2004 Peugeot 206 GTI 180

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Author: Wilmer Muller

The Peugeot 206 World Rally Car came to fame with world champion Marcus Gronholm making mincemeat of his competitors.

Peugeot just had to cash in on the 206's WRC success and the obvious solution was a production car with enough wooma to get people drooling. The Peugeot 206 GTI 180 was born.

The 180 refers to the car's horsepower output which translates into 130 kW. It is a real hot hatch contender and in South Africa this little piece of dynamite will try to rock the Golf GTI, Opel Astra OPC and Toyota RunX RSI.

But does the 206 GTI have what it takes to tackle the Goliaths of the hot hatch world?

The 206 GTI 180 is one of those cars that just feels right when you get into it. Everything about it is appealing and despite that this two-door is quite a small hatch, it has a huge presence.

Styling

The GTI 180 is quite a funky French number and has a very sporty appearance. Unlike most of its rivals it is a two-door, giving it an even spunkier image. At first sight it all looks very good.

Peugeot didn't opt to give the car a complete rally look, but rather kept to subtle sporty touches, which is more to everybody's liking.

Although some people may refer to the GTI as cute, it is like calling a lightweight boxer cute. Remember: This IS a small muscle machine.

This car comes with a quite a few sporty overtones. At the front there is a big honeycomb air intake and the bumper is also colour coded. A big chromed Peugeot badge dominates the grille and Xenon headlights are also part of the package.

At the rear there are dramatic chrome-plated dual exhaust pipes and the hatch gets a prominent spoiler to add to the car's sporty appeal.

Other detail touches include carbonfibre-look trim on the side mirrors and an aluminium racing fuel cap.

The GTI 180 also comes with distinctive 17 inch five-spoke alloy wheels with fat Pirelli P7000 205/40R17W tyres.

Interior

Inside the 206's rally genes are more obvious, with a killer interior. The most prominent interior design feature is the racing-style front bucket seats, covered with a mix of Alcantara and leather.

Although they look good they are not the most comfortable seats I have experienced.

It is really difficult to find an acceptable driving position. However it does keep you from sliding all over the place when you push the 206 through a serious of tight bends.

There are good-looking carbon fibre inserts on the dash's centre console section, which adds to its sporty appeal.

Interior space is probably the smallest when compared to its rivals, and tall passengers will find it a bit cramped.

The two side doors are long and open wide, and it is easy for front passengers to get in. Access to the rear seat is a different story. Then again, the GTI 180 is not built for family transport.

The boot also offers limited space but can be increased by folding the rear seat down.

Equipment

The GTI 180 comes with a host of comfort and luxury features. Standard equipment includes a front-loading CD player and radio, electric windows and side mirrors as well as a very effective climate control air conditioner.

It also features a trip computer which supplies info about fuel usage and so on. Other cool features are automatic windscreen wipers with a rain sensor as well as automatic light sensitive headlights.

The steering wheel is covered with leather and the gear knob and pedals are made from aluminium.

There's a lot of space for nicknacks. The front doors incorporate two large pockets, the rearmost accessible to backseat passengers, and the other incorporating a drink holder.

Further drink holders can be found on the drop-down glovebox lid along with an eyewear holder and other practical recesses.

Under the skin

There has been a Peugeot 206 GTI model around for quite some time, but the difference with the GTI 180 is of course its performance figures. The GTI's engine has been extensively reworked and the results are amazing.

The "normal" GTI has a power output of 99 kW and torque is 190 Nm. In comparison the GTI 180 kicks out 130 kW and torque is a hefty 202Nm.

It develops 80% of its maximum torque at a lowly 2 000 r/min thanks to a new VVT (variable valve timing) DOHC engine that still rockets around to a maximum of 7 000 r/min, which means you get great pulling power around town, and the ability to really wind it through the revs when you're faced with a short rally stage.

Peugeot has re-engineered the normal GTI's suspension. The MacPherson struts at the front now have stiffer springs. At the rear the trailing arm and torsion bar setup has been modified with the addition of a pair of tie rods in an effort to improve the axle's stability.

On the safety front, besides ABS and side impact beams the 206 GTi 180 gets "smart" front air bags, with a 60-litre capacity for the driver and a 90-litre version for the passenger.

Furthermore there are two double side airbags aimed at protecting the head and chest separately, and seat belts with pre-tensioners and force limiters.

At the rear, both seats have a 3-point seat belt and retractable head restraint. Another safety feature on this 206 is automatic hazard light activation in the event of sudden braking.

Driving it

There is one word to describe the driving experience: FUN! It is a nimble performer and thanks to the improved chassis setup and low-profile tyres it has loads of grip and agility. The steering also provides good feedback.

As expected the ride is very firm around town - actually too firm. There is almost no absorption of bumps on uneven surfaces so if you are someone who is just too fond of a comfortable and smooth ride, you better stay away from the GTI 180.

However the firm ride is a small price to pay for the car's excellent body control. Because of the car's good grip it is a joy to do long distances, especially with a lot of bends, at high speeds.

There is no doubt that the 206 GTi 180 is fast and the claimed top speed is 221km/h and it goes from 0-100km/h in 7.72 secs. This hot hatch also stops extremely well.

And it goes where you point it - but expect to experience some understeer (with the ESP off) if you push the 206 too hard into or out of a corner.

But switch ESP back on and you can tackle a corner knowing that the electronics will ease things down.

Engine noise can best be described as rorty and yo will never be unaware of the job it is doing. Road noise is also pretty much a reality.

Conclusion

One thing is sure, the 206 GTI 180 has muscle, and lots of it. It comes with a potent 2-litre engine giving new meaning to the phrase that dynamite comes in small packages.

After driving it, we were left with a feeling that this 206 GTI 180 is a car with guts. It begs to be pushed and taken to extreme limits. Yes, it is a bit of a harsh car to drive it, but it is part of the experience and reminds you of its WRC genes.

Although it doesn't (yet) have the same loyal following as its rivals, it is definitely more than worthy of being mentioned in the same company as the Golf GTI, RunX RSI and Astra OPC.

This is a car for enthusiastic drivers who look for a roller-coaster adrenalin rush when buying wheels. It is worth looking if you want to get out of the mainstream hot hatch arena.

Pluses

Seating position