Buying A 205 Gti In 2014

[willis 18 1 Cars]

Let's not turn this into question time. Where's David Dimbleby?

[audiobull 6]

well this is the arguement. they are all priced at £5000-£8000 minus a few that have had real complete restorations. Im not looking for anything special just a working 205 thats not overpriced and full of rusty bits.

[GLPoomobile 958]

One of the reasons there are so few left is the obsession that many members of this forum have with scrapping and/or breaking easily repairable cars.

I've never known a one make forum like it.

 

That statement annoys me.

 

For one thing, it's not even as valid as it was a few years ago. Secondly, none of us on here are operating as a charity, we all have financial obligations to meet in difficult economic times, and if breaking a car is the only way to make back decent money when needed, then that's what has to be done. And thirdly, with regards to scrapping shells and parts, the sad fact is that nobody seems interested in rescuing stuff when it's offered. I see this time and again on this forum, that when a shell is offered, there's no interest. Not everyone has the facilities to store a shell for weeks/months/years until someone shows interest, so when your stuck in that predicament then you have to make the diffcult decision to scrap, and I'm sure nobody on here is comfortable with doing that.

 

f*** it, I'll go for a fourth point to really ram it home - what's easily repairable to someone with the equipment and skills to be able to do so cheaply themselves (welding being the perfect example here) could represent a bill of thousands for someone who has to pay a professional to take on the work, and that quickly makes the difference between keeping or scrapping a car. That wouldn't be an issue if there was more interest from others to buy such cars from people in those circumstances, thus preventing a car being scrapped. But as I said in point 3, hardly anyone wants to rescue those cars these days. It almost seems like the vast number of members who once would have been snapping these up now have a full house and can;t take on any more, leaving the members who now just want to buy tidy examples that they can just use as a weekend car rather than a project.

[welshpug 1,657]

I know theres probably at least ten gti's just in or near the valley i live in.

[willis 18 1 Cars]

I don't care where they are! Scotland, Wales, the isle is wight..... There are 5500 left (apparently, in one form or another) and there's one in my garage. Yippee!

Edited May 3, 2014 by willis

[audiobull 6]

I don't care where they are! Scotland, Wales, the isle is wight..... There are 5500 left (apparently, in one form or another) and there's one in my garage. Yippee!

im jel

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

there is still loads of comments about the overpriced 205's as if they are actually selling. do we know that people are buying these? they have been for sale for a long time.

 

Yes, by all accounts they do seem to fetch good money. The later phase 2 cars seem to be the flavor of the month, compared to a solid phase 1 car. For example,

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-Peugeot-205-GTI-1-9-NEAR-ORIGINAL-AND-GREAT-CONDITION-/161282075721?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item258d292c49

 

One thing I do notice, is there seem to be more 1.9's on the market than the 1.6 - I'm not sure if this is because more 1.6's are now scrapped or there were just less to begin with - certainly my weapon of choice, though.

 

I think we will start seeing a rise in base model prices before too long, the STDT seems to be climbing in value these days too.

Edited May 3, 2014 by forbeslongden

[audiobull 6]

i fully agree on the STDT models i have been watching them go up the past few months.

[gruffa 7]

 

That statement annoys me.

 

 

 

and that quickly makes the difference between keeping or scrapping a car. That wouldn't be an issue if there was more interest from others to buy such cars from people in those circumstances, thus preventing a car being scrapped. But as I said in point 3, hardly anyone wants to rescue those cars these days.

I've just rescued one (hopefully) lol

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-205-GTI-/271471494160?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f34f64410

 

If this wasn't so far away, I'd probably buy it and list it correctly... I mean, where's the age of the car 1991? 1992? What's happening with the engine since it wasn't running smoothly? Has the shorting electrics been sorted? Does it even run? Where's the rust?

 

SOMANYQUESTIONS. In all seriousness though, the cars that are selling on eBay are the ones that the seller is actually not being vague about, buyers love the history of these cars and the ones selling for £2K+ have this, that one linked above? Could be a pig or could be a diamond.

