Adventures in a 205 Gti

[scooters]

205 Gti adventure – part 1

 

 

Firstly, apologies, this one is light on laughs and is a brief update. The problem with reviewing a car like this is that it takes a bit of time, to really test it some death defying late night long distance trip is needed and so far I have only driven it a couple of hundred miles mostly on the M1.

 

Well, a bit late in putting this up as we all know the site was down last week.

 

Anyway, in short, a bottle of wine and an ebay session a coupe of weeks ago ended, inevitably, with me buying a 205 Gti.

 

So with a spring in my step I boarded the 0650 to Darlington from Edinburgh last Tuesday morning. The train journey was seemless and at Darlington I changed onto what can only be described as a bus on wheels – real train shite for the trip to Middlesborough. On getting to Boro I spent some time getting my head around directions – it had been a while since I had been in that town and found my way to the vendor’s house located to the south of the middle of town, about a mile form the station. I set off walking with and having taken a couple of detours – one to avoid a crack den, complete with steel shutters (GR8 4 KEEPIN D HOES IN N D PIGS OWAT) and a large group of youths in hoods (conscious I was wearing a suit, crombie and wheeling a suitcase and laptop bag) I eventually made it.

 

Well, it turned out the car was being sold by the flatmate of the owner who had just graduated and got herself a proper job in the south with a company car. So her flatmate gave me the keys, ever essential wheel lock and the paperwork and I went to start the car. After working out how the alarm worked and immobilizer switched off I decided to get on the road quickly as the hooded types were taking a keen interest in proceedings. After stalling the car a couple of times (very different clutch to the Sherpa!) I pulled away up the street and was immediately transported to the days of stone washed jeans, Don Johnson, bleached mullets, Simon LeBon and birds in puffball skirts with huge shoulders and hair. The car IS the eighties right down to it's piped red and grey trim.

 

I drove to the nearest civilisation and pulled over to appraise my purchase. Al walk round told me much – the car had been in the ownership of a young lady student for about 3 years and had had not a lot of money spent on it, it had also spent most of that time in Middlesborough getting salty north east rain on it so there is a bit of rust here and there – the worst bit being the passenger door (good one now sourced on ebay for £40). The car needs a good wash, polish and t-cut – the boot may have been replaced at some time as the paint is slightly shinier but that could just be the cutting. The fog/driving lamps are, as usual rusted to nothingness and will be replaced the moment I have a spare £80. 4 good but budget tyres will be replaced asap by quality boots. The pepperpots have been repainted at some point and are reasonable but far from mint.

 

Inside the driver’s seat has the usual bolster wear on the left arse cheek and right shoulder, verifying the 120k on the clock. Carpets and the rest of the interior is in good fettle but could do with a clean. The gear stick gaiter is in a bit of a state and the plastic clip that holds it in pace is loose (new one ordered – e-bay £10). Entertainment comes form a reasonable aftermarket MP3 ready stereo which unfortunately has lots of crappy flashing lights on it – I am going to try and source a good period clarion for it.

 

Starting the engine brings a smile to the face – this is a 1.6 but the exhaust note is pure chav. I got out to check the pipe and it is a standard 205 gti exhaust – it sounds like it means business. The weather was very nasty on my drive to St Albans, some very very heavy rain and spray took M1 speeds down to under 20mph at one stage – one gets a bit concerned at the shite nature of the rear lamp cluster on these cars but no real dramas – the car coped very well with all.

 

I have to admit to taking it pretty easy – I know these cars have a reputation for being the best Gti of the period – if not of all time – and the car has to be treated with serious respect as it will quite happily kill you on the way home from Sainsbury’s. And, until I have had a chance to scope out the tyres, wheel bearings and brakes properly there won’t be a lot of driving – on – the edge in this baby. Well..maybe not that much!

