Daily Use? 205 Gti

[lagonda 42]

Bought my CTi in 2003 as my everyday driver. For the first couple of years, it was not only the most unreliable car I ever owned, but more problems than all the other cars put together! Finally the head gasket went in a major way, and with typical inconvenience, just as we were driving through Dover ferry terminal for a day trip to France. Off the road then for a year and a half, during which I totally rebuilt the engine and replaced / repaired anything that might remotely cause unreliability.

 

That did the trick. After that, we've driven it on 2 serious European tours, both ending in spending winter & spring in Italy. Still our daily driver now, mainly local drives (but local in France often means 50+ mile round trip), with the occasional UK trip, and that's a 400 mile trip just to get to Calais, onward UK journey means total one-day drive of 600 miles.

 

So....no reason why not, but be prepared to work on the car to get it reliable in the first instance.

[sensualt101 31 1 Cars]

Bought my CTi in 2003 as my everyday driver. For the first couple of years, it was not only the most unreliable car I ever owned, but more problems than all the other cars put together! Finally the head gasket went in a major way, and with typical inconvenience, just as we were driving through Dover ferry terminal for a day trip to France. Off the road then for a year and a half, during which I totally rebuilt the engine and replaced / repaired anything that might remotely cause unreliability.

 

That did the trick. After that, we've driven it on 2 serious European tours, both ending in spending winter & spring in Italy. Still our daily driver now, mainly local drives (but local in France often means 50+ mile round trip), with the occasional UK trip, and that's a 400 mile trip just to get to Calais, onward UK journey means total one-day drive of 600 miles.

 

So....no reason why not, but be prepared to work on the car to get it reliable in the first instance.

 

did you check under the carpet to see if it had made on friday in marker anywhere? lol!

[chris-gti 14]

I bought my 1600 when i was 18 for the grand sum of £300 because i was told i needed a practical car (my previous vehicle was a 1975 series 3 land-rover, I liked to wind the mother up) for my new job which would involve a 75 mile commute each way three times a week, and it never let me down apart from a broken clutch cable on one particularly cold morning approximately 40 miles from work, I managed to get there by matching RPM with gear changes and bought a new cable from the local pug dealer who was fortunately only a mile or so up the road.

 

I was under the bonnet most weekends doing this or that but i put that down to a lack of maintenance by the previous owner and i also feel it was something to do with the choice of roads i had on the way through the peak district early in the morning and late at night. I've commuted in various cars since then and it's never been as easy to get up in a morning, and I've not had a big grin on my face when I've walked through the door at work either.

 

The 205 was definitely the best commuter i've ever had and it was designed to be a practical car for everyday use. I clocked about 30,000 miles in mine in the first 12 months i had it and although i had a few problems in that time it never failed to get me to where i was going.

 

EDIT: The only real issue with commuting in mine was the Magnex exhaust system, 65-70 mph motorway cruising gives the perfect exhaust note to drive you completely mad. I tended to combat this with more right foot.

Edited February 11, 2013 by chris-gti

[kyepan 291]

Do many of you use your 205 GTi everyday for commuting etc?

 

My current car is a modern Porsche, but I previously ran a completely standard Renault 5 GT Turbo for 2 years so am familiar with using a car of the same era.

i'm thinking of going the other way, what's your experience of the modern porka?

 

I currently have a throttle bodied MI powered 205, used to be a daily driver, now london life makes it more of an ornament.

[AndyCrom 64]

I use mine as often as I can, only when I'm doing something menial like a motorway drive do I take the wife's car, not for reliability issues but just down to the fact that she can have the boring mileage added to her car.

 

If I have to add any miles to my car I want each and every one to be as enjoyable as possible and not a mind numbing destruction!

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

I use my 205 everyday with stripped interior, buckets, stiffer suspension etc..etc... as it is my only car.

 

No complaints at all tbh! (although it does seem to attract unwanted attention from s*it drivers)

[GLPoomobile 958]

I currently have a throttle bodied MI powered 205, used to be a daily driver, now london life it's complete hatred of me and resultant insistance to constantly break down makes it more of an ornament.

