Hot Hatch Heaven- an old Pug and a new Golf

[dubber36]

I think that there is a lot to say for older cars.

30 year old cars are a labour of love and really don't suit daily use, but I've just bought a Scirocco for my lad. As he's still 16, I'm making use of it now and again. These sort of cars were desirable when they were new, so although they have been overtaken by 10+ years of modern tech, if they were good then, they are still good now. I'm really enjoying it, and all for the price of a deposit on a new GTI/R.







Make sense? Or am I missing out by not having the latest radar guided tablet?

[Yusee]

No doubt the more heavily they are used, they more often you will be fixing and maintaining the older cars.
Against that is the fact that they are much more simple- and as a result cheaper to run and repair.
I had a "start stop system error" sign appear on my Golf this morning, probably a software glitch, possibly a sensor problem. Would I ever get that in the pug. No.
I am not looking forward to having to replace a headlight bulb in the golf. In the pug- piece of pi$$.

The general point though is that it is nice to be able to appreciate the merits of modern cars and older ones.
The golf is so good at what it is designed to do. I still can't believe how supple the ride is for a car that corners flat and hard and changes direction so well. The controls are so easy to use. And it is very fast (for a road car). There's pleasure in the speed itself.

The feelings you get from an older car are so much more intense.
I always put the windows down when I start it up- I love the sound when I first fire it up (the golf sounds crap in comparison).
The throttle feels direct and responds immediately, I know exactly where the clutch bites ( i'm never really sure in the golf!) and you cannot compare the steering feel in these 2 cars- chalk and cheese.
The other hugely satisfying thing about the pug is how appropriate it is for road use. I am frequently frustrated in the golf because conditions- and the ability of the car- don't allow me to drive it the way I would like. less of a problem in the pug- you let it warm up then use the full 130bhp through the gears.

[skippy]

I sold my 09 plate Scirocco for my new Golf, only had 35K miles on from new - it was mint and somebody is very lucky to have it now!

I love my Golf, no doubting that and yes - I agree, for a car with such performance, it can also be a very relaxing cruiser. I put my 'Roc at the point between old-school and sensor heavy, computer driven modern cars.

I thought I would hang onto the Roc forever basically, or at least until EV's become completely viable, but it was being left behind in the tech stakes and although I do miss it, I do love my 7.5 GTI!

[DarrenG]

Hi Yusee,
You’re spot on when you talk about 130bhp being more usable, everything on the 205 is just more mechanical and direct....its more of an ‘event’ to drive.
I’ve been lucky to own three of them x1 1.6 and x2 1.9‘s.
The first one (early 90s) got me 8 points within six months of owning it.....I was young and stupid....lessons learnt!
The second one was a 1991 in red from the Peugeot dealership in Coventry at £4995 in the mid 90s, perfect spec and condition, god knows what that would be worth now
The third one was a garage queen and got polished to within a inch of its life and after several ‘discussions’  with my wife it got sold to pay for building work on our then house....I almost cried when the new owner drove it away 
I’m off to search the classifieds 
Enjoy!

[RM]

My first car was a 205 Lacoste special edition. Quite rare back then... something I didn’t know until recently, when I saw one for sale for crazy money. I think there are just a few left now.

I wrote mine off 6-days after passing my test, so really didn’t help their survival   

[Jason b]

I had 2 both 1.9,s the first was a D reg in silver thrashed it looked after it but all the same had a hard life ,I unfortunately never acquired a Golf GTI then but i really wanted a 16 v but they where to a few k more than a pug ,later i bought another a mint  Pug white G plate  for 4500  late 90,s but had to part company due to a new job with a 100 mile commute and the hot hatch dream car all went out the window for a 106 diesel

wife had a mint 106 gti and we sold that for a Volvo v40  like you do ! but one to top a friend traded a Intergrale for a Saxo

[Yusee]

Nice bit of 205 nostalgia, thanks for the interesting contributions!
@DarrenG, back in the 90s they attracted the attention of the police like few other cars. I was stopped in mine more often than any car I can remember. I lived in Manchester at the time- which may partly explain it.
I wonder how many current Golf GTI owners started with 205s rather than previous gen golfs.

[Jason b]

Plenty i would like to think. part of hot hatch progression
 i would love one and have Just been re looking at your pics again superb ! and i love the 205 seat design ,Fantastic if i had some where to put one i would love another dose of 205 fun

[Yusee]

Thanks Jason. yes, I'm very luck to have bought this car- the interior has been kept remarkably well. Other than some minor wear to the driver's seat bolster, I don't expect these seats would've looked much different when they left the factory.
I agree there is a progression as you get older- quality and refinement come higher up the list of priorities.
Oddly, I don't think I would've bought the 205 had I not bought the golf. In a way it reawakened an interest in hot hatches. I wouldn't mind a 106 rallye actually or a Clio 182 trophy. If only I had the garage space- or could convince the wife to keep the Alhambra outside!

[dubber36]

Thanks Jason. yes, I'm very luck to have bought this car- the interior has been kept remarkably well. Other than some minor wear to the driver's seat bolster, I don't expect these seats would've looked much different when they left the factory.

Despite being flimsy, they do hold up really well. I had a 1990 405 SRI way back (same 1.9 engine). I bought it with 30,000 miles on it and the dash squeaked and rattled a bit. At 100,000 miles, it hadn't gained any more squeaks and rattles and everything still worked. Now that was a bloody good car.