205 GTi's etc.??

[TommySR]

I know this is a Nova community and i myself have had 4 Novas now but just wondering what other hatches from the same era are worth a try?

Ive owned a Corsa B and wasnt a great fan and had an AX GT 500 which was quick but things tended to rattle and feel like they would fall off at anything over 80 lol

Been looking round and heard good things about the 205's handling and just wondered whether anyone had owned them etc.? Are the 1.6 GTi's worth bothering with compared to the 1.9's etc

Also any other hot hatches from the same era, your opinions??

And im fully aware of 5 Turbos reliability issues etc and all things french are mainly **** lol.

[Mike]

205 1.9GTi is the best buy, 138bhp IIRC?? The 1.6 is about 115bhp i think.

They handle ace as standard, but the enterior is dreadful, that dash is really tacky!!!
But there pish easy to work and made many a young rally driver famous :thumb: :D

[Jack]

They handle ace as standard, but the enterior is dreadful, that dash is really tacky!!!
lmfao, I have this debate almost daily with my pug-loving friend about which is better, the 205 dash or Mk2 Nova dash (I refuse to accept the Mk1 Nova dashboard ever existed lol)

You can buy a decent 1.9 for about the same price as a Nova GSi, and the insurance - for me anyway - was about the same price as an SRi!

[Adam]

You can buy a decent 1.9 for about the same price as a Nova GSi, and the insurance - for me anyway - was about the same price as an SRi!
WTF, how :eek::eek: Lol

[TommySR]

that was my next question?! lol How you get it that cheap?

Not too fussed on interior to be honest, i mainly keep my eyes focused towards the windscreen anyway lol

[Jack]

Claim rate of the car perhaps, although the 205 is a few groups higher, the insurance company might have added a weighting to the Nova. Thats normal insurance as well btw, not Classic... although a 1.9 on Classic Insurance would be even cheaper... Ooooh I think I've just figured out what I want for Christmas!!

[TommySR]

lol, how old does the car have to be before it qualifies for classic insurance? Or does it depend on something else?

[Adam]

A sri is grp7, 1.9 gti is about 13/14 iirc.

[TommySR]

A sri is grp7, 1.9 gti is about 13/14 iirc.

:eek: Was told my mates Civic EG 157bhp VTi was only group 12/14??

Any other hot hatches worth looking at?

[Stuart]

imho and from what ive heard/read the 1.6gti is a better all round car than the 1.9gti..... the engine is better suited for country lane bashing etc.. but meh. 205's rock for cheap out of the box handling etc.
pug 105 gti is also a good bet, but a little pricey still.
plus i now hate working on french cars lmao...
Toyota Corrola is a good little (ish) hatch.

[TommySR]

Yeah, im not looking to get rid of my car or anything, its just im beginning to get a little of tired of everything going wrong. I know it would be a different story if i had a good example and i do love my Novas but just been one of them weeks lol.

[craig green]

I like Astra GTE 16v's. The engine feels like its meant to be there. It stops & steers awesomely & when lowered 40mm or so the handling is great.

Never tire of hunting down modern machinery & blitzing it in a rusty/stickered up GTE

[TommySR]

yeah i like the Mk2 and Mk3 Astras but hard to find a clean Mk2 and only engine id have in the MK3 i cant insure yet

[womble sri]

lol, how old does the car have to be before it qualifies for classic insurance? Or does it depend on something else?

you have to be 19 or 21 with some companys and the car has to be 15 years old just insured my sri which is 14 years cost me near on 1300 and my 89 sr is 1050 with all mods declared 130ishbhp

[Jack]

the car has to be 15 years old
I know some people on CCUK who have insured 10/11 year old Celicas as classiscs.

Bear in mind classic insurance usually has very limited mileage though, and you often can't use the car to commute.

[craig green]

I thought classic status was 10yrs out of production, hence all Nova's qualify.

[dannyb]

I know this is a Nova community and i myself have had 4 Novas now but just wondering what other hatches from the same era are worth a try?

