Random # 291: Peugeot 205
I saw this tidy little Peugeot the other day and, even though it's not the performance GTI version, it was still a great example of 205 line. The styling suggests that it's from the earlier end of the manufacturing run, putting it closer to 1983 than 1998 when production was wound up. Being a bog-standard 205, complete with an auto 'box, doesn't mean I can't compare it with its highly-desirable GTI twin. In fact, delving into a few of the stockers 205's stats goes a long way to explaining why many regard the Gallic GTI as at least the equal of its more fancied German rival, the Golf GTI. Not 15" wheels! Had I known that the GTI's were 15s, I'd have checked what these were but suspect they're only 13s, at most. Firstly, reference to Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_205 ) states that early versions of the 205 were powered by a diminutive .954 litre engine, compared to the GTI's 1.9 litre donk! To be fai...