 

On the motorway the car is – tedious – I won’t bore you but it is noisy, uncomfortable and in 1.6 format doesn’t have the legs for well behaved cruising – but turning off onto an A road and then a B road the car suddenly springs to life willing you to drive it hard and fast. B roads in particular are great fun – I can honestly say I have never driven anything quite like it including mini coopers and Westfields. On the Harpenden to Redbourne road last Wednesday I picked up a Porsche boxter behind me and effortlessly spanked him – the car is so quick off and on speed and responsive there is no messing around at all.

 

However….lift off oversteer is not a myth with these and it caught me out once on that road, lose concentration for one minute and this car will bite/kill you.

 

I may well driver her north to Edinburgh on Thursday – if so a further adventure thread will be added – if I can verify solid tyres and bearings (the brakes seem fine) I might bring her up the A68!

[Danblez]

Quality purchase, got any pics?

 

I have been giving these serious thoughts recently and as soon as there is space in the garage it may have to be done. What can you get a reasonable 'work in progress' for?

[scooters]

mine was £500 on ebay - 5 months ticket and `10 months MOT. It will need a few bob spending - beware of shitters as they are uneconomical to restore - they only really rust on the door bottoms - very well sorted rustproofing form new and no traps for water/mud to get stuck.

 

1.9s are much more expensive than 1.6s and although I don't want to get into a debate a 1.6 phase 2 -(post 87 with the bigger head and valves) is only about 10bhp lghter than the 1.9

 

If I were buying it for a motorway basher then I would get the 1.9 but the price premium you pay takes it ito the relms of classic rather than shitter - also the 1.6 has skinnier boots so is a bit more sprightly on the b roads

[dollywobbler]

Nice write up. I'm not sure that the gearing is all that different between the 1.6 and 1.9, so not sure either is particularly relaxing on motorways. My BX 16v was doing 4000 noisy rpm at 80mph. Hot hatches were geared for acceleration.

 

I'd quite like one of these I must admit. I've only driven one - mind you, the first time I drove it, it was a standard 1.6. The second time, it had a 2.0 Peugeot 306 XSi engine in it and was pant-destroyingly fast!

 

You do need to avoid mid-bend lift-offs. Even my 306 would get light at the back if I decided I'd gone into a bend a little too quickly. If you want decent rubber without paying the earth, I've been very impressed with Hankooks on the BX. (they handle its 71bhp with ease!)

[pogweasel]

Skills.

I have such a massive chubby on for these cars, I know they are noisey, flimsy, shit at motorways, i.e. everything I don't really want, but it's that feeling you get from them when you point them at some curves and drive like a twat that keeps bringing me back. Do Want.

[Station]

I could also be driving one, if the bloke just decided to ignore HIS offer and not speak to me again.

[205 gti]

Hi the Scooters, I've had a 1.6 GTi for four years now, its a brilliant if slightly brittle car. The gearing (since it was mooted) is totally different between the 1.6 and 1.9. The BE1 'box fitted to the 1.6 is much closer in ratio. Second is quite long, but third, fourth and fifth are very close together, giving it a totally different feel to the longer legged 1.9 (BE3 'box). The 1.9 has a longer stroke engine too and they feel like totally different cars. The 1.9 is much smoother and less peppy than the 1.6, and far happier on the motorway. Lots of 1.9 drivers fit the BE1 box for a more frantic driving experience. Lots also fit the MI16 engine, and the GTI6 engine from the 306 is also popular.

 

Scooters you need to check out 205gitdrivers.com - the people on there are extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and the tech stuff is out of this world. If you can name it, someone on there will have done a how-to guide. Prices for parts (and cars for those of you interested) are very cheap on there too.

 

You should also check out that new tailgate (they rust so it probably will be a new one) for leaks. The water travels down inside the boot floor, along the sill and collects at the door bottoms. All three are rust hotspots, as is the area under the passanger side headlamp and the inner wings. Other than that, they survive pretty well, but beware that they do hide their rust very well and can look excellent from outside but be hiding a lot of rot. Check under your boot carpet for water. I run without one now as they are basically a moisture trap.