I'd always recommend the Mark 2 Golf GTi, they are at the bottom of the depreciation curve, minters are cheaper than dog out mark 1 Golf GTis and are screwed together a bit better. XRwhatever Ford stuff is fairly disappointing from the late 80's (discounting RS models and Cosworth stuff - even though Cosworths aren't hot hatches or in the same league..!) although I've had a lot of fun delivering Indian takeaways in an XR2 one winter.
Fiat Uno turbos are hilarious but rare as. On that note, does anyone remember the Citroen Visa GTI?

[Lucky Luke!]

I used to have a tuned 1.4 205 which had the later style dash and rs turbo recaros, nice sutble styling but fook me that went! could hold level with most cars to about 60. and always won a race on the corners handled like a go kart! in the end some stupid woman drove into the side of it because she was texting on her phone and didn't see me! but that was a beast!

[craig green]

Fiat Uno turbos are hilarious but rare as. On that note, does anyone remember the Citroen Visa GTI?

Uno's without rust have always been rare!

Yes the Citroen VISA. Quite possibly the nastiest dashboard ever & such a *****r of a car to deserve a 1.6 injection motor & GTI status. eeurgh!:wtf:

[slammed saloon]

205 gti all the way. 1.6 with cam, filter, 1.9 interior and wheels and lowered 35mm:thumb: goes like fcuk and sticks to the road like a dead hedghog. the cornering really is amazing. id rather have a 1.6 because there not much slower if any than the 1.9's
BG

[loggyboy]

1.6 CRX vtec is great car if you can find them
As for 1.9 GTis being same price as GSis - lol - umm NO 1.9 hold their value much more than the GSis.

Only issue with the pug is build quality, ok Novas dont have a great rep, but pugs are even worse! and the electrics are a common fault on them, which is expensive and a pain to sort.

[Lee]

Im with whoever mentioned the MK2 Golf, im afraid you wont find a better built hot hatch from the same era for that money, they are infinately tuneable due to a huge fan base and will happily take other VW engines, much like the Vaux family. And you wont believe how low you can get them. My mates is on coilovers and the sump hits the floor before there are any clearance issues lol

Pug 205's are simply awesome to drive, but theyre french. Nuff said!

Glad noones mentioned Saxo VTR/S's yet, i WILL find you if you do!

Old Corolla 1.3 12v's go like stink for what they are, i had one for a few weeks as a courtesy car and i didnt want my car back!

No one's mentioned a mini yet! Ok, they were designed by the worst motor corporation the planet ever saw, but the later ones which had a bit of MG influence and then even later, some BMW influence, they are the most entertaining thing ive ever driven! Just dont crash it, because you WILL die horribly!

[loggyboy]

Go to a national rally - 90% of hatches you see will be novas and 205s - read what you will from that.

[Jack]

[QUOTE=loggyboy]1.6 CRX vtec is great car if you can find them
As for 1.9 GTis being same price as GSis - lol - umm NO 1.9 hold their value much more than the GSis./QUOTE]
When I was looking for a Nova GSi a few months back, they were around ?1-1.5k for decent ones - compared to the ?800-1k for a decent 1.9 205! As for the 1.6 being slower, I can vouch thats **** as my mate had both a 1.6 and 1.9 at the same time for a short period and the 1.9 was considerably faster!

[Nova_Houch7]

Thort about gettin the 1.6 205 next yr and tuning it a fair bit instead of getting the 1.9, still not sure tho, as have loved r5 gtt's for yrs, and always said im going to have to get one sumday.

Mk1 golf with the Mk2 golf gti engine is always good too

L

[draper]

205 with mi-16 ???

mini i agree with aswell, trying to convince the missus she wants 1 !! ok, it'll be the BMW version but its better than a pink fooking smart car !!

[Nova_Houch7]

205 with mi-16 ???

mini i agree with aswell, trying to convince the missus she wants 1 !! ok, it'll be the BMW version but its better than a pink fooking smart car !!

Classic mini would be better, especially when u drop a 2.0 16v usin twin carbs into one....

