Peugeot 207 GTi - road test! (From Community Newsgroup)

Peugeot 207 GTi - road test!

4:08pm Wednesday 24th September 2008

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THE original Peugeot 205 GTi (1.9) was a thoroughbred monster. One of the original and best hot hatches of its era, and easily one of the fastest things you could buy at the time without spending silly money.

Enthusiasts must have been sorely disappointed when its successor – the 206 GTi – arrived in 2000, anything but a worthy wearer of the GTi badge which its paltry 136 bhp disgracing the brand.

Performance was far from ‘hot’, and although Peugeot went some way to make amends with the special edition 180 bhp version in 2005, the 206 platform just couldn't cope with the power.

The new 207 GTi arrived in June, and with some fanfare too on behalf of Peugeot, whose ad campaign slogan: 'GTi'm back!', acknowledging the shortcomings of the 206 GTi, while subtly hinting at the new pretender's ability.

But is it a fair claim?

Performance/engine:

Under the bonnet sits a 1.6-litre turbo charged powerplant, the same as in the less powerful GT model, but with output boosted to 178 bhp courtesy of a larger turbo and a grumbling twin pipe sports exhaust, plus revised engine management.

It'll send the GTi from standing to 60mph in seven seconds, which is marginally faster than the original 205 GTi - going to show just how quick the original was for its time.

It's fast, but the fun is diluted by the car's electronic stability programme, although purists will be pleased to learn this can be disabled at the push of a button.

There's only five gears when most other manufacturers, certainly for this type of car, have moved on to six, but it means number five is particularly punchy on the motorway and there's masses of torque across the entire rev range in all the gears, spinning it freely into the red.

Handling:

The go-kart feel of earlier GTi models has long since gone, but the current version is still a hoot to drive, but serves up a more grown up, less white knuckle experience for drivers. There's a good amount of grip, and the body control is quick, but it's by no means the leader of the hot-hatch pack, lacking the assured, refined handling of the Golf GTi, or the raw appeal of the Corsa VXR.

Wet weather also unsticks the 207 from the road, causing the ESP sensors to constantly intervene in such conditions.

The brakes are sound, and the steering offers decent feel at speed, but is a tad artificial at urban speed.

Drive refinement:

Considering the GTi's genetics, the ride actually isn't all that bumpy. Granted, it's no BMW, but it's only the very worst of road surfaces which really highlight the taut suspension settings.

Like the gearbox offered in the GT model, the throw is excruciatingly long, and lacks the crisp, rifle bolt action found in similarly priced hot-hatches. The steering is too light at urban speeds too, but does weight up nicely once you add some speed into the mix.

The turbo charged engine isn't the most cultured deliver of power either, and there's a tendency for necks to jar when the blower fires up.

Quality:

The GTi is still just a 207 runabout in its Sunday best, and no matter how much gloss Peugeot have used, it can't escape its roots. While the upper section of the dash is made from more expensive looking soft-touch plastics, lower sections still look and feel low rent with hard, brittle plastics in use. The switchgear isn't exactly top draw stuff either, while the fit and finish of the cabin is again disappointing in places.

Externally there're problems, too, particularly the front skirt which will wobble and flex if given a tug, and things such as the fog light casing look cheap and tacky, which all conspire to betrays the car's budget, mass market underpinnings.

Space and Practicality:

The GTi will seat four in comfort, will do five at a push, and has a fairly decent size boot which is slightly bigger than that found in the outgoing 206. Over the shoulder glances are hampered by the large central pillar, but the doors are large so rear seat passengers don't have too many problems getting in and out of the 3-door layout.

Insurance Group 15 means although prices will be high, they will be affordable.

Peugeot literature says combined mpg of 39, but that's pure fantasy on today's clogged roads.

Equipment:

It’s not exactly the Orient Express in terms of luxuries. There's all the usual kit and kaboodle, such as electric windows and CD-Player, but no climate control only standard A/C, and the dash lacks gimmicks such as turbo pressure guage or oil boost offered in rivals. In fact there are precious few signs which allude to the fact your in something special.

Safety:

Like the bog-standard 207 the GTi offers tank-like safety with a full five star NCAP crash score. There's the usual array of six airbags, abs, etc.

Prices:

£15,675 will get you in the pilot seat of a 207 GTi so for the price it's a bargain entry into hot-hatch territory. Where that leaves the lesser powered GT model which comes in at £15,575 is anyone's guess. Think big discounts.

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