Volvo takes it up a notch
Abarth 500 is good news for hot-hatch fans
PREFACE
Hello dear readers!
As you've probably noticed it's been a bit quiet at thepetrolblogger lately, but not to worry. The brief vacation is over and we're back at it again!
We've been doing an almost serious road-test during our "time off". A three-day road-trip through the deep, dark forrests of the midlands in a car worth less than my socks. So all you cheapsters might want to listen up; some practical used car-advice in store. Be expecting my view on how the un-american American; late 90's Chrysler Neon held its ground through the adventure.
But now onto something else; we here at thepetrolblogger like ourselves some proper hot-hatches, especially if they're from Italy and have an Abarth-badge in front... So this is seriously good news for us.
THE NEWS
The Abarth 500 is an astonishing little tin of excitement, and according to a survey made by CAP, UK evaluation specialists, a tin of well-preserved excitement too. The survey measured depreciation during 30,000 miles or three years use, and the Abarth 500 ranked surprisingly high on that list.
The Abarth came in third, right after the Audi Q7 and the tireless workhorse Skoda Yeti, with an average resale value of 60 percent of the original list-price, making for a very sensible buy for those of us who are insensible enough to desire a bit of performance.
The head of Abarth's UK section, Ivan Gibson, commented:
"A sustainable cost of ownership is something we have always been able to offer Abarth drivers and, add to that the fact that the Abarth 500 is a timeless and highly attractive car, it's no wonder that it has done so well in this important research."
This survey confirmed what was already known: The relaunch of Abarth, a high-quality performance brand has been a success in the UK and all over the world. The brand is still growing and gaining markets, and in fact just stranded in Finland, so I'll be taking a test-drive in the Abarth very soon to see how a stylish italian manages on harsh Finnish roads. Be expecting that.
As a sidenote, the rest of Fiat's fleet, apart from the 500-branch, performed in a very orthodox Italian way, meaning they sunk in value as a man disposed of in the traditional Mafia "cement-shoes" method. A three-year old/30,000 mile Bravo, for example, is only worth 34,4 percent of its original list-price according to the survey, so a small new Fiat is not what you want to buy with your sensible-hat on.
But the Abarth is, and I suggest you have a look at these tech-specs, they are pretty close to the holy grail of hot-hatchery combining cheap running-costs with bucketloads of excitement in a body shaped vaguely like a racing-edition of guinea-pig.
Powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder 1.4 litre 16-valve engine, the Abarth 500 holsters 135 horses at 5500rpm and a peak-torque of 206Nm at 3000rpm in 'Sport' mode, propelling it from 0-62mph in a tad over 7 seconds. Quite agreeable.
Abarth 500 prices in Finland start at 24,989€. Not so agreeable.
-HS
Source: MotorTradeNews.com, Evo.co.uk
Source: MotorTradeNews.com, Evo.co.uk
Possibly the greatest idea ever. Period.
Hello readers!
It's been a long time since I wrote something about an actual car... This due the fact that I simply ran out of cars even remotely interesting to write about, and nobody wants to hear about my mother's VW Passat, that's for sure.
Now how to get a hold of something interesting to write about? How to escape the lurking mundanity of merely reciting half-interesting car-news and posting pointless crap from the 'tube? There's my dilemma, tighter than a fat man's blouse, and I couldn't seem to solve it. Until now.
It's been a long time since I wrote something about an actual car... This due the fact that I simply ran out of cars even remotely interesting to write about, and nobody wants to hear about my mother's VW Passat, that's for sure.
Now how to get a hold of something interesting to write about? How to escape the lurking mundanity of merely reciting half-interesting car-news and posting pointless crap from the 'tube? There's my dilemma, tighter than a fat man's blouse, and I couldn't seem to solve it. Until now.
The Australian GP: Kimi's back! And so is F1!
I haven't watched F1 in a long time because, in my mind, if you've seen one lap you've seen them all. It's basically as boring as it gets in motor-sports. Two hours of varying picture-angles of F1-cars moving forward in a neat line. No action, whatsoever. It's like staring at a clock-arm progress while listening to a concert of amplified sewing machines, except even that mental image is too vivid to describe an F1-race. It's a thing that's just unbeatable at making your ADHD blossom.
Yesterday though it was time again. Time to fulfill my duties as a Finnish male. Kimi's back and as an honorable Finnish male, I'm obliged to watch. And so I sat down on the couch expecting a dull Sunday-afternoon fulfilling my duties...
 |
| Picture by Diego Azubel |
The race began, and boy was I surprised when I didn't find myself reciting the numbers of pi or making Star Trek door-noises just to keep entertained. I have to say the race was really interesting, even
to such extent that actually for the first time in my life I watched an entire F1-race without dozing off!
to such extent that actually for the first time in my life I watched an entire F1-race without dozing off!
