Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9. Is this the best hot-hatch ever?

[@christophernewman5027]

My wife had one of these as a company car in the late eighties. "Ooh, you're looking a bit tired this weekend, love. Would you like me to drive?" I was such a considerate husband...

[@Virtuoso23]

"Company car" instead of a white Corsa? Very strange...

[@christophernewman5027]

@@Virtuoso23 Yeah, she was allowed to choose her own car up to a certain amount. I may have possibly nudged her towards the Peugeot dealer...

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

One things for sure, she had no excuses for being late!

[@filipesilvestre6108]

Johnathan Doe, Or maybe she had, since the poor reputation for reliability. I imagine the french and brit cars starting up on a cold morning

[@christophernewman5027]

@@filipesilvestre6108 It's a fair while ago, obviously, but l don't recall anything untoward happening in the time she had it. Great little car.

[@meme4one]

If I won the lottery, I'd have a garage full of 80s and 90s hot hatches. 205 gti and a 5 GT turbo at the top of the list.

[@AkaAndyKnuckles]

Harry Metcalfe: The David Attenborough of cars.

[@MoultrieGeek]

Spot on

[@davidmg1925]

haha just so

[@thedownshiftchannel]

I was going to leave a comment but I now have nothing to say because this says it all

[@rabbishekelstein9477]

AkaAndyKnuckles much prefer Harry Metcalfe...

[@johnsmith1474]

Yes and this car is DA reviewing a vole.

[@ChrisPlow]

I was a 17 year old Peugeot Talbot apprentice mechanic when they launched the GTI. Awesome car, and just found one mega clean one which is now pride of place !

[@gloooopo]

In 1996, 4 years after passing my test, 1 year into my first proper full job, I'd saved up a couple of grand and borrowed a further 4 grand and bought myself a Peugeot 205 1.9 gti in sorrento green just like this beauty. She had a half leather green/black interior and the indicator lenses were white instead of orange. After a year of my workmates taking the piss taken out of my orange mk2 rust box of a fiesta I rocked up on a Monday morning in my j plate pug. Needless to say they were impressed. Working 3 days on, 3 days off I'd travel from Stoke-on-Trent to Telford to work and back and it was an absolute joy. Nipping in and out of those tight sweeping bends of the A roads it felt like the car was and integral part of my body and soul. Handling was spot on. This video brought it all back like it was yesterday. Excellent video. Thanks for the memories.

[@markbroadheaf1593]

That era of Peugeot cars was certainly their best in terms of driving dynamics. I owned an MI16 405 and still maintain it had the best ride/handling steering feel of any car I have driven and I have been lucky enough to drive many iconic cars. The build quality was another matter but as Harry points out look at their relative lack of weight, I think the MI16 weighed in at under 1100 kgs...

[@brianfreeman8290]

My '92 Mi16 LeMans is the car I SO regret selling. I'd love to watch Harrys' appraisal of that.

[@terryholland4064]

We had one of these as a company pool car alongside a Golf Gti, Fiesta XR2i and an Astra GTE. The Peugeot was by far the best and the one I always tried to get the keys of. It was very twitchy and had a tendancy to struggle starting if the engine was warm, but what a car along country lanes! Great memories and a great vid! Thanks for the reminder.

[@darrenprior6339]

I remember living in London in the late 80's and seeing Golf GTi's, 205 GTi's and Renault Gordini Turbos all over the place, mostly driven by young stock brokers in blue shirts with white collars with suspenders strapped over their shoulders. It was a great time. The Pug is one of my all time favourite cars. Hope to own one again one day and never let it go. Thanks for another great video Harry

[@soulveiw]

Back when London was an English city....The good old days eh..

[@RUfromthe40s]

what about the Polo G40?where i live there were lot´s of them not one survived ,the owners survived but only a few

[@Ineedyoulou]

Absolutely the best hot hatch ever. I had the 1.6 GTI on a J plate, brand new from Peugeot St Johns wood. 19 years old & wanted the 1.9 GTI but the insurance was just so much. Love the video & great to see again.

[@ChrisByers100]

I had the 1.6 and still rank it as one of the best cars I have ever owned. It was tremendous fun and was the first car that made me go 'Wow!' the first time I drove it.

[@richlee509]

Terrible interior

[@NigelGentry]

@@richlee509 I loved the interior of my 1.6: very comfortable fabric seats with bright red carpet.

[@peterolley7159]

I had exactly the same dark grey and yeah it was seriously fun , ok it’s wasn’t built great and many more things to bring up but bloody hell did it feel good to drive !

[@paulm114]

This and the Renault 5 GT Turbo were every 17 year olds dream back in the day!

