New member looking to buy a 205 GTI

[spf62]

Hi guys,'

my name's Sulu, currently residing in Christchurch but moving back to my home city Auckland very soon.

I'm not an owner yet, but would love to own a 205 GTI. Have developed an obsession ever since seeing one in the flesh in it's element on the winding roads of Governors Bay.

Just missed out a well spec'd GTI down here with an mi16, so very keen to build up my 10 posts so I can access the for sale category!

Cheers

[spf62]

Went for my regular Sunday drive to diamond harbour and spotted a nice looking dk grey 1.9 205 gti sitting outside the cafe. Got talking with the owner asking if he was keen to sell, but he'd only just bought it a month ago and uses it for Sunday drives out.

Said it was a local car but I didn't have time to ask how he came across the car as they were leaving the cafe. Other than trade me, I seem to have more luck finding 205 gti's on my Sunday drive! lol

Forgot to take note of the rego, but other than some paint fade around the sunroof car was very straight, nice interior.

[RS]

Hang around here for a bit, I'm sure one will pop up, and we will let you know.

I found mine through a FF member after asking for a while.

They are a good Sunday drive car, Saturday fixing, sunday driving.

[spf62]

Thanks for that, will do.

Definitely a popular Sunday drive car here by the looks of it.

[hedho]

Get in line though, I've been looking for about 2 years, missed on 3 by sometimes minutes & passed on a couple. I'm looking for a nice one without to much to do. I don't mind paying a fair price but people tend to hold onto them.

Good luck on your mission.


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[spf62]

Yep, sounds like we've had a similar experience. Missed out on one with an mi16 and all the work done on it. Had the money at the time it was offered but was between jobs so held off just in case. Owner said he could hold selling for another month. Three months later I was in a position to buy and missed out by 2 weeks.

[spf62]

I'm wanting a UK 1.9 in very good condition and not much if any work needed. I prefer a turn key car, not one that's likely to become a sitting project lol

Not a fan of spending time under the bonnet like I used to, but I understand these cars will require some attention and maintenance given their age and the quirky nature of all things auto and french!

[RS]

Cheap, 3-5k will require major things doing, IE, body work, rear beam rebuild, valve stems, new dash, etc.

Moderate 5-8k will have a few defects, no doubt need a couple of things, aesthetic corrections, cracked plastics, odd bits and bobs.

8-12k should get you a good car with most preventive maintenance done.

But, they are old cars and parts can randomly fail on them, mine has mechanically been pretty good, biggest problem if finding parts locally to fix them. It can make something that is considered relatively minor to fix on most popular brands a compleat mission to fix on a 205.

Most service parts I have needed have come from E-Bay UK, you can't buy a air filter for one from Repco or Peugeot for example.. Other parts I have needed have been impossible to get in NZ, like literally impossible. I have waited 6 weeks or more for simple parts.. so be prepared to flex your Google skills.

So my thoughts are you are going to have a random problem at least once a year, even on a mint car.

They are very enjoyable when they are going well though.

Best of luck.

[spf62]

Thanks for the great advice and price guide... I guess being on the other side of the world doesn't help with parts and relatively low number of cars in nz. But I'm up for the challenge that comes with owning one... doing what I can to keep up my Sunday drives should be motivation enough! lol

Definitely in the market for a good car requiring only preventative maintenance.

[Pee Dubbaya]

Definitely in the market for a good car requiring only preventative maintenance.

Hahaha, the day your pre-90's French car requires 'only' preventative maintenance is the day that pigs fly!  Even replacing every component is no guarantee!!! Just buy one with a straight body and good paint - you'll end up replacing stuff anyway!

[spf62]

Yeah guess I'm being a bit too picky...

Lol sounds like a Tui ad, looking for a 205 gti that only needs preventative maintenance, yeah right.

[RS]

I have owned a few brand new French cars that have required some expensive fixes in the first few years.

Buy a 205 GTI through a dealer for 10k and get the "Platinum Warranty" haha.

As Pedub says, get a good all rounder and make friends with Bishops or another good French car specialist, have them service it and WOF it and they should look after you. Parts are reasonably cheap, just hard to get.

[spf62]

Patience waning....crossing borders....going german...2005 vw golf gti looking good right now...achtung baby lol

[RS]

A Golf will be so much fun, best of luck with the search.

[spf62]

Thanks man, I'll hold off as long as I can... the need for a gti hot hatch is great lol. Always loved the Mk V golf gti, sure footed handling, flat as a pancake round corners.

Murphys law a 205 gti will come up the day after purchase!