I may risk sounding just a bit biased when I say this, but I think the best action was orchestrated, not in the lead,
but a bit further back.
To hell with Button and Vettel, the real winners of this race were Räikkönen and Perez, who both did some
proper dragon-slaying on the track. Perez gaining a massive 14 places finishing eighth, which is close to
god-like. But even though Perez gaining proportionally more places I still have to conclude that Kimi out-did
him just a little bit.
but a bit further back.
To hell with Button and Vettel, the real winners of this race were Räikkönen and Perez, who both did some
proper dragon-slaying on the track. Perez gaining a massive 14 places finishing eighth, which is close to
god-like. But even though Perez gaining proportionally more places I still have to conclude that Kimi out-did
him just a little bit.
Kimi did an amazing job un-messing up the mess-up he and he's team made in the qualifiers.
Gaining ten places in the race and finishing seventh AND overtaking Perez in the last corner! That just did it
for me, the hero of the race. Period. What a spectacular comeback and what a great show for the viewers!
for me, the hero of the race. Period. What a spectacular comeback and what a great show for the viewers!
I think I'm actually going to watch the rest of the season. Voluntarily. That's a lot said!
-HS
How do you feel about the new F1-season? Thoughts and comments?
Video of the week: How people in Finland drive in the country-side
This week's "Video of the week" is a real gem, displaying the reason why Finns deserve to be called "the fastest people on earth". It's a video of Ari Vatanen setting a new record at the Pikes Peak hillclimb, displaying his regular way of driving to the summer-cottage.
The preferred tool for the job is the murderously insane 650 horsepower barely 900kg Peugeot 405 T16 GR, a car that could only be driven by a suicidal madman because it went like a missile, 0-200kph in less than 10 seconds! Illegally fast!
Even Vatanen himself described the sensation of driving the car as the closest thing you'll get to being launched off an aircraft-carrier. Humbling words coming from a group-B champion!
But now I'll shut up so you can enjoy this epic testament to speed!
And don't mind the crappy French editing.
-HS
The preferred tool for the job is the murderously insane 650 horsepower barely 900kg Peugeot 405 T16 GR, a car that could only be driven by a suicidal madman because it went like a missile, 0-200kph in less than 10 seconds! Illegally fast!
Even Vatanen himself described the sensation of driving the car as the closest thing you'll get to being launched off an aircraft-carrier. Humbling words coming from a group-B champion!
But now I'll shut up so you can enjoy this epic testament to speed!
And don't mind the crappy French editing.
-HS
What the hell is that?: The RaceAbout 2005
Re-cap/Introduction
Okay, it's now been about three weeks down the road, matriculation-exams came and went and I still feel like writing! What started out as a humble prepping-exercise for the exams has now grown out of proportion..
And to inflate this thing even more, I think it's time to start another short-section! I've decided to incisively name this section "What the hell is that?" after the reaction these featured cars induce in the most of us. To clarify it further a bit: "What the hell is that?" covers not-so-usual cars built in not-so-usual places by not-so-usual people. A bit of a break from the mainstream car-news, aimed not so much at consumers but more at expanding our view on the car-world.
And what could be a better place to start this section than home?
And this is quite an obscurity to many. Amazingly, there actually is a completely Finnish-designed and built sports-car. You didn't know that, did you?
Okay, it's now been about three weeks down the road, matriculation-exams came and went and I still feel like writing! What started out as a humble prepping-exercise for the exams has now grown out of proportion..
And to inflate this thing even more, I think it's time to start another short-section! I've decided to incisively name this section "What the hell is that?" after the reaction these featured cars induce in the most of us. To clarify it further a bit: "What the hell is that?" covers not-so-usual cars built in not-so-usual places by not-so-usual people. A bit of a break from the mainstream car-news, aimed not so much at consumers but more at expanding our view on the car-world.
And what could be a better place to start this section than home?
And this is quite an obscurity to many. Amazingly, there actually is a completely Finnish-designed and built sports-car. You didn't know that, did you?
The handy-man's corner: How to make an in-car camera-mount on a string-budget
For this day's post I'm actually going to write something useful. Namely a guide to free yourself from the oppression of those greedy professional mounting-system makers. Every youtube-driver's dream!