[@ElementsMMA]

With RS TURBO Fiesta leading that pack

[@amnril]

ElementsMMA Hang-on, the RS Turbo fiesta didn’t arrive till 1990, some 7 yrs after the R5 Turbo and 205GTi and even then, Ford used those cars as benchmarks for their hot hatches.......

[@ElementsMMA]

Neil Riley haha yes fair one although you said back in the day not necessarily back in THE day lol

[@amnril]

ElementsMMA well not me.... VTEC FK2 R said that but your point stands..... just 😉

[@neilpearson357]

Did have the S1 RS turbo escort in 1985. God, I owned and sold em all. What beautiful days they were. I'm still a car dealer to this day but never has it been anything like those days.

[@paulbarlow9981]

This is part of the reason why we all love Harry. He reviews and enjoys special 'every-man' cars with as much gusto and enthusiasm as he does one million pound hypercars. Always a pleasure, Harry. Always a pleasure.

[@martinh4509]

One of the coolest cars ever with one of the coolest reviewers ever, sounds like a Black Friday deal to me!

[@christopherandlindajolly4310]

no escourt rs tubos are the coolest of hot hach from the 80 s just look at the cost of bying one today

[@legionnairegonk4425]

@@christopherandlindajolly4310 no way.... WRC rally success of Delta and 205 blow away that generation of Escort in cool X factor.

[@guillaumeromain6694]

@@christopherandlindajolly4310 Price is no proof of an item being better.. 205 GTI is very cool indeed

[@mikeygti8930]

@@christopherandlindajolly4310 i doubt it. Have you driven one? Reminded me of a blamange with a turbo strapped to it.

[@GuillaumeR-n6e]

I was showing your video to my American wife, she still doesn't understand the design ! Harry, you brought me back to the 90's driving this car between Versailles and Paris without being worried about the speed radar on the highway! Fantastic and playful car. The chassis was amazing, Mc Pherson triangle and inverted arms was the key of the succes at this time. Sometimes you struggled with your idle, making you crazy at the yield intersection or in a traffic jam. It was completely unstable. Versatile chic car and sporty at this time, even in tight conditions, it takes perfect support without excessive while the rear axle rolls up naturally in the bends. The car never crashed forward, but it was very sharp to the limit. The finition and dashboard looks like the 80's with a German comfort. I can tell you a trip from Paris to Nice was not comfortable on the rear ended. Thanks for your video.

[@TheAslakVind]

Harry, you are a legend. Making our personal dreams come true, in a brilliant way.

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Loved that Harry (as you clearly did too) - I used to have a 205 way back when, was it really 35 years ago!!!! Wow how time flies.....thanks for another great vid....TMF

[@richlee509]

Bad interiors plastic as hell hated the build quality

[@ksteak27]

As an American, I really enjoy looking out the windows of cars in your videos.... such wonderfully English scenes!

[@mjh5437]

Where is he?...Looks like The Cotswolds.

[@ajwest3081]

@@mjh5437 Somewhere near Burford - Harry also has an excellent farming channel.

[@fritzbrause6332]

If I remember correctly, Peugeot, as they used to do, did a design themselves at their "Centre de Style Peugeot" and ask Pininfarina for an alternative design. In the design clinics the in house version won over the Pininfarina one. The Pininfarina badge on the convertible has to do with the convertibles being built at Pininfarina rather than a Peugeot plant.

[@snitsch68]

Great story, as someone who was born and grew up between the two major Peugeot plants in the eastern part of France I like to hear such little stories. Is is said that the 205 is the car that saved Peugeot from bankruptcy in the 80's, and today finding a GTI in a good condition at a fair price is no easy task.

[@chucku00]

Thanks for giving back to Gérard what belongs to Welter.

[@sampoore8501]

I remember my dads red 1.9, even he being a fairly sensible driver would struggle not to wheel spin away from junctions

[@robertjusic9097]

But not because it was hard to start but because it was too fun

[@kresimircosic9035]

Just a note, that echo in the hangar is so awesome, makes this feel so real and it's an enjoyment to watch and listen.

[@AmbiAnts589]

Back when small hot hatches were small! I was talking to my mate about this the other day. Small cars today are bloody heavy bulky bricks in comparison to these gems!

[@beauchamphuberville1355]

i've a 996 porker and its minuscule compared to the new one.

[@1979jon]

All the safety features now, back then you could drive or you couldn't lol

[@sohailien]

The ever shrinking windows (and ever growing bodies) on new cars drives me nuts! Just look at how big the windows were on old cars!

[@zGJungle]

When I pull up next to a modern Fiesta in my 2003 fiesta I am dwarfed, they are the size of the original Focus now, it's insane. I love little cars but I'm worried that when I say bye to my little fiesta I'm gonna have to have one of these big small cars.

[@Glenn7719]

Like the so called new mini, me and my kids call them a "biggy" as they sure aint mini.

