206 GTi 180 - Owners, I want your views please
Discussion
So, I'll start by saying I actually already own a 206 GTi. I bought a ratty but mechanically brilliant 206 GTi/S16 (138bhp) a couple of years back as a way of dipping a toe in the trackday scene. Turns out that I love the car and trackdays, but there are a few reasons why I want to trade up, so the 206 is up for sale and I'm scouting replacements.
Things I want to solve with this 'upgrade'...
I'm keen to hear ownership experiences from the few people who have actually lived with a GTi 180, particularly those who have tracked it.
(Before anyone says it, I wouldn't consider a Clio 172 because the driving position is horrendous)
Things I want to solve with this 'upgrade'...
- It's not exactly quick in a straight line
- It's been VERY stripped, and is a pain for doing 3hr+ drives to/from the track
- It's a bit too compromised to ever use around London (I'd like to at least have something that I could use occasionally)
I'm keen to hear ownership experiences from the few people who have actually lived with a GTi 180, particularly those who have tracked it.
(Before anyone says it, I wouldn't consider a Clio 172 because the driving position is horrendous)
If you think the 172 has a horrendous driving position, don't buy a GTI 180.
Having owned lots of performance pugs (309 gti, 306 gti x 3, 306 S16, RCZR), the worst was the 206 GTI 180 which I test drove and nearly bought, instead I saw sense and purchased a Subaru STI Spec C (new).
Now it seems a bit out of context comparing a Subaru with a 180, but put it this way, the 306 GTI-6's, much better car than the 180, the only thing the 180 has going for it is the engine, handling is ok, gearing is terrible, feet positioning is horrific (you have to twist your body to get them in), it really isn't a good car.
Having owned lots of performance pugs (309 gti, 306 gti x 3, 306 S16, RCZR), the worst was the 206 GTI 180 which I test drove and nearly bought, instead I saw sense and purchased a Subaru STI Spec C (new).
Now it seems a bit out of context comparing a Subaru with a 180, but put it this way, the 306 GTI-6's, much better car than the 180, the only thing the 180 has going for it is the engine, handling is ok, gearing is terrible, feet positioning is horrific (you have to twist your body to get them in), it really isn't a good car.
This review found pretty much what I did.
2nd gear is too long, you keep looking for 6th gear and really its no match for a GTI-6 which is a nicer car to drive.
When I did buy my first GTI-6 from the dealer, I was hooked in less than a minute, I knew the car would be mine, I was out in it 10 mins and back in to sign the paper work, with the 208 GTI 180... it left me feeling cold, if you are use to the position in the 206 then you shouldn't have any issues, its just everything else that's wrong with it, I had over an hours drive in a new one and it really didn't give me any warm fuzzy feeling that even a 100k+ mile 309 GTi did with a knackered rear beam.
Thankfully, the 206 allows left-foot braking, which makes things much more interesting. The brakes lasted well in our hands, despite copious use of the pedal on testing roads. Fade did eventually set in, but no earlier than some of its rivals, though the Honda Civic Type-R has a more durable set of stoppers. Likewise, the Civic's snappy gearchange remains peerless. The 206's five-speed 'box is slick and sporty enough, but could do with a sixth ratio for cruising. Additionally, we found second gear to be too high for quick driving on very twisty roads.
2nd gear is too long, you keep looking for 6th gear and really its no match for a GTI-6 which is a nicer car to drive.
When I did buy my first GTI-6 from the dealer, I was hooked in less than a minute, I knew the car would be mine, I was out in it 10 mins and back in to sign the paper work, with the 208 GTI 180... it left me feeling cold, if you are use to the position in the 206 then you shouldn't have any issues, its just everything else that's wrong with it, I had over an hours drive in a new one and it really didn't give me any warm fuzzy feeling that even a 100k+ mile 309 GTi did with a knackered rear beam.
Thankfully, the 206 allows left-foot braking, which makes things much more interesting. The brakes lasted well in our hands, despite copious use of the pedal on testing roads. Fade did eventually set in, but no earlier than some of its rivals, though the Honda Civic Type-R has a more durable set of stoppers. Likewise, the Civic's snappy gearchange remains peerless. The 206's five-speed 'box is slick and sporty enough, but could do with a sixth ratio for cruising. Additionally, we found second gear to be too high for quick driving on very twisty roads.
Thanks folks, and all fair points. I must say, the driving position is a moot point to me - my current 206 GTi track car is absolutely fine for me (6ft3), but it's on eBay because it's too stiff/loud/stripped to spend 3hrs each way to/from the track.
The comparisons with the GTi6 are interesting. I've never driven a 306 of any flavour, but I know it got a lot of plaudits from the motoring press. The challenge is that I can have a serviceable GTi 180 for less than half the price of an equivalent GTi6. And, without meaning to sound like a romantic, the prospect of turning a relatively unloved model into a dedicated track car bothers me much less...
The negatives about the 206 handling are a really interesting one.
My current GTi is very low and stiff, and is wearing 16" track rubber (R1Rs/NS2Rs). I find it to be a pretty good drive on track - plenty of grip from the front end, and VERY adjustable on the throttle in higher-speed corners. It really doesn't feel like a huge step down from my mk2 Golf GTi (which was polybushed and had adjustable Konis), albeit that car never saw a trackday. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think it deserves a lot of the criticism that it gets, and certainly not at the current price point.
The comparisons with the GTi6 are interesting. I've never driven a 306 of any flavour, but I know it got a lot of plaudits from the motoring press. The challenge is that I can have a serviceable GTi 180 for less than half the price of an equivalent GTi6. And, without meaning to sound like a romantic, the prospect of turning a relatively unloved model into a dedicated track car bothers me much less...
The negatives about the 206 handling are a really interesting one.
My current GTi is very low and stiff, and is wearing 16" track rubber (R1Rs/NS2Rs). I find it to be a pretty good drive on track - plenty of grip from the front end, and VERY adjustable on the throttle in higher-speed corners. It really doesn't feel like a huge step down from my mk2 Golf GTi (which was polybushed and had adjustable Konis), albeit that car never saw a trackday. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think it deserves a lot of the criticism that it gets, and certainly not at the current price point.
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