Dance between the curves. Compared to the 104 ZS that preceded it, the 205 GTI represents a huge leap forwardboth in terms of design and from the point of view of internal space and mechanics: MacPherson strut suspension at the front and independent wheels with longitudinal arms at the rear will be one of the secrets of its (even too high) handling, achieved thanks to a very ready steering, more suitable for expert drivers, and a quick gearbox, with a correct spacing of reports. When it comes to driving sensations, therefore, the 205 GTI hits the jackpot, offering the possibility – to those who can afford it – to dance through the curves using a lively chassis.
Brilliant performance and a look without excess. The GTI 1.6 is undoubtedly fast, it reaches 190 km/h and it takes 9 and a half seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill: performance that requires self-ventilating front disc brakes and 14-inch alloy wheels, with an epochal design. To distinguish it from the normal versions, others are enough small and sober detailslike the plastic plates on the rear pillar that show the engine capacity and GTI writing, the fog lights, the red stripe that runs along the entire car and the widened wheel arches.
The 1.6 grows and the 1.9 arrives. Two years later and in 1986 Peugeot added a bit of spice to the 1,580 cm³ 8-valve, through a more powerful camshaft and other changes that brought the power to 115 HP, but without distorting the winning recipe of the model. And then in the autumn it lands GTI 1.9 with 127 HP, which can be recognized externally by the well-known 15″ alloy wheels and the 1.9 acronym on the plate. Inside, the three-spoke steering wheel is covered in leather, the gear lever is specific, electric windows and central locking are standard. Disc brakes also arrive on the rear axle and the suspensions have a new calibration, because now the GTI 1.9 reaches 206 km/h and, above all, drops to 7.8 seconds on 0-100 km/h. If for purists the 115 HP 1.6 GTI remains the most balanced and representative of the car’s nature, for many the 1.9 is the culmination of the road evolution of the projectof course, without considering the Turbo 16.
(Perennial) object of desire. In 1992, when the 1.6 version left the price list, a 1.9 GTI version remained. detuned from 120 HP, with catalyst. In the meantime, Peugeot also offers the 106 in its range in its sporty versions (and in late 1993 the powerful 306 2.0 S16 will also arrive), which represent more modern alternatives. When his career officially ended, the 205 GTI It immediately enters the myth, with thousands of enthusiasts refusing to sell their specimens. Which makes it a rare object, so much so that today you have to be ready to invest 15 thousand euros for a 1.6 GTI in perfect condition and as many as 27 thousand in the case of the millenove.