[@prt1527]

Back in1990, I was a 20 years old student working in a hospital. One the doctors told me: would you like to use my car while I'm traveling next week ? This was exactly that model, brand new. I'll remember that week forever !

[@K1lostream]

Ah! I had the 1.6 version of that when I was 19! How I'd love to still have that car! I remember hearing (anecdotally) at the time that the 1.6 was better balanced - I always hankered after the 1.9, but never got to drive, much less own one. Thanks for this video Harry; sparked off some wonderful, long-forgotten memories!

[@Number1HeadlightRestoration]

Suuuuper little things! I only ever owned a 309 1.9 GTI way back in the day, but that was a cracking handling car as well👌🏼 I also recall my brother-in-law owned a 505 STI Saloon and that too was a hoot! Peugeot know how to get things right from time to time👍🏼

[@mi16chap]

Thanks for the nostalgia, I smiled all the way through that remembering my old 205

[@davebarton9301]

I’m glad you mentioned the instant throttle response, I remember it well, unlike today’s cars that you can put the throttle to the floor and back quickly and hardly get a lift on revs!

[@sheldonv8]

Just watched the Miura episode and love that Harry exudes as much passion for the humble 205 as for the 1.3 million super car . . A proper car guy

[@monkeytennis800]

Never seen this chap before - great reviewer. Nice to see a motoring presenter not preoccupied with their own personal 'brand', instead he makes the car the star, as he should do!

[@jamest5149]

The lift off over steer was a real thing with these, very evident on the road when pushing on 😱

[@andrewdegnan7300]

Replace the 185/55 tyres with 190/50 (or was it 195/50) tyres ? Much cheaper as more readily available and transformed the car with minimal lift off oversteer. Had a red 1.9 after 4 hot Minis. What a car. Now have a 265 bhp Mini R56 and it reminds me of the 205 every time I drive it.

[@Glenn7719]

I found myself once on the pavement facing the other way after finding out the hard way. No damage done and learnt from it. You feel the back was gonna get loose, floor it.

[@cme2cau]

I had a 206GTi, not a patch on the 205GTi, but it had both air conditioning and power steering. You could steer with the throttle pedal, much like an original mini. Now, if you WANT lift off oversteer, get a 306 GTi6!

[@therickpound]

That and terrible brake fade, but it did teach us to drive.

[@dan.vitale]

Two things that silenced myself and my mates back in those days: Jet from Gladiators and the Miami blue 205GTI 1.9. Glorious

[@paulbryan4498]

Ha ha bang on mate that's just how it was

[@andrewt836]

You’re right about Jet but for me it was the mark 3 escort RS Turbo. 😍

[@jackjenner2333]

Loved the Lazer Green 205 Gti too. But Miami Blue was the colour.

[@amnril]

I wish I’d had both but no, I only had the Miami Blue 1.9

[@therickpound]

We had an area manager who had that colour to be different, he was a bit dodgy but our idol, always flat out everywhere.

[@sweed58]

My father ran a 1989 red 205 diesel on the farm for years, we all loved driving it

[@zGJungle]

I had the 1.8 diesel, secret pocket rocket that thing was, could surprise quite few people with it.

[@Speedwelltuning]

They sounded horrid though!!

[@billybill6604]

Did I enjoy the ride Harry? Absolutely so. What a car! And I could listen to you for hours. Cheers!

[@NothingIrrational]

Great to see this car pop up in a Harry's Garage video! Brings back such fond memories of my early twenties when I got a 205 CTI as my very first car :)

[@EpicAirsoftHD]

I think this video has convinced me to start squirrelling away some Sterling. I'm an 85 baby and these have always been my favourite hatch. The design is almost timeless, I've had 3 in my lifetime and I think it's time for a 4th. Thank you, so glad this popped up on my news feed.

[@tuncozyurek6378]

I had one of these when when i was 20. I bought it as second hand. I cried 2 years to my family to get it. That time period was the happiest time of my life, i guess. But like the most of the 1.9 gti's it ended it's life on the junk yard. I had a a huge crash with it. :( Now i am 44 and still watching these videos about 205 gti :))))

[@tolgaaydemir5587]

Yes Tunç Özyürek me too in 90s. Excatly the same specs and color in the video except sunroof. Keeping huge regret in mind I bought the first coming 207GT to Ankara in 2007. Red one with sunroof and all bells&whistles on. Big disappointment came just after the very first mile covered. No soul I was looking for. Now no way to own two door hot hatch anymore, married, 2 kids, a mother in law, 2 sisters in law and of course a wife in love. Therefore I'm driving a 7 seater gti with 18" alloys on it; a Ford S max. which handles just as good.

