Like my Porsche 993 Turbo review earlier, this is going to be a similar review. Yup, it's another VIDEOS+Specifications+Owner's review. This time, I came up with 6 VIDEOS, Specifications AND A WHOOPING 14 OWNER'S REVIEW from Carsurvey.org.
So sit back, enjoy and relax...
Wheeler Dealers Peugeot 205 GTI part 1
Wheeler Dealers Peugeot 205 GTI part 2
Wheeler Dealers Peugeot 205 GTI part 3
Wheeler Dealers Peugeot 205 GTI part 4
Wheeler Dealers Peugeot 205 GTI part 5
Peugeot 205GTI review by Jeremy Clarkson
Peugeot 205 GTI advertisement
Peugeot 205 buying guide
Peugeot 205GTI 1.9 Roadtest
peugeot 205 gti 1.9 topaz blue
END OF VIDEOS REVIEWS...
Let's proceed to SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine alignment Transverse
Drive FWD
Bore × stroke 83.00 mm × 88.00 mm
Cylinders in-line 4
Displacement 1.9 litre (1905 cc)
Type: SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder, 8 valves in total
Compression ratio 9.60:1
Fuel system Bosch L-Jet fuel inj.
Maximum power 131.8 PS (130 bhp) (96.9 kW) @ 6000 rpm
Specific output 68.2 bhp/litre
Maximum torque 161.0 Nm (119 ft·lb) (16.4 kgm) @ 4750 rpm
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase 2420 mm (95.3 in )
Track front 1382 mm (54.4 in )
rear 1339 mm (52.7 in )
Length 3705 mm (145.9 in )
Width 1572 mm (61.9 in )
Height 1372 mm (54 in )
Kerb weight 875 kg (1929 lb )
Suspension:
Front Independent MacPherson Struts,Lower wishbone Coil springs.Anti-roll Bar.
Rear Independent Trailing arms,torsion beams, Anti-roll bar.
BRAKES: Fr/RR: Ventilated Discs/Discs Servo-assisted
Transmission:
5 Speed Manual /4 Speed Automatic (RARE, officially available in Hong Kong market only)
OTHERS:
Luggage space: 216-1200 l
Fuel tank: 50 l
Average comsumption: 7.8 l/100km
Average comsumption kms: (12.8km/l)
PERFORMANCE:
0-60 mph 7.6 s (0-96 km/h)
0-100 mph 22.60 s (0-160km/h)
80-120 km/h (50-70 mph) in top
Standing ¼mile 16.30 s
Top speed 198 km/h (123 mph)
Power-to-weight 148.57 bhp/ton
END OF SPECIFICATIONS;
Without further ado, let's proceed to 14(!) Owner's Reviews:
Owner 1:
1987 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 review from Germany
"Maybe not the fastest car, but must be one of the best cars ever made in fun for money value ever"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
There was a mysterious, minor but annoying electrical problem (misfire) nobody could solve.
General comments?
This is a real fun car, really chuckeable and nippy.
The engine had good torque from the lower revs, but ultimately slim on power compared to other hot hatches, mainly 16vs, though.
The reliability was amazing. I owned the car for over 12 years and over 100.000km and never had anything really major wrong with it. This was an extreme and welcome contrast to my previous car.
This was my first Peugeot, my next car was a Peugeot and the one after will be another Peugeot.
Owner 2:
1988 Peugeot 205 GTi review from UK and Ireland
"ArguablyThe Best Hothatch ever"
The seats on the older models especially the drivers side suffers from bad bolster ware down the left side so it need attention. Exhaust was blowing at 129000 miles and was replaced with a magnex system which second hand cost less than a new system from a dealer. Faulty earth on the fuel pump led to starting difficulties along with worn CV gaiters for the MOT. Rear lights needed rewired for MOT and reverse lights have become intermittent. Electrics do tend to become troublesome on higher mileage cars. Engine is solid though, especially if regularly changed with synthetic oil, I use Castrol Magnatec and change every 5k. Especially if you drive them hard. Front tyres ware quicker than the rear so change them over every 3 months to have an even ware distribution..
General comments?
