Is The Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 Really The Greatest Hot Hatch of All Time? 

I had the 1.9 GTi when I was 20 and drove like a nutcase. Happiest days of my life 😂

I do love an 80's/90's Hot Hatch. More than modern day supercars these days.

The entire 205 range were perfect, even the diesels.

Who doesn't love a 205 GTI? That noise as well!

This thing brings back nostalgia for the 80s/early 90s. Just that design, the thought put into it, what it means and represents... It's also got an unmistakable Frenchness to it.

Had a 1991 graphite grey 1.6 gti 20 years ago, was one of the most fun cars I've driven and owned. You don't need mega power to enjoy a drive esp on a good country road.

This is such a go cart - so much fun to drive and very forgiving. I profess no great skill as a driver but the modest skill I do claim can be attributed to owning this wee beastie.

Thanks for the nostalgia JM. I owned 2 of these one after the other in the late 80s. I lived in Norfolk which had some fabulous roads to enjoy the 205 GTI. Cracking little cars.

That brought back memories. I worked as a sales ‘executive’ at Stag Hill Motors in Godalming in the early nineties and drove, and sold, loads of 205 GTi’s. I even had a 1.9 demonstrator with PAS in the same colour as your friend’s car, Topaz Blue metallic as I recall. For me the 1.9 was the one to have, weighing so little that extra 15bhp really did make a difference.

10-20k! so pleased I had one of these back in the early 2000's I payed £600 for a Sorrento green 1.6 GTi loved it at the time

Had 8 of them. They are pretty amazing, 1.6 rear drums for that sweet sweet hand brake turn

I had a brand new one in 88 replacing my 944 and on a tight bendy road it was unbeatable keep in screaming and you could not help but smile just brilliant

1.6 had shorter gear ratios I think, 1.9 was longer so better for motorway etc. 1.6 had drum rear brakes, 1.9 discs. One of my best mates had a 1.9 my dad restored, his sister then got a 1.6, both fun cars in their own right (he liked both and I've driven both)... I'd have said 1.9 if you asked me originally, but the advice on the forums seems to be to try both and see which suits you best. They're getting to be serious £ now though and as ever it's hard to find one that's not been front ended (no abs, check wing mounting bolts/for signs of front end damage) or messed about/badly modded

One of the most fun you can have in a car, doesn't matter where you're coming from

Had a 1.9. Loved it. Steel block alloy head so head gasket a certain if not warmed up properly! And 14” pepper pots were the copy of the T16 rally car. Ace.

I just saved this to my watch later but have to comment now because even now, at 45 years old and fortunate enough to enough some lovely metal, I’m a huge hot hatch fan. And yes, the 205 GTi 1.6 is on of the greats, but the Clio Williams (IMHO) is the greatest. Except maybe for that Fiat Strada Abarth I used to own…. Actually no, the Citroen AX GTi! Actually no, the 205 GTi 1.9. Then again I loved the Golf GTi Mk2 16v…. Nope, it was definitely the Williams. I am looking forward to watching this later, love hot hatches. 👌🏼

Have had a few 205 GTI's and yes, the 1.6 was the better more fun to drive. Feels like your doing 120mph when in reality it's just 60!

purchased a 1.9 GTI 6 years ago and the love for this car is still growing!

A very good car. The 205GTI was and is amazing to drive- reliable too if looked after. Peugeot don't build exciting cars these days. They are just boring unreliable boxes. I have a Suzuki Cappuccino which is great to drive and Cappuccinos can still be purchased at reasonable prices.

I could listen to this motor all day!

Fun factor always beats fast factor. Great having loads of power but most of the time you can never use it. Better having around 100bhp and use it 100%of the time 👍🏻 try an ax gt it was even more fun. Plus it had great seats

These have more than doubled in value here in AU in the last year or so. Kick myself every day for not getting one years ago.

I had an 86' 1.9 GTi for a while, absolutely loved it, fully regret passing it on - would have loved a proper French 205 Rallye, they came with a 1.3 on twin Webbers! My 04 plated Cooper S is as close as I've ever come to replicating the experience.

So nice to see this! I love this little old hot hatches, would love to see a review of a Nova Gte/gsi, they are quite rare these days.