[@gro9465]

Peugeot 205 1.1GL was my first car (17yo), new in 1984 and what a machine. Then had the 205 XS with the twin carbs (didn't stay in tune long) but as I was driving 40,000miles pa they were all in the garage regularly. Next was the 205 1.6GTi, super revvy same gearing as the XS I recall, 18.7mph/1000rpm. And lastly the 205 1.9GTi, super quick and higher gearing (20.7?) wow what a car has to one of my all time favourites (and I have been fortunate to have lots of nice toys). Seriously thinking about buying one now. Loved all of my 205s, drove them all like I stole them I remember having the 1.1GL off the clock (downhill M1), you could in those days. Harry you brought back very fond memories.

[@gro9465]

Forgot to say they were all Cherry Red!

[@tomd328]

Wonderful. Brings back lovely memories. We had a 1.9 GTI in red with sunroof and the half leather seats

[@IncognitoChild]

I learnt to drive in a 1.8 diesel in the early 90's. At the same time brother in laws friend decided to sell his Turbo Technics 1.9 - so I had to have it, even with L plates on it! - If you ever have the chance to drive one, jump at the chance, it had better mid-range punch than Ferrari and Porsche at the time and blisteringly quick! You're right about the 1.9 - there was a waiting list for them in the UK, when they came out. I miss the car terribly - just loved the steering feel, weight and torque steer! - which is why I now drive a Lotus( minus the torque steer!). The biggest thing that strikes me looking at the car today, as with cars of that era, is the glass to panel ratios! Keep up the good work, love the channel - always enjoy your detailed, balanced and enthusiastic reviews, along with the sights of the Cotswolds - such a lovely part of the world!

[@paulm579]

Was lucky enough to own one of these - best car I've ever had

[@chrisuk4472]

Paul M Same mate.

[@Glenn7719]

I got rid of mine when i got hold of a 89 Mazda 323 4x4 Turbo. Do i regret it, nope, still got the mazda now. Always have a soft spot for the 205 tho, would own another.

[@beckyd6524]

so jealous I'll probs never get one 😢

[@paulm579]

@@beckyd6524 I'm hoping the prices will come back down so I can get another one day!

[@kevinodonnell6918]

Couldn't agree more I had one back in the day 19 years old at the time loved it .

[@gregweehk]

Just found this video and it brings back memories of my old Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 that I owned in the early 90s... It was a fantastic little car with no power steering and felt like a go kart the way I could place it precisely inches from the edge of the road... I do remember the lift off oversteer and really enjoyed doing little "drifts" around corners when the roads were empty.. Mine also came with a great big sun roof and with the big windows opened, it was almost like a convertible..

[@hoagy_ytfc]

I had a 1990 model, H reg, Sorento Green! Absolutely beautiful colour with a bit of sun on it. It replaced my old black 1.6. My love for those 205s is still with me and heavily influenced my decision to get a 208GTi a few years ago. Thanks for the great video. Edit: I now have a 308 GTi. It's ok. It's not as good as the 208 or 205s though.

[@dmode2793]

I also had a 1990 model and have never forgotten it. Recently added an 8.5 Fiesta ST to the garage and it's the closest I've come to the 205GTI involvement when pressing on. I can certainly see why the prices of 205GTIs have rocketed.

[@chrisbishop1534]

I had a 1.6 for ten years, bloody good car,gave it away with a weeks mot to a young guy at work.I remember his face as he drove it away very happy and even happier when it cost 40 quid to pass.Thanks for taking us all down memory lane.

[@JabbaTheHutWasHere]

I had two of those 1.9´s . I would like to own one again. Great car! Thanks for sharing.

[@Frenchie100]

What a beautiful beautiful video! You were really amazing at communicating your joy and nostalgia at this icon of a car! I was grinning all the way watching you. Thank you so much!

[@cemsarioglu5947]

My first car: A 1992 red 1.9. I was in love with it. Drove it daily for 14 years. Mine had an AC and power steering. In the end I had to sell it because the engine block was cracked and no one here could fix it. In addition, we could not import a new engine. Still miss that little red rocket. Cheers from Istanbul.

[@robertfonovic3551]

Was it a stolen import? Just saying. 😆😊😆

[@robertgordon5150]

Watching this makes me smile. I had a 1.6 in red and my mate had the 1.9 in the colour you’re driving. We were in our late teens and spent our weekends blasting through the countryside of Hampshire and Sussex. I never tired of driving that car. Such great memories. I’m in my 40s now and currently drive a C1. Oh how things change.

[@Wowzers2006]

I really enjoyed seeing how small of a footprint the Peugot has on country roads. It is quite a contrast to how large new cars have gotten.

[@kimirferrari]

What a car! Was and still am a Golf GTi fan but did decide to buy one of these in the late 90 s. What can I say I was blown away with its nimble handling and rapid acceleration for a car of its time. Wish I still had it!

[@MrHubb1]

Awesome car. If only I could get my hands on one.