 

I had this when buying my 1.6 recently, there was little description and the photos were all really not helpful, I went to see it and actually it wasn't bad at all - scruffy and needed a loads of little jobs but he didn't list that the car came with a folder full of work that was done in 2009 by Renwicks and Truscott's Peugeot so sometimes the cheap ones are worth a look.

[Rock Lobster 28]

A word of warning if you look at the car in the link above, it has a dodgy repair to the passenger chassis leg. Doesn't run either. Shame as it's not a bad car other than that. Another one that might end up in bits?

[forbeslongden 32 13 Cars]

A genuine reason for the seller to be vague then haha!

 

A word of warning if you look at the car in the link above, it has a dodgy repair to the passenger chassis leg. Doesn't run either. Shame as it's not a bad car other than that. Another one that might end up in bits?

[Mac Crash 78 1 Cars]

The current pricing of 205's isn't as much of an issue with first time 205 buyers/owners because they don't have the same historical price reference points that returning owners have. Bear in mind not all virgin buyers have the time, ability, know-how or willingness to research on how to rebuild and rejuvenate average 205 examples. They want good quality turnkey examples and are prepared to pay prices that experienced, knowledgeable owners will refuse to.

 

 

 

 

 

Completely valid observation....

 

 

Audiobull said > same with the 205's back in the day. they were the affordable hot hatch not a luxury sports car or super car.

 

I remember going to see a steel grey 1.9 phase 1 (87 E plate) with my pal, hmmm, must have been between 1990/1991, there it sat in the dealers looking sorry for itself next to a 1988(D) Moonstone Blue Ford Sierra Cosworth (whale tail) also for sale. A Farmer's boy had owned the 205, but hadn't looked after it very well and that's all the history we got with it... one test drive later and my pal bought the 205 for 4K and off we drove, I glanced back at the Cosworth, it was only another £500 more, often wonder "what if...?" we'd have bought that... we thought the worse when the GTi erupted in oil smoke a few miles later up the road, but after letting it sit for a bit it cleared itself (it had been sitting for a while at the dealers) my pal's face was the colour of ash, heh heh, but it was all okay, he went on to own that amazing GTi for another 13 years.... the thing is though and my point is that this GTi was around 9K new so we still got it for a good price, but it was a really difficult car to insure in those days... people used to look at him with envy and wonder how he could afford it at his age etc... not sure what the final price was for the last of the GTi's but think it was around 12K? Jackherer knows.... hardly an "affordable hot hatch" - not talking about hire purchase or finance because that's not owning or even buying it really is it. How many of us here have a spare £12k cash today never mind 20 odd years ago?.... how much was 8 - 12K back then in todays cash???

 

There are many 205's out there that are over-priced, but I wouldn't say the majority of those are heavily over-priced... how much would you really expect to pay for a roadworthy example with some history, clean bodywork and evidence of having been mechanically looked after? I seriously think your looking at the best part of 2K and upwards from there on.... that's not a lot of money today when going to buy a car, it really isn't.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Mac Crash

[jackherer 543]

 

not sure what the final price was for the last of the GTi's but think it was around 12K? Jackherer knows....

 

£12,265 - http://www.205gtidrivers.com/info/history.html

 

The insurance issue was massive though, nothing like it is today and absolutely nothing like Saxos which came new with free insurance, it was excellent marketing by Citroen but it severely affected the Saxo's image, the typical owner of a 0-5 year old Saxo VTR or VTS was nothing like the typical owner of a 0-5 year old 205 GTI 1.6 or 1.9.

[speno 239 2 Cars]

 

That statement annoys me.

 

For one thing, it's not even as valid as it was a few years ago. Secondly, none of us on here are operating as a charity, we all have financial obligations to meet in difficult economic times, and if breaking a car is the only way to make back decent money when needed, then that's what has to be done. And thirdly, with regards to scrapping shells and parts, the sad fact is that nobody seems interested in rescuing stuff when it's offered. I see this time and again on this forum, that when a shell is offered, there's no interest. Not everyone has the facilities to store a shell for weeks/months/years until someone shows interest, so when your stuck in that predicament then you have to make the diffcult decision to scrap, and I'm sure nobody on here is comfortable with doing that.

