205 Vs 309

[rotis23 0]

Which is better?

[richt 0]

309 is much more forgving and harder to lose. 205 feels so much shaper. 309 is easier to drive quickly, 205 is much more rewarding.

 

My comparisions are made on my old 309 1992 5 door goodwood and my current 205 1992 1.9

[KRISKARRERA 2 1 Cars]

I had a 405 Mi16, then a 309 with Mi16, then now back to a 405 Mi16 again and I'm finding the 405 alot better. But the 309 I had had endured several crashes and it was never right lol

[rotis23 0]

I'm just thinking about what base to use for my 16v.

 

I like my 205 a **lot** but I was very impressed by the forgiveness of a mates 309 a few years back.

 

Of course there's a lot less 3-door 309 Gtis around.

 

 

 

On another note, I need a pint of stella!

[Hilgie 16 2 Cars]

The 309GTi is better than the 205, probably because the longer wheelbase, wider track and bigger rear end (weight distribution).

[Wiggs 0]

I've heard that the 309 GTi is supposed to be just that little bit better at handling that the 205 GTi.

 

You could fit the 309 hubs etc to the 205, then you'd probably be somewhere in between.

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

I thought the hubs were the same! Well to the 205GTi 1.9s anyway!

 

I go with the general opinion of the 309GTi, in that it is more forgiving at the limit.

 

Why not stick the 309 suspension on a 205?

 

Thats what i'm doing!

[Wurzel 16]

I'll be fitting the 309 kit to my 205 soon but I don't think it has much to do with the suspension alone.

 

The 309 is longer and has different weight distribution. That to me says more forgiving handling. Not necessarily better as it is all in the hands of the operator.

 

For the average driver though, maybe the 309 is more forgiving.

[Hilgie 16 2 Cars]

I have the whole 309 suspension on my 205, but the same setup on a 309 (koni etc) is still better then the 205. So I guess it's down to the weight distribution and the fact that the 309 is longer and heavier at the back.

[Sandy 191]

205 feels good all the time, but nervous on the limit.

 

309 a bit boring at normal speeds, sometimes feels understeery, but lean on it and it comes alive, great balance, very throttle steerable like a well set up fwd rallycar.

Take the PAS off a 309gti and the steering feel and response is just incredible, but heavy!

 

I have switched to the 205 simply because it's better at sane speeds, i was gonna have a big one in the last 309 (lightweight with Mi16) if i kept it. We swapped all my mechanicals into a mates 309 and he drove like a loon for a year until a rear hub collapsed and he rolled it badly, not good, nearly lost his passengers. I think I made a good decision.

[Guest ollysmith]

The big difference I've always noticed in the 309 is its unbelievable ability to turn the front end in!

 

Feels a lot better to road rally in than a 205.. it's the closest feeling thing I've driven to my old minis (just needs a bit more power now )

[Guest sillypugger]

309 was the best handling fwd production car in the world circa 1988 - think it was performance car magazine or similar that said it.

[Batfink 201]

Ive never really found the 205 handling nervous on the limit

[huxley309 0]

shut up you guys my heads swelling up

 

i once had the front end pointing at the central reservation doing 70mph when the back stepped out

still kept it and actually i felt in control....just need an lsd and im happy:)

 

btw it was dodgy sus and torsion bar 1 spline too high

and i only had the car 2 weeks..

Edited January 31, 2004 by huxley309

[Adi 0]

309 is much more forgving and harder to lose

 

Not necessarily better as it is all in the hands of the operator

 

 

A mate of mine bought a new 309GTI in the early '90s. He let another friend have a drive.......and this lad was used to driving Mk1 and Mk2 sideways all day long, but he was still forewarned about the lift off oversteer.

After 10 mins of driving the 309.......we went thru this "s" bend and he lifted the throttle mid corner. Well even his hands weren't quick enough......and we exited the 2nd part of the corner totally sideways......with the rear bumper grazing the wall. The car was only a few weeks old.....and it had a bust rear light lense and the rear bumper was all grazed.

Just to show.....even with the 309....if you're not used to...or ready for it......it will bite you.

[NickR 10]

205 GTi is a very direct car, similar to a dedicated track car.

 

Most people who drive a track car for the first time say they are edgy and twitcy, yet in the hands of an expert they are far from it.

 

Just average person is used to a soft, indirect car.

 

As for which is best handling ... erm... probably down to what the driver prefers.

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

They are very similar in setup apart from the longer wheelbase which probably makes it better handling at high speed.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

309 was the best handling fwd production car in the world circa 1988 - think it was performance car magazine or similar that said it.

It was voted the best handling car by Autocar and Motor for three years until the Clio 16v showed up.

 

Fast long sweeping bends in a 309 are much more 'relaxed' than in 205, wider longer heavier etc.....

[Guest ollysmith]

Clio 16v *better* than a 309 GTI!??

 

:o

 

crazy people.

[Sandy 191]

My 205 was great to drive on track, but oversteer has to be corrected and can't really be exploited like you can in a 309 (big grinning sideways moments ).

 

The 205 handling in wet weather can often suprise you, or at least make you bloody nervous if a corner tightens suddenly. It is a great track car, but the 309 is imo more controllable.

Edited February 1, 2004 by sandy309

[NickR 10]

With decent tyres a 205 is fine in the wet... A few of us have chased Scoobys round the lakes in the wet before and not had a problem.

[jackherer 543]

Clio 16v *better* than a 309 GTI!??

 

:o

 

crazy people.

yeah right, I've driven standard and modified clio 16vs and they may have grip but they have no feel at all, and they seem like big cars when you are behind the wheel for some reason. And I wont even mention the low end torque, I stalled one more than once when pulling away in first cos it had so little!

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

It was voted the best handling car by Autocar and Motor for three years until the Clio 16v showed up.

I thought this only changed when the Clio Williams arrived on the scene & not the Clio16v.

 

309 was often quoted as one of the best front drive hatches made but not as quick as the 205 due to the extra weight but just as involving with better control at the limit. It's all down to the driver at the end of the day IMO.

 

Graham.

[richt 0]

I wouldnt have another 309 after owning a 205 Gti now. The 205 is much more rewarding and feels much more nibble. I just feel it will bite you worse than a 309, which felt all together a more stable car.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

If you are concerned about re-sale values then the 309 is a no hoper. I have considered buying one but I could work on it until it was perfect and it would still be virtually worthless compared to a similar 205. I guess if you plan to keep it long term or run it into the ground then they are good but I couldn't justify buying one.

 

Rob