WHAT IS OWNING A 205 GTI REALLY LIKE? | LONG TERM OWNER REVIEW 

Great Video. Recently just purchased a 1.6 205 gti. Lucky finding it had power steering, central locking & electric windows. All works too. Also currently on 1.9 wheels and getting original 1.6 wheels refurbished. Mine is also a running project. loving it.

Loved my 1.6 in the 90's......basic, but fun. My current 208 GTi reminds me of it.

Love the comment about nostalgia. That’s what sums it all up for me about the old car experience, almost like travelling back in time. Love it and glad to see the enjoyment you’re having from this car

Mate I owned a 16 GTI from New, I had it for 3.5 years and it never went wrong once, I also had a 1.9 GTI from New having traded the 1.6 in for it. The fuel pump packed up after a month, replaced under warranty and that also never went wrong for the next 4 years, Brilliant cars would get one new if they still made them. Those 1.9 alloys have more offset than the standard ones and the 1.9 had different camber and toe in so its not going to steer as well as the standard 1.6 that had a front end that would not let go and a rear that would. You need to be very good to not get caught out when on the limit and most magazine road testers thought the same, that was partly the reason that they changed the front end set up as it made the 1.9 better balanced as in, I had no problem sliding the rear of the 1.9. Car Magazine put the 1.9 up against a Lotus Esprit along some country roads, and none of their drivers could beat the 1.9 in the Lotus, no matter what driver was in whatever car, that's what makes the 1.9 GTi the best hot hatch ever, loads of torque in a lightweight car with a brilliant chassis, just the best fun ever. Unfortunately, they are just so old and have had every plonker in the world tarting around with them, so reliability won't be good.

My first 4 cars were 205/309 GTI’s 30 years ago. Picked up a restored 205 GTI last year. Compared to modern cars it’s slow, noisy, rattles and its spikey as hell in traffic…. But so much fricken fun! It’s a bit like karting, when you’re going 50, it feels like 80mph. 🤣🏎️👍🏻

Great video - thank you - I was a Fiesta SuperSport myself :-)

My first car was a 205 GTI 1.9 I put it in my grandads name and he insured it with me as a second driver ha ha, the shit we had to do just to drive the cars we wanted. I used to get pulled over 2 or 3 times a day (more some days if I had a car full) I had piles and piles of producers. Good days, I would have another oner one tomorrow if the price was right. Wish I never got rid of mine when I see the prices they go for now. Take care people 👍

A common oil leak is the tiny distributer ‘O’ ring seal. Costs a couple quid to buy and an hour to sort out (yourself). So many of your issues sound so familiar it’s uncanny 😂😂 fab cars though 😉👍

Great cars. I bought a 1990 G reg 1.9GTI in 1995 when I was 25 and kept it for 3 years. It was a bit of a dog when I got it as though the bodywork and interior were in pretty good shape it needed quite a bit of money spent to get it to drive as it should. I recall replacing the two from tyres, new shocks which were all knackered and break pads. I also had a lot of breakdowns early like you due to a dodgy starter motor wire. Drove great afterwards and had a lot of fun miles in that 205GTI. I owned both an Astra GTE16V and a Golf GTI 16V but in terms of handling, the little Peugot was the best by some margin. Back in the day, the 205GTI had a reputation for tricky handling near the limit but apparently they're much better on modern tyres. Such a great looking car too.

Get the rear beam rebuilt. Cost a bit but totally Change the whole feel of the drive.then it will Handles as it should 👍

Great video, I have a 1.6 Gti and live in Guildford. You say you want to sell the 1.9 wheels? I would love a set for mine. Also just watched your clicking starter video, I’m having that issue as we speak! Very helpful and going to get the brown plug sorted this weekend! Kind Regards Oscar

Driving wise do you have any issues with the car drifting very slightly, almost like it follows the camber in the road sometimes?

I could see you’re in around Farnborough area. Who is refurbing your 1.6 wheels out of interest? Thanks.

Should have central locking. Have you checked in the doors?

I own one along with a Range Rover and a Porsche the Peugeot is the most reliable by far

Wheels should stick out more as its why the 1.6 handles better than the 1.9, front drive hub uses a different offset and sticking 1.9 wheels which use the wrong offset buggers it up, Unless it was the pick of the front brakes not showing it but you cannot see the sliding locking pin to stop the pads falling out. But as said should have C/L. windows where optional

why does it have 1.9 wheels on?