I had a standard 1.4 205 when I was 17, even the non-GTI version was a hoot to drive.

It’s one of those cars where you feel when you’ve got a passenger. Or had a big breakfast.

205 gti is awesome in either engine. Also give the 106 and 306 gtis a go as they r a slightly more grown up drive along the same lines. 309 gti is a hidden gem but the mk2 golf gti also hits the same spot

I love an old French hot hatch, can't beat them for fun. For someone who wants an interesting classic and isn't into hot hatches though, a 300ZX seems a good option...

Had a 1.9, and a Citroen BX gti with the same engine, and before both of those a Citroen visa gti 1.6 (115ps version) and that was the best of the three, these are basically extinct in the U.K. but if I ever found one in good condition it would be mine as the most fun

Being French I learnt how to drive at a driving school which had 205s and I took my 20h of driving lessons on the 205 diesel, turbo diesel and 205 GTI 1.6 and I loved driving the TDI and GTI which I found awesome at the time and would love to drive again ... 25 years later despite owning Porsche, Ferrari and having purchased for my wife a Peugeot 308 (1.2 Puretech 130bhp) which also happens to be a great and fun to drive little car. But I would love to have a go on a 205 again!

As the owner of one these, thanks for this video, I couldn’t have said it better myself

Those pinch welds underneath look brand new! I can't believe this is a 31+ year old car.

I had the 205GTI 1.6, and loved it, messed with it and tuned it up and had 2 great years with it. The 1.6 was the peppier engine of the two but standard the 1.9 was quicker.

Had a '91 1.9 for a few years and it was a blast, can be difficult getting parts, especially trim pieces!

thank god i never sold mine. have it for 15 years now and i really take care of it. its just a pleasure to drive this car

Brilliant little hot hatch. I had a 1.9 GTI in my younger days in the late 90s which was huge fun but I did have to spend quite a bit of money on it as it was a rather tired example. When sorted it was brilliant.

Just seeing the thumbnail brought back some great driving memories. Never owned or drove a GTi, but I owned an 1.4 XS in the same pale blue, on a (90) H plate. It was a facelift model with clear indicators at the front and darkened lights at the back. Looked just like a GTi from the front, but not the sides, surprised a lot of people with its acceleration and steered & rode sweetly. Downsides; hated rain. The large sliding sunroof leaked around the handle and the dizzy cap allowed moisture in if it rained overnight causing me to have to dry it with a hairdryer before I could get to work, but I absolutely loved that car 😍

I always preferred the 1.6 version more Rev happy & I love the Pepperpot alloys

Had a 1.9 when I was 19, too long ago now. It’s still my favourite out of all the cars I’ve owned and cemented my love of hot hatches, to the point that I’m in my forties and my current car is a Polo GTI +

I went to the Scottish Motor Show at the SECC in about '87 and had a seat in one aged 15. Since then, the 205 gti has remained a car I would love to own. I drove a minted H plate belonging to a friend back in early 90's and it felt amazing- like a rally car. My only regret is that I have missed the boat as the prices have gone mental.

Thanks for the video, and the happy memories from the early 90's. My now wife, girlfriend (21 year old student - don't ask about insurance! )at the time, had a 89/F 1.6 GTi and her brother a similar age 1.9 so we used to swap about. What a hoot, such a fun little car, a blast on a back road (and tres horrible on the motorway!) I'm not going to wade into the 1.6 v 1.9 debate, both were brilliant, but different. We only sold it because as they got older, more miles, thing just broke or packed up, so sold it to a friend and bought a Honda Civic 1.6VTi (in fact 2) Now there is one underrated but brilliant hot hatch, right there. JayEmm, another video for you... 205 GTi best hot hatch ever? maybe for driving, but is the Golf GTI just better at doing EVERYTHING well? discuss...

You should drive euro 205 1.3 rallye. That so much involving car and the engine is much more revvier and fun than 1.6/1.9. Double weber carbs sound amazing.