This is the second 205 I have owned and generally speaking its small frustrating things that are at fault and not major work such as the cylinder head etc. The car can be expensive to work on. For example to get to the starter you have to remove the Inlet Manifold. The clutch can be an expensive part to replace if going to a garage, mainly for labour. The Car handles very well, like a go-cart, but beware in the the wet as the 1.9 with rear disc brakes can be difficult to control at speed getting thrown into corners.
My car is a 1988 model 1.9. This was intentional as I didn't want a model after 92 as they have catalytic converters that reduce the car by 10 brake which caused a reduction by 1 second on the 0 -60 time. Do not buy a car that is burning or leaking oil especially on a 205. Burning oil means worn oil or piston rings that really means your engine is going to the big party in the sky. Expensive to get fixed unless you can do it yourself. If this happens uprate the engine to a GTI6 306 2.0 or the 406 SRI turbo. These are the best modern equivelents.
Owner 3:
1989 Peugeot 205 GTi review from UK and Ireland
"A True Legend"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
There where a few paint chips on the bumper and a few parking dents on either doors.
I also had a few gremlins in the electrics, which I got taken care of straight away.
Having owned two 1.6 GTi's beforehand, where I experienced some clutch failures this one has not gave me any issues (Yet).
Other than the general problems e.g like tyres and brakes needing repacing nothing has gone wrong, that has dented my wallet to much.
The GTi badges (above) are a magnet for idiot kids who think its funny to pick them off.
One attempted break in which destoyed my door lock.
General comments?
Now the fun part. I'm a 205 GTi fan and have been waiting all my life to get a 1.9 GTi.
I owned two 1.6 GTi's beforehand which was a great experience until a van driver crashed into the back of me and other one being stolen from outside my girlfriends house.
The engine may only push out 130 bhp, which is very low compared to the newer GTI's that are rolling off the shelf, but what it lacks in power it makes up for in driveability.
Being only about 900kg (rough guess) you feel like you are part of the car when cornering at relatively high speeds.
I believe this little French tin will go round a good set of twisty b-roads quicker than most newer and more expensive cars made today.
Happy Motoring.
I watched a programme with Jeremy Clarkson (famous car presenter) and he was reviewing all the GTI's made and even though the Golf GTi started it all off and many pretenders e. g Ford XR3 and so on, he commented that the 205 GTi took it to another level.
I personally cannot disagree.
There are cars out there that will destroy my car to 60 and top-end, but peiople should'nt really base the decision to buy a car just on stats alone.
If you want a classic GTi, you really can't go wrong the 205.
All I can say is get a good one as they have fallen into hands of many boy racers who destroy the gorgous look and handling by putting on big wheels and funny looking bodykits.
Stay clear of those ones!!!
Even though I'm driving an 106 GTi aswell, which is very close to 205 in some respects, i just can't bring myself to get rid of the 205.
Its completely standard and id going to stay that way for all the time its with me.
Pick a good one and ignore the little rattles hear and there, and enjoy 1 of the best Old school GTi's ever made.
Just make sure, you have good security, a fairly deep pocket for fuel (it drinks A lot),and a big face for having the biggest smile in the world, when you drive it.
OWNER 4: 1989 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 review from North America
"The joy of driving"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The car is still original. We replaced the hand brake cables. We replaced the head because a valve broken due to a inappropriate fuel octane. Too low.Know I am using 94 octane with a additive for a total of 98 octane. Be side that the car runs like a beast.
General comments?
The cars handling is like a go cart. In Quebec the road are very ugly and this 205 is not made for that. Too hard, but the torque and response of the engine is superb. 0 to 200km with out no problem. The seat's are fantastic with there support and grate view. I most enjoy the car in U.S.A the roads are superb and my 205 GTI 1.9 like that. I have Peugeot's and B.M.W,Audi cannot compare Peugeot for there reliability and the fun of driving.
OWNER 5: 1989 Peugeot 205 GTi review from UK and Ireland
"An everyday usable performance bargain"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The starter motor failed at 107,000 miles, however it gave plenty of warning.
The alternator failed at 110,000 miles.
Both driveshafts failed.
Replaced both rear brake compensators at 117,000 miles.
General comments?
Although the car has been quite unreliable, and has been the only car that has ever let me down at the road side, I would still recommend the car to others.
The parts that have failed, are parts worn through age, not design faults.
This car is also good for long journeys. I drove mine from London to Rome, in 20 hour non-stop trip.