 

EFA

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

I used my CTI as a daily for a short period in February a couple of years ago when my 307 snapped a cam belt and hated it. Horrible for the school run, sticky starter motor, worried about road salt etc eating away my inner arches, pain to demist, draughty gap at the top of the windows, tiny boot, terrible stereo, rattles and bumps, worried about leaving it places.....

 

It took the magic away from the car that I looked out of the window, checked the weather and then thought of an excuse to go for a blast around the Peak District with the roof off. However in summer I sometimes go to work in it if I can leave it in the secure car park with the roof off.

 

Previous 205 Diesels and XS's were used on a 40 mile round trip commute about 15 years ago though

[feb 47]

I used my CTI as a daily for a short period in February a couple of years ago when my 307 snapped a cam belt and hated it. Horrible for the school run, sticky starter motor, worried about road salt etc eating away my inner arches, pain to demist, draughty gap at the top of the windows, tiny boot, terrible stereo, rattles and bumps, worried about leaving it places.....

 

It took the magic away from the car that I looked out of the window, checked the weather and then thought of an excuse to go for a blast around the Peak District with the roof off. However in summer I sometimes go to work in it if I can leave it in the secure car park with the roof off.

 

Previous 205 Diesels and XS's were used on a 40 mile round trip commute about 15 years ago though

 

I think the main problem is the lack of time and the comforts we are used to.

 

Also the fact that the human brain tends to remember the positive experiences and forget the negatives.

 

The question that raises (to myself more than anyone else) is it worth owning a car that you hardly ever use?

 

E.g. for the occasional weekend blast once a month or the odd trackday once a year?

 

I find it hard to justify (not from financial point of view only) owning a car that hardly ever gets used.

[Carbs4me 45]

I ran a 205GTi daily for 6 years now..

 

Had problems for the first 3 years due to been a "Boy racer" in my younger days... although now the last 2 years had been almost problemless. now its sat in the garage awaiting an Mi16... and full rebuild.....sigh

[baldy 6 1 Cars]

spoke to the old guy i seeknocking about in his 1.9 he does 60mile a day in his has done for last 6months ,,leaves his saab 95 at home as its got no sole he says

[Kezzer30 40 1 Cars]

Mine is the only car ive got hahah so yeah and i love it use it everyday

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

I think the main problem is the lack of time and the comforts we are used to.

 

Also the fact that the human brain tends to remember the positive experiences and forget the negatives.

Exactly right and your priorities change as you get older. The positives you remember is what some people have a mid life crisis for and desperately try and buy back. Others like us never sell and try and hang onto our youth; at least we are not buying Harley Davidsons!

 

The question that raises (to myself more than anyone else) is it worth owning a car that you hardly ever use?

 

E.g. for the occasional weekend blast once a month or the odd trackday once a year?

 

I find it hard to justify (not from financial point of view only) owning a car that hardly ever gets used.

The answer is no if it suffers from significant depreciation as that is a false economy, however a car like a 205 with its low running costs, classic insurance, practicality and appreciation can be quite cost neutral if you have the space. And what is the point in working if you don't have some releases. Lots of people "waste" thousands on things like golf clubs etc. We just go for larger bits of metal!

[TehPrefect 5]

I tend to use ours alternately. One day black. Next day red. Each has its own personality and character. The black 1.9 is more sedate, wheras the red is a tad more loud.

 

Also makes more sense doing it this way as when one breaks or requires some TLC, always have a backup. Only major issues have been head from overheating and split hoses and 20 year old electrics. And welding. I also have that worry as well when im at work and its been raining. Will it start again.

 

Thing with driving them is it makes me take the long way to work using narrow lanes rather than the dual carriageways. Just makes going to work more fun. Cant believe I said that...

 

And always get people saying I should drive something more modern. Like a previous post alluded to, most modern cars have no soul.

[Projectuno 7]

i'm thinking of going the other way, what's your experience of the modern porka?

