Another swap for Astra

[Cavcraft]

They're like a sort of pocket rocket/go-kart. Handle well, go well and love being thrashed almost as much as you'll love doing the thrashing.

Definate 'grin factor' car.

[Timewaster]

I prefer little cars that drive well, over cars with big power.

205 GTi's are both

 

Well, power to weight ratio that is.

[pogweasel]

What makes them so good though?

They are just incredibly well balanced, straight out of the box - no need to spend much on modifying them, it's all there already. Light weight, supple chassis and a revvy engine means that you can chuck them about like nothing else. No nonsense on them either, no gadget, gizmos, aircon or any guff like that, everything you need and nothing more.

Probably the best hot hatchback of ever, look at anyone who is 'in the know' and pound to a penny they will have one in their top ten....

Do not let this opportunity pass you by.

[Pillock]

Agreed. My ex-mate had one and whilst it was a bit of a botched dog, when it was running it was a lot of fun. His was an L-plate but was a dealer sitaround so had the non-cat engine, compared to my similar aged Golf the 205 just urges you to go faster all the time, just wants you to find limits. The Golf is constantly urging you to be sensible. I remember taking his out for a drive whilst he was on holiday and just ragging it mercilessly, so rewarding.

 

Maybe why so many 205s left the road backwards, through a hedge. Finding a nice one is becoming a challenge.

[Pete-M]

As the others have said, they're light, nimble and stripped of unnecessary crap. They rev in a way that the MR2 just wouldn't.

 

Harder to drive properly quickly than most other stuff out there, but mega rewarding when you get it right.

 

In an MR2 you just wouldn't attempt things that the 205 laughs at. There's a corner near me which I can do in an Integrale at 65 mph if you pick the line through it perfectly and balance things out just right. I can get a 911 through it at 60ish, the XJR at 55ish, a good MR2 Turbo at about the same as the Jag. A 205 GTi 1.9 will get through it at 70, but it'll spin if I try any harder. I know this for a fact. I wouldn't try to get a 911 through at 70, or the Jag at 65, but the Pug, fuck yeah, go for 75..... oops.

 

You'll curse the thing when it throws random cold starting issues at you, and it'll frighten you silly the first time it does the lift off oversteer thing, but you've posted on here that you don't tend to drive quickly anyway. You would in a 205.

[messerschmitt owner]

yep - good swap - and are you Violet on retro rides?

[Guest]

Dave.

 

Get this done, and get it done NOW. There's loads of support \ parts for these. If you ever get stuck with anything SCTSH_ANDY knows them inside out and the lads across from us have literally got a unit overflowing with bits.

 

I will say this again : GET IT DONE!

Oh, and FWIW, they're MacPherson (ish) struts at the front and torsion bars at the back. And they don't rust that much compared to Fords and Vauxhalls of a similar age because the six mile plating of underseal that comes free on most PSA products.

 

Put it this way, my P reg 306 wasn't rotten anywhere. My friend's Mk3 Astra of the same age was an absolute minging shitheap of rust and despair, had half the miles, and had been garaged half of its life.

[Cavcraft]

Weren't 205 and 306 (and other Poojots) galvanised? They do seem very resilient to rust.

 

 

I'm not sure it's comparing apples with apples but the 205GTi is a far better, far more entertaining car than the Astra.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I have seen 205s with rusty sills and strut tops but they were fairly shagged out ones, they are very resistant to rust normally.

I don't think they are fully galvanised, but just didn't have the rust traps typical of many cars at the time.

[sporty-shite]

This swap must be done. 205's are ACE, and if you end up not liking it, I'm sure I can find some tat* to swap for it

 

 

 

 

 

*Not BMW/RA40

[greengartside]

I'd say go for that Station, I'd love a 205 GTi. 1.6's are better on acceleration than a 1.9 as most people will know.

 

Only thing I'd look for is any crusty bits around the top of the sill/driver's door area (inside the door) - if it's buggered here chances are it's been in a smack at some stage.

[Pete-M]

I'd love a 205 GTi. 1.6's are better on acceleration than a 1.9 as most people will know.

Er, that is utter, utter bollocks. The 1.9 is definately and undeniably quicker, but it's also torquier so when you get it wrong you get it much more wrong than you do in a 1.6... I've had both the 1.6 and 1.9, and I've bullt a very trick 1.6 that was only close to as quick as a 1.9.

 

The 1.9 is a lot more scary than the 1.6.

 

The 1.6 is easier to drive quickly, but the 1.9 is faster in every way possible.

[greengartside]

Ah I see. I do know that some people stick 1.9 gearboxes in 1.6's to give them a bit more power.

[pogweasel]

Ah I see. I do know that some people stick 1.9 gearboxes in 1.6's to give them a bit more power.

Other way around, surely.

1.6 gearbox on a 1.9 will make it accelerate quicker.

