Why you’d want a Peugeot 205 GTI
The 205 was a huge success for Peugeot, selling more than five million examples.
Stylish, compact and spacious inside thanks to space-saving rear suspension, its sales were boosted by competition success for the mid-engined Turbo 16, which won the World Rally Championship in 1985 and ’86 along with many individual trophies, including the Paris-Dakar.
The original 205 was a five-door, but to capitalise on the sporting image Peugeot squeezed an injected version of the 305’s all- alloy, 1580cc overhead-cam engine into a stiff, light, three-door shell, added a bodykit inspired by the Turbo 16 – and a winner was born.
‘Peugeot have gone all-out for a no-compromise road-burner,’ said Motor, with its first test concluding: ‘It manages to combine the appeal and charisma of the old Mini Cooper S with the sweetness of the first Golf GTi.’
Rock-hard suspension was the compromise made for go-kart roadholding and handling, but Peugeot agreed with testers that it had gone a little too far, softening the ride less than a year after launch – a move that led to its ride/handling compromise being widely praised over rivals such as the Renault 5 GT turbo.