 

I currently have a throttle bodied MI powered 205, used to be a daily driver, now london life makes it more of an ornament.

Mine isn't a turbo or GT2 or GT3. Unless you get one of those I honestly wouldn't bother. The metzger engine is the only reliable engine and the fuel costs across all models are so similar you'll kick yourself unless you get the most powerful model you can afford.

[damien 22 1 Cars]

would love to use mine but its still in bits in my garage.

[adam1973 1 1 Cars]

Both GF and I have base'ish models GR & GL, 1.4 & 1.1 we use both every day with out any serious issues etc... good mpg, and apart from an overheating issue the 1.1 had until a new thermostat and sender switch fitted, all ok since. The 1.4 (mine) has got a few issues, needs a new headlight, aerial shaft, rear axle and front brake calipers holding onto the pads??? and a funny handling thing going on, think that might be the steering ball joint.... Alls ok :-)

[the matt 13 2 Cars]

I'm using my 1990 1.9 as a daily as it's a better option than the '71 Mini I've got sat in the drive!

 

It's only a 15 mile drive, so nothing major and it's all country lanes and B-roads. Perfect car for the job (OK, apart from the MPG).

[Mr_Frosty 1 1 Cars]

Use my 1986 1.6 GTI everyday. Only yesterday I went to Whitby and back 133 miles. Really fun over the moors and that.

 

Only things to complain about are the noise at 70-80mph on duel carriage ways and motorways and the mpg isn't great. (especially if you get excited like me) I get about 30mpg there abouts less if I'm being silly.

 

My work trip everyday is 15miles each way but just keep in mind that it's old and will not be like a newer car.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Anything over 30mph in a 205 GTI (which generally should be the norm) is good, surely? Most typical modern petrols won't get that much better economy when driven in a similar manner. Many claim vastly better mpg but don't deliver in the real world. Diesels will be better but more expensive to run, and the proper fast diesels (with a few exceptions) will still only be marginally more economic. In other words, there's not many cars that will give much better economy whilst driven in the same way, delivering the same entertainment.

 

So I wouldn't complain about 30mpg!

Edited February 17, 2013 by GLPoomobile

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

I'm using my 1990 1.9 as a daily as it's a better option than the '71 Mini I've got sat in the drive!

 

You're a brave man leaving that out in the drive. You seen the amount of these that get stolen every month?

[Projectuno 7]

Got my car taxed and MOTd yesterday, must have driven at least 100 miles! It is great, so good on fuel.

 

First commute in it tomorrow, looking forward to it.

[Mr_Frosty 1 1 Cars]

Yeah I was driving a mk3 mondeo TDDi before and I could nail that and the worst I'd see was 40mpg and could get 650 miles to a tank rather than about 330 miles in the 205. Not even looked at the worst mpg in the 205 as it's way too much fun.

mk3 mondeo I thought was a brill car for motorway driving Eastbourne and back to York in one tank easy (58.5lt) pretty good at pushing around corners too, but nothing on how cool a 205 looks and puts a smile on my face compared to an old mans car.

[S@m 156]

Got my car taxed and MOTd yesterday, must have driven at least 100 miles! It is great, so good on fuel.

 

First commute in it tomorrow, looking forward to it.

 

Two words are crucial if you're relying on it to get to work - Preventative maintenance!

[DamirGTI 342]

Only things to complain about are the noise at 70-80mph on duel carriage ways and motorways and the mpg isn't great.

 

This started to bothered me also , but now in mature age ! .. i always had some booming exhaust systems , didn't mind the noise even during the long trip on a fast dual carriage motorways back in the days when i was younger , but now i really can't stand the noise when im on for a long trip

 

So i fitted gearbox with long 4-th and 5-th gear (1.6 box was a hell of a noise combine with the sport exhaust !) , bought an whole role of some thick damping material and role up the chassis insides almost up to the roof ..

Fitted some modest exhaust system , not too loud but yet not as silent (i like a little exhaust burble/popping/banging ..) .. and for sure , it did the trick its so much more silent inside even when driving really fast on the motorway

 

D