[greengartside]

d'oh...yeah that's what i meant. Early night for me I think.

[Pillock]

From doing my research when my mate bought his..... check the top of the B-pillar, they start to crack parallel to the roofline if they've been involved in lots of stupid driving, especially lowered/stiffened ones. Also the rear beam, check the camber on the rear wheels.

 

But to be fair, even if it's not mint you're not going to lose out. They've pretty much bottomed out on price and are on the way back up. Out of all the swaps you've been offered, this will be the easiest to move on.

[warren t claim]

I think it may be a bit fast for you. Try building up your 205 tolerance up by buying a smaller engined one to begin with...

[chaseracer]

I think it may be a bit fast for you. Try building up your 205 tolerance up by buying a smaller engined one to begin with...

Do you happen to know where such a fine item might be obtained...?

 

[Volksy]

205 vs asstray = no contest.

 

205

[warren t claim]

I think it may be a bit fast for you. Try building up your 205 tolerance up by buying a smaller engined one to begin with...

Do you happen to know where such a fine item might be obtained...?

 

I'll ask around. I'm sure I can find one for sale locally.

[Station]

Can't drive too fast at the moment thanks to 36mph speed camera and giving un-insured drive a driving lesson on a deserted industrial estate related 9 points on license.

 

I still haven't heard back, but in the meantime, I've been offered this.

A non-chav owned Saxo VTR

 

Completely standard bodywork and interior,

Alloys refurnished,

Genuine 42000 miles with all old MOT certs,

New cat under 1000 miles ago,

Cambelt and service history carried out last month at a local garage (receipt to prove),

Bee-sting aerial,

Wax-oiled arches and underneath,

3 mature owners,

 

 

This is going on a bit too long now, so really want to shift the red one and get something for a couple of months until I find work again.

 

I really like these, I think they're quite tidy, but the chav thing is there (I don't know whether I could handle it, and getting challenged all the time), and it's not really a patch on the 205 IMO. Don't think it'd be too much of a problem to shift again.

[Pillock]

They're not bad, not quite up to 205 standards but they share some of the same characteristics of being light, quick, and having slightly iffy build quality

 

It'll probably continue to depreciate where the 205 won't but in my mind, it'll make a slightly nicer daily driver. I enjoyed my blat in a 205 but found it hard work to drive "normally". The only experience I have in a Saxo however is a 1.1 which was actually quite fun, but probably not a good taster of a VTR.

 

Let me just get this straight.... VTR = actually quick, VTS = bodykit but not as fast. Correct?

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

VTR = 8 valve, VTS = 16 valve

[Station]

VTS has power steering as well, they're pretty quick. Not too arsed, just after a comfy A-B'r that'll sell when it comes to it. It's a shame the only thing holding me back is the chav-aspect (and 205).

[Pillock]

Aaaah. Completely wrong then. Still, a VTR won't be far off a 205 1.6 in terms of outright speed and they don't handle badly.

 

Don't think you'll have any trouble selling it on, but it depends how long you want to wait for 205boy to get back to you....

[trigger]

My sister had a lowered Saxo VTR and had nothing but problems with it, most of it due to being lowered and having been thrashed from new, But that blue one doesn't look to bad as they go.

 

I not sure I'd want one still but at least it would mean that you have got rid of the Astra and that Saxo will be much easier to sell on in a few months as well.

[Pete-M]

VTR Saxos aren't bad little things at all. I'd rather have one of those than an Astra.

 

VTS Saxos are mental little buggers which will give a 205 GTi 1.9 a proper run for the money. Ultimately not as quick as the Pug, they're not as homicidal either.

 

I think the VTR is pretty much on a par with a 205 GTi 1.6. Slightly less flaky build quality (not much less though), irritating Saxo / 106 tight pedal grouping, but an easier car to get 90% from than the 205.

 

Basically, the Saxo won't try to kill you quite as often as a 205 would, and it'll be almost as much fun to thrash mercilessly.

 

BE AWARE of the coolant header tank splitting around the lower hose connection. This is far from unknown on 'em, and by the time the light comes on, you've fried it. If it has a new header tank, ask why. If it doesn't, fit one.

[Station]

Good to hear the VTR's are OK.

The 205 owner doesn't seem to want to reply whether he wants to go ahead with the swap and I can't be assed with more timewasters so it's going to be the Saxo. I've seen a few chavs driving them and it's making my skin crawl, I don't know how I'm going to handle getting the hassle of them.

[Pillock]

You can start a trend. You can hoon around in a stock VTR, with no sub box in the boot and no -120mm springs. No neons, no LEDs in places where LEDs shouldn't, and no lexus lights.

 

If it's fun to drive and serves a purpose, drive it. To be fair the image of the hotter Saxos is better now than it was 3-5 years ago anyway, all the idiots have Imprezas on crippling finance.