Life with the Peugeot 205 GTi

THE INTRODUCTION:


Hello readers! Today, as promised in the opening post you are going to get the inside story of everyday life with the 30-odd-year Peugeot 205 GTi. See how this icon works as a daily driver nowadays.
But first some brief history.

Timeless styling, classic alloys. Peugeot really did get it spot on with the 205 GTi.

BACKGROUND:

The story of the 205 GTi began in 1984. Peugeot was keen to tap in to the massively prosperous hot hatch business following their success in the rally-field with the monster 205 T16, and got fiddling with the one year earlier launched 205. They basically slapped on a body kit, made it 3-door, changed the engine and uprated the suspension, and what they came up with was simply astonishing, changing the reign of the Golf GTi forever. The 205 GTi was first launched as a 1.6 petrol and a couple of years later came the 1.9 petrol, which is also the one you're going to hear more about today.

It only weighted 870kg, and due to that handled like a gokart. Think of it as a tin can with a proportionally massive engine. No extras were needed at that time because people back then couldn't really be bothered with safety and didn't have the restrictions of law that car makers have today, no airbags were present, no power steering, no stability control, no nothing. Just pure raw driving feel through one of the coolest steering wheels ever designed.

Arguably the coolest steering-wheel in history.
(Citroens aside)

One could say it got the whole concept of hot hatchery just spot on. Feather lightness combined with a willing engine and sporty suspension topped off with every day practicality. The combination that would make every car enthusiast salivate.

So, it's obvious it leaped straight to the top, contending and mostly humiliating it's rivals the Golf GTi and the Renault 5 turbo. Later it became to be a bit like the humble brother in the middle in because everybody would recognize the Golf GTi, the first, the definitive godfather of the genre. And they would certainly recognize the Renault 5 Turbo, because, well, it had a turbo. So the 205 GTi was kind of forgotten by the masses, even though it was just simply better as a young Jeremy Clarkson will now explain:

The fate of the 205 GTi was sealed in the 90's, as was the fate of the entire hot hatch golden age. The most imminent reasons for killing off the 205 GTi were rising restrictions regarding emissions (the engines didn't handle a catalytic converter all that well) and sky rocketing insurance premiums.

Consequentially production of the 205 GTi ceased in 1992 for the 1.6 while the 1.9 held its' ground for a couple of years more. Still to this date it's considered by many to be the ultimate hot hatch. Something modern so-called hot hatches can't really reach because they are crammed with useless luxuries and have to be packed with weighty safety equipment, only trying to make up for that extra weight with increased power and more electronics, not realizing they're just raping the concept even more. It's kind of obvious it isn't a good starting point if you have a fault to begin with and then just try to make up for it. But anyway, back to the point.

Two words: That. Ass.

The 205 GTi is a legend in it's own right, and it's not hard to see why it's easy to fall in love with it.





CUT TO THE CHASE:

Now then, I hope you haven't dozed off after this lengthy introduction because it's now time for the interesting bits. Does the dream image of the superb 205 GTi change when it's Monday morning thirty odd years later and you have to face the reality of living with it as a daily driver? The simple answer is expected: Yes.

The next logical question is "what's wrong with it then"? Well to start off, it's French, in both the good and the bad sense. The thing with old french cars is that they are among the few cars you actually develop emotions for. To explain this let's look at BMW's for example. They are great machines, but machines nevertheless (i.e. they work), where as french cars seem to have a soul deeper than the mechanical aspect, a mood if you will (think Citroen). Something so quirky and unique, it's indescribable. It's just the way they handle, the way the torque is unevenly spread across the rev-range, the way the interior is just that little bit off, the way the chassis rattles when going over bumps, the way they break down and so on.

I really like my 205 GTi. But in fact when i think of it, I hate it. The thing is, it likes to break down a lot. See, "french car" and "old" don't really go together all that well. Or actually, let me take that back. Already "french" and "car" don't really go together very well. The 205 GTi likes to break down to the point where I'm afraid of my life and question my mental health in owning one. And the mechanical design isn't really clever either. Basically it's put together with this principal: if you want to remove the starter motor you have to remove the inlet manifold, but to remove the inlet manifold you have to remove the starter motor. So not the easiest car to work on then. And work there is. I've gone through the lot in my short period of six months of owning it: starter-motors, radiators, fuel-lines, other hoses, electrical problems, suspension-problems, busted cylinder-head, you name it.

