to impress people with it, I want to get in it on a Sunday and take it for a blat simply enjoying its simplicity, lightness and agility and the fact it only does 120mph flat out with the wind behind it or 0-60 in 8 seconds ish means nothing to me. They were and still are cars to be enjoyed for what they are, light and sharp hot hatchbacks from a different generation, the one i'm from. ;)

Maybe we have different views because you were around for the GTi launch and I wasn't, but I still can't understand how practical modifications such as modern brakes somehow ruins the recipe of the 205?
 
Maybe we have different views because you were around for the GTi launch and I wasn't, but I still can't understand how practical modifications such as modern brakes somehow ruins the recipe of the 205?

I don't know if the 205 GTI is the same as I've never driven a standard one. But in my rallye although it has skinny tyres, tiny brakes, little tiny 1.3 engine, very little weight and no powersteering it has felt more fun and rewarding to drive than my previous "greater" cars with bigger brakes, more grip etc. And the bonus is you don't have to be doing silly speeds to be having a laugh. I can quite happily stick it down a twisty country lane at 50-60mph and have great fun. Modern cars such as the 350z I recently drove would have to be going double this speed to have as much fun.
 
Fun isn't about balls out speed and racing people. Peope enjoy cars such as the 205 GTI as it's a car that lets the driver feel completely in control and enjoy the nible, agile and well balanced nature of the standard car.

This is what I'm getting at. Fitting brakes from a 306 GTI-6, or a modified rear beam from a 309 or even shoehorning in a MI16 on ITBs isn't suddenly going to take away from the driving experience.
 
See above post, giving the car loads more grip, power and braking ability just means you have to be doing dafter speeds to get the same on edge feeling.
 
Just driven mine home with the GTI-6 engine...

**** me!

Drives like a sedate little micra off the cam, on the cam... yikes... the quick rack is amazing makes the car very responsive. That is a stunning car, the SL434 Wheels are what I wanted, but good examples are very expensive (the sport versions are much lighter than the stock wheels).

I have almost solid mounts on my engine, so can vouch for the vibes at idle :D

Joshy is right as well, the big engine takes nothing away, it just means you can keep up with the modern cars, rather than getting murdered by a Corsa 1.2 ;)
 
I don't know if the 205 GTI is the same as I've never driven a standard one. But in my rallye although it has skinny tyres, tiny brakes, little tiny 1.3 engine, very little weight and no powersteering it has felt more fun and rewarding to drive than my previous "greater" cars with bigger brakes, more grip etc. And the bonus is you don't have to be doing silly speeds to be having a laugh. I can quite happily stick it down a twisty country lane at 50-60mph and have great fun. Modern cars such as the 350z I recently drove would have to be going double this speed to have as much fun.

TBH, the 'more fun at less speed' argument is the only justification I can really understand because I've actively experienced it. I remember driving my little 1.4 205 XS at 9/10ths almost everywhere and because of the low power out, I always felt in control. Trying anything similar in my 16v 205 GTi would surely equal sudden death once it came on cam!
Although It has to be said despite me being more retrained in my driving, I still have yet to come out of my GTi without that 'Peugeot smile' planted on my face.

But of course, this is has got far more to do with it having Twice the power of my old XS. More Grip and braking ability isn't going to dilute the fun in anyway, it just means that you can push the envelope just a little bit further before it lets go and tries to kill you :p.
 
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