205 GTi - repairs underway

[cobblers]

I'm severely jealous, after owning nothing but vans for years I really do need a small buzzy french hatchback in my life. 

[wuvvum]

This thread is making me want a 205 again.  GTI beyond my means sadly unless I sell several of the current fleet, but I wouldn't mind another turbo diesel.

[Toe]

Seems a damn good price for what you get, yeah small items to sort out but we all know rust is a killer and this seems well worth it, 205's seem to be in demand,  if I could sell my Charade GTti for that I'd bite the buyers hand off lol

[mat_the_cat]

Time to get into my transport for the 2 mile trip into the nearest town. 

The weather was being predictably Welsh, but at least passing scenery such as the local sewage works.

Poo count: yes.

Also passing more mundane sights such as mountains...

...rivers...

...and forests...

Nothing much else to see on the journey, apart from this pair of 2CVs.

I'll let @Puglet continue the collection, seeing as it is her car!

[Schaefft]

On 19/12/2023 at 10:43, Arfur Foxache said:

The garage is being turned into a bungalow in the new year

Why would you do that?

[Timewaster]

That's lovely.

I had a red 1.6 when I was 21. 

I absolutely loved it and drive he everywhere like, well ,a 21 year old.

How I survived I don't really know.

I do wonder what I would think of one now, mine was lumpy and hunted in traffic, the clutch was heavy and the steering was even heavier. I'd probably love/hate it.

[Puglet]

Thank you all for your comments and support for my decision to buy my very own Pug 205 gti again. Always regretted selling my last one so seemed too good an opportunity to miss when the exact spec and colour gti I wanted was sitting at the garage looking for a new owner :). It does how ever need some work to get it how I want it and it isn't going to be a 5 minute job. I will try and update this thread as we go through the ever increasing list of jobs to tackle on it. Job number 1 was to get it under cover and start bailing it out. It turns out that even though it only been stood outside for 1 week there has been enough rain to leak into the boot somewhere and run all the way through to the passenger footwell :(. Carpets are now up and the sound proofing underneath is out and drying in the house. There is a fan heater and de humidifier combo in the car, so now just have to wait. We have however found one definite leak path. Behind the trim in the boot, Mat found a broken off trim clip that someone had tried to bodge closed with some black sealant. I'm glad he volunteered to go in the boot while I sprayed the hose 🤣

[mat_the_cat]

One of those jobs, albeit minor, was to tidy up the wiring.

I don't know who did this, or why (but I will look for you, I *will* find you, and I will kill you )

Although in reality I'll just use a particular set of skills to do a neater job. First soldered the wires together,  then insulated them with glue-lined heat shink.

Then another piece of heat shrink over the whole lot, and job done.

[Captain Mainwaring]

That seems preposterously cheap for one of these in this day and age, absolutely top bombing and many congrats.

They're great at leaking, our old 1.6 auto (RIP) used to love pissing water in through the interior light.

Great little cars though, we loved ours. Never driven a 1.9 but if our old 205 is owt to go by, I bet they're a blast.

 

[Arfur Foxache]

15 hours ago, Schaefft said:

Why would you do that?

 

[Jon]

We bought a 1.9 205 GTi, ex Japanese market in 2011, a few months after moving to NZ. In terms of the bell curve of their value, we struck lucky and bought it cheap (as in, 3 figures in £, cheap) and it was Mrs_Jon's daily driver for 3 years.

Beyond that point, it owed us nothing, so stayed in the fold as a spare car and something to lend out to visitors. It spent a few years with my cousin, who although kept it in tip top condition mechanically, pranged it at low speed and 'fixed' broken French components like only a field engineer could.

Here's the sorry old sod last year:

The rain certainly improves the paint job.

 

Here's what it looked like, in full Kiwi sun:

Lacquer/non-lacquer mix was about 50:50. Please ignore the overgrown weeds, which we're constantly battling with.

 

Those with shiter's eyesight will have noted that it isn't the only vehicular reprobate needing attention and the bodges fixes it'd received over the years had somewhat dampened our enthusiasm for it, so we decided to sell.

 

Here it is exiting our ownership on the new owner's very, very nice trailer, which drops to the ground for loading low cars!

It honestly couldn't have gone to a better owner, so we were over the moon that he has the inclination to make it good. He also owns some tasty motors, including an Auburn(!), so it'll be in good company. The healthy profit was also a nice bonus!

We don't sell cars often but this whole experience gave us the warm fuzzies.

