Which French cars would 'wash their face' in the UK?

[Timewaster]

205Gti - dodgy handling?

 

You must be doing it wrong.

 

The press went on about lift off overster but I had one as a yoof and the simple answer was Don't lift off!

 

Honestly I drove that car as fast as I could everywhere for 3 years and only ever had one "moment" and that was through my own sheer stupidity.

 

The only other thing I've driven that cornered like that was a mini but that was at about half the speed.

[dozeydustman]

Fuckksake, do people reply pay that much for a 205GTI? For me, a 205 has always been a car for fair weather and those GTIs were always dodgy-handling and rather too much for their own good esp in 1.9 guise , yet CJs still go for £1500 and less in blighty.

 

Would still prefer an early Twingo, of course.

 

 

205 was (IMO) the best handling of the 80's superminis. They really cling to the road like a limpet. Even the small engined ones are a proper hoot to drive. You must have driven a really knackered one, or not driven it like a go kart.

[forddeliveryboy]

I admit 'dodgy' was too strong a description, they were fluid in a way no German was - but, when they bit, it was with no warning and if you caught it, luck had played some part in avoiding a prang.

 

Of course, you should never have been going so quickly, but that was the point of the car. I loved the raw fun of them, but fast 309s never felt any slower and didn't ditch you in it so easily.

 

I've driven newish ones and leggy ones, the worst was a 35,000 miler which I helped tame for a friend, through tyre choice and replacing the front struts. The local plod reckoned at one point more lives were lost in fast 205s than in every other car added together, except for 325s.

[Timewaster]

I admit there was a reasonable amount of luck in me surviving to see 25.

I drove that car like a twat. The only time I really thought I'd overcooked it was when I hit a fair size dip in the road, mid bend when I was already on the wrong side and going faster than was sensible.

The 309Gti was a better car to drive but looked a bit "bleagh".

Eventually I replaced it with a 16v Golf which was faster but nothing like as much fun.

 

I expect Saxo VTs/r prices to go silly any day now.

[jamesC.]

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1435491745.htm/?ca=12_s

This is almost definitely a bad idea but it’s only €500 and surely it’s worth more than that in parts

[DodgeRover]

Mk1/2/3 transits in Lwb preferably twin wheelers will sell well here but the mk3 would need to be cleanish to make decent money.

In swb flavours any mk1/2 that runs/ drives will make at least a grand.

Minty mk 3/4/5 swb are also making strong money. Remember the side loader will be on the wrong side for here if it's a single one.

[dozeydustman]

The 309Gti was a better car to drive but looked a bit "bleagh".

 

 

 

The Giffer's GTi. Always thought it was a nice looking car in Facelift form.