Introduction
After yesterday's failed attempts to produce a passable driving-action clip in Porkkalanniemi I got thinking, how to make my clips less comparable to crap? After a quick analyze I figured I have to eliminate the human-factor from the equation, so it was obvious I had to get a mount of some kind.
After spending the night online trying to find some mounts I was beginning to come to the conclusion that I wasn't wealthy or stupid enough to be a youtube-driver. I fell asleep depressed.
After a good night's sleep I got it. I was going to make a mount of my own, I mean how hard could it be? After putting on my engineer-hat and meditating for a while I came up with a very simple, yet effective solution. I figured the easiest/cheapest way to do it was by doing a mount that's attached to the head-rest. My plan was basically to slap the camera onto a PVC-pipe and attach that pipe to the head-rest, simple but genious. That way the bumps and jumps would only affect the camera as much as they affected the seat in relation to the car, which will make it look natural, and in that design your bodyweight will also act as a stabilizer. Hurray for being fat (well I'm actually not, but if you are then good for you!).
Having figured out the design-details I went off to the local hardware store. From there I picked up all I needed, checked the receipt and was proud of myself, all in all it'd only set me back 14,70€ (You'll manage cheaper because this is Finland, and no matter where you live it's probably going to be cheaper there).
So onto the instructions then!
The making of
Okay, so first, the shopping-list. For this job you'll need:
*PVC-pipe (length according to your car's dimensions)
*Two U-bolts for fastening the pipe to the two steel-bars going to your headrest
*One regular bolt that attaches to the built-in screw-thread in your camera
*Nuts and spacers for the U-bolts
*Nut for the camera-bolt (important)
And tools you'll need:
*Hand drilling machine
*Drill bits that match your chosen bolt-sizes
*Tape measure
*Saw
And that's basically it, simple as pie!
If you've figured out my design you can completely skip this part and get handy right away, but otherwise let me walk you through the build-process.
You start by sawing the PVC-pipe to preferred length, then measure the lengt between the head-rest bars and mark out accordingly where you need to drill holes in the pipe to make the U-bolts align with the steel-bars. Then drill, but note that you should only drill the attachment holes at this point!
Next my advice is to attach the half-done mount to the headrest and from there figure out where you want to drill the camera-bolt hole and mark it, that way you wont cock up so badly.
And here's the genious engineering-part: when you drill the camera-bolt hole, make it a bit bigger horizontally on the bottom-side of the mount, so that you can wiggle the bolt a bit when in the hole (the bolt head will be at the bigger hole when attached). That way you can further adjust the camera-angle.
Finally just bolt the U-bolts and the camera-bolt to the pipe. Observe that the camera bolt should be tightened in a manner that it still is slightly movable so that adjustments to the camera-angle can be made. And voilá, you've saved a fortune not buying a "professional" mount!
Here's a demonstration of the DIY camera-mount in action! Pretty good 'eh? And don't mind my camera, it's garbage.
Now I can finally join those noble men who post driving-clips on the 'tube!
-HS
Introduction
After yesterday's failed attempts to produce a passable driving-action clip in Porkkalanniemi I got thinking, how to make my clips less comparable to crap? After a quick analyze I figured I have to eliminate the human-factor from the equation, so it was obvious I had to get a mount of some kind.
After spending the night online trying to find some mounts I was beginning to come to the conclusion that I wasn't wealthy or stupid enough to be a youtube-driver. I fell asleep depressed.
After a good night's sleep I got it. I was going to make a mount of my own, I mean how hard could it be? After putting on my engineer-hat and meditating for a while I came up with a very simple, yet effective solution. I figured the easiest/cheapest way to do it was by doing a mount that's attached to the head-rest. My plan was basically to slap the camera onto a PVC-pipe and attach that pipe to the head-rest, simple but genious. That way the bumps and jumps would only affect the camera as much as they affected the seat in relation to the car, which will make it look natural, and in that design your bodyweight will also act as a stabilizer. Hurray for being fat (well I'm actually not, but if you are then good for you!).
Having figured out the design-details I went off to the local hardware store. From there I picked up all I needed, checked the receipt and was proud of myself, all in all it'd only set me back 14,70€ (You'll manage cheaper because this is Finland, and no matter where you live it's probably going to be cheaper there).
So onto the instructions then!