 

To prevent lift off oversteer, replace the rubber rear suspension mounts with either new ones, or preferrably solid group N mounts. To be honest, modern tyres have cured the problem to a large degree, and I think the loose nut behind the steering wheel is now responsible for most through a hedge backwards moments! The other reason that they suffer from this is because of a worn rear beam. I have replaced mine, and it wasn't too bad a job. Again, the forum is excellent and people recondition them all the time, expect to pay about £300 exchange for a new one, or significantly less for a kit to DIY.

 

Things worth keeping an eye on are knocking driveshafts, sloppy wishbone track control arms and it is worth investing in a spare Air Flow Meter, as they tend to pack it in for no reason.

 

The DAF is still going strong by the way (I'm the other guy who came up to buy it) - was tinkering on it tonight as it seems to be overfuelling a bit.

[scooters]

wow, thanks for all the tips and I am glad the daf is going well - might be worth checking the air filter for the over fuelling and also making sure the air intake on the air scoop is switched to winter - details on how to do this in the owners manual. Also, get onto the daf website and find out if anyone has a spare plastic grill shield - my car didn't have one - its basically a sheet of perspex that you fit on the inside of the grill to keep everything warmer in the winter.

 

Thanks for all the 205 info- my one does indeed have no boot carpet - the boot looks fairly solid but the holes where the carpet was secured are open and a bit rusty on the inside. I'm gonna have to get under the car and have a really gof shuftey - I will probably slap some waxoyl on to keep all at bay and sort in the spring. I have sourced a reasonable 2nd hand door from a scrappy in scunthorpe - I'm in my volver later this week so will collect it on the way home.

 

the suspension and steering feel tight - I am going to do a full audit of all components and a to do list before I start spending cash.

 

Thanks for the advice on the 205 gti forum - I am desperate to join but the new memberships are suspended pending an upgrade so will just have to wait!....curses

[205 gti]

Hi Scooters, cheers for the DAF advice, I have already been on the DAF forum and they are looking after me. They are a friendly bunch aren't they?

 

Think the overfuelling problem was with the solenoid on the carb rattling loose, I also adjusted the mixture screw though and appear to have over-compensated and leaned it out too much!! Air filter looks okay, so its just trial and error tonight so I can show it off to the lads at footy!

 

Enjoy the 205 mate and if you need any bits and bobs give me a shout as I have quite a few spares kicking about.

[scooters]

Well I'm in it today and what a motor -

 

I have had a chance to do a bit of an audit - it needs:

 

new passenger door - on order

passenger side door speaker cables need sorting (will do when I fit new door)

an oil leak when standing - any ideas?

a good polish

a good clean inside

sunroof greasing

general rustproofing, touching up, fettling and geasing

 

rear brake pipes are a tad corroded and could do with replacing soon

new tyres (ogthers are OK but don't fancy drivign a performance car on tyres I don't know

 

One thing I do need is the plastic trim that goes over the gear stick gaiter and holds the bottom of the gaiter into the central consol - it is about 8 inches long by 4 inces wide and should have 4 clips 2 at the top and 2 underneath - the underneath ones have snapped off

 

IN the last year the car has had a new clutch and a new radiator and hoses.

 

Judging by the mechanics report the previous owner wasn't very savvy spannerwise and I suspect there are going to be loads of little jobs to do

[dollywobbler]

Rocker cover gasket could be dribbling a bit. Both my CX and BX do this. If you're really unlucky, it'll drop onto the exhaust somewhere and smell bloody horrible.

 

Doesn't sound a bad buy at all though does it? Nothing really major there.

[205 gti]

Scooters check the oil seal between the distrubutor and the cylinder head, leaks from there are very common.

 

Glad to hear you are enjoying it. Once you have some good tyres on it you will go for a drive that convinces you never ever to sell it.

 

Weeks later, after lots of motorway mileage and overheating in traffic, it will develop a seemingly incurable and infuriating problem and you will want to get rid. You will convince yourself it is worth more if its fixed. You will fix it. Then you will go on the drive from the paragraph above again!