Fortunately, we're not sans French hot hatch, as our last trio line-up photo shows:

See what I mean about battling the weeds?The 172 replaced the Pug and has offered largely faultless daily service over the last 9 years.

The Visa has been the polar opposite but is still here...

[Tenmil Socket]

9 hours ago, Puglet said:

Thank you all for your comments and support for my decision to buy my very own Pug 205 gti again. Always regretted selling my last one so seemed too good an opportunity to miss when the exact spec and colour gti I wanted was sitting at the garage looking for a new owner :). It does how ever need some work to get it how I want it and it isn't going to be a 5 minute job. I will try and update this thread as we go through the ever increasing list of jobs to tackle on it. Job number 1 was to get it under cover and start bailing it out. It turns out that even though it only been stood outside for 1 week there has been enough rain to leak into the boot somewhere and run all the way through to the passenger footwell :(. Carpets are now up and the sound proofing underneath is out and drying in the house. There is a fan heater and de humidifier combo in the car, so now just have to wait. We have however found one definite leak path. Behind the trim in the boot, Mat found a broken off trim clip that someone had tried to bodge closed with some black sealant. I'm glad he volunteered to go in the boot while I sprayed the hose 🤣

These things are great...

[bezzabsa]

only ever driven a totally shagged diesel, but it was fun in the twisties.. 

[eifion]

It's looking good. I need to do that hose trick on the back of mine, too. It can get pretty wet in there this time of year.

Those poor 2CVs have been like that for years. I've spoken to the owner and he talks about doing them up but I can't see it ever happening.

[Volksy]

I bought two of these to try and combat The Big's steamy windows. 

It has water ingress, which will be tackled once it stops raining for more than 5 mins. But they have done a sterling job of keeping the windows clear. 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083M892KV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

[Anthony]

As others have said, that looks like a good buy and price doesn't sound unreasonable either given the huge jump they've made in recent years.  I've had various 205 GTi's over the years and still have three (two 1.9's and an Mi16), all bought when they were worth buttons compared to now.

In terms of the leaks:

That hole above the boot lock normally has a plastic peg from the slatted tailgate trim going through it with a securing star clip - they get broken when people try to remove the slatted panel not realising that the clip there, and the hole that's left will let in a little water, which pools inside the tailgate before running out the vent holes in either corner.  Check the other various holes on the tailgate and the glass bonding, as all can leak to varying degrees.

That said, unless it's leaking very badly and the car has been parked on a fairly steep downhill slope, I suspect that's not why the footwells are wet.  Rear footwells are usually the rear quarter window seals leaking as they shrink with age - new ones are available - or sometimes because the sill drains are blocked and it leaks in through the seatbelt mounting holes.  Front footwell could be water travelling from the rear, but the amount that's there looks like it's leaking from the front - front screen seal, scuttle panel, A pillar seam, door seals or the plastic scuttle plastic trim not being fitted properly are all common causes.

If there's that much water pooled on the carpets, then I'd strongly suggest taking it out as the felt underlay will be completely soaked and won't dry out, making the car mist up easily and eventually rusting out the floorpan.

[Bradders59]

I bought a red 1.6 gti off my mother in law 20 years ago for £75. Spend £300 on it and sold it for £750.

I was well pleased with the result at the time. Like many other cars & bikes Ive owned, I wish Id had somewhere to store it for a couple of decades before selling it, but such is life. 

[cort1977]

I borrowed my sister's 1.1 petrol in about 1999, it was fantastic, one of those you could more or less drive flat out everywhere and carry massive speed through the corners.  Been a massive fan ever since although never driven a fast one.

[mat_the_cat]

5 hours ago, eifion said:

Those poor 2CVs have been like that for years. I've spoken to the owner and he talks about doing them up but I can't see it ever happening.

I could have sworn they'd gone last time I looked, but clearly mistaken. I hoped they'd been moved to work on them, as they must have been there at least 10 years.

2 hours ago, Anthony said:

Front footwell could be water travelling from the rear, but the amount that's there looks like it's leaking from the front - front screen seal, scuttle panel, A pillar seam, door seals or the plastic scuttle plastic trim not being fitted properly are all common causes.

If there's that much water pooled on the carpets, then I'd strongly suggest taking it out as the felt underlay will be completely soaked and won't dry out, making the car mist up easily and eventually rusting out the floorpan.

Yes, underlay is hanging up drying out in the house, as it's hard to dry in the car. Carpet has been lifted up and a fan heater directed underneath it so all is dry now.

