Top Gear - 2015 New Series
24 February 2015, 09:11 PM
#185
One of my best driving memories was a long, dual carriageway to roundabout, carriageway to roundabout at about 6 in the morning to a job I used to do. Me in the 1.9 gti, and a much younger golf gti. On each stretch he got past me, on each roundabout I got him back. And this went on for what seemed like miles on the A24. Big thumbs up from the golf driver as we parted ways.
I never had a 309 gti . I can't think of them without picturing a friend/neighbour who recently died. He had a pale blue one (weren't they all lol?). He also drove it like a ********. Cancer got him in the end. I can picture him now coming round the corner into our street way to fast his fat arms hanging out of the window.
I never had a 309 gti . I can't think of them without picturing a friend/neighbour who recently died. He had a pale blue one (weren't they all lol?). He also drove it like a ********. Cancer got him in the end. I can picture him now coming round the corner into our street way to fast his fat arms hanging out of the window.
24 February 2015, 09:32 PM
#186
The 309 was a little heavier with the same engine so may have lost the acceleration battle. However it had a longer wheelbase and wider track so was a better handling car. In fact it was one of the best front drive chassis of all time. It didn't have the lift off over steer of the 205 and was more stable mid bend.
The 205 would catch you out if you weren't paying attention.
A 309 with the 405 MI16 engine was a good transplant as the chassis could easily handle the power.
The 205 would catch you out if you weren't paying attention.
A 309 with the 405 MI16 engine was a good transplant as the chassis could easily handle the power.
24 February 2015, 10:44 PM
#187
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The 309 was a little heavier with the same engine so may have lost the acceleration battle. However it had a longer wheelbase and wider track so was a better handling car. In fact it was one of the best front drive chassis of all time. It didn't have the lift off over steer of the 205 and was more stable mid bend.
The 205 would catch you out if you weren't paying attention.
A 309 with the 405 MI16 engine was a good transplant as the chassis could easily handle the power.
The 205 would catch you out if you weren't paying attention.
A 309 with the 405 MI16 engine was a good transplant as the chassis could easily handle the power.
24 February 2015, 11:07 PM
#188
The 309 was a little heavier with the same engine so may have lost the acceleration battle. However it had a longer wheelbase and wider track so was a better handling car. In fact it was one of the best front drive chassis of all time. It didn't have the lift off over steer of the 205 and was more stable mid bend.
The 205 would catch you out if you weren't paying attention.
A 309 with the 405 MI16 engine was a good transplant as the chassis could easily handle the power.
The 205 would catch you out if you weren't paying attention.
A 309 with the 405 MI16 engine was a good transplant as the chassis could easily handle the power.
The 205's chassis could also easily handle more power, I had one which had the mi16 transplant with throttle bodies and made 170bhp, it was epic and could slay much more expensive machinery.
Last edited by bioforger; 24 February 2015 at 11:08 PM.
26 February 2015, 10:55 AM
#191
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Caught up on last weeks episode last night, was disappointed they didn't have the head to head.
That Ferrari tho, oh my days what a machine, the noise
I like a lot of cars don't get me wrong but that has me wanting
That Ferrari tho, oh my days what a machine, the noise
I like a lot of cars don't get me wrong but that has me wanting
27 February 2015, 08:12 PM
#192
Also known as daz
Massivley miss my 309, thing was unreliable but by christ did it shift with 220hp on tap 
The 205 though more go kart like, it was twitchy and would swap ends if you weren't careful.
The 309 was and still is massivley underrated, one of THE best handling cars i've sat/driven in.
The 205 though more go kart like, it was twitchy and would swap ends if you weren't careful.
The 309 was and still is massivley underrated, one of THE best handling cars i've sat/driven in.
Last edited by hux309; 27 February 2015 at 08:16 PM.
28 February 2015, 03:09 PM
#193
My lovely, white, last of the breed 205 GTI 1.9 CAT (122 instead of 130bhp) - bone stock - spun out going round a roundabout. I was really surprised and disillusioned. 
So I thought sod it and modded it with Spax adjustable dampers all round, matched Spax (slight) lowering springs up front, and repositioned torsion bar (to match the front ride height).
It NEVER spun out again after that. And I gave that poor car death everywhere, everytime.
I eventually broke it travelling up the M11. Catastrophic bottom end failure... You could hear fragments of engine hitting the road, behind!
When I eventually got it recovered, I opened the bonnet... To be greeted with a perfectly shiny con rod rested across the the top of the alternator!! I couldn't believe my eyes!
'Sold' it to a 205 specialist for a penny (the legal minimum to constitute a sale and transfer to a new owner).
So I thought sod it and modded it with Spax adjustable dampers all round, matched Spax (slight) lowering springs up front, and repositioned torsion bar (to match the front ride height).It NEVER spun out again after that. And I gave that poor car death everywhere, everytime.
I eventually broke it travelling up the M11. Catastrophic bottom end failure... You could hear fragments of engine hitting the road, behind!
When I eventually got it recovered, I opened the bonnet... To be greeted with a perfectly shiny con rod rested across the the top of the alternator!! I couldn't believe my eyes!
'Sold' it to a 205 specialist for a penny (the legal minimum to constitute a sale and transfer to a new owner).
Last edited by joz8968; 28 February 2015 at 03:26 PM.
01 March 2015, 09:18 PM
#196
Massivley miss my 309, thing was unreliable but by christ did it shift with 220hp on tap The 205 though more go kart like, it was twitchy and would swap ends if you weren't careful. The 309 was and still is massivley underrated, one of THE best handling cars i've sat/driven in.
The 205 though more go kart like, it was twitchy and would swap ends if you weren't careful. The 309 was and still is massivley underrated, one of THE best handling cars i've sat/driven in.
01 March 2015, 09:19 PM
#197
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You had to be really quick to catch them once the back went - I managed to put my first 205 1.9 GTi onto it's roof unfortunately. Great cars though - I was lucky enough to own a 205 1.9 GTI with a Turbo Technics converstion too. Had a button on the dash for high or low boost - I think low was 140bhp and high was 175bhp. Doesn't sound like much, but in such a light car with lots of torque it absolutely flew, and certainly raised a few eyebrows with the turbo whistle and chirp from the dump valve!
Last edited by Petem95; 01 March 2015 at 09:20 PM.
02 March 2015, 04:20 AM
#202
Not the best....
02 March 2015, 09:29 AM
#205
Also known as daz
02 March 2015, 11:32 AM
#208
You had to be really quick to catch them once the back went - I managed to put my first 205 1.9 GTi onto it's roof unfortunately. Great cars though - I was lucky enough to own a 205 1.9 GTI with a Turbo Technics converstion too. Had a button on the dash for high or low boost - I think low was 140bhp and high was 175bhp. Doesn't sound like much, but in such a light car with lots of torque it absolutely flew, and certainly raised a few eyebrows with the turbo whistle and chirp from the dump valve!
02 March 2015, 02:40 PM
#210