PEUGEOT 205 GTI
ALASTAIR BROOK – ST KILDA EAST, VIC
“I was curious as to how good the 205 GTI really was ever since I first learnt about it. Being a UK import, it’s slightly quicker than locally delivered versions, but there was some rust in the rear arches that wasn’t disclosed upon purchase. There was some choice restorative mechanical work carried out at the front end, so it drives quite well, and modern tyres help quell the lift-off oversteer. The rust is now sorted and the plan is to just drive it and enjoy it, with the value being in how original it is. It’s still such a rewarding drive.”
“The 205 GTI is the sort of car I probably wouldn’t be able to experience unless I actually bought one”
cars were produced at the Mulhouse Production Centre. Production cars were built in November, and on January 20, 1983, Peugeot dealers were invited to the Loews Hotel in Monaco for the preview of the new 205 ahead of its official unveiling in February of that year.
The 77kw 205 GTI 1.6 would have to wait until June ’83 for its debut ahead of a 1984 on-sale date. Springs, dampers and rear anti-roll bar were all hugely beefed up, while the front anti-roll bar was softened. No wonder the car earned a reputation for off-throttle adjustability, for better or for worse. The 1.9-litre GTI with 96kw XU9JA engine appeared in 1986, and the following year, the 1.6-litre Gti’s XU5J engine got the same big-valve cylinder head as its more powerful sibling, but the 85kw 1.6-litre XU5JA unit never officially came to these shores. We got the 1.9-litre car, which arrived in October 1987 wearing a $29,500 price tag. Sounds a lot, but remember that back in ’88, a Citroen XM would set you back $84,950. That one didn’t so much as fall out of bed pricewise, it crashed through the floorboards and disappeared down an abandoned mineshaft.
Buyers had the choice of air-conditioning or power steering but not both, as these competed for right-hook under-bonnet real estate. Power was initially a feeble 75kw and torque rated at 142Nm, courtesy of Australian emissions laws that arrived with unleaded petrol in 1986, resulting in a lacklustre 0-100km/h time of 8.9 seconds. One solitary 1.6-litre GTI was brought into Australia by Peugeot for evaluation and is still around today. Facelift cars arrived in 1991 with a still-catalysed but notably heartier 90kw lump, the other benefit being that the revision finally overcame the air-con/power steering conundrum. When finally withdrawn from sale in 1994, the 205 GTI 1.9 was priced at $33,730, and it’s these ‘91-’94 cars that are most sought after by Aussie collectors.
Although most would posit the 205 GTI is made of metal so insubstantial that you could wrap a baked potato with it, they are extensively galvanised. Nevertheless they can and do rust, being particularly susceptible to water ingress in the quarter-panel ahead of the rear wheel arch. The reason? There’s usually a hole where the rear suspension bump stops fall out. Be especially diligent checking UK imports. Just behind the front wheelarch is what looks like a jacking point but isn’t. If it’s been jacked it can chip and cause rust. The floorpan ahead of the fuel tank where the brake pipes run and the rear bumper mounts are also rust-prone.
Rear radius arm bearings are a weak point, as are front suspension bushes. Worn drop links are another contributor to chattering and clunky suspension. The alloy 1.9-litre engine isn’t particularly tolerant of abuse. Valve guides wear and head gaskets can fail due to corrosion through a lack of anti-freeze. Oil can leak into the distributor via failed O-rings but the big issue with oil is a failed rear main seal behind the transmission which will necessitate a gearbox-out fix. The multipoint injection system can easily fall out of tune. Lumpy idling and rough running will need somebody who knows what a wideband lambda sensor is, but first check for blocked and leaking breather hoses. One tip for owners? Disconnect the central locking. It is always more trouble than it’s worth.
Peter Robinson’s original review of the GTI ended with a word of warning. “This is a car for driving, after all,” he noted. “And as such it is exciting, thoroughly satisfying and yet practical and economical. If only it were affordable.” More than three decades on, the 205 GTI remains charming and fun, and yes, keeping one in top fettle could still render you penniless. Speak to owners and they’ll put you straight in no uncertain terms. The ends more than justify the means.