It's been outside for a couple of weeks before she bought it, and when we first saw it I could have sworn they were dry. The back seat bases were soaking though, and we left them up - so what I figured was happening is they were no longer able to act as a sponge to soak up the water from the boot leak. It's still possible there is another leak from the front mind, and we just didn't notice it before.

[MiniMinorMk3]

That looks good for the price.

I had a white 1.6 Gti in the mid 90s. After being lumbered with a Mk5 diesel Escort as a company car I decided to give it back and take a salary increase instead. I was not looking for a 205, but just happened to see a one owner low mileage 10 year old on an Austin Rover forecourt. It took me about 5 seconds to get it brought. I did about 80,000 miles in 2 years going up and down the country in it. The gearing is a bit low on the 1.6 which makes it a bit noisy on the motorway at illegal speeds. Also the oil temp gauge would creep up when doing over 80 for long spells. It was great fun to blast down lanes though. The only thing I had to fix in the two years were the drop links on the front roll bar, otherwise it was just oil/filters and plugs every 10,000 miles.

I only spun it once going into a bend with the brakes on, that lift off over steer can be fun.

I've never wanted another as I prefer the Mk2 Golf GTi. It might be slower than a 205, but it feels a lot more solid and has a bit more room for carting stuff around in.

[busmansholiday]

That takes me back a bit, I couldn't afford a new 1.9 GTi back in 1991, so I forked out £10.5k on a new 1.6 GTi in Miami blue. Should have kept my 1989 XS as it was wank (despite numerous trips to the dealership complaining about it's shit performance), hopefully that's a sight better.

 

ps I traded the GTi for a new diesel Citroen ZX in 1994, sums it up really.

[Puglet]

On 21/12/2023 at 09:16, Jon said:

We bought a 1.9 205 GTi, ex Japanese market in 2011, a few months after moving to NZ. In terms of the bell curve of their value, we struck lucky and bought it cheap (as in, 3 figures in £, cheap) and it was Mrs_Jon's daily driver for 3 years.

Beyond that point, it owed us nothing, so stayed in the fold as a spare car and something to lend out to visitors. It spent a few years with my cousin, who although kept it in tip top condition mechanically, pranged it at low speed and 'fixed' broken French components like only a field engineer could.

Here's the sorry old sod last year:

 

You've got a Cavalier too! My dad had one of those as a company car when he worked for the electricity generating board. I have fond memories of that car. Have you still got it? My first gti only cost £500 which seemed quite a lot at the time circa 2004 but it had a personalised plate so it was £100 for the car and £400 for the plate 🤣.   So to think what that would be worth now after we fitted the Mi16 engine to it, but hey you live and learn. Wow that NZ heat looks intense to do that to lacquer. Mine had a spell out in cyprus so the laquer has started to go in one or two places so it is on my list to give it a respray at some point. I see what you mean about the repairs but glad its gone to a good home. Good luck with the rest of the fleet! If we are ever in NZ would love to see the Cav :)

[Puglet]

On 20/12/2023 at 17:04, Timewaster said:

That's lovely.

I had a red 1.6 when I was 21. 

I absolutely loved it and drive he everywhere like, well ,a 21 year old.

How I survived I don't really know.

I do wonder what I would think of one now, mine was lumpy and hunted in traffic, the clutch was heavy and the steering was even heavier. I'd probably love/hate it.

I had an Xs when I was around that age. great car but yes steering was heavy and yes I hooned round the lanes in that car :)

[Puglet]

On 21/12/2023 at 18:30, MiniMinorMk3 said:

That looks good for the price.

I had a white 1.6 Gti in the mid 90s. After being lumbered with a Mk5 diesel Escort as a company car I decided to give it back and take a salary increase instead. I was not looking for a 205, but just happened to see a one owner low mileage 10 year old on an Austin Rover forecourt. It took me about 5 seconds to get it brought. I did about 80,000 miles in 2 years going up and down the country in it. The gearing is a bit low on the 1.6 which makes it a bit noisy on the motorway at illegal speeds. Also the oil temp gauge would creep up when doing over 80 for long spells. It was great fun to blast down lanes though. The only thing I had to fix in the two years were the drop links on the front roll bar, otherwise it was just oil/filters and plugs every 10,000 miles.

I only spun it once going into a bend with the brakes on, that lift off over steer can be fun.

I've never wanted another as I prefer the Mk2 Golf GTi. It might be slower than a 205, but it feels a lot more solid and has a bit more room for carting stuff around in.