Time clearly made it's mark on the outside, but still drives
as sweet as ever, fortunately!

And it's dangerous too. For example just the other day when I was going to go for a ride, at start-up it started spraying petrol all over the cylinder head from the fuel hose leading to the fuel pump. A brief moment of true fear for my life passed as I realized the potential consequences of that hose failure happening during the ride when the cylinder head was hot.

But when you get over the life threatening danger and annoying french technical design, and actually get to the driving, it's phenomenal! It still is as superb to drive as it was 30 years ago. It corners with tremendous willingness and the raw steering feel it transmits is just so engaging. And it's even more fun to slide around in the snow! But it is of grave importance that you are aware of the delicate handling features of the GTi, mainly meaning massive lift-off over-steer. And that lift-off is just what makes the 205 so lovable, it gives it character. And it's fun to play with too, until it kills you.

Now then, on to the engine. Mine is actually an engine swap to an MI16, wich is a very popular, almost bolt on swap for the 205 GTi. It basically ups the ponies from 130 to about a 165 without adding almost any weight (only a few kg's) making for an even faster travel and even more useful on the track. It is such an utterly perverted feeling when you know you're essentially in a shopping-bag that can take on Porsche's and M3's on the track. The engine torque's great and playing with the revs is so involving, so addicting. The engine-noise also, in style with the rest of the experience, is perverted. The deep almost 6-cylinderish growl when you put your foot down almost makes for an embarrassment coming from a shopping bag like this, it's not what you'd call discreet... And the ride isn't discreet either, when you're doing about 80kph/50mph the rev-counter is pointing at about 3200 revs, and the sound is corresponding (read loud). Driving it enthusiastically in traffic feels a bit like beating toddlers at an afternoon soccer game. Everyone knows you're better than the toddlers, but it's just inappropriate, it's a bit awkward... It's not awkward if a Porsche speeds because that's what you do when you're in a Porsche, but when you do it in a shopping bag it's just that much more awkward. So, now we've established that driving around in this is either going to get you noticed or going to get you killed, fine. Well how about the insides then?

When you open the door and lower yourself into the hip hugging seats placed go-kart-close to the ground and you can't help but getting that embarrassingly childish but oh' so pleasant feeling of being a rally-driver. Just a quick peak at the interior tells there's something special about this car. You admire the red/black until your eyes hit the steering wheel. There's something written on it in big red/black letters. GTi. You know you're in for a treat, old school GTi-style! To this date, this still is the car to be in when facing an empty winding b-road and nothing to do but enjoy the ride. I honestly can't think of a more fun-to-drive FWD car.



But still I want to sell it, I want to get rid of it as fast possible, before it breaks down and costs me my nerves and a fortune in cash. But on the other hand I want to keep it. I so badly want to drive it. And this is what's driving me insane at the moment. Just the other day a potential buyer came by and had a go in the car, and all the time I couldn't help but think I haven't experienced enough with it. I haven't documented it meticulously enough. I got second thoughts. But I guess i'm going to have to let it go at some point. Probably going to trade it in for a BMW or something...

See, I've realized it's a bit like chasing a dream, this, and probably goes for owning any other nowadays affordable 80's/90's performance-car. You read about it, you read the dream, the handling, the performance. You go out and buy it, and face reality. It's 30-years old. It's French. It breaks down a lot. It ends up bankrupting you if you let it.

The grandpa Peugeot requires some real dedication to keep it running. It isn't anymore a car you just drive and have a blast with, it's a senior now. And just like other seniors, it requires some extra caring. Come to think of it, maybe I'm just a tad too young for this one, maybe I'm not willing to settle yet. Maybe I need something more of a machine...






THE CONCLUSION:


As a daily driver it's useless. As a driving machine it's epicly good! Just be wary of the french build-quality and you'll have the time of your life with this classic! I recommend finding a good -88 or older model (later models were equipped with a catalytic converter=less grunt), and if you're not afraid of purists pointing the finger at you for raping a classic, do what I did. Get one in MI16 spec! It's just that much more fun! Get one now, you know you want it. Prices for good ones in the UK float around 3000£, and here in Finland around 3000€. Well worth the money considering prices on good ones are probably going to rise when the mighty Pug becomes an established classic!

If you see that front-end in the rear-mirror, you know you're going to be overtaken soon.

-HS



Opinions, comments and critique more than welcome!