The making of
Okay, so first, the shopping-list. For this job you'll need:
 |
| Bolts and drill bit |
*Two U-bolts for fastening the pipe to the two steel-bars going to your headrest
*One regular bolt that attaches to the built-in screw-thread in your camera
*Nuts and spacers for the U-bolts
*Nut for the camera-bolt (important)
And tools you'll need:
*Hand drilling machine
*Drill bits that match your chosen bolt-sizes
*Tape measure
*Saw
 |
| PVC-pipe and drill |
If you've figured out my design you can completely skip this part and get handy right away, but otherwise let me walk you through the build-process.
You start by sawing the PVC-pipe to preferred length, then measure the lengt between the head-rest bars and mark out accordingly where you need to drill holes in the pipe to make the U-bolts align with the steel-bars. Then drill, but note that you should only drill the attachment holes at this point!
Next my advice is to attach the half-done mount to the headrest and from there figure out where you want to drill the camera-bolt hole and mark it, that way you wont cock up so badly.
And here's the genious engineering-part: when you drill the camera-bolt hole, make it a bit bigger horizontally on the bottom-side of the mount, so that you can wiggle the bolt a bit when in the hole (the bolt head will be at the bigger hole when attached). That way you can further adjust the camera-angle.
Finally just bolt the U-bolts and the camera-bolt to the pipe. Observe that the camera bolt should be tightened in a manner that it still is slightly movable so that adjustments to the camera-angle can be made. And voilá, you've saved a fortune not buying a "professional" mount!
 |
| The finished product |
Here's a demonstration of the DIY camera-mount in action! Pretty good 'eh? And don't mind my camera, it's garbage.
Now I can finally join those noble men who post driving-clips on the 'tube!
-HS
HS on: two things dear
Hello dear readers! Today's topic touches two things dear to me. Fast driving and girlfriends. Apparently these two don't mix very well...
See, spring arrived here in Finland today, and I was out for my first proper drive (because finally my 205 GTi would behave itself due to dry roads, not just under- and oversteer like it's done all winter). Ever since winter came i'd been dreaming of this moment, picturing it in my head a thousand times over. Well, technically i'd been dreaming of drifting about in a Miura and simoultaneously eating a steak while explosions went off, but you get the drift. Getting down to reality, this still was a moment i'd been waiting for.
To me the first drive in spring is an important occasion. An occasion when two old friends, one made of steely bits and one made of flesh, finally meet again and catch up, a touchy moment so to say. An occasion worth planning.
So after a quick sit-down with myself, I decided to head for Porkkalanniemi, a pilgrimage for bikers and probably one of the best driving-roads in Finland due to mainly one thing; corners, endless amounts of corners.
Driving fast on that twisty bit of heaven was an utter blast in the nimble little GTi, just as i'd pictured it. Or the thought of it was. See, I brought my beloved with me for the ride and turns out she has a speed-limit of 35mph...
I just wasn't able to get all friendly with my car due to constantly being distracted by over-pitched screams of terror and pleads to slow down.
This went on to the point of me contemplating about pulling over, running into the woods and fighting a bear to try and relieve the stress of not being able to drive fast. I'm glad I didn't act on that notion, firstly because I would probably have been killed, and secondly because the trip soon came to an end, though leaving me a bit foiled and my girlfriend very relieved.
I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too..
The thing I've learned today though and want to share with you is;
I know I shouldn't descend to stereotyping women, but... Confirmed. Women and cars are a dysfunctional combination! Ha, there, I said it!
And to you who have a girlfriend who enjoys speed and cars my message is this: double-check for penis before proceeding!
I still love my girlfriend very, very much though!
-HS
Thoughts, experiences and comments all welcome!
See, spring arrived here in Finland today, and I was out for my first proper drive (because finally my 205 GTi would behave itself due to dry roads, not just under- and oversteer like it's done all winter). Ever since winter came i'd been dreaming of this moment, picturing it in my head a thousand times over. Well, technically i'd been dreaming of drifting about in a Miura and simoultaneously eating a steak while explosions went off, but you get the drift. Getting down to reality, this still was a moment i'd been waiting for.
To me the first drive in spring is an important occasion. An occasion when two old friends, one made of steely bits and one made of flesh, finally meet again and catch up, a touchy moment so to say. An occasion worth planning.
So after a quick sit-down with myself, I decided to head for Porkkalanniemi, a pilgrimage for bikers and probably one of the best driving-roads in Finland due to mainly one thing; corners, endless amounts of corners.
Driving fast on that twisty bit of heaven was an utter blast in the nimble little GTi, just as i'd pictured it. Or the thought of it was. See, I brought my beloved with me for the ride and turns out she has a speed-limit of 35mph...
I just wasn't able to get all friendly with my car due to constantly being distracted by over-pitched screams of terror and pleads to slow down.