[@rynoreeno]

That got me very nostalgic, I owned one and loved it. Thanks for bringing back good memories Harry.

[@davidmartell9858]

Loved this! My first new car was exactly this, a 1990 205 GTI special edition in Sorrento Green. Really brought back some great memories. I often wonder if it was as good as I remember. Maybe I should be looking out for another!

[@fridonina]

Very nice revisit, brings back some sweet memories. I used to own a 1.6 and later a 1.9. I had the opportunity to buy my dream car, now 20 years later still looking back....thanks !!

[@geoffreyallen888]

I enjoyed the anecdotes and it gives the feeling that these cars were "everywhere". That's my memory too, more people had 205 GTIs than the stock ones, either the I.6 or the 1.9. If you wanted the Peugeot plodder, the 305 did that very well. It's true, we no longer have small cars. We have inflated, bloated "thingies" covered in legislation, infotainment, assistance, set-up menus, assisted everything, electric roofs, no spare wheel, big-time trim and the horrendous touch-screen everywhere. They all look like a cross between a baked spud and something out of Transformers. They perform much better, they are generally reliable but....something is lost....your arse on the road, your hands on the wheel. The hot hatch gave this with a performance level geared to the reality of the roads we drove on. As Harry remarked when he felt "a bit of a hero". No need for race-car performance, just the experience of caning it on a nice road when no one was looking and on a real-world budget too. Presentable and practical for evening social wear too - you could drive them, own them without being a boring car-nurd, just the right kind of status. The British two-seater roadster such as the Healey Sprite (a Morris Minor, basically), the Triumph TRs and the MGs were finished by the 70 speed limit, motorways and increasing congestion. The hot hatch was finished by safety legislation increasing the weight and decreasing the styling possibilities of cars in general. I hate to say it but...the thrill has gone and we're headed for drive-themselves auto bubbles that come to the call of your mobile and you'll read the paper till you arrive, get out and leave it for someone else to whistle up. All the joys of the Johnny cab. Nice video, memory lane, XR3i myself. I never had any "class".

[@BikeItUK]

Stunning! Sorry Harry not you, but fantastic well put together video as always. I would have one of these tomorrow. Such a cool retro iconic car plus a lot of fun to drive and not forgetting unlike most cars it's going up in value and puts a big smile on your face. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, priceless all the best and thanks Harry

[@thebrowns1017]

There was a bloke in my village had one with a supercharged M16 engine for track days. It was like a rocket.

[@tomdtom5407]

I have a 1.4 supercharged one, not a rocket but really nice to drive.

[@DaWhatEva]

Mi16, which normally wasn't charged. That was the T16.

[@tomdtom5407]

@@DaWhatEvaNo, wrong. You did not understand him. His bloke took a 405 mi 16 engine, put into the 205 ( common engine swap in UK) and added a supercharger. There is no factory supercharged 205. the T 16 is a factory turbocharged car, which is not the same. a turbocharger ( turbine driven compressor) is not a supercharger (belt driven).

[@flumoxeduk2379]

I went to a garage years ago and they had that engine in a Peugeot 305 van ( a project the mechanics were doing ) stuck in my head cos I had the same van. Scary

[@derekclark7545]

Owned the 16 GTi from new for just over three years, the car was rather sharp on the steering and care was needed not to lose the rear end. The engine was as sweet as a nut, a real screamer, something my Ford XR3i could never be and rough as hell over 5000 revs. So I moved on to the 1.9 GTi that was purchased new, I had that for three years. Peugeot changed the front and rear end set up's on the 1.9 GTi and that made the car a little more forgiving, it was now possible to get the tail out if you chucked it in to the turn, but the engine was now long stroke and boy did it have instant kick at any revs above 2500, I loved this motor, it was so much fun and the steering now made the car turn on a six pence, you felt really connected to the road with really nice suspension that absorbed the bumps in the roads. My Father had a Renault 5 turbo and that cars suspension was just not in the same class, very much like a go-cart, sure it was fast, but you had to press the pedal way before you needed just to kick in the motor before you hit the apex so as to drive out of a corner fast, you just never felt connected. I now own a Peugeot 3008 GTline 1.6 Petrol turbo 8 speed auto, my first Peugeot since the 1.9 GTi , its as smooth as liquid and very nice to drive. At long last they build good cars again, even if it comes with Renault turbo lag.

[@AntCooke]

I scared myself silly in one of these back in my 20’s. It was so light!

[@EnglishSpitfire]

Back in 1987 I had a brand new white 1.6 Gti, fabulous car. I've had all kinds of cars, Alfas, BMWs, fast VWs, Porsches, but none have been as much fun to drive as my 205 Gti. It had a bad design though which meant that the spare wheel could be easily stolen - mine was stolen twice!! They were hung in a wire basket under the rear. So people would just come along with wire cutters, snip the cage and run off with a nice new alloy!! I eventually ended up keeping the spare in the boot. I also remember seeing lots of cheap diesel 205s running around with full sets of Gti alloys!!

