1991 Peugeot 205 GTi Mi16 twin carb review from UK and Ireland

Needed new distributor.

Starter motor failed.

This is the most amazing 205 I've owned, and I've owned quite a few. Over 10 years ago I brought my first car, a 1989 1.6 gti, and I've owned nothing, but 205gti's since.

This car started life as a 1991 1.6 phase 2,but lots of work has transformed the performance to another level.

The car has 309gti front suspension along with a 309gti rear axle. This gives the car slightly wider track giving incredible cornering.It's lowered 40mm and can take a local tight bend easily 10mph quicker than my every day car, which is a nearly standard 1.9gti.

Lift off tho. and things get very interesting! rally style!!

The engine is a fully rebuilt Mi16, with 2.1 pistons and liners, stage 3 head with the air and fuel being supplied by twin Weber dcoe 45's.

The car may look standard, but certainly don't sound standard. The induction noise is amazing, and unlike many claim, I've not had to have the carbs set up due to them "going out of tune".

Transmission is a six speed box from a gti6. This is great for motorway driving, with the engine doing 3000 revs at 70mph, but you do loose a little right hand lock with this box in a 205, due to the 6 speed box being slightly longer than the standard one.

On the rollers, the car made 234bhp @wheels, and 229ftlb of torque.

On the road, it ain't worth the petrol on boy racers with there flashy lights and stupidly large wheels and body kits. How ever, the type-r, cupra-r and rs focus spikey haired, shades wearing types with token blonde in passenger seat get to see just what 80's old skool is all about!

The car goes of the clock at 140, doing about 6000 revs, and I've had it pull almost another 1000 revs after going off the clock before I bottled it! (obviously on private land!!)

One thing I'd recommend to gti owners is bucket seats. The original seats are fine, and are part of a classic, but you sit much lower in buckets, and personally, I feel you feel even more in touch with the road, and just a bit closer to understanding when that back ends about to let go!

So what is it about this magical little 80's hot hatch that has made it such an enthusiast's car? I don't really know, but in my eye's their perfection. They look and perform perfectly as standard, have so many engine options that drop straight in if you want even more performance, and the body's just don't rust if looked after. What other 80's car looks as good today? Find a good one, look after it and in a few years time it'll pay for it's self.

To quote a well known 205 book,"the 205gti is a car you drive for the sheer hell of it, just to enjoy the drive"

"Long journeys aren't tiresome, just extended pleasure."

A future classic today.