This went on to the point of me contemplating about pulling over, running into the woods and fighting a bear to try and relieve the stress of not being able to drive fast. I'm glad I didn't act on that notion, firstly because I would probably have been killed, and secondly because the trip soon came to an end, though leaving me a bit foiled and my girlfriend very relieved.
I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too..
The thing I've learned today though and want to share with you is;
I know I shouldn't descend to stereotyping women, but... Confirmed. Women and cars are a dysfunctional combination! Ha, there, I said it!
And to you who have a girlfriend who enjoys speed and cars my message is this: double-check for penis before proceeding!
I still love my girlfriend very, very much though!
-HS
Thoughts, experiences and comments all welcome!
News from our eastern neighbor: The Marussia B2
When you bring up Russia in a conversation it's not likely you're going to end up talking about cars. You'll end up somewhere way more... Russian. This time though, I will go there.
So what's interesting about a car made in Russia? Well, you'd be surprised. As history tells us, only moving things with engines to have come out of Russia have been the likes of Ladas, GAZ:s, ZIL:s and other soviet-era time machines, which are notoriously known for not making it up a hill and being overtaken by dogs. Cars, where, according to the manual, the most luxurious feature is the ability to open a side-window (yeah, that's Lada alright). Cars, that, because of their qualities, have become widely recognized synonyms for shit. Not a prestige-victory for the Russian automotive industry.
But this one is. It's the Marussia B2, and at this point you'll probably be asking "the what??" Firstly, I suspect you haven't heard of Marussia as a car-maker before. I know I haven't. Marussia is a relatively new car manufacturer, founded by the Russian millionaire/ex-race-car driver Nikolai Fomenko. Marussia has been affiliated with F1 for a couple of years now so you might have seen a sticker on an F1 car at some point, but it turns out to be quite a lot more than just a sticker on an F1-car.
What Marussia makes is a super-car, and, by the looks of it, not just a super-car. It's looks are quite resemblant to something that at some point might rise on its feet and enslave the human race.
Something that could've been built as a top secret weapons-experiment during the cold war. So quite cool, then. And what's even better, they'll be building it here, in Finland, at the same factory where currently the Fisker Karma is being made. This country really attracts the eccentric, it seems.
Production is due to start soon and the first Finnish B2:s will be rolling out of the factory in late 2012. The features you get to enjoy, provided you're brave enough to go near it, are 420 brutal Russian war-horses combined with a weight of just 1100 kilos, which should propel you from 0-62 in a respectable 3.8 fear-filled seconds.
I'm quite scared of this thing to be honest.
-HS
Cool, or Russian? What are your thoughts, dear readers?
So what's interesting about a car made in Russia? Well, you'd be surprised. As history tells us, only moving things with engines to have come out of Russia have been the likes of Ladas, GAZ:s, ZIL:s and other soviet-era time machines, which are notoriously known for not making it up a hill and being overtaken by dogs. Cars, where, according to the manual, the most luxurious feature is the ability to open a side-window (yeah, that's Lada alright). Cars, that, because of their qualities, have become widely recognized synonyms for shit. Not a prestige-victory for the Russian automotive industry.
But this one is. It's the Marussia B2, and at this point you'll probably be asking "the what??" Firstly, I suspect you haven't heard of Marussia as a car-maker before. I know I haven't. Marussia is a relatively new car manufacturer, founded by the Russian millionaire/ex-race-car driver Nikolai Fomenko. Marussia has been affiliated with F1 for a couple of years now so you might have seen a sticker on an F1 car at some point, but it turns out to be quite a lot more than just a sticker on an F1-car.
 |
| Notice that front-end looks like an 'M'? Coincidence? I think not. |
Something that could've been built as a top secret weapons-experiment during the cold war. So quite cool, then. And what's even better, they'll be building it here, in Finland, at the same factory where currently the Fisker Karma is being made. This country really attracts the eccentric, it seems.
Production is due to start soon and the first Finnish B2:s will be rolling out of the factory in late 2012. The features you get to enjoy, provided you're brave enough to go near it, are 420 brutal Russian war-horses combined with a weight of just 1100 kilos, which should propel you from 0-62 in a respectable 3.8 fear-filled seconds.
I'm quite scared of this thing to be honest.
-HS
Cool, or Russian? What are your thoughts, dear readers?
Video of the week: Beatyfully executed idiocy!
Okay, time for another one of my 'tube favorites!