Great video, I owned this exact spec and a 1.9 in white, loved them both. I used to drive up the M11 into London each day in my 1.9 and it was a tad noisy especially at 100mph, when you used to be able to get away with it. I remember them being a nightmare in the wet, especially going around a roundabout, the car understeered rather a lot. I paid around £6k for mine in the 90’s wish I kept it now. I would say my 106 sxi was a better car to drive, more advanced in most areas. Great review bought back great memories

Just bought another one 20 years later after owning one I love it

I have driven a 205 GTI 1.6 to Italy and back several times and motorway driving was perfectly fine and enjoyable. If anything it struggled with mountain passes due to lack of power at high altitude

I had a black Pug 1.6 gti, I called it “the lion king” as it destroyed every car in its class on the street races before speed cameras appeared on the scene. Renault 4 GT Turbo was its main rival in those days and modified one gave my lion king a bloody nose 👃 Thanks JayEmm for such a nostalgic experience.

I was selling these at a main London dealer when they were new, it was generally accepted that although the 1.9 was the quicker car it was a bit lumpy to drive and that the 1.6 was the sweeter and more nimble version. It has to be said though that the 1.4 XS/GT with its twin choke carb was the real sweet spot in the range, to this day I’ve never driven a car that was more fun to drive..fun times !

I had a black 1989 1.6 gti, and then upgraded to a 1990 red 1.9gti. The 1.9 was an absolute rocket for the day - and significantly quicker than the 1.6. Absolutely loved it - a go-cart on steroids. And would cruise at 90mph on the motorway. Fortunately no accidents, as zero safety features!

I got my driving license driving one of these. My brothers 1.6 gti. Great car To learn driving no silly abs and stuff.

I still own a Miami Blue 1.9 GTi. It’s a very late 1993 example and it’s great to drive with only 67k miles on the clock. Watching this video makes me want to dig it out of the garage.

when it comes to getting a smile on your dial ......... this is a quick car

I currently drive the 205 1.4. she's 26 years old and not GTI but I still love it

Very cool little car. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

I had 2 1.6s back to back - 89 then 91. Best cars I ever had, loved them. We used to call them baseball boots - fast and stuck to the road like a go cart. What great times! The later version wasn’t quite as good because we’d moved to unleaded then and it lost a little of the edge. Great video that brought back lots of fond memories. Thanks.

Many years ago, I owned both an early 1985 105bhp 1.6 GTI (without PAS) and a limited edition 1990 1.9 GTI , Miami Blue and full leather. Hands down the 1.6 was the better car. Far less torque than the 1.9 but far more fun. As has been said by many others, it was so responsive on the throttle and (particularly without PAS) the steering was really communicative, and at low speeds in the damp would turn beautifully with a little lift off oversteer. I suppose that was the joy of it, you could have loads of fun without going too fast. It's the only car I deeply regret selling.

There is one of these sitting in my local village. Hasn’t been on the road in 7 years. There is very few videos like this on RU-vid on 1.6’s. Topaz blue too😍

Now this is a JayEmm review. I loved it and not because of the car. How you reviewed this car and how you put the words across was excellent! 👌🏼

Oh the memories :) I had a 1.9 back in the day. 3 years old when I bought it, I owned it for 18 months and it spent 6 of those off the road with mechanical issues and when it was working there was a constant stream of other issues like self destructing interior trim, one electrical issue after another etc. It was without doubt THE most unreliable and badly built car I have ever owned. The TVR I had a few years later was more reliable :) You'd think I hated it right? Not at all. When it worked it was the most glorious thing and gave me goose bumps. I had a chance years later to drive a Caterham 7 and that reminded me a little bit of the 205. A modern equivalent with its much higher power, grip etc will be all very exciting but it will not in any way give you the pleasure of actually driving, interacting with and controlling a car in the way that one of these will.

Old enough to remember these from new, never had one but that example is a joy with a lovely review to remind me at least of the noises that used to be common. Love it and want one.

Owned a white 1.9gti for a while ...fitted the gearbox from a 1.6gti and that totally transformed the car....

Had both the 1.6 & 1.9 in the 90s - I preferred the 1.9, the engine response was electric as said in the review. We used to be able to buy them for £1000, drive them until they broke and buy another - there seemed to be a never ending supply of Renault 5 turbos, Peugeot GTIs and Ford RSs - if I’d kept hold of all those classic hot hatches I’ve owned I’d be mortgage free by now!

You don't like the look of the 205?!? I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but there are some cars like the E-Type that just about everyone loves and for me the 205 is in this category.