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a153/nova_houch7/2l16vmini.jpg

Or something like this yellow one has

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a153/nova_houch7/05_12_sb.jpg

L

[draper]

but then it would be quicker than my XE and i cant have that !!! and she wants a newer car !!

[Nova_Houch7]

New cars suck ass lmao.......

L

[draper]

i quite like the new minis, then i can get a towbar and trailer in case anything happens at trackdays/pod etc

[Mike]

205XS/i, what a car!! And the XS has the same CR box as 106 Rallye :thumb:

Thats why they go like fork!! Best bet for a young driver thats after a fast'ish car! Nothing a GTi kit wouldnt fix aswell :thumb:

Or yes, go for the humble golf, that too would be avery good option! Espcially if you wedge a G60 engine in the front! lol

[TommySR]

Some good suggestions and reading here lads, that yellow mini turbo is from this area as ive seen it at few meets etc. Been out in both the CRX Vtec and EG Civic VTi and both are quite quick but the whole Jap thing doesnt really interest me until you start mentioning Supras and R33 Skylines :p

Id much rather have a hot hatch from Europe from 80s and early 90s, although ive seen some smart Charade Turbos, 1.0l 12v turbo...madness lol

Any other ideas lads? any of the Ford CVH Turbos worth bothering with?? Been out in both a standard Fiesta and Escort Turbo and neither was amazing?

[Jack]

Starlet/Glanza Turbo :D

[Lee]

Any other ideas lads? any of the Ford CVH Turbos worth bothering with?? Been out in both a standard Fiesta and Escort Turbo and neither was amazing?

Not had much experience with the Turbo varients, but ive had plenty of experience with CVH's. Theyre awful, however they are reasonably reliable. if you get one, buy a huge stock of tappets lol

[supernova1992]

i remember my mate buying a 205GTI to compete in the harewood hill climb... f***in scary stuff, that was... he ended up not competing due to having NO confidence in the car's handling! lol.. we were full-on drifting on a roundabout lmao... the car was sideways ALL the way round... i dont know if its all GTI's, or just his that was mad as a badger! he ended up selling it for a red silvia turbo, which set a bloody QUICK time limit at the hill climb.. believe it or not, that car was MORE difficult to drift then that mental 205 - and the silvia's are high-powered rear-wheel drive cars!!!!

[supernova1992]

oh yeah, ill tell you a FANTASTIC hatch to buy.. wait for it..


Mk1 Nissan Micra 1.0L.... awesome vehicles i tell ya... bit rattly once ya take it out of second, the brakes are so unreliable your better off stopping the car with your feet, the engine overheats if you take it past 3,500rpm, AND it can top 40mph before it feels like a wheels about to fly off from underneath ya, body rot isnt uncommon, theres no modding potential at all, its got that lovely retro ''box on wheels'' look that all car owners are after today, and it produces a REAL sports car sound that you could only expect from a 3 pot corsa with a blowing exhaust..... mint cars, they are....

[blingmachine]

205's awsome, piss all over Nova's. Had a 1.6 GTi after my nova and loved it to bits, was totaly standard, the exhaust note is mint and dry handeling is awesome. Will try to kill you in the damp though, tends to understeer in the wet quite badly.

INterior is great, totaly retro but everything looks the part, red carpets, sweet gear stick, decent seats. Loads better than my mk 2 nova interiot (not knocking nova's mind as i loved mine)

A 205 is a great step up from a nova. Just make sure you get one that is pre 92 to avoid the cat;)

[Mike]

INterior is great, totaly retro but everything looks the part, red carpets, sweet gear stick, decent seats. Loads better than my mk 2 nova interiot (not knocking nova's mind as i loved mine)


You sure :roll: ? Id rather have nova GSi interior anyday but handling of a 205

[TommySR]

yeah ive experienced an AX GT in the wet, they are just plain scary, you turn but the car just fancies sliding straight on at anything resembling a corner.

Anyone tried a 306 GTi-6? 170 something bhp arent they?? Must go quite well?

[Dar]

A 306 GTI-6 is a fantastic car. I've had mine for about 6 or 7 years. I was going to get rid for a newer car recently but just couldn't find another car that I wanted more.