This is a rare sight to be captured on camera, one which needs to be gently cherished and nurtured. A BMW in its natural habitat drifting on ze Bayerische alpenroads with a grace not even matched by the most accomplished ballet-dancers at the Metropolitan!
A marvellous display of skill, testies and idiocy. That very manly combination which usually results in something majestic or alternatively in someone getting seriously injured. But let's just focus on that majestic-part for now. Do I even have to explain myself anymore when I say I want a BMW? I think not.
Watch and feel how your pants start getting progressively more and more cramped around the genital area...
This is a rare sight to be captured on camera, one which needs to be gently cherished and nurtured. A BMW in its natural habitat drifting on ze Bayerische alpenroads with a grace not even matched by the most accomplished ballet-dancers at the Metropolitan!
A marvellous display of skill, testies and idiocy. That very manly combination which usually results in something majestic or alternatively in someone getting seriously injured. But let's just focus on that majestic-part for now. Do I even have to explain myself anymore when I say I want a BMW? I think not.
Watch and feel how your pants start getting progressively more and more cramped around the genital area...
Disclaimer: I can't be held responsible if you kill yourself while trying to take after this half God half man.
Nor do I advice doing this under any circumstances. Officially. *Insert trollface here*
P.S. Credits to alu57 on youtube for making and uploading this great video!
-HS
The BMW 116i on ze German autobahn
INTRODUCTION (skip this if you just want to hear about the car)
Yes, as the title suggests you're going to hear some thoughts on the little shoe-box called the 116i. Now get ready kids, grandpa is going to tell you a little story...
A few months ago I was offered an opportunity to go for a week-long trip to Austria, and because there was some driving on the autobahn and the magnificent Austrian mountain-roads involved I was more than happy to attend. The only let-down was that the car we'd be driving was one from the small cars' class (according to the rental-car company an Audi A3 1.2 TFSI or similar). So not a very enthusiastic ride to expect then. Kind of frustrating given the opportunity of having a go at the best driving-roads on earth, only it'd be in a sack of slow-moving crap. Well what could you do...
The flight was scheduled to arrive in Munich at noon, and so it did. Having done some paperwork at the rental-desk we got the key. There was BMW written on it. Wierd. I thaught we'd rented a small car...
As the key already promised, in the car-park we were in for a plesant surprise. Namely the key unlocked the doors for a pristine white 2011 BMW 1-series, I completely forgot those even existed! Still as unfamiliar as it was, I carefully dared hope for some proper driving after all! As said, the car was a brand new BMW 1-series, more specifically the baby 1-series, 116i with the 1.6 liter twinturbo engine and the 6-speed manual, and most importantly; rear wheel drive!
 |
| That face-lifted rear is so ugly it makes me want to cry |
THE CAR
Having gotten over the initial yay-moment we moved on to actually loading the car with our baggage. It turned out to be quite complicated. It wasn't really hatchback-practical as you'd expect from a hatchback, this. It seems Bayerische Motoren Werke never really intended this car to carry any sort of anything. But practicality wasn't a priority as far as I was concerned, so no worries.
Now finally everything was set for the main event. The actual driving. As I had never driven a BMW before I was pretty excited, I didn't really know what to expect.
The first thing that struck me when I sat in was the hugely racy driving-position for such a daily driver. At first it feels as if the seat just caves in under you when you sit down, it takes some getting used to to sit so low in the car. Not even my 205 GTi feels this "racy" to sit in. The funky driving-position (which I actually quite grew to like after a while) aside, the seats were very good for casual driving. Just tight enough to keep you in your seat at a bit friskier cornering-speeds and just casual enough to be perfectly comfortable during longer trips.
The rest of the interior-design can be described with one adjective, German. Meaning nothing to complain about really. Every button and dial feels crisp and there is quality written all over the interior in a monotonous German kind of way. BMW-style. One thing I especially liked though was the steering-wheel. Just gripping it gave me this warm cozy feeling inside, it really was that good. This far probably the best steering-wheel I've come across!
Okay, boring bits are covered. Now on to the important stuff. Getting the engine going was quite a hassle, to the point where me and the co-driver almost got into a slight fist-brawl due to differing views on how to get the damn thing moving. This was actually my first experience with key-less ignition, and it took a decent amount of time for this cave-man to figure it out. It turns out, that to start the car, you merely have to press the clutch-pedal and push the start-button. And at the time being, neither of us could figure out the part about the clutch-pedal.
So after roughly 20 minutes and big sweat-stains under my armpits reminding me of the painful starting-process we got the car going. It's amazing how silent the car runs. I actually had to check the rev-counter twice to confirm it was running at all. And consequentially, off we went.
