Peugeot 205 GTi

Peugeot 205 GTi Review 1984

2012-04-07T03:12:00.003-07:00

There can be no doubt that the outward similarity of the Peugeot 205 GTi and Peugeot’s Group B rally weapon, the Turbo 16, is due to more than coincidence. But for most sporting drivers, the 205 GTi is about as close as they’re going to get to Peugeot’s compact but potent contender for World Rally Championship honours.

Peugeot 205 GTi 1984

Although the hot hatch GTi is the first 205 to appear in three-door form, it is clear that from the outset the range was intended to contain both three- and five-door versions which would accept a wide variety of power units and suspension systems. This is by far the most fun.

What most obviously sets the GTi apart is the installation of the 1580cc XU5J engine, a fuel-injected unit producing 105bhp at 6250rpm, 99lb ft of torque at 4000rpm and working on a higher 10.2 to 1 compression ratio.
The suspension has stiffer coil springs, uprated dampers, strengthened mounting points and a front anti-roll bar. Brakes are healthy 9.7in ventilated discs at the front and 7in drums at the rear. Completing the picture are 51/2x14 in light alloy wheels, similar in design to the T16’s, wearing 185/60 R14 Michelin MXV low-profile tyres.

Power delivery from the 1580cc XU5J engine proved sparkling, adding to the car’s tremendous nippiness. From rest, 60mph was dispatched in an impressive 8.6sec while the 116mph top speed vies with the Escort XR3i and Astra GTE for class honours. There are no flat spots or obvious holes in the power delivery – a point underlined by the consistent in- gear incremental acceleration time in the all important mid-range. The gearshift is exceptionally light and slick and arguably the nicest of all the hot hatch gear changes. No argument about the chassis, though: the 205 GTi sets new standards for responsiveness.

It has tremendous front-end grip and traction, very little body roll in hard cornering, and because of its stiff springing and fairly strong damping, virtually no pitch during hard acceleration or braking. Combine this ‘flatness’ in road behaviour with steering which, despite a fairly normal 3.8 turns lock-to-lock, seems to have a very quick response either side of the straight-ahead position, and you have a car which is an extremely neutral handler in most circumstances. It is, though, prone to oversteer if you lift-off on the limit. In the main the ride is well controlled over most bumps with a marked absence of any sort of crashing, jarring reactions. At the same time it can feel quite coarse and fidgety on some types of road surface.

With the exception of different front seats, steering wheel and instrumentation, the layout of the 205 GTi is the same as other 205s, the only slight complaint being that the thick-rimmed steering wheel gets in the way of the two smaller gauges on the left side of the binnacle. The front seats are a definite improvement on other 205s with good vertical and lateral support. They seem to be spoiled for tall drivers, though, by the low-set, somewhat distant position of the steering wheel which promoted a rather hunched driving position. In the back headroom is good, though legroom is limited if a tall driver and passenger are sitting in the front. An average consumption of 29.5mpg is quite competitive for a hot hatch and points to a range of over 300 miles on an 11-gallon tankful of four-star.

There can be little doubt that the Peugeot 205 GTi offers exceptionally good value for money. Granted it doesn’t have quite the passenger and luggage carrying capacity of the Astra GTE, Escort XR3i or Golf GTi, but it will easily keep up with them, both in a straight line as well as around corners, and it is notably cheaper. Our choice, then, for the top of this group has to be jointly the Peugeot, for the reasons already stated, and the fuel-injected Vauxhall Astra GTE for its excellent ride and handling compromise.

This was the original review by Auto Car in June 1984.

205 T16 Turbo 16

2012-03-31T08:14:00.001-07:00

To homologate the 205 T16 ("Turbo 16" in France) Group B rally car, Peugeot had to produce 200 road-going examples. A photograph showing the 200 cars was famously rumoured to be a fake^.Apart from the appearance, the road variants had practically nothing in common with the regular production model and shared the transverse mid-engine, four-wheel drive layout of the rally car, but had less than half the power; at around 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp).

The T was for Turbo; the 16 stands for 16 valves. The road going Turbo 16 205s were built by Heuliez. Outwardly similar to a normal 205, the T16 had wider wheel arches, and the whole rear section lifted up to give access to the engine. Underneath, the complex drivetrain from the rally car was kept to abide by the Group B rules. All 200 built were left-hand drive. More on the Peugeot 205 T16 Turbo 16

Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Rally

Peugeot 205 Gentry

2012-03-31T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Gentry was a limited edition 205, although arguably not a GTI model at all, as it used the track control arm front suspension of the regular 205 rather than the GTI's 'wishbone' design and a detuned 105 bhp (78 kW; 106 PS) 1.9 engine with auto gearbox. Only 300 models were made in Sorrento Green and Aztec Gold (sometimes called Mayfair Beige). More on the Peugeot 205 Gentry

Paris Motorshow

They came with full-leather and wood effect interior, power assisted steering, ABS and heated mirrors. The Gentry came with the same body side trims as the GTI, which led to the Gentry often being mistaken for a GTI.

Peugeot 205 GTi

2012-03-31T07:00:00.004-07:00

The GTI version came in 1.6-litre and 1.9-litre, in-line four cylinder configurations, and is considered one of the very best hot hatches of all time. Compared to modern cars they can be tricky to handle, due to their tendency towards lift-off oversteer and an absence of electronic driver aids. However these cars are still known to offer a very rewarding driving experience. Read more about the Peugeot 205 GTi

Paris 1985. Where do I sign!

Peugeot 205 Rallye

2012-03-31T06:39:00.001-07:00

From 1988 to 1992 Peugeot produced another variant of the 205, the 205 Rallye, which was engineered and produced by Peugeot-Talbot sport. This edition of the 205 was positioned as a cost effective alternative to the 205 GTI, retaining its sporty character, but being less expensive to buy and maintain. More on the Peugeot 205 Rallye

Show Time!

2012-03-31T03:07:00.000-07:00

Wheeler Dealers 205 GTi

2012-03-31T02:54:00.001-07:00

Mike Brewer and Edd China purchased a beat up old Peugeot 205 GTi and restored it as part of the TV series ‘Wheeler Dealers’ aired on TV 30^TH December 2004.

Mike Brewer buys the 205 GTi for a grand!

Edd China changing the cambelt

The finished car

The mint condition 205 GTi Mike Brewer drove during the show

It doesn't get much better than this!

205 GTi 1FM

2012-03-28T02:42:00.001-07:00

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the launch of BBC Radio 1FM, Peugeot linked up with the BBC station to produce a limited run of 25 individually numbered cars boasting a range of additional features on top of the already high specification. Only 25 of these models were made to commemorate BBC Radio 1FM’s 25th Birthday in 1992, making the 205 1FM one of the rarest 205 variants. Each car was individually numbered with a range of additional 1FM features providing a higher specification. For more details on the 1FM 205GTI1FM

Peugeot 205 GTi 1FM

Only 25 of these cars were ever made by Peugeot

Ideal Project

2012-03-26T09:57:00.002-07:00

I’m not sure even ‘West Coast Customs’ could save this one!

How low can you go?

205 GTi Breaking

2012-03-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Peugeot 205 GTi is fondly remembered by most as one of the best hot hatches of the 80s. Now an iconic car with a wide and varied ownership. There are few good original ones left as most have been scrapped, stolen or left to rot by multiple owners who eventually realise they are more valuable stripped down for spare parts.

Surely one to be saved.......

There seems to be an abundance of spares available if you look around and Peugeot dealers still have access to certain parts too, so it’s always worth checking before buying that ‘rare and hard to find part’.

Maybe save the rear quarter badges!