OWNER 6: 1990 Peugeot 205 GTi review from UK and Ireland
"The Pinnacle of the Hot Hatch!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Squeaks and rattles caused by a combination of comedy build quality, cheap materials and 14 years of hard use.
Full suspension and steering rebuild at 140k to eradicate some play and a few odd clonks that were creeping in. I used original parts because you can't improve the handling of these things!
A few odds and ends here and there - a couple of wheel bearings, a clutch, handbrake cable - nothing major.
General comments?
I just cannot bring myself to sell this car, despite owning it for a decade and 150,000 miles. It's old, it rattles, it needs ongoing repairs, but it's such a hoot to drive I just don't care.
The 1.9 8v engine is laughable bhp-wise by the standards of modern hatches, but in just 800kg of superbly set up chassis, it's a driving tool that has few rivals. The 8 valve design might hamper outright power, but it has far superior torque, meaning the Pug feels quick enough.
And the handling. Oh, the handling! Steering that oozes feel, an absolute refusal to understeer, and an agile, mobile tail which responds to throttle and steering inputs like no other hot hatch before or since. In a 205, the tail can always be called upon to tighten the line or induce a bit of oversteer just for the hell of it, and the whole car has a lithe, agile feel that no 1100kg + hot hatch can touch.
Of all the new rivals I've driven, only the new Clio 182 Cup gets close, but even this will ultimately understeer more, feel less willing to turn, and seem to somehow need coercing more into doing what you want instead of responding almost by telepathy like the Pug does. Once you've taken a 205 GTi to its limit, and beyond on a track or your favourite B-road, be prepared for any likely replacement to spectacularly fail to make the grade.
There are faster hot hatches and there are better built hot hatches, and the new 200 bhp cars would leave it off the lights. However, with the possible exception of the mk1 Golf GTI, this breathed on version of a cheap, tinny, plasticky 14 year old French shopping trolley just somehow captures the spirit of the hot hatch concept better than anything else. Find a good, standard one and prepare to be reminded just how much traction control, ESP, EBD, crash regs and 1100kg+ kerbweights have ruined our fun. Oh and just how far today's Pugs have lost the plot.
OWNER 7: 1990 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 review from UK and Ireland
"13 years on I still can't find anything better"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Owned the car from new, so a few entries here:
Appalling build quality, so rattles and squeaks throughout from day one.
Poor hot starting / idling from new. Improved by dealer, but never really cured.
Head gasket popped at 14,000 miles (warranty)
Crank angle sensor and ECU at 21,000 miles (warranty)
Rear suspension bushes at 30,000 miles (warranty)
Stolen and recovered twice in a week in 1993 (55,000 miles)
Clutch at 70,000 miles
Rear suspension rebuilt at 95,000 miles to cure banging and pant-soiling oversteer. The standard lift off oversteer of the 205 is pleasant. This was something else altogether.
General odds and ends you'll find in any 13 year old car.
General comments?
I got this as a company car in 1990 after owning a 1.6 version for three years, and bought it off the company at three years old. If you understand what these cars are about, they just grab you and refuse to let go.
Yes, they're quick, although VTEC Civics and Astra 16v's will just about see them off in a straight line. A good 1.9 kicks out 130 bhp which is pathetic by modern standards, but it's only pushing 800-odd kg along, instead of the 1200-odd of your modern hot hatch. 0-60 in the low 7's and enough top end to get you very seriously banned.
But the corners are the 205's ace. Nobody has ever built a hot hatch that handles or steers like this one. A flick of oversteer here, a little four wheel drift there. Nothing else has this kind of agility, least of all the current batch of hot hatches. You can steer this car as effectively with the throttle as you can with the steering. It is still capable of obliterating pretty much anything on a familiar twisty B-road and can be pushed way past its limits of adhesion and still remain controllable. It does bite, particularly if you lift carelessly when committed to a corner, but it's a small price to pay for this kind of handling performance.
It's a Pug so the build quality is crap, and it does suffer from odd faults now and again. But for a rush and for sticking a grin on your face, the two most important features in a hot hatch, it's still the daddy. Find one before the Max Power lot "improve" them all and destroy the fine balance of attributes that every motoring mag on the planet agree make this little car the most entertaining hot hatch ever built.