I bought a 1.9 'Cheetah ' version from my brother..he couldn't get insurance! It had been tweaked to about 160bhp with many fibreglass parts so super light. It was a blast. My wife now has a 1995 1.4 205 cabriolet, we drove from Windsor to Hamburg and then to Toulon a couple of weeks ago. It didn't miss a beat..fantastic.

In 2016, when I was 13, this was my dream car. Now it's unattainable.

The more power and tech modern cars get the less the driver actually drives. In a 800kg car 105bhp is alot to have fun with

Owned one in the early 90s, graphite grey with a factory sunroof. Put 150,000miles on it in 8yrs & loved it to bits. No modern safety net of electronics, proper drivers car & a blast down a back road 😎

Peugeot 205 1.1GL was my first car (17yo), new in 1984 and what a machine. Then had the 205 XS with the 1.4 twin carbs (didn't stay in tune long) but as I was driving 40,000miles pa they were all in the garage regularly. Next was the 205 1.6GTi, super revvy same gearing as the XS I recall, 18.7mph/1000rpm. And lastly the 205 1.9GTi, super quick and higher gearing (20.5?) wow what a car has to one of my all time favourites (and I have been fortunate to have lots of nice toys). Seriously thinking about buying one now. Loved all of my 205s, drove them all like I stole them I remember having the 1.1GL off the clock (downhill M1), you could in those days. You were asking about the differences between the 1.6 and 1.9, I am no 205 expert, but I recall the 1.6 had shorter gearing, softer suspension and revved forever. My preference was the 1.9, longer gearing, bigger wheels and tyres and firmer suspension. 'Raced' many Golfs XR3i RSTurbos, especially with the M25 club, had to lap the M25 in under an hour! Nothing ever kept up with the 205 on rails handling. James you brought back many very fond memories. Oh and they were all Cherry Red, without that awful sunroof.

I had an '88 1.6 gti, first of the face-lift in red. 4 years, 100k miles. Visited about 8 countries across Europe. Loved it. Because so light, it was nippy, but handled and stopped amazing well. And it never missed a beat! Very reliable for me, but it had full dealer servicing! I had Peugeot dealer lower it! Cured the lift off oversteer and was one of the best handling cars I ever owned! Was sorry to see it go, but many great memories!

Sound recording is spot on 👌🏼

My 1.6 GTi was bloody awesome, k&n filter, sports exhaust, 3 spoke alloys, White…… I wish I’d never sold it.

The 205 GTI is such a cool little car, and fantastic looking too. Only car that, to me, really beats it in the looks department (in the small GTI/aso class), is the 205 Rallye. I LOOOVE me a 205 Rallye. ..now a days i'd probably go for a 206 GTI/180 if i wanted a small fast-ish Peugeot, but that's because i'm slightly worried about hooning around in such a tiny tin can, with all the big heavy modern cars around. I think i love the idea of the 205 more than actually owning one, for safety reasons only.

Congratulations James! It looks like your dream to own a classic car has just come true! Brilliant news!👍🏽

I had a 205XS which every bit of fun as the GTi (I have driven one of those). My XS would rev to 7000 rpm and was a delight. The steering was unassisted so you could read the road like braille. If you think the GTI is fussy at motorway speeds, the XS cruised at 70 turning over 4000 rpm!. The best car I have ever owned and I will regret to my dying day that I sold t.

I had a 1.9 back in the 90s. Best car I've ever owned. Complete joy to drive.

Personally I think I would prefer a 309 GTI. I love the styling, and I heard that the slightly longer wheelbase makes it a bit more stable.

cars like the 205 gti are as you say about the connection with the road. Yes they are basic in comparison with modern cars. But modern cars are about technology and disconnection with the road. I drove more lowly 205's back in the day and loved them all

lovely car. R5T for me though. funny, thinking back i remember R5 mod scene was much stronger than for the 205. the 1.9 wheels did it for me.