 

f*** it, I'll go for a fourth point to really ram it home - what's easily repairable to someone with the equipment and skills to be able to do so cheaply themselves (welding being the perfect example here) could represent a bill of thousands for someone who has to pay a professional to take on the work, and that quickly makes the difference between keeping or scrapping a car. That wouldn't be an issue if there was more interest from others to buy such cars from people in those circumstances, thus preventing a car being scrapped. But as I said in point 3, hardly anyone wants to rescue those cars these days. It almost seems like the vast number of members who once would have been snapping these up now have a full house and can;t take on any more, leaving the members who now just want to buy tidy examples that they can just use as a weekend car rather than a project.

Nail on the head

[erbs 42 1 Cars]

as some may know i bought a phase 1 1.6 1986 non sunroof model, when i got it, it was and still a state, all the brakes were seized and engine goosed and possibly gearbox too,

 

i paid £800 for it

 

so far i have myself replaced all the braking system and replaced the pipes with copper instead

 

i have whipped the engine and gearbox out, engine is in bits and awaiting a rebuild

 

the bodywork is ok apart from the bottom rear quarters which are terrible with rust but will need a respray all over , but i see this as a project that may take years to complete but its far better than someone else buying it and braking it for parts and that's another phase 1 less existing, its a labour of love and i do love my little pug.

 

The point is people just see pound signs and if you make more breaking rather than saving and care nothing for the history and heritage and try and capitalize on the popularity of the 205, i think is a disgrace.

 

Me personally it means more to me and put the effort in to save my car and i have always had a fondness for the early model, coz it was the 1st car i bought so if it means i spend £6,000 restoring it over say for example 5 years then its worth it 100 per cent

[jshep205gti 3]

My point is that I was only into 205 Gti's because of the price. But then I owned one and liked it.

 

So now I am caught between trying something new or paying up for a 205.

 

Oh and did I mention I want 16 valves? I heard it is fun

[mowflow 67]

Well don't get into it for the price this time because it ain't going to be cheap. A minted one will fetch a hefty price and unless you really don't give a s*it the cost of tidying up a slightly scabby one will easily add up to owning something more modern and keeping some coin in your pocket.

[GLPoomobile 958]

My point is that I was only into 205 Gti's because of the price. But then I owned one and liked it.

 

Things have changed since you were last an owner, as you're now finding out. It's mainly in the last year that prices have shot up.

 

*The following is a general rant and is not aimed at JShep*

 

Clearly some people are finding it difficult to adjust to the change in 205 values. Audiobull said earlier that he wouldn't pay £3000 for one even though he can afford more than this, so to that I would simply say he's looking at the wrong scene. If people want affordable and accessible fun hot hatches now, they need to look at something like an old Clio 172. The bargains are much harder to come by now. 2 or 3 years ago you were spoiled for choice, but now you need patience, maybe a bit of luck or connections in the right places, and be willing to travel. People are hanging on to them as they are appreciating assets at long last.

 

Are 205 GTIs over-priced now? Absolutely not. That's utter nonsense. Yes there are a small number that are being advertised at inflated prices to appeal to the middle aged affluent ex-owners who want a turn-key example that won't embarrass them at the golf course, but that's not indicative of the scene as a whole. At the lower end of the scale, they are at last hitting the value that they should have been years ago IMO. They've been called a classic hot hatch for a long time, they've been praised as one of, if not the best, hot hatch of their generation (and those since), and it's crazy that in spite of this they were valued so low for so many years. It's hardly any wonder that they were seen by so many as disposable fun items, when you could buy usable examples for less than you might pay for a set of tyres on many cars these days.

 

Mk2 Golf GTI have been at these prices for donkeys years now. And what about Renault 5 GTTurbos? Why the hell should the 205 GTI, given it's reputation, be seen as worthless in comparison? It's absolutely deserving of the prices we are seeing now. Either accept that, or move on to something else.

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

Personally I think some 205's have been hideously overpriced in the last year especially when you look at the high mileage, non restored, lack of history, etc, ones although that is also the same for similar Ford RS Turbo's. That being said though there are a lot of genuine cars for sale that have had documented evidence of rebuilds, restorations, etc, and that warrant the £4-7k price tag. Especially if you think about how much £££ you'd have to spend doing the same work.