OWNER 8: 1990 Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi review from UK and Ireland
"The Definative Hot Hatch.."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing as yet :)
General comments?
Having owned Renault 5 GT Turbo's, Honda Civic GTi's, Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v's, I can honestly say that the Peugeot 205 1.9i GTi is the best of the bunch.
Performance comparison of the above is close, maybe the Astra 16v has a very slight edge in a straight line, but the 1.9 GTi has far more character and feels far more sporty with greater owner satisfaction and drivabiity.
Also the 1.9 GTi is better on fuel than all of the hot hatches I have owned, has a huge following whereas other hot hatches have died out and are dated, and also there are plenty of tuning potential and parts still widely available.
In a nutshell... Buy one!
Lifes just too short not too, if only once in your existence, own a piece of motoring history, and decimate some of the smug young lads in there newer inferior saxos and the liking :)
OWNER 9: 1991 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 review from UK and Ireland
"Makes everything else feel dull witted"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Just about every piece of trim has either broken, worked loose, fallen off or rattling. You learn to accept this as it starts when the car is about 6 months old.
Build quality in general is appalling.
Rocker cover gasket sprung a leak at 60,000 miles.
Battery at 70,000 miles.
Rear suspension was rebuilt at 85,000 miles.
New (genuine Peugeot) dampers all round at 100,000 miles. Not cheap, but as Peugeot is one of the few companies to make its own, I didn't want to risk even a branded alternative in case it upset the awesome chassis.
Despite occasional fragility, she starts every time and doesn't let me down
General comments?
Old school hot hatch which shows the new pretenders the way home. Manages to keep up with the current 180 bhp hot hatch crowd with a mere 130 bhp thanks to light weight and the thumping midrange of an "old skool" 8 valve powerplant.
Handling is mindblowing. Turns like a startled rabbit, steering oozes feel and the seat of your pants tells you what the back end is up to. Yes it can bite, but if you're remotely awake and half skilled, it's not an issue. If you think you are entitled to shut the throttle mid bend in a car when "on it" and not have to make corrective inputs, you will break this car, and probably yourself (no crash bars or airbags here) within a few miles of driving it. Unlike newer hot hatches it forces YOU to drive it, and won't summon a handful of driver aids to compensate for your incompetence. If you screw up in a 205 GTi, you will leave the road. If you get it right, it is capable of things which no front wheel drive car has any right to do, and which no rival before or since can achieve. To say it will make you grin is an understatement, and it is precisely this driver dependence which makes it such an amazing machine. Driving a 205 GTi fast can be a frantic experience, but it's rewarding and it teaches you a heck of a lot about car control. It handles precisely as well as you drive it.
The rest of it is your typical 80's French hatch - read cute styling, crap trim and build quality, surprisingly tough mechanicals and dealers who either don't want to know, or don't have a clue. Have your 205 looked after by a good independent, and do the minor services yourself. Again the beauty of a "simple" 8 valve engine with primitive fuel injection is that you don't need an engineering or electronics degree to work on it.
Buy carefully, be prepared for the odd problem and lots of rattles, and you won't look back. Keep it standard though, particularly where the chassis is concerned. This is one car where the manufacturer definitely knew best.
OWNER 10: 1991 Peugeot 205 GTi review from UK and Ireland
"A sound performance investment"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Hot water matrix hose split twice.
Stitching on driver seat coming slightly undone, but fixable.
Rev counter ceased working recently.
General comments?
The 205 1.9 GTi is a very rewarding car to drive. I have not driven a car that can match the handling or poise on a twisty back road. The 1.9 is the definitive hot hatch, it has power, poise and everyday usability that is difficult to match even by today's standards.
I was very lucky to pick mine up for absolute bargain money with a mind-bendingly full service history and 1 owner from brand new with the original dealership finance form still to hand showing what he paid, how and when. It has a host of extras including a factory sunroof, power steering and full stainless steel exhaust.
The car is chipped and tuned, but has not had the pants thrashed off it and still drives as new. The additional tuning and chipping enables it to comfortably match a Civic typeR to 100mph and goes on to roughly 135mph top end.
It is very thirsty and needs constant love and attention, but, if you are lucky to find one in similar condition to mine just buy it and maintain it as best you can. It will become a classic and will be worth a lot of money in the not two distant future.
