Am I mad? 205 1.6 GTi for 10 mile round commute

[BenjC]

Here is the thing - currently I walk 15 minutes to the station and back to start and finish my daily commute.

However in February I am going to be moving so changing that walk to a drive.

Now, I am thinking that I could potentially pick up a reasonable/tidy-ish 1.6 GTi for £1.2k and as my new place has a lovely double garage I can spend my free time tinkering, fixing, servicing and restoring said piece of automotive history.

What I would like to know is how mechanically sound are these beasties? I know they rattle and squeak inside and that they are late 80’s tech but I am used to that and have enough car maintenance experience to carry services and simple mechanical repairs.

Other than the trip to and from the station daily it would be used for the odd track day and perhaps a trip to France here and there.

So really it would be a toy for me that would get me to the station and back 4 times a week.

Am I mad? Will I be forever ordering spare parts of ebay? Will my wife be regularly having to get up at 6.30am to take me to the station whilst cursing a sick Pug and me?

What are the general experiences of those who use these as daily drivers?

I am at the start of my search so any pointers/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ben

[GingerRob]

If you want to do the car up aswell are you really sure you want to leave it on the station car park, why not get a scooter or pedal bike it?

[sleep envy]

I've had three 1.9 gti and covered well in excess of 100k miles in them

not once have I been left stranded by the side of the road or have they failed to start during the darkest, wettest, coldest times of the year

they have crap heaters so take aaaaages to get up to temp and it wasn't uncommon for me to scrape ice off the inside of the windscreen as well as the outside

bits of trim would regularly collect in the footwells as I'd go round corners but the level of interior trim squeaking never increased and nor did anything stop working (bar the digital clock)

had the odd issue (impellor from the fan working loose, dodgy MAF, holed rad) but nothing that cost megga amounts to fix and finally solved how to get a tankful of fuel without it taking half an hour (the breather pipes collapse as they pass through the inner wing)

would I do a long drive in one?

well I have in the past but I wouldn't bother now as I have something far more suitable for that kind of journey

would I do track days in one?



would I have a fourth?

oh

[BenjC]

GingerRob said:

If you want to do the car up aswell are you really sure you want to leave it on the station car park, why not get a scooter or pedal bike it?

Ah, yes, I should add, it would not be left at the station, but at a friends house out of harms way.

I had thought of a scooter - however I am a clutz at the best of times, I would give it 2 months before a "countryside lie down" would occur.

Push bike is out I am afraid, it would be a good 30 minutes cycle on top of a 1hr 10 commute - so the choice is a £500 shed or something that will keep me interested.

Cheers.

[GingerRob]

Well as ur not leaving it at the station that's ok then lol might be better to buy tidist one you can afford to save mony when doing it up?

[BenjC]

sleep envy said:

I've had three 1.9 gti

[snip}

would I do track days in one?



would I have a fourth?

oh

Thanks SE - that is precisly the type of feedback I am looking for. Very useful. Ben

[andye30m3]

I've had two 1.6 GTI's both have been very cheap run arounds / track cars.

First one was £120 and the second was £250 so they weren't the best available. I can't remember either of them letting me down, things would occasionally things would stop working but nothing which stop the car from driving, when the central locking stop working it all got removed.

As a trackday car they are slightly under powered but good fun and with a decent suspension set up are quick enough.

I suppose the other alternative would be a phase 1 clio 172 although slightly more money.

[r1ch]

To be honest i think providing you get a looked after example with plenty of history it won't put a foot wrong.

I've had four 205's in various guises (2x 1.9 gti's) and covered probably 60-80k miles in them and they've been fine. Once got stuck stranded because the fuel pump relay died but thats about it. I'd go as far to say my 205's have been very reliable cars. You cant beat the bang for your buck with a 205 gti. Just don't get a stter.

[Alexbturbo]

You're not mad at all

I picked up a 1.9 last November to use as a runaround & commuter car - during that time i've been acquiring the odd parts here & there as i also wanted to tidy the car up at the same time as using it.

1 year on and it's still going strong and has never let me down in that time.

Buy a good example and look after it & it wont let you down

[Jamesf288]

Do it.

I ran my 1.9 GTI for over a year and used to do 100 miles every week, along with several trips from Berkshire to n.Wales, without any major problems.

They're old cars now, so with that you accept that things will need replacing more often, but as long as you keep on top of it, they're an absolute joy.

[HereBeMonsters]

Don't want to discourage you from buying a great car, but please don't leave it in the station carpark.

[BenjC]

Thanks for all the feedback guys - As ever Pistonheads has come up trumps.

Looks like I will shopping for a new toy in Jan!!

[number2301]

Looks like you've already made the right decision but having owned 4 1.9ss I can say they have rarely/never broken down without warning. Look after them, undertake preventative maintenance, fix what goes wrong (which is nice and cheap) and you'll be alright.

I would suggest that the only thing which would get irritating for the kind of use you're talking about is the engine management. It's st at the best of times but in traffic it really gets on your nerves.

Mind, that can always be fixed quite easily and cheaply with a Motronic conversion.

[BazT]

Whereas i disagree, although they're not the nicest cars to drive in traffic i'd agree, they're not that bad, particularly when all the ignition/management components are in good order and it's well set-up, and maybe that the clutch and related items aren't a million miles old also, you'll get along just fine.

Coming from 40+ 205's over the best part of 10 years and currently having 8 of them, i think it's safe to say i'm fairly acquainted! So yes, i'd recommend one!

[lamby_gti]

Here's one for you -

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...