Peugeot 206 GTi 180
Peugeot's 206 GTi Was Once King Of The Hot Hatches But As Time Passed By It Went From Hot To Merely Warm. The GTi180 Version Aims To Crank The Heat Back Up. By Andy Enright
To say the Peugeot 206 GTi had a lot to live up to is something of an understatement. Although most credit the Golf GTi as the original GTi and the Escort XR3i racked up the big sales, the best GTi of the Eighties was undoubtedly the 1.9-litre Peugeot 205 GTi. The 206 GTi was, for a while, the hot hatch to have, but in the intervening years its rivals became ever more powerful.
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Not before time,
Peugeot have taken remedial action in the shape of the 206 GTi180, a car that aims to punch the Pug back into contention with the heavy hitters but is it a case of too little too late?
After all, cars like the
Honda Civic Type-R and the
SEAT Leon Cupra R are now packing some serious power under their bonnets, power that even the 206 GTi180 cant match. The Peugeots £15,215 price tag works in its favour, as does the fact that it includes some decent features such as climate control and represents good value compared to the standard GTi and GTi HDi models which pack 138bhp and 110bhp respectively. So, the extra 42bhp over the standard GTi must make the 206GTi 180 a good deal quicker. Well yes and no.
The additional torque gives it a good deal more muscle and flexibility and the variable valve timing system really comes into its own when you rev the engine beyond 4,000rpm, but many of the standard increments for performance measurement will look a little disappointing. The sprint to 60mph is notched off in 7.9 seconds which represents a half second improvement over the standard GTi. Youll notice the added urge when accelerating between 30 and 70mph, the GTi180 taking a second less than its junior sibling, but this is not a car that will have Honda Civic Type-R drivers checking their mirrors.
Pitched somewhere between the Renaultsport Clio 182 and the Civic Type-R the 206 GTi180 may well find a niche for itself, but its a very crowded market. Dont be lulled into thinking this is merely a bog standard 206 GTi with a hotter engine. The GTi 180 takes things considerably further. The suspension has been stiffened front and rear, with revised geometry up front and additional tie bars at the back for a beefier feel.
An electronic stability control package has also been fitted and the gearbox has been comprehensively revised to offer a quicker, tighter change. The car also now has electronic stability control.
"Get better acquainted with the rev limiter and this lion cub bares its claws. Here it translates into a devastatingly capable cross-country machine"
The 17-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler and twin exhausts beef the 206s looks up nicely, and its amazing how fresh the car looks when one pauses to consider that it was first introduced way back in 1998. Its still one of the best looking small hatches around and the GTi 180 looks particularly pert and aggressive. Unfortunately the storys not so great inside. The cabin is the area thats probably dated least well, although the GTi180 tries to jolly things up with macho sports seats and an aluminium gear lever and pedal set.
The CD-based stereo is a nice touch but, like the rest of the fascia, is constructed in cheap looking plastic. The leather rimmed steering wheel and chrome ringed dials arent bad, but certain fundamentals about the driving position are annoying. You sit high and the steering wheel, seat and pedals never seem naturally aligned. The thick A-pillar will have you rocking in your seat as you negotiate roundabouts trying to see if theres a car obscured behind it.
On the road the 206 GTi180 feels a more mature proposition than you may expect. The ride quality is surprisingly good for a car with such hardcore suspension and the flexibility of the engine is such that you could quite easily laze about in third gear most of the time and the little Pug wouldnt register a complaint. Fine for a 406 but what about a hot hatch? Shouldnt they be up and at you at all times? The GTi180 seems cut from different cloth in effect two cars in one. Keep the revs at dignified levels and itll happily trundle about with no clue as to its alter ego.
Get better acquainted with the rev limiter and the lion cub bares its claws. Here it translates into a devastatingly capable cross-country machine, stitching bends together with real efficiency. Efficiency? Thats another word we rarely associate with hot hatches - cars that are meant to be all about fun. Here the little Peugeot receives a modest score.
It feels nicely sorted and likeable enough, but it never feels like the sort of car youd get in and drive just for the sake of it. Some of the manic zeal of the old 205 GTi 1.9 would be welcome if not its hedge seeking tendencies but the 206 GTi180 may just be a little too refined for its own good. Perhaps this is being a little harsh.
Peugeot have undoubtedly spent a long time developing the GTi 180 but one cant help thinking theyve taken their eyes from the prize. Jean Marc Finot, a man who worked on the development of the 205 GTi 1.9 and the 206 GTi180 is perhaps best qualified to explain. "Times have changed since the 205GTi. Modern society wouldnt tolerate such a focused car." Perhaps modern society is a little more permissive than Finot gives it credit for. Quick in a straight line, grippy through the corners, safe, good looking and affordable, the 206GTi 180 is all of these things and more, but ends up feeling slightly less than the sum of its attributes. Theres a spark missing thats incorporated as standard in many of its rivals although on showroom appeal alone, the car is definitely in with a shout. Itll probably do very well for Peugeot, the 206 being Britains favourite privately bought car, but committed drivers will probably be tempted by something a little more focused.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Peugeot 206 GTi 180
PRICE: £15,215 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 204g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 7.9s / Max Speed 133mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 23.9mpg / (extra urban) 43.5mpg / (combined) 32.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags / ABS / stability control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 3835/1900/1432
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