Should you sell, provided you have not abused it, you will get back what you paid for it.
OWNER 11: 1991 Peugeot 205 GTi Cabriolet review from UK and Ireland
"Buy, insure (ouch!) and enjoy"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Head gasket completely blew on 99,000 miles which cost £300 to fix.
New radiator & thermostat - The old radiator had rotten through totally and the thermostat was sticking.
New clutch on 96,000.
General comments?
I love this car!
OK, the insurance can sting (group 14 for the 1.9) if, like me you're under 25. but for the money I don't think you can get a better hot hatch.
The handling cannot be beaten - the GTi will take everything you throw at it; It thinks it's on rails!
Some get rattly after high miles, beware of older GTi's as they can rattle like hell.
Can be picked up fairly cheap now as they're getting on a bit, but it still looks the business and will leave most other cars standing at the lights.
Avoid Peugeot dealers for working on 205's. They charge silly money for work that any normal garage can do.
Having spent cash on the head/cam belt/clutch & radiator, I'm going to keep this car to the end.
Unusual, fast, eye catching & surprises a lot of other GTi drivers.
OWNER 12: 1991 Peugeot 205 GTi review from UK and Ireland
"The original and the best pocket rocket!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Baffles blown in the exhaust rear silencer.
General comments?
I have owned GTi's in the past, and driven many of the new equivalents, but nothing has ever surpassed the performance of the 205. VW may have got there first with the Golf, but Peugeot did it right with the 205.
If you can drive this car and not get a huge cheesy grin on your face, then you are doing something wrong.
Don't be tempted to add after market 'performance' parts. These only detract from the overall package. I was lucky enough to get a low mileage, one owner from new, Miami blue 1.9, which is the holy grail of Peugeots these days.
Buy one, you'll never regret it!!
OWNER 13: 1992 Peugeot 205 GTi review from UK and Ireland
"WOW!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
In the time I owned it the only thing that spoiled an unblemished record was the bush that collapsed in the off side rear suspension arm, but I think this was the cars way of protesting at being put up for sale! Oh and I had to put a handbrake cable on it.
General comments?
What a car, the example I owned was exceptional. It had a massive service history, a lot of it from Skip Brown Peugeot specialists. It also had receipts for over £5000 for engine, suspension and brake modifications. No daft body kits or stickers, the only external mod was a genuine Peugeot boot spoiler and a set of 16 inch alloys. Quite simply this is one of the quickest point to point cars I have ever driven. A work colleague purchased £13000 worth of Renault Clio 172 cup and was gutted when my £1500 Pug chewed him up and spat him out. I know somebody previously had thrown a lot of cash at this car, but I didn't, look and buy carefully and you won't go far wrong. £1500 bought me an immaculate, devastatingly quick and very reliable car. Only the growing mileage made me sell it and I sold it for more money than I paid for it.
OWNER 14: 1992 Peugeot 205 GTi review from Sweden
"The greatest hot hatch of all time!!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Lots of small electrical problems, lights that didn't work, faulty switches, etc.
Most problems fixed by replacing with new parts.
Stopped dead twice. Trouble traced to faulty ignition (again electrical) part.
Poor interior plastics. Several rattles that could not be traced and fixed.
Still attracts young vandals when parked in town, front door kicked in and mirror smashed.
Poor image. Most people don't understand why it's considered a classic.
General comments?
Fantastic performance car. Handles like no other. Probably the greatest hot hatch of all time. There will never be another like it.
My later model (with ABS and power steering) was easier to live with, but lost some of the raw edge. Had a much better (more precise feel) gearbox though.
Superb dark green metallic colour with original alloys. Green and black leather/fabric interior was more tasteful than original red interiors.
Well equipped, pity about the unreliable electrics.
But the sheer joy of driving the thing on twisty, winding secondary roads was worth all the troubles and sneers from badge snobs!
END OF OWNER'S REVIEW.
Source: www.carsurvey.org/reviews/peugeot/205
BEFORE I GO, Here's some parting shots:
REFERENCES:
1) www.youtube.com/ (Search "205GTI")
2) http://www.cars-data.com/en/peugeot-205-gti-19-122hp-26689/specs.html
(For Specifications)
3) www.carsurvey.org/reviews/peugeot/205/ (For owner's review)
That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry...
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