Clio Williams or Peugeot 205 Gti - Which is Best?
Discussion
I like both!
Test drove a 1.9 205 Gti last year, nearly bought it. Never driven a Williams.
Looking for a 2nd car for a bit of retro fun. Both seem to tick the boxes.
Wish list:
Old school fun
Zero depreciation - got about 3 grand to spend
Air con (not a deal breaker as so rare on 205, not sure if an option on Williams)
4 seats, sunroof preferred
Not too shabby on the occasional motorway blast
Test drove a 1.9 205 Gti last year, nearly bought it. Never driven a Williams.
Looking for a 2nd car for a bit of retro fun. Both seem to tick the boxes.
Wish list:
Old school fun
Zero depreciation - got about 3 grand to spend
Air con (not a deal breaker as so rare on 205, not sure if an option on Williams)
4 seats, sunroof preferred
Not too shabby on the occasional motorway blast
Edited by Dave80s on Friday 14th January 12:24
Both good fun to have if you can find a decent one. Having had all the 205 models and a Williams I'd chose the Williams.
The Williams is significantly better handling car, also quicker, and of course newer, but more expensive to buy.
I had a Williams 3 that the previous owner had brought up to near perfect condition and I was very impressed by the handling, the engine, and the way it seemed to extract every last bit of grip available from the tyres whilst still being compliant at the same time, it was amazing fun on twisty roads (it had toyo 888 tyres so plenty of grip). The engine had decent low down grunt plus a real extra push at the top end so it felt really quick for an old car.
At the same time I had a 182 clio cup which felt a bit quicker than the williams but was not as much fun and didnt have the handling or the character of the older one. At the same time I also had a 205 gti 1.6 track day car which was nowhere near as quick as the Williams and the handling of the 205 is fun but not the same level as the Williams (but still great fun to play around with). The 1.9 gti gets closer to the williams power but still not as quick you'd need to get an Mi16 to have the same feeling but it would always lack that special handling of the Williams.
My favourite 205 was the basic 1.6 115 bhp model no elecs or pas made them very light and super resonsive to drive, I had a one owner low mileage one that drove like new, no mods, and it was a hoot. Finding one like that might be difficult now though!
Old age means the best choice probably comes down more to the condition of the individual cars you are looking at rather than the difference between the models.
Ps sorry but we are talking about 20 yr old frech hatch backs here;
they dont come with aircon (and even if it did it wouldnt work by now!)
if they have a sunroof it will leak or not work, better of without.
The Williams is significantly better handling car, also quicker, and of course newer, but more expensive to buy.
I had a Williams 3 that the previous owner had brought up to near perfect condition and I was very impressed by the handling, the engine, and the way it seemed to extract every last bit of grip available from the tyres whilst still being compliant at the same time, it was amazing fun on twisty roads (it had toyo 888 tyres so plenty of grip). The engine had decent low down grunt plus a real extra push at the top end so it felt really quick for an old car.
At the same time I had a 182 clio cup which felt a bit quicker than the williams but was not as much fun and didnt have the handling or the character of the older one. At the same time I also had a 205 gti 1.6 track day car which was nowhere near as quick as the Williams and the handling of the 205 is fun but not the same level as the Williams (but still great fun to play around with). The 1.9 gti gets closer to the williams power but still not as quick you'd need to get an Mi16 to have the same feeling but it would always lack that special handling of the Williams.
My favourite 205 was the basic 1.6 115 bhp model no elecs or pas made them very light and super resonsive to drive, I had a one owner low mileage one that drove like new, no mods, and it was a hoot. Finding one like that might be difficult now though!
Old age means the best choice probably comes down more to the condition of the individual cars you are looking at rather than the difference between the models.
Ps sorry but we are talking about 20 yr old frech hatch backs here;
they dont come with aircon (and even if it did it wouldnt work by now!)
if they have a sunroof it will leak or not work, better of without.
Edited by rallycross on Friday 14th January 12:41
Of the two I think the GTi is more resistant to rot but the shell is prone to stress fractures if hammered. I had a 1.9 Gti pre cat and it was fun but think the willy will be more in keeping with modern hatch feel and performance so less likely to be a disapointment if the rose tinted specs are fading.
The Clio will be a nicer car to live with...electric windows, sunroof, RC locking, comfy seats, remote stereo controls, lots of manly dashboard gauges etc. The Pug was a little too 'base model' for my liking.
The Clio will have some nice little touches like one click electric window open/close on the drivers side, interior light with soft fade out...little things that are usually reserved for executive cars.
The Clio will have some nice little touches like one click electric window open/close on the drivers side, interior light with soft fade out...little things that are usually reserved for executive cars.
I've a very clean 205 1.9 that needs to go in the classifieds at some point. Unfortunately your budget is about £1000 more than I think the car is worth.
eta. Hard for me to say 205 as I'm selling mine, but it was my choice last year
Unfortunately I never get time to use it.
eta. Hard for me to say 205 as I'm selling mine, but it was my choice last year
Unfortunately I never get time to use it. Edited by Simond S on Friday 14th January 12:54
205!
Grab a 1.9 though!
I had both the 1.6 and a 1.9. I would aim for a facelift version of the 1.9. It was a fantastic car, only problem i had with it was driver error causing a nice spin into a bridge
The one i had, had central locking and electric windows. I think the only thing the Clio will have over the 205 is the stereo control on the steering wheel. I wouldnt worry about that though!
Finding a good one is a bit of an issue though i started looking for another again for a laugh, but i didnt manage to find a good one. If it comes up buy it!!!!
Another thing, there are ALOT of Mi16's going around, probably half the 205 population are now Mi's. These are pretty darn fast!!!!!!
It should have better fuel economy as than the 8v, it should also be more reliable if done properly.
If i had my choice, i would go buy a Mi16 that had been converted from a 1.9 in white with no sunroof.
Grab a 1.9 though!
I had both the 1.6 and a 1.9. I would aim for a facelift version of the 1.9. It was a fantastic car, only problem i had with it was driver error causing a nice spin into a bridge
The one i had, had central locking and electric windows. I think the only thing the Clio will have over the 205 is the stereo control on the steering wheel. I wouldnt worry about that though!
Finding a good one is a bit of an issue though i started looking for another again for a laugh, but i didnt manage to find a good one. If it comes up buy it!!!!
Another thing, there are ALOT of Mi16's going around, probably half the 205 population are now Mi's. These are pretty darn fast!!!!!!
It should have better fuel economy as than the 8v, it should also be more reliable if done properly.
If i had my choice, i would go buy a Mi16 that had been converted from a 1.9 in white with no sunroof.
useyourdellusion said:
I think your biggest struggle will be to find a good one of either.
I'd take the first good one that came along, wouldn't matter which one.
mental money but...I'd take the first good one that came along, wouldn't matter which one.
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