It doesn't take long to notice this car is quite a pleasant driver. We had approximately a 300km drive to our destination in Austria, and the BMW was eating the kilometers eagerly on the Autobahn. It's quite impressive how stable this car felt even at speeds closing 200kph, only down-side though was the power, or the lack of it more specifically. It accelerates quite adequately for the daily drive to buy some milk, but the more demanding driver will certainly experience frequent moments of banging the steering-wheel in desperation while simultaneously shouting "COME ON, YOU STUPID CAR, GO SOMEWHERE!!!!". I certainly had a few of those moments myself.
Power aside, the engine is actually quite good. The twin-turbo engine makes for a constant torque all the way through the revs. There is no mentionable peak, it just torques like a lawnmower. The sound of the inline-four is a bit dreary though, but that can be forgiven because then again this car never was designed for the high-revving enthusiasts.
Now on to handling. What the 116i lacks in power it makes up for in the way it handles, and boy does it handle (for a daily driver)! I'm going to give this car the best compliment on steering I've given in a long time; I actually don't completely hate it. Even though it's got power-steering (as every other modern car) the feel is not totally ruined. In fact, it's quite nicely weighted and makes for a very joy-filled run through the mountain-roads, and the fact that it's rear wheel drive just adds that little extra fun-factor.
In normal mode I found it quite impossible to get the tail out but after having acquainted myself with the iDrive system (which was quite complex, given I don't speak German all that well) and explored it's many features I found something useful: the Sport+ mode. Or more precisely named, the tail-out mode. Especially in the snow. And oh' boy was it fun! The eaze in the way it drifts is something completely else, it never surprises, it never attacks, just soars smoothly sideways. In this car, no matter how hard you try, you're never going to get that feeling of the car trying to decapitate you if you poke it with a stick. I almost felt ashamed of drifting about in this car. Felt like I was committing sin, to describe this hear me out; Seeing somebody drift this mundane little shoe on wheels is like watching a responsible single mother of two who goes to church every Sunday suddenly make an appearance on girls gone wild. It's a pretty wild contrast, and quite awkward, but so very very entertaining! Your mind is feverishly trying to process the mental conflict.
But still the car manages it with flying colors, fun-factor established. Not bad for a car that looks like one of those orthopedic shoes!
 |
| See the resemblance? |
And the handling doesn't stop impressing when going front-end first either. This car corners effortlessly making for a rewarding drive when pushed just a teeny bit, though I would imagine when driving on the limit the feel goes a bit soft and under-steery. So this then really is a car you want to be behind the wheel in, not just because it's hidious on the outside and being inside will spare your eyeballs from bursting, but because of the sheer pleasure of driving it! It really is fun on a completely different level than any other similar cars, and I reckon if you've bought one of these instead of a Golf or KIA etc. you deserve a pat on the back!
This is a seriously good alternative for FWD hatchbacks, and if I was a young father right now I know I'd certainly get one, though one with a bigger engine of course.
Really good car, this! Looks are forgiven.
P.S. sorry for the crappy googled up pictures, my camera died early into the trip so I didn't manage any good pictures. I will redeem myself in the future!
AFTERTHOUGHTS
I risk being seen as Italy in WWII by saying this after years of proclaiming my undying hate for BMW's but I must get it out of my system. So here goes: that short trip made me a believer. A believer in the mighty three letters: BMW. I want one. I want one now! I seriously thought i'd never say this, especially on the internet, but BMW's are genuinely desirable cars, and that trip made me realize it! Only one phrase must be remembered when dealing with'em. Looks are forgiven. Exept for the E30, no forgiving to be done there allright! I think I'm going to sell one of my kidneys and get one. Expect a review on that soon!
Ain't prejudíce a bitch!
-HS
Comments and critique more than welcome!
HS on: Road-safety
Yesterday I caught a ride with my brother who was kind enough to take me to town. The trip was progressing, how should I express it? Quite rapidly. There is no other way to put this; he was driving like an idiot, ABS klinging to keep traction, traction-control flashing in every corner and so on.
A slight bloodpressure drop aside due to me being scared shitless, I survived the horror of being driven around by my brother. That trip made one question remain though. "Why do so many people drive like idiots?", why attack an icy corner at high speed if you don't absolutely have to? To me it seems to be all too common here in Finland that every time winter arrives people just keep driving like it's summer and let the computers sort out the weather. So why throw out common sense and take on the treacherous weather driving like an imbecile right there on the computer-enforced limit?