I have a sensible car for the every day driving just wanted a fun car for the other times when I want to have a bit if fun.

[Puglet]

On 21/12/2023 at 18:30, busmansholiday said:

That takes me back a bit, I couldn't afford a new 1.9 GTi back in 1991, so I forked out £10.5k on a new 1.6 GTi in Miami blue. Should have kept my 1989 XS as it was wank (despite numerous trips to the dealership complaining about it's shit performance), hopefully that's a sight better.

 

ps I traded the GTi for a new diesel Citroen ZX in 1994, sums it up really.

XS was a great car, wish I hadn't sold mine :(

[Puglet]

On 21/12/2023 at 15:36, Anthony said:

As others have said, that looks like a good buy and price doesn't sound unreasonable either given the huge jump they've made in recent years.  I've had various 205 GTi's over the years and still have three (two 1.9's and an Mi16), all bought when they were worth buttons compared to now.

In terms of the leaks:

That hole above the boot lock normally has a plastic peg from the slatted tailgate trim going through it with a securing star clip - they get broken when people try to remove the slatted panel not realising that the clip there, and the hole that's left will let in a little water, which pools inside the tailgate before running out the vent holes in either corner.  Check the other various holes on the tailgate and the glass bonding, as all can leak to varying degrees.

That said, unless it's leaking very badly and the car has been parked on a fairly steep downhill slope, I suspect that's not why the footwells are wet.  Rear footwells are usually the rear quarter window seals leaking as they shrink with age - new ones are available - or sometimes because the sill drains are blocked and it leaks in through the seatbelt mounting holes.  Front footwell could be water travelling from the rear, but the amount that's there looks like it's leaking from the front - front screen seal, scuttle panel, A pillar seam, door seals or the plastic scuttle plastic trim not being fitted properly are all common causes.

If there's that much water pooled on the carpets, then I'd strongly suggest taking it out as the felt underlay will be completely soaked and won't dry out, making the car mist up easily and eventually rusting out the floorpan.

Definitely not ruling out other leaks. Thanks for all the info :)

[Puglet]

On 21/12/2023 at 09:18, Tenmil Socket said:

These things are great...

Never seen these in my life so thanks for the info, scented too!

[Puglet]

On 21/12/2023 at 12:31, Volksy said:

I bought two of these to try and combat The Big's steamy windows. 

It has water ingress, which will be tackled once it stops raining for more than 5 mins. But they have done a sterling job of keeping the windows clear. 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083M892KV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Ohhh ideal, might get one of these for my day to day car for after I've been rowing....

[Jon]

12 hours ago, Puglet said:

You've got a Cavalier too! My dad had one of those as a company car when he worked for the electricity generating board. I have fond memories of that car. Have you still got it? My first gti only cost £500 which seemed quite a lot at the time circa 2004 but it had a personalised plate so it was £100 for the car and £400 for the plate 🤣.   So to think what that would be worth now after we fitted the Mi16 engine to it, but hey you live and learn. Wow that NZ heat looks intense to do that to lacquer. Mine had a spell out in cyprus so the laquer has started to go in one or two places so it is on my list to give it a respray at some point. I see what you mean about the repairs but glad its gone to a good home. Good luck with the rest of the fleet! If we are ever in NZ would love to see the Cav

Yes, I still have the Cavalier but it's been off the road a while. Just needs gentle recommissioning really but I've forgotten the various jobs required, it's been that long!

It's a 1983 SRi, so a 1.6 injection engine. Not as fun to drive as a 205 but a really competent car for it being 40 years old.

Here's a shot just after I'd renovated it's iconic wheels - I got the centre caps from a very generous guy on the Mk2 Cav forum, along with good used seat material, to renovate the driver's torn Recaro! On a personal note, I always seem to take a photo when the ivy creep is at it's worst...

 

Anyway, like yourself, a Cavalier was a big part of my growing up, with us having an estate as a family car for almost 20 years. They were never sold in NZ but new cars were hard to source here, up to the mid-80's, so emigrants often brought a car with them. This one arrived in late '86.

 

Have a festive shot, as this was us stopping at a scenic spot for breakfast on the way to my cousin's house on Christmas Day, a few years back.

If you ever make it over here and it's up and running, you're more than welcome to take it for a drive!

And indeed, the sun can be really damaging to lacquers over here but there doesn't seem to be a social stigma with driving a scruffy looking car, which I fully endorse!

[hairnet]

@Jon any holden action?