Peugeot 205 GTI advice

[chevronb37]

Hi chaps,

I am starting to seriously look at 1.9GTIs to replace my tired old Clio as my daily driver. Before I go and look at any, I wanted to seek a bit of advice on what to look out for. What are the common faults and what might cost me a shedload of cash? Any advice at all would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Andy

[number2301]

Look for leaking from the sunroof (easy fix) or a wet lining under the carpets in the footwell (not as easy).

Watch the idle, the engine management on these is awful, you can get kangarooing at low throttle, stalling on the overrun, hunting for idle and hesitation at particular revs. Any of those can be a tt to track down and possibly expensive.

Check the rear beam, there shouldn't be any play in the trailing arms and the wheels should be even side to side in terms of camber. If there are any noises from the rear beam or other signs of issues it's usually scrap by that point. A nice refurbed one will be £400.

It should go into gear nicely and pull right the way until the rev limiter in 5th.

You'll likely have rust and cracks around the rear quarter panel, at the top, bottom and in the door shut. This isn't actually an awfully big deal (it's mostly just filler) but doesn't look nice and is expensive to fix.

The blowers tend to be dodgy, they're quite easy to get out but finding a decent replacement would be difficult.

Anything else would be reasonably easy to fix. But I really wouldn't recommend a 205 as a daily drive unless you're handy with a spanner and have got the time to spend on the little niggles and things which fall off.

A 106 GTI/Saxo VTS would be a better bet, 90% of the fun with only 20% of the hassle. And that's coming from someone who's had both a 205 and a 106 as a daily and would choose the 205 for a fun car every time.

[BazT]

Why 1.9s?

Don't rule out 1.6's, more often they're as good if not better, a good 1.6 will be better in many ways than the majority of tired/thrashed 1.9s. Closer gearbox, lighter flywheel, rear brakes that work...

It's only really the leather and wheels that differ, and they're not hard to retro-fit.

[number2301]

I broadly agree with the above, buy on condition not on engine size as there's not much in it. Although to quote the 205GTIDrivers forum -

Richie from 205GTIDrivers.com said:

when you get chatting to people in petrol stations and they say "Nice car mate, don't see many of them, is that the 1.6 or the 1.9?", you can look them right in the eyes and say "the 1.9" with a nod, instead of dissaspointing them with "its only the 1.6". Be a man. I eat yorkies, mccoys, and drive a 1.9, because im so alpha.

[BazT]

Whilst funny yes, it's complete b0llocks though, who cares about stuff like that other than fag hags and the un-educated.

It's all the more fun when the guy in the faster car says, 'what the hell's in that?' after you've made him look silly, and you say 'like the badge says, just a 1.6 8v'. They really are that good.

[number2301]

It is bks but some people like me are sad enough to care about things like that. I dunno I just wouldn't be satisfied with second best even if it's not really any worse.

I wouldn't be happy with a 1.6 or a 309 same as I wouldn't be happy with a Pulsar over an Integrale.

Bit shallow I guess but what can you do

[MrChips]

number2301 said:

It is bks but some people like me are sad enough to care about things like that. I dunno I just wouldn't be satisfied with second best even if it's not really any worse.

I wouldn't be happy with a 1.6 or a 309 same as I wouldn't be happy with a Pulsar over an Integrale.

Bit shallow I guess but what can you do

What happens when an mi16 pulls up next to you then? I do sort of see your point, but there's always someone with a better, faster, cleaner, nicer car etc etc so just get whatever suits your needs......... i.e. an mi16

[shimmey69]

MrChips said:

number2301 said:

It is bks but some people like me are sad enough to care about things like that. I dunno I just wouldn't be satisfied with second best even if it's not really any worse.

I wouldn't be happy with a 1.6 or a 309 same as I wouldn't be happy with a Pulsar over an Integrale.

Bit shallow I guess but what can you do

What happens when an mi16 pulls up next to you then? I do sort of see your point, but there's always someone with a better, faster, cleaner, nicer car etc etc so just get whatever suits your needs......... i.e. an mi16

Well the mi16 IS a 1.9!!!!! LOL

[number2301]

Incidentally mine is now an Mi but that's besides the point, out of the standard GTIs the 1.9 is top of the range. Sure there'll always be someone who's dropped a v6 in or turboed it but you're at least starting from the best standard car.

[jord294]

please don't rule out the 309 gti aswell

can be bought for a lot less than a 205 gti and just as much fun

[chevronb37]

jord294 said:

please don't rule out the 309 gti aswell

can be bought for a lot less than a 205 gti and just as much fun

My old man had two when I was growing up - great cars. My mum had a 1.6 GTI at the same time so I'm not unfamiliar with them. I'm also having a look at a 306 Rallye as well. Keep the advice coming though - I want to learn what I can. Thanks, chaps.

[andyjpug]

jord294 said:

please don't rule out the 309 gti aswell

can be bought for a lot less than a 205 gti and just as much fun

Yes, maybe true, but a lot of them are rust buckets!

One of the great things about 205s though is that although bits do fail on a regular basis, they are cheap, easy to get hold of, you can use parts from loads of other Peugeot/Citroen models and they easy to work on.

So, buy a 205 and a 309 for the spares

Mine looks like a pretty standard lowered 1.6, still with the 1.6 pillar badges, but actually virtually every single mechanical part has been changed and/or uprated and it's 2.0.

Edited by andyjpug on Monday 8th February 07:58

[Simes205]

www.205gtidrivers.com

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index.php?

[mattwills]

I had a 205 gti 1.9 as my daily driver for over 2 years and got to say i loved the car! done about 25K miles in it, only got rid of it in Nov.
Dont just buy the first one you see, spend alot time looking around, get one thats standard with good service history.

[jord294]

g and h reg cars seem to be the best year cars to buy

for some reason they tend to have less rust and rot than other years

wish i hadn't sold my g plate now

[dtoru]

I love my 205 GTI although some what different as now running a 2.1 turbo diesel lump lol. great fun handle well but you can get carryed away car cost me £350 to purchase and have spent well over £15000 on it lol.

Get one you wont look back, the only thing is they tend to get lots of annoying little faults!.

[dtoru]

A Piccy from last years Alternate Engery Racing at Santa Pod, Ran 14.5 as no gas and on 100% veg oil and shot turbo lol.

[dimmamike]

jord294 said:

g and h reg cars seem to be the best year cars to buy

for some reason they tend to have less rust and rot than other years

wish i hadn't sold my g plate now

i wouldnt claim that those years would have less rust, just because you had a nice one once! Go for a 1.9, you have discs all round, bigger wheels, and better performance. Also leather interior. Ive had about 10 205s now, and im just 25, i currently have a 1.9 with the dimma factory bodykit fitted. I love 205s that much i buried one in my garden!

[jord294]

dimmamike said:

i wouldnt claim that those years would have less rust, just because you had a nice one once! Go for a 1.9, you have discs all round, bigger wheels, and better performance. Also leather interior. Ive had about 10 205s now, and im just 25, i currently have a 1.9 with the dimma factory bodykit fitted. I love 205s that much i buried one in my garden!

ok then. from my experience, i have found that cars of them years are more sound than especially the later ones

[BazT]

dimmamike said:

Go for a 1.9, you have discs all round, bigger wheels, and better performance. Also leather interior.

To be frank, that's b0llocks.