Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1651
having driven and/or owned 205 1.6 & 1.9 GTI, XR3i, XR2, RS Turbo, Astra GTE MKII 8v & 16v I can honestly say that in a straight line the Astra's beat all the others hands down, especially the 16v which would sit at 140mph + all day long. But their chassis was built out of jelly snakes and torque steer was extremely fun to handle.
Round corners the 205's were reams ahead in handling but you just needed to keep them in the power band or risk losing momentum out of the corners. The Fords were a close second to the Peugeots.
But it was the interior of the 205's that made them stand out even more, they were way better equipped and upholstered than the others, more up market (yes for a French car! )
I think if i could have the interior trim etc of the 205 1.9GTI in a MKII Astra GTE16V I would be a happy man.2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
30th Aug 2022 7:51 am
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 893
That Astra dashboard Instrument cluster though, nothing will ever be quite as perfect...
2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13125
140mph+ in the GTE? Only if you believed the speedo. I once had 130mph out of my 309 according to the speedo but I know it wasn't going that fast really. I was young and stupid enough to see how fast it would go, not silly enough to believe the figures on the dash.
But I agree that the GTE was quick. A mate had one and having been given a few lifts in it, I know it was seriously rapid for the day. Heck, it'd be quick today - c.150bhp in a crisp packet is always going to get out of the blocks quickly! I once, just once, tried a little drag race with him. Didn't bother repeating the exercise as my 130bhp 309 had no chance against his GTE 16v.
I always hankered after the Mi16 engine swap from the 405 (another good looking car at the time - Peugeot were making nice cars back then). That swap made the 309 a total Q-car as it was basically a 16v version of the same 1.9l engine and gave over 150bhp. It might have kept up with the GTE 16v then. Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
30th Aug 2022 8:57 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23388
Aah, the Astra digital dash. A thing of wonder at the time.
There was something very special about those “hot hatch” years. Which really began with the Dolomite Sprint (yes I know it wasn’t a hatch).
Taking a mundane shopping car and giving it the performance and in some cases the handling of a sports car, all for a relatively affordable price. The magic was lost once they started getter more powerful, better handling and much more expensive.
The 306 was definitely better all round, but for me the sweetest was the 206 1.6 GTi
I’m about to relive those heady days with a Suzuki Swift Sport (1.4 turbo). It was a toss up with the UP GTi, but the Swift is a little more versatile for our needs. Although I think I might still buy an UP at some point.
It will replace a Cooper S. Great car, but a bit too good and grown up.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
30th Aug 2022 9:11 am
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13125
Insurance was the big killer of the affordable hot hatchback, I'd say. By the time young drivers can afford the insurance on one, they've got kids.
I had a Swift Sport as a company car once (c. 2010). Cracking little thing that was a hoot on a twisty road as it was small, nimble and had just enough power to be fun. 17 inch rims felt ridiculously large back then, especially on such a small car. How times have changed.
The Swift did get a bit tiresome on the motorway as it would be cruising at about 4k rpm!Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
30th Aug 2022 12:20 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23388
They still have 17” rims. I remember when the 16” rims on my 9000 Aero looked massive.
I’m after a 2018-2020 model Swift with the 1.4 turbo. Definitely not a motorway cruiser, although 6th gear is quite tall, but I won’t be using it for that. It will primarily be a B road blaster fun car.
I put a deposit down yesterday on one I’d seen on Saturday. Only to find out it has sold a few minutes before. Bit annoying as the dealer had it in stock since June.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
30th Aug 2022 1:08 pm
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13125
"My" Swift had the 1.6VVT engine. Red line was 7k, peak torque at nearly 5k. Motorways were a touch tedious - I used to do a semi-regular trip up the M40, M6 Toll and M6 to Preston. Got a bit bored of the engine by time I got out at either end, although the seats were very comfortable and the air con very effective, so it wasn't a total pain to do long distances in.Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
30th Aug 2022 4:56 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23388
The seats in the newer model are surprisingly comfy as well.
Whilst it only has 4bhp more, there’s much more torque with the 1.4 turbo. Up from 118lb ft to 170lb ft, and it is delivered at 2,500rpm, little over half the revs you used to need in the 1.6.
The 1.4 is lighter, too; a new body structure not only makes it stiffer, but also 70kg lighter.
Wringing out the old 1.6 was fun though. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
30th Aug 2022 5:35 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 893
My wife and I toured Aus and NZ for a few months on honeymoon and had a Swift to travel around the South Island in NZ. When I picked it up from the hire company I was disappointed at first, but then as soon as I drove it I fell for for it. Such a nippy fun car, comfy too, and we ate up mile after mile of single track and it ran beautifully up through the mountains. Like it was on rails.
It reminded me of all the minis I had as a new driver - low, great cornering and very responsive.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23388
^Was it a Sport?
I’m looking forward to getting one.
It will be slower and less powerful than the 1.6 3dr Cooper S, but hopefully even more fun.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
30th Aug 2022 9:34 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 893
Not the foggiest idea now sadly, that was 12 years ago. Too much whiskey has passed through me since then that I cannot remember anything any more 2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
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I once, just once, tried a little drag race with him. Didn't bother repeating the exercise as my 130bhp 309 had no chance against his GTE 16v. 
