205 GTi vs R5 GT Turbo

[Matt___]

A debate as old as time I know!

Looking at picking up an 80's hot hatch and fancy either a 205 GTi or R5 GT Turbo. Wondered if any of you have owned either of these and your thoughts on both? Which would you vote for?

Matt

 

[hoolio]

I'm slightly biased so I won't answer but you will need serious coin for either now and tbh I would be looking for the most complete and sorted version of either as projects are almost no longer an option, not sure what spares are like for the 205 but they are now virtually non existent for the 5GTT, they are out there but people are now hanging on to them and the bun fight that ensues when something rare appears is a harsh lesson in economics.

 

[Big Dave]

My vote would be neither,
Ive been lucky to own a few hot hatches , and also been back to re-drive one or two many years later, there NEVER the same as you remember them... Slow, coarse etc etc....
Just my thoughts...

 

[hoolio]

Slow, coarse etc etc....
Just my thoughts...

I think you're missing the point of the Trophy The joy of old hot hatches is that they are course seat of your pants driving and the 5 is not slow, I grin every time that Turbo dial flicks over to the right

 

[Matt___]

I'll put my hands up and say there is a bit of nostalgia here, I always wanted a 'proper' hot hatch after passing my test and it's now become a bit of an itch I want to scratch. With regards to rarity, I've seen prices going up (and yeah, reckon 5 parts are likely more scarce) so my thought was I could buy something and then, hopefully, not drop any/too much money if I got rid in a few years.

Still love the Trophy, that's not going anywhere and will continue to be pampered.... :grinning:

 

[marrow]

I think you're missing the point of the Trophy :smile: The joy of old hot hatches is that they are course seat of your pants driving and the 5 is not slow, I grin every time that Turbo dial flicks over to the right :smile:

Completely agree. I was lucky to have owned a 5 GTT when I was 20 (back in the early 1990s! Insurance was £950 back then!!) And still fondly remember how it felt when the boost dial flicked clockwise. G75 WVU you are missed.

 

[FEDesignLtd]

Cant comment on R5 I'm afraid, but my 205 is a great companion to the Trophy. By comparison, the 205 (1.9), is slower, no doubt, but is just so much fun! It's a challenge to drive smoothly which I really like. The ride is much softer than the Trophy too, which is quite charming. Servicable parts are easy enough to get, as are most other parts. More and more people are starting to reproduce exterior trim parts for them too, which is nice. Interior parts are most difficult to find I imagine.

Do it!

 

[dablk]

For me it would be the 205.

 

[Portland]

Owned both, equally hilarious, but the T5 tried to randomly kill me less than the 1.9 Pug.

 

[NickReilly063]

Owed both New in the 80s - not sure my arms are up to Man Handling one now. Pug 1.6 was easier to drive on the Tyre walls than the 1.9. Great cars but a Golf 16v was a better car really.

 

[NickReilly063]

Pug 1.9

 

[NickReilly063]

Another option back in the day

 

[NickReilly063]

Focus RS bought new

 

[NickReilly063]

RB5

 

[NickReilly063]

RB5 Prodrive

 

[NickReilly063]

944 Turbo SE - one of the best cars i've owned really

 

[Portland]

Owed both New in the 80s - not sure my arms are up to Man Handling one now. Pug 1.6 was easier to drive on the Tyre walls than the 1.9. Great cars but a Golf 16v was a better car really.

Yup, my missus had a mk II 16v for a loooong time.

 

[Oracle]

Maestro Turbo - a simple adjustment to the waste gate with an 11mm spanner gave 220bhp.

 

[NickReilly063]

Maestro was a strong car - drove a Montego Turbo - must be the most dangerous car ever with the way it used to lift ( And the biggest put of was the car talked to you)

 

[NickReilly063]

Had a Tornado Red small bumper 16v - then a Atlas Grey Big bumper 16v - both 3drs
Mega cars