Peugeot 205 Gti Review

Overall Rating

Fast, nimble machine.
The harder it's driven, the better it responds.
Engine is mechanically strong.

Feels a bit flakey and unrefined.
Can be lumpy at idle
You need large hary castanets to truely get the best from the car
The 2nd Hand market for Peugeot servicing, particularly 205's has a huge number of cowboys

I have had my F reg Peugeot 205 Gti since year 2000. And it is a lot of fun to drive. But, before I bought it many cowboy outfits had tried to 'improve it'. Items like really low springs, power boost valves, etc do not help performance, ride, handling or comfort. If yours has these get rid of them. You'll be surprised. Honest. And if you don't believe me then go to Castle Combe and watch the 205's race and beat the Impreza's and later Peugeot's as they go around the track. Those cars aren't that low and they don't have the gimmicks either.

The engine has non-hydraulic tappets and so the top end should sound rattly. The valve guides tend to wear out at around 80,000 miles. And these are cheap to replace. Anyone who quotes you a large bill is ripping you off. If the engine uses oil it's probably the valves that have gone. Other than this annoying niggle the engine is bullet proof. I should know. I ran my engine without oil from Bristol to Alton! By accident of course!! But... replaced valves and a new oil fill later the car is running as sweet as a nut!

An average condition 1.6 produces very similar power to a 1.9 so if you're in the market for one and you haven't had a 205 before you'll get equal pleasure from either. But, the gearbox in the 1.9 will make motorway driving more relaxing.

The car doesn't leak but, rain water will form in the passenger footwell if left out in a heavy soak. It comes in from the vent under the windscreen scuttle on the passenger side. This is a design fault of the car.

If you want cheap insurance for these vehicles I recommend the following. Get yourself a racing license. Go to a specialist insurer and get a limited road milage policy. My vehicle is very heavily modified - 192.8bhp from an 8valve! Doing the above cut the cost of insurance from £2,500pa fully comp to less than £750pa fully comp. This is for a 5000 mile policy. The cost of the race license is around £250.

As for practicality - the boot is tiny but I have travelled the length and breadth of the UK with 4 adults very comfortably.

I hope you find this review useful.

Members' Comments onedalbridge's Review

• Damian L on 26th Apr 2006

  You ran your engine without oil from Bristol to Alton? And it still worked afterwards? I ran mine the distance it tooked to decelerate to a standstill after an oil hose detached itself at 90 mph. That was sufficient to wreck the engine, which required nearly 2 grand's worth of repairs.