I was driving one of these in the early 90s ...loved it

Had my first crash in a 1986 C plate 1.6 GTI🤦🏼 this was 1988, and my dad (who’s car it was) slammed the back door sooo hard the glass fell out. He’d owned it just over a week 🤷🏻‍♂️. I sill have a piece of the rim off the front wheel as a reminder 🕺🏼 great times………

I had one . Glue comes to mind the GTi was an amazing car

Such a nice little car. Had both engines back in the day. Had many since, including many Munich, Stuttgart and Ingolstadt specials but this car has a soft spot for me. currently in gr Yaris, a golf R75 and a 991 CS but the allure back to those halcyon yuff tearaway days is strong A 19 mi16 with updated suspension and brakes would be dream restomod..

Had a 1.6, a 1.9 and an mi16 converted one. Loved them

Had a 1.9gti in my youth. Best car I've ever owned, just so much fun!

I had one of both, the 1.6 was more pure, the 1.9 had a more luxuerioys interior, i loved them both.....hmm...that was a long time ago, i am an old man now, no exiting cars for me anymore... Thanks mate, this brings back memories !

Had one of these as a company car back in the day and yes it got totally thrashed on almost every drive. Brilliant little car, took all the abuse and only ever came out of a roundabout backwards once...

I saw this parked on my street in sweden and was super excited, cause it's become so rare lately, before you could buy these dirt cheap here.

I call it superb racing steel blue, the perfect crisp white get down to business shirt . . . and the ralented triumvirate, Ben Darren . . . and James. Oh, and the car, too 👍

I Race one! 700kgs, 150 ponies, she embarrasses many 2L 16V of the 90's and 2000's all day long! I love it!

What Peugeot lacked in the 80s was a coupe version of the large 505. With the 205 GTI, the 504 Pickup & the 505 Break they provided all the cars you need for the rest of your life. 205 GTI for the fun driving, 504 Pickup for agricultural use and the 505 Break for transporting friends & family. That´s the perfect line up! Except that none of them has the glamour to be parked outside of your castle. A coupe version of the 505 would have raised the brands status which would have also made the 205 climb up the scale of prestige.

Had a go in a mate’s 1.9 GTi. Absolutely bloody brilliant.

In 1985 I went from a 2 litre Cortina to one of these! Great car. I later bought the 309 GTI which had a fantastic chassis and was definitely the better car overall. Happy days!

I had a 1.6gti in the late 80's then two 1.9gti in the 90's and as I can see you are driving between Bodenham and Sutton in hereford the very roads these cars excelled going flat out it was the perfect hooligan car

Had a fiesta mk1 winter beater last winter, terrible daily, no power, didn't strand me that many times during the couple months I had it, just a few times I had to walk.... Was a fun little go cart though, and was mostly the carb needing sorting, it made me smile untill I got tired of it, glad I owned it, glad I sold it, financed a mint barn find 88 model BMW E34 that still looks new inside and the paint on it is still all shiny and nice and body all clean with no rust. That is pretty crazy for the salt country I live in

I got my 1.6 in white with sunroof and electric windows exactly 35 years ago in September 1986. It was a great car, but you didn't want to crash one as they were not very strong shells. I loved driving it though and it gave you great confidence driving round the Yorkshire Dales. I had a Mk2 Golf Gti 8 4 door valve after it. It wasn't as much fun but it was far better made.

1.8 MK1 GTI for me.

Loved my 205 even though it was a GLD. The 1.6 and 1.9 thing is a power vs weight over nose debate. For some the GT and XS with the carbs are the pick of the bunch. Suppose the Mk2 Golf GTi was also available in two flavours 8v and 16v, the XR3i was available at the same time as the German RS1600i. It is a bit of a hot hatch thing to have an alternative. Of course you could hold out for one of the many 205 GTi's that has the engine from the 405 Mi16. Actually a 405Mi16 would make a fabulous classic car. Off to the classifieds.

Would love you to review the 405 Mi16 (1.9 2WD). One was my first car, but they're as rare has hen's teeth now, as people bought them for their engines to put into 205s

I had an E plate 1.6. A heck of a lot of fun but expensive to maintain. Electrics were not great, and fiddly bits to keep working were annoying but driving it was so much fun

1.6 definitely is the better and more fun drivers car. I have neither but have driven many, and have no dog in the fight.

In 2001 I was lucky to own a 205 1.9 GTI 1989 miami Blue, it had 1 lady owner from new. Loved it biggest mistake selling that, awesome car👍👍