[@1972dsrai]

Still one of the best cars I’ve ever owned and would love to have one now. They still look amazing, the only issue with it was it didn’t give you a lot of protection if in an accident. Beautiful interior with the red carpet and half leather interior. I was still a student when I bought mine snd the insurance was more than what I paid for the car.

[@sag2974]

Certainly the Best looking hot hatch. Just perfect lines and it looks so good proportionally

[@lash9400]

This came out when I was a teenager and I couldn't decide if I prefer the R5GT turbo over the 205 GTi and 30 years later I still can't.

[@supersonic1246]

... quite a long time ... :)

[@perkin2000]

I was a teenager when they came out. I was all about the muscle V8s of the '60s/'70s, didn't care for hot hatches at all. Until I saw one of these in the metal. Wanted one ever since. Still can't say what, exactly, it is about them, but whatever it is that car had it in abundance. Great video :)

[@Travis-guy-247]

Great video Harry! Just a couple of side notes: the 1.9 was launched in 86, not 88. Also, the 205 was actually a completely Peugeot in-house design. The only thing Pinninfarina designed was the convertible version. 👍🏻

[@RUfromthe40s]

correct, mr.Travis

[@guy4469]

yes i aggree And i had an AUSTIN ALLEGRO GTI 2.2 very fast car .

[@LamarFaciane]

Sir the best thing about this video was the smile on your face! I drive a '91 EF Honda Civic three door and the eagerness of light weight is just lost on modern cars. Thank you for posting this ✌🏽

[@iantownsend500]

309 Gti was great I also love the 405 mi16

[@yerrie1908]

Never drove the Mi16 but they looked so cool, thinking about buying something nice from the past, forgot about this, lets see how prices are doing, probably crazy too

[@johnnytrigger5512]

@Adam Balding no dude just no

[@andicog]

Spot on, both very underrated cars, 405 Sri and 505gti were both good as well.

[@gepwxaqdfsidsesg1548]

@@andicog the most underrated was the 305 GTX

[@andicog]

@@gepwxaqdfsidsesg1548 Good car, 505 and 305 were better built than the 205 ,309 and 405.

[@allanjohnsen1034]

one of the greats ... faster than you would think, legendary handling and it is just so beautiful !

[@irvings159]

Such a fantastic car and video! Always a huge fan of 205's

[@laphroaig007]

Still enjoying lightness and throttle response from my 2 205 gti (1.9 black and Griffe Green)... Your video says it all !

[@gandigooglegandigoogle7202]

this car is a legend !

[@growingknowledge]

Great video bringing back memories of my 88 1.9 GTI, the only thing I liked more on mine was the red carpet. Legendary.

[@NigelGentry]

Haha. I had an 86 1.6 and the bright red carpet is one of the things I remember vividly as well.

[@racar_fpv5952]

One day I will have one of these, absolute dream

[@louisfesselet3963]

Same here But they are becoming expensive..

[@Luckyjo21]

@@louisfesselet3963 buy a project

[@peterbustin2683]

@@Luckyjo21 Yeah. Ive got a rear tail light bulb to donate as a starting point....

[@daNdyPM]

@@peterbustin2683 I'd add some leather gear stick knob then!!!

[@drapears]

Unfortunately they're not good to go back to. Nostalgia helps if you're the right age I guess

[@thejudge-kv2jk]

My parents had the 1.9 D reg in black in the late 90s. I spent many an hour cleaning the red carpets and whatnot! Always loved it. Remember being with my dad and doing 112 mph in it! Happy days.

[@englishnature7850]

I have owned 3 1.9s and i loved them all. My first one ended up on its roof in a ditch and i was lucky to walk out unhurt.

[@beauchamphuberville1355]

Standard

[@gplusgplus2286]

Remember the MG turbo? First car, first day, guess what.

[@beauchamphuberville1355]

@@gplusgplus2286 elegantly becircling a roundabout whilst waving to debutants?

[@gplusgplus2286]

@@beauchamphuberville1355 nope, ditch upside down.

[@stumcfoo]

Thanks Harry for another fantastic "step back in time" video. I am just trying to imagine what hot hatchback of today will get this kind of recognition 30 years from now?

[@jonlewis8289]

Harry Please please can you do a review on the Renault 5 GT Turbo phase 2 some time, I still miss mine to this day!

[@stevexrv750]

Yes please also..

[@thierryherreman6286]

I drove one in 88 painted white pearl it was a rocket.A 1.4 l with turbo.Black and red cup seats.. I miss it too.