 

Just look at pricing in the RS scene for the similar age Ford Escort RS Turbo & Fiesta RS Turbo.

 

I owned an Escort RST a few years ago when you could buy one with tax/mot that needed work for circa £1k. I sold it about 18 months later for £2.5k as that was the market resale value for the condition of the one I had/did up. If you look at the prices now, I'd be looking to spend about £2k for a similar car needing work and the resale value after the work would be anywhere from £4k-£6.5k. And the decent ones with history are selling for those prices.

 

A low miles concours Series 2 RST was recently sold in under an hour via the RSOC without even being advertised. Price was £8k and some people felt it was underpriced and should be been at least £10k+.

 

It would appear the 205 is now finally moving in the same direction that the RS, R5 and Golf GTI took a few years earlier. I suppose one reason for the 205 staying at a lower price for longer was due to the fact there always seem to be more around as they have survived the years better when compared to other cars of the same era - especially the R5GTT.

 

With regards to people breaking good quality cars, as mentioned before, a lot of those cars are probably worth more in parts rather than as a whole. There's been a fair few people complain on the RSOC about good Cossie's being broken up by breakers / owners, but similar to the example mentioned earlier by Speno, when these cars are put up for sale no-one seemingly wants to buy them, but will then instead complain when the owner decides to sell the car as a rolling shell and sell the good bits off separately. Besides in 99% of cases of the cars stripped down the parts all end up on other cars thus keeping them on the road and so the cycle ultimately repeats itself.

 

Even one of the well known RS breakers got grief recently after he bought a rolling shell that had been sat for a few months, fitted a new engine, box, etc, and then sold it on for a what actually worked out to be a very small profit. Evidently he should have sold it for far less "for the love" even though he had actually done people a favour by keeping another one the road. Most other people had previously been trying to buy the shell purely so they could store it away and cut a profit in a few years time, but the owner refused to sell it for that reason, so fair play to him for that

Edited May 3, 2014 by AlexRS2782

[jshep205gti 3]

 

If people want affordable and accessible fun hot hatches now, they need to look at something like an old Clio 172.

 

If price was all I cared about then that would be a perfect choice. However a year 2000 Clio just isn't the same as a 1991 205 GTI. As we know.

[GLPoomobile 958]

Indeed. But some other people complaining about current values need to accept that if they want a 205 GTI then they need to move with the times and accept current values. If they aren't happy with that then it's back to the drawing board for them.

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

 

If price was all I cared about then that would be a perfect choice. However a year 2000 Clio just isn't the same as a 1991 205 GTI. As we know.

Wash your mouth out

[audiobull 6]

Indeed. But some other people complaining about current values need to accept that if they want a 205 GTI then they need to move with the times and accept current values. If they aren't happy with that then it's back to the drawing board for them.

so what your basically saying is like it or lump it. Sorry but just because you already have a 205 that is absolute rubbish and fairly selfish! People who are currently looking will read your comments and think i do need to spend silly money on the 205 and get ripped off by an absolute rust bucket.

I totally agree there is some out there that have had a complete restore. they are well worth the £5-£8k they might be asking. Then you have those asking £3-£5k and they have not done anything to them, they are high mileage, full of rust, no history and the new owner will more then likely break down on the way home. They are over priced simple as that so that is not non sense. not at all.

 

To also say those thinking they are overpriced need to look at a different market wow im glad most the 205 owners dont think like that and although you say its a generally rant reading your post it was aimed at me!

 

What you ideally need to be saying and what all others are saying is you need to wait for the best priced example at the price you want to pay. I showed you all a £2500 205. all i get is no way dont buy it. thats overpriced by £1000. So i am still looking at £2500 cars, im not expecting a mint one as i am using the rest of the money i have to make good the 205. that does not mean i need to look elsewhere at different cars does it.

 

sorry but i think your opinion (that being just an opinion) was given without any research into the current 205's for sale.

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

If I had the garage space, i'd be seriously thinking about the red CTI on ebay at the moment...