Mark A

iTrader: (1)

I'm going to look at a 205 1.6 GTi (88) and need a quick what to look for guide.

Any advise welcomed

Cheers Mark

mikey s

hello mate, my first post, so here goes:

check the geometry of the rear wheels, too much lean in at the top will mean knackered trailing arm bearings and a rebuilt beam will be on the cards (upwards of 300 quid).

rust. check the bottom of the sills on the rear as this is a common spot, also check the inner archs and inner wings as alot of 205's have died recently due to rust in this area. (usually down by the washer bottle).

smokey engines, accident damage, and dodgy electrics will all be needed to checked for as well.

hope that helps
mike

ScoobyJawa

Mark,

Theres a buying guide over on www.205gtidrivers.com that has all the info you need!!! Just click on the 205 GTI Info tab!

Happy hunting!

Cheers
Neil

Gutmann pug

I always think buying cars of this age is a bit of a lottery. My advice would be to drive a couple and buy the one which feels the best. There is never any guarranty that it would explode after 100 miles but buying the best you can find is always a good starting point .......
To stop all the usual french car rattles strip the bugger bare so there is nothing left to rattle. Thats what I did anyway


Gary

miles25

Stripped mine out yesterday, thought it would be a 30 minute job. Took me over 4 hours!!!!

There are some really annoying plastic bolts for the back seat release catches as well, don't know what peugeot used but ended up sawing the buggers off!

Good luck finding a decent one. They are good cars and as long as you don't mind old french build quality, for the money and grin factor you can't argue

RESSE

iTrader: (1)

I have just bought a 1988 1.6 and am in the process of stripping out and fitting a 1.9 engine + a few "tweeks" - great little cars, even if they are a few years old.

Second hand parts are very cheap, plus www.autofive.co.uk offer some great deals on suspension etc.

A future classic?

www.205gtidrivers.com is a great forum and I have found loads of helpful things on there.

Richard

RESSE

iTrader: (1)

Miles are you referring to the 3 orange type rivet things - can't get mine off!

miles25

Yeah that's them!!! Little buggers they are, haven't managed to get mine off completly yet either!! I used a saw to get rid of most of it off but I'm still left with the brackets attached.

Was going to have a look on the article that's on the 205gtidrivers site about stripping out a 205. Hoping it might say something about it??

Gutmann pug

Mine has had one hell of a hiding over the last 18months and to be fair it just keeps on taking it ....... great great car.

Gary

rb5_336

make ure you read the buying guides overat 205 drivers, also you could save yourself doing a few searches on drivers for the keyword rust. There are a few key spots where a rust shell can be identified quickly, well worth it. There are many many rusty shells out there, and dont think the newer the car is the less rust it will have, the searched will reveal some interesting facts also

sean

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

I'm now the proud owner of a 205 1.6 GTi (88)

It's a 2 owner car with 140k miles and FULL service history with recent top end rebuild by Peugeot.
One tiny area of rust on the lower rear wheel arch, looks like its clipped something and not been touch-up.
Drives like a 80k car, just needs a bit of TLC and it would be perfect.

Can't get use to the handling, steering is so heavy at low speed and the throttle so sensitive. Followed my mates GTA back to TW and have to say that it's (205) no slouch round the corners. He easily pulled away on the straights but then I've bought this to get to work, while having fun and it beats the bus, all for a 1/5th the cost of my old season ticket.

Lets hope it holds together as the wife thinks I'm mad and won't talk to me

Thanks for all the advice

Dream Weaver

Welcome

The wife thing settles down. Mine thought I was mad and fell out with me when I bought the 205, fell out with me slightly less when I bought the 405 and has now given up and doesnt care

miles25

lol

Are any of you guys coming to pugfest?

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

No but maybe I should send the wife

matt85

It already is

Apologies if this has already been mentioned because i havent read all of the thread.

I would personally pay much more attention to the overall condition of the shell and general condition of the car, rather than any slight mechanical imperfections you might find. These can be sorted very cheaply in most cases, but if the shell is bent/rotting/otherwise knackered its probably going to cost you a lot more.

Usual really: Stay away form anything you suspect has been thrashed, look for uneven tyre wear and general condition of the car. As i stated before 95% of the problems on these cars can be sorted for buttons in my experience.

Good luck on finding a tidy one

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Matt I have and took your advice, sound shell, perfect interior and good engine. I hope it starts tomorrow!

Adam B

... next thing is to get rid of the weedy 1.6 engine and drop in an MI16

Just be careful, these things are addictive. I started out with a 1.6 'just to
get to and from work' ... we've now got 2 205 MI16's a 309 GTI and a
405 MI16 !!

Have fun

Adam

Dream Weaver

Sounds familiar Adam

I have a 405 Mi16 and 205 Mi16

Gutmann pug

clutter ....8valve rules

Dream Weaver

I'll let you know, I want to swap the 405 for a 205 8v soonish.

ScoobyJawa

Just give the 405 to me But you don't get my 8valver in return

Adam B

DW ... did you get the 205 running again ?

Dream Weaver

Almost, my engine crane was delivered tonight but as is always the case with 205's, one thing leads to another. Spent the last 2 hours trying to remove the front bumper so that tomorrows engine fitting is a little easier as i'm flying solo.

4 rusted bolts in total, and I cant see any way that they'll ever work free. Managed to round one off so need the grinder on that one, but dont know how i'll get the others out.

So, engine is going in tomorrow night regardless, will have to sort the bumper out later on.

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

DW what sticky front tyres would you recommend as I'm would like an edge round the corners, never going to beat anything fast in a straight line!

Have to say really enjoying the 205, would like to change the front strut and the bushes to freshen up the handling.

Down sides are;

The steering is v-heavy (need to try another 205)
Slight clicking knocking round tight corners ? diff or CV joints

Mark

ellisg

Tyres main choices are Toyo T1Rs or Goodyear F1 GSD3 in 195/50R15. F1s are better, but T1Rs are amazing for the price, mine were £130 for 4 fitted, F1s are nearer £200

Steering is never the lighest, but can be heavy when the top mount bearings start to wear and stick. If replace struts replace top mount bearings and rubbers.

205 forum will corrupt you, great bunch of chaps, its just that you will end up with a Mi16 or GTi-6 powered beast in no time at all.

ScoobyJawa

The clicking could be an anti-roll bar drop-link mate, had that on my old 205........

miles25

lol so true!

I love my 1.9, but went on a track day at Donny and a few of the other 205gtidrivers people were there in there mi's, I definetly felt underpowered at times!!

Dream Weaver

My personal choice for tyres is Yokohama A539's, but I have Pirelli P6000's on at the moment. Haven't tried Toyo or F1's yet.

The 205gtidrivers bunch are great. Went on my first meet with them at FCS and all of the big names were there from the forum. They were all really friendly and approachable, whereas my first Scooby meet 5 years back all the big names from here were like Hollywood stars or something They had enterages (sp?) and couldnt really be bothered talking to lower ranking BBS members

Gutmann pug

If its sticky rubber you want then you need to go for road legal slicks. So your talking Yoko A032 or Ao48, Toyo R888, Dunlop DO1J. These will be better than good road tyres like the GSD3, T1 etc. They do however come at a price. Around £90 per corner is normal but they are exceptional.

Gary

rb5_336

I use these

Yokohama 048r (soft compound)