[@Nemoticon]

And an AX GT too, lol

[@eduardopascoal7893]

@@Nemoticon harry reviewing an AX GT would be ace

[@richardkelly5409]

0 to 60mph , 6.9 seconds

[@denisusmanov5707]

spot on. what is good about Harry's reviews is that he does his homework. when he says it's light he gives the kilos too.

[@jonathanpatterson6768]

I've had two 1.6's and a 1.9. The 1.6 was so much nicer to drive, lighter, sharper and revved more freely. Fun cars. Wouldn't like to crash one though.

[@simonnelson7770]

jonathan patterson my friend caught a stone wall in his whilst doing about 5mph, he wrote it off, literally tore the whole side off

[@markharnett9389]

I also had both the 1.6 (early 105bhp) and 1.9 and I completely agree with you about the 1.6 being the better car, for the same reasons you listed.

[@nilsbrouwer9639]

I miss mine...my first car i ever bought..still get goose bumps!!!

[@buggerall]

"I hope you enjoyed this little ride..." I smiled for almost 20 minutes ;-)

[@raymck2115]

Fountain of knowledge, total respect, keep up the great work Harry

[@icecaper]

Had a black 1.6........... tear in my eye already.

[@dummatube]

That takes me back! Mine was EXACTLY like that, in black but for Australia they managed to squeeze air-con AND power steering in the last ones! I also ordered mine with a full size Hollandia powered sunroof and finally forked our AU$42.000.00 dollars for it - worth every penny! My Land Rover gathered dust as I used to strap my 22ft Sea Kayak (twice as big as the car) on strong Thule roof racks and did 8 hour overnight blasts from Sydney most weekends: Breakfast and kayaking in Queensland at 7.00am! What a legendary little car!

[@williamsclio378]

Still such a wonderful car, love to see you a review a Williams Clio at some point.

[@kingcarrot6355]

THAT is the best hot hatch ever

[@mikedstringer]

I’d be happy with the 16V it was based on...

[@gweflj]

Between me and my parents we had them all. Williams was great but wasn’t alive like the 205. Best of the lot? 106 Rallye S1. Fragile engine but a maniac of a car.

[@williamsclio378]

yeah I had two 16 valvers, a Williams Clio and for a short period 205GTi, all awesome cars.

[@th3b0untyhunter]

R5GTT was fab too. Not as good handling as 205, but easily quicker in a straight line

[@platinumlook]

Had a 205 Gti 1.9 back in 88, great to drive, loved it but ‘lost’ 2 gears on a trip to Switzerland. So drove back to UK with 3 gears. As it was a new car I thought it would be covered under warranty. Think again 😖 London Peugeot dealer claimed ‘wear & tear’. Ended up paying around £1k for repair in 88! Car new was around £10k back then I think. Vowed never touch a Peugeot again out of principle & still haven’t. Was a fun car to drive when it worked though. Thanks Harry for taking me down memory lane. And for all those who say 80’s cars were death traps & uncomfortable etc etc, probably some truth in that but remember back then it was what it was & one can remember the good side of things & still appreciate at the same time progress, besides what will people be saying about all the current high performance 500+ BHP wunder wagons 🇩🇪 perhaps we’ll remember them fondly too 😉

[@papalegba6759]

106 rallye S1 on a country back road was mental.

[@pgn666]

thats very true! I own one :)

[@mikeygti8930]

205 gti, 106 gti and rallye, 306 gti6 and rallye, all epic cars. Fuck knows what happened to Peugeot, totally lost there way.

[@thebubaloomonkey]

It still is :)

[@tassos2011]

It’s really an achievement from Peugeot that this car was the greatest GTi when it was introduced and it is still so beautiful and drives so nicely even after so many years and so many changes in automotive industry. It shows that, for a drivers car, you don’t need anything more than this little Peugeot!

[@jamesf8864]

"Pinner Farina" gets me every time!

[@stephenboulton1347]

A legend....scared the life out of me when I 1st drove one....nothing today comes close for me...pure excitement

[@thesean68]

At the grand age of 53 I’m smiling all the way through this video as this brings back memories. Through the years I’ve had many cars and sports cars and I have to say the ones that have given me the most pleasure of driving are the 1.9 GTI 205 and the Clio Williams. If only they made cars like that now and that light.

[@garypCronshaw]

Great car! Mine was an early one on a D plate in Metallic grey, a sunroof, but no power steering. I covered 45,000 miles in 4 years before selling it. I loved pedalling it on winding roads in the late 80's. I fitted an Italvolanti steering wheel in black with grey and red inserts which really suited the interior. Unfortunately 80's cars weren't as stiff as they are now and both doors dropped and had to be refitted. I suppose most owners will have gone through that process; no one could resist chucking one of these wonderful little cars down a country road. Wonderful memories!

