| Product: |
Peugeot 205 |
| Date: |
03.10.00 (1061 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Fast, sexy, reliable, cheap to buy - VFM
Disadvantages: Oil usage, theft, insurance, can be thrashed
There is only one word to describe the 205 GTi - AMAZING!! I dont own the car anymore, but when I did it was the best 2 years motoring I had known. I bought the car in '97. It was an 89 G Reg 1.6 in red and it cost £3,300 with 66k on the clock. I still remember picking it up from the garage, and driving the 60 miles back to my house. Initially it felt a bit wrong, but it just had a flat tyre. I fixed this on the way home, and the remaining 20 miles were marvellous. I even beat an RS Turbo on some twisty roads.
The 1.6 is a very fast little car, and the 1.9 is even better, though not quite as balanced, and a bit heavy on the steering.
I covered 30,000 miles in my car, with the majority being motorway miles commuting 150 miles per day. I looked after the car, and the engine, and regularly used Redex injection cleaner whilst commuting. This gave me an unbelievable 45mpg!!! And I had it modified as well, with performance plugs, JR induction kit, and straight through Group A exhaust. The car was very reliable, and I only spent £300 on bits during the time I owned it, and this was for usual things such as the water pump, radiator, CV joints etc. However when I sold it it did need the gearbox overalling, as synchro had gone in second gear - this is a common problem on the GTi's though so check it if you are buying.
The interior was great, and the seats were very supportive. I particularly liked the driving position, though the radio is a bit awkward to get to.
To look at, the 205 GTi is great - the classic Pininfarina lines, and not-too-over-the-top body mouldings really add to the style of the car, and the overall experience of owing one is fantastic. I can afford a new car now, and was going to buy an Impreza, but I am seriously considering another GTi, perhaps a clean, and newer 1.9 this time. They are really great value for money, if you can find a good one, at the moment.
The only downside to the car
was that it guzzled through oil at a rate of knots, but this may have been due to the water pump going earlier on, and me not noticing until the temp guage was in the red.
Overall a great, fun, reliable, and fast car to own. Do listen to the tales about them though - they really can kick you if you come off the throttle mid bend, but you have to be going some.
However, I did mention the radio being awkward to get too - 1 week after I sold it, the guy who bought it (for £2,500 no less) wrote it off after driving into a wagon - trying to adjust the stereo!!!!!!
Summary:
|
|