Only one answer comes to mind. Safety. Yes, safety. So what has safety got to do with my brother being an idiot on the road?
Let me explain. The thing is, safety has become a huge sector in the world of cars, even to such extent that some people seem to think common sense has been rendered unnecessary by all that safetystuff. Nowadays there are these omnipotent three-letter combinations for everything; ABS, DSC, DSTC, ESP, DAC, DBC etc.etc. And that's all great! Except it enables people to be dicks on the road.
I've noticed that people feel like they don't have to pay attention to driving anymore because they have those mystery three-letter combinations to bail'em out for their incompetence. And that's true, they do bail people out effectively, but the point is they allow them the arrogance to get in trouble in the first place.And that's nowhere near preventive. That's just more accidents waiting to happen. In fact the whole atmosphere concerning road-safety feeds people's arrogance, it's all too much focused around the cars and other variables instead of the one true fallacy: our stupidity. Or more precisely our blindness for that.
The most preventive thing would be to smack those idiots in the face with a wet cloth and give them a car without any safety-equipment featuring a big read sticker in the corner of the windscreen saying "Caution: If you drive like an idiot and f**k up, you die.". As simple as that. Driving demands a certain level of respect for the machine. Humbleness for the forces of nature. And provided you don't want to die you will drive with respect in such a car. Just remember this the next time you have a go in your euro-box.
Passive safety is where it's at!
-HS
A slight bloodpressure drop aside due to me being scared shitless, I survived the horror of being driven around by my brother. That trip made one question remain though. "Why do so many people drive like idiots?", why attack an icy corner at high speed if you don't absolutely have to? To me it seems to be all too common here in Finland that every time winter arrives people just keep driving like it's summer and let the computers sort out the weather. So why throw out common sense and take on the treacherous weather driving like an imbecile right there on the computer-enforced limit?
Only one answer comes to mind. Safety. Yes, safety. So what has safety got to do with my brother being an idiot on the road?
Let me explain. The thing is, safety has become a huge sector in the world of cars, even to such extent that some people seem to think common sense has been rendered unnecessary by all that safetystuff. Nowadays there are these omnipotent three-letter combinations for everything; ABS, DSC, DSTC, ESP, DAC, DBC etc.etc. And that's all great! Except it enables people to be dicks on the road.
I've noticed that people feel like they don't have to pay attention to driving anymore because they have those mystery three-letter combinations to bail'em out for their incompetence. And that's true, they do bail people out effectively, but the point is they allow them the arrogance to get in trouble in the first place.And that's nowhere near preventive. That's just more accidents waiting to happen. In fact the whole atmosphere concerning road-safety feeds people's arrogance, it's all too much focused around the cars and other variables instead of the one true fallacy: our stupidity. Or more precisely our blindness for that.
The most preventive thing would be to smack those idiots in the face with a wet cloth and give them a car without any safety-equipment featuring a big read sticker in the corner of the windscreen saying "Caution: If you drive like an idiot and f**k up, you die.". As simple as that. Driving demands a certain level of respect for the machine. Humbleness for the forces of nature. And provided you don't want to die you will drive with respect in such a car. Just remember this the next time you have a go in your euro-box.
Passive safety is where it's at!
-HS
Video of the week: Just to capture the soul of the 205 GTi...
Having written the piece on the 205 GTi, I remembered this clip. Got digging on the 'tube and found it, and the temptation to post it on petrolblogger was overwhelming... So here it is!
This is an advert from the 80's for the 205 GTi. Probably one of the more epic car-ads of history...
Just comes to show in which mindset the car was created. I think Peugeot simply asked a child "What do you want to see in a car-ad?". And here's the result: jet-fighters, ground-effect vehicles, aerial bombs... and the 205 GTi. It's just purebred french lunacy!
The awesome-factor of this ad is damn near maximum!
-HS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
-HS
Opinions, comments and critique more than welcome!
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) |
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. |
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! |
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!
The "getting started" post
Welcome future readers and carenthusiasts, to my new project; The Petrol Blogger.
A safe haven for pointless car-related bickering and factually questionable car-reviews. It will occasionally feature car-reviews on both new cars, old cars and rusted pieces of crap. Basically whatever we get our hands on "at the office"... This is my first project so let's just have fun with it, allright?
To start off with a blast I was thinking about doing a rerun of a classic. The definitive hot hatch, "the daddy"; Peugeot 205 GTi. So be expecting a report on how life with a 30-year old french car works out here in the north very soon...
-HS
P.S. All suggestions for improvements are welcome!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)