Good Spec Cars - Gti Vs Base Model Shells...

[Stu 18]

Hi all,

 

MY 205 is of a reasonable spec, but its a full on track car that is too far gone really to convert back to a road car; so, in the past ive asked and toyed with the idea of trimming it back up but i'd need so much it hardly seems worth while. Much easier to transfer the mechanicals into another shell.

 

So, my question, spec for spec, will a GTI command a significant premium over a car built from a base model shell?

 

There's a ruck of really tidy 205 diesels (non sunroof too, and N reg some of them) knocking around so although the base model trim is uber bland, it'd do me for an every day driver.

 

At the end of the day i just want something a little quieter and dare i say it refined.. A trimmed up car seems to be the best of both worlds.

 

Or. Do i keep looking for a tidy GTI and reshell into that? Just seems they are going up and up in value and becoming increasingly rare too

[nveeate 78]

After quite a lot of effort I think you'd end up with a car that would be fairly hard to sell when the time came...I'd say better to start with a GTI and improve it.

[Mac Crash 78 1 Cars]

A GTi's a GTi and everything good that comes with it... it's origin, V5 log book, and other things your probably forgetting about... it's difficult to achieve a "refined" road car using competition parts so consider carefully.... simply changing the exhaust makes the car unrefined i.e. cabin noise etc... far better to have a beautifully set up standard car than a car with an extra 20-30bhp.... and for what use? it's not impossible to realise a good balance between road and competition but in my experience few actually achieve it for a variety of reasons.

 

People had/have the same dilema with the old Mini... and we all know how rare a "real" one is now... the brilliant little 205 will never quite live up to the Mini but if we keep throwing away perfectly good 205 GTi shells then it's a shame... who wishes now they had bought up old Mini's in the 70's and 80's and stored them somewhere dry for prosperity?

 

To answer your question, then yes but it depends, people will always be looking for a 205 GTi, whether it's a road or track car... looking for a semi-decent 205 rally car project myself at the moment.

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

The shells are different.

15" wheels will scrub the inner arches at the rear also the gti trim wont fit. - Speaking from experiance!

There's also a couple of extra gussets welded on the inner wings IIRC. everything else you can unbolt though is a straight swap.

They did a factory Peugeot XS / GT (5 door) trim to make it look like a gti that stuck on with adhesive tape, as the rear arches were shorter than the Gti's.

But I imagine these are like hens teeth now. It was only a mod for me as I wanted a Gti when I was 19 but couldn't afford the insurance.

Though the late engined twin choke TU engined XS was just as quick to 60 as the non cat 1.9 Gti I bought when I was 21.

 

Not sure about Stdt, might be the same shel as a Gti?

If it is go for it, but depends on what you want out of it.

Investment - Forget it.

Fun - go for it

Edited December 17, 2013 by ALEX

[Nath88n 37]

Personally for a track or fast road car I think it's quite a good idea. As time goes on it seems a bit of a shame to butcher good GTI's considering you can get a good base spec as a blank canvas. Plus it may make more sense financially if your going to uprate and/or do a engine conversion. A good GTI could cost £2000+, whereas you could pick up a good base spec for well under a grand (My XL was £500 with 52,000 miles, full PSH and two previous owners).

I'm sure you could sort out the rear arches for less than £400 to fit bigger wheels, although you would be fine on 14" GTI 1.6 wheels.

Another plus side is the base specs are a bit lighter if your not bothered about the lack of toys and more likely to not have a sunroof.

Anyway, whatever 205 you decide on, the choices are there.

[Stu 18]

Thanks for the replies guys..

 

Maybe i should have mentioned that the car i currently have is a GTI, and rather than starting again i'd be re-shelling into either a trimmed up GTI or base model car.

 

Seems that you guys think the same as me, in as much as to retain the value i need to go GTI shell, but to just get what i want out of the car a base model would be ok, i wouldnt modify the 'shell' to take the bodykit, i quite like the idea of a plain pastel coloured car with just a set of rallye arches maybe, sleeper style