Cheap as well now. I know for one thats going for ?2,200. Its alot of car for that money.....and to think I payed 15k for mine.

[TommySR]

yeah, i seen one in the For Sale section here and it reminded me of them as a lad near me has one. Do look smart i must admit but never really seen one driven hard. Just weighing up my options as to what i want after ive had enough of the rust worms lol

[Dar]

They are fun to drive hard. The 6 speed box has a lovely set of ratios that keep the engine singing. They are also galvanized, so no rusty paintwork to worry about. They handle very well, you can feel exactly what the car is doing as well. The passive rear wheel steer can be wierd at first.

The only real problem with them is the ruddy air-con keeps packing up, its rubbish! Ah and the standard wheels (Cyclones) look nice but they have on removable centre cap, so getting them balanced is a PITA. Some people don't mind the extra hassle, me......It annoyed the bejesus out of me.

Anyway just to remind you what they look like :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/DPursey/Dsc03118Small.jpg

[TommySR]

nice,be looking about for them etc. and think they look well smart on those 17" Lion wheels when lowered. Whats this passive rear wheel steering about? Is it similar to what some Preludes have? Take much getting used to?

[Dar]

The passive rear wheel steer is not like proper rear wheel steer that the Preludes have. It works only when the car is cornering hard enough and works through some bushes. I think they must deform or something underload to give the rear wheel steer. Not 100% sure though. It does feel a little like the rear end is about to come around. Although it understeers just like any other FWD car. Just don't lift off mid bend becuase the car will snap to oversteer and then you could be in trouble.

Also those wheels are Oz Polaris (The closest I could find to a Cyclone without getting the Lions). Apparently the Lions change hands for silly money these days.

[Nova Full]

the Suzuki Swift 1.3 GTi ain't a bad little car, ok they tend to rust a bit like novas, but they hadle well, we'll easily keep up with a 205 1.6 Gti and luv being reved (they come alive at about 5,500 rpm)

[dannyb]

If a GTi 6 is out of reach, the Peugeot 306 XSi (2.0 16v) is a reasonably fast, torquey machine with low insurance groups and acceptable fuel bills. Many about for peanuts these days, especially ex family owned ones, not just boyed up trash.

[Mike]

106 XS/i, a right revvy little machine with the same CR gearbox as a 106 rallye :thumb:

Same as the 205 XS's :D

[DRIVEBUY]

Owned a couple of 205 GTIs and a 309Gti. Very quick and suprising. If you're looking for a smooth ride dont bother. You feel EVERYTHING on the road in these cars.

[draper]

i recently met a lad who's got a 106 XSi with a VTS lump in - goes like billyo !!

also know someone with a 206GTi (180bhp) in a 205, havent seen it yet but heard its rather quick !!

[Mike]

I know of a few rally cars like that. And there a dab hand of car i can tell you that now!!!

[Jack]

Another vote for a GTi-6 - fantastic cars. This is my mate Roo's phase 2.5, as taken by moi lol

http://static.flickr.com/58/160266043_a2b9fa83c5.jpg?v=0

As Dar said, a lot of car for the cash! The 17" Lions are nice, but there's only a handful - literally - of sets available iirc...

[TommySR]

Owned a couple of 205 GTIs and a 309Gti. Very quick and suprising. If you're looking for a smooth ride dont bother. You feel EVERYTHING on the road in these cars.

Not too fussed to be honest as my cars have always been hard as fcuk :thumb:

[TommySR]

i recently met a lad who's got a 106 XSi with a VTS lump in - goes like billyo !!

also know someone with a 206GTi (180bhp) in a 205, havent seen it yet but heard its rather quick !!

Yeah i looked into the engine conversions from a VTS into an AX GT and they go well but was always a bit worried as the 1.4 8v in my GT made it feel unsafe let alone the VTS lump lol

[Mike]

the VTR/S engines fit into 106's and 205's. As a few people i know have got 106 GTi engines in there 205's.

The VTS engine is exactly the same as a 106 GTi :thumb: so therefore fits in a 205 the same as it fits in a 106