[@philhealey449]

Nothing turned heads like the controllable howl of my 205 D-Turbo.

[@basvanbeers3515]

Cherish it. The turbo diesel is becoming very rare, very fast. These are the ones doing all the commuting, that's why.

[@philhealey449]

@@basvanbeers3515 Had D Turbo only a year in 1990 before crashing in freezing fog.

[@basvanbeers3515]

@@philhealey449 ahh. Still have it on your list? I have a non turbo one.

[@philhealey449]

@@basvanbeers3515 Would be nice. I see from DVLA my first new car 1985 XLD died in 2003, I had it 6 years. I can't remember the reg of the DTurbo from 1990 to check; I was going to have the in period Allard intercooler upgrade before I crashed it and started a Land Rover period. I had a couple of Visa 17RD's also as banger roundabouts , they were even lighter than the 205 and were very lively, I still have one, but it's been festering outside since 1995 so now mainly a spectacular pile of rust. Just hearing a few 205 Diesels now on KZbin flashes me back 30+ years. Treasure yours and though I say keep me away from it, tell me if you ever want to sell!

[@JelloTypeR]

I took my test in a 205 diesel and coveted the 1.9 GTi. Oh how I looked forward to each driving lesson. Had to drive from Bude to Launceston every time to get to the test routes and that road is still one of my all time favourite roads. In fact I think I’ll head up that way this Sunday. It’s only 60 miles from where I live now...

[@AndySnap]

The twinkle in Harry's eyes is saying "buy it Harry!!" As Mrs Doyle would say "go on go on go on go on..."

[@nileaoux]

I know why I always return to this channel. No crappy slowmotion footage or piano over it. Harry drives the car and that's it

[@mugenmark]

Lovely little cars! My younger sister had a 1.9 in the mid nineties, I owned an Astra GTE 16v. Never admitted it at the time but I was always envious of her car. The Astra was maybe fractionally quicker in a straight line but awful around corners

[@polygamous1]

It was also better than the Golf round corners the only think i liked more on the Golf MK1 was its steering later golfs where more solid But far less fun to drive

[@truetothegame2928]

@@polygamous1 not true ! MKII were fun to drive you read too many books...

[@polygamous1]

@@truetothegame2928 Wrong mate, in the 60sIwas a delivery driver for wolves garage next to Russel Square now taken over by London university then worked for Poland street garages in Berwick street west end, so I drove many different cars it was the reason I got that low paid job you get your trade plates the release note go to the main dealer take he car back to the garage clean it degrease it n deliver it to the customer it was my Only way of driving good quality different cars n some Brilliant o9der cars too, I mention this cause one of the Best I drove was an ALVIS TD 21 DROP HEAD COUPE I didn't like the Triumph TR I think it was the TR4A push it hard n the suspension would bottom out on hard cornering But the ELAN was for me the King of ALL sports cars on earth at that time, I also didn't like BMWs much them days they did Not handle well at ALL in the wet same with Porsche too, everybody loved the E Type but the ELAN handled a Lot better, with the exception of the COPRA (never driven one) the cars I loved them days where British n Italian cars wished I kept the motoring Mags i read LOL cheers

[@truetothegame2928]

@@polygamous1 with cars its all subjective,,, some people love and highly rate the F40, Harry doesnt .. the 205 does nothing for me

[@polygamous1]

@@truetothegame2928 spot on there mate yes 100% n thanks God for that or we might all ended up wearing the same clothes looking alike n drive the same cars, Listening to the same Music? can you Imagines Anything more boring?

[@GeneGatech]

Harry - One of your best, if not the best review you have shared. I truly felt as if I was on the ride with you and got a great sense for the car. Thank you!

[@farmerlamb2372]

I LOVE my 205 GTI glad I didn't sell it....

[@matty205gti]

I've still got my 1989 1.9, graphite grey, bought it end of Feb 1998. The kids won't let me sell it now, been everywhere, done everything with it 😊

[@farmerlamb2372]

@@matty205gti never sell it!

[@koengixxer]

Same here.. I bought my cti in 1999 and in 2007 I bought a mint 1992 1.9gti.. I still have them to😉👍 Shame I sold my 309 gti in mint condition in 2002, still hurts today..😔 ✌️&❤️

[@mikeygti8930]

Ive got a Graphite Mi16 on itb's. Bought it September 1999, bought all 3 of my daughters home from hospital in it. Its a part of the family and it will never be sold on. I adore it😍

[@markdodds9170]

To this day, my old 1.6 made me smile more than anything iv had since.

[@Pablo-sr2zx]

I've been in both the 1.6 GTI and the 1.9 GTI and the 1.9 was such a monster compared to the 1.6 and these were so good at handling they felt as if they were glued to the road super cars just loved them

[@richardbrown1189]

Another great video from Harry. I love his enthusiasm!