The Sub-£7000 Peugeot 208 GTI Is The Affordable Hot Hatch You Didn't Consider
After a string of iffy small hot hatches from Peugeot, the French company finally gave the legendary 205 GTI the successor it deserved in 2012. The 208 GTI said its big hello to the world at the Geneva Motor Show that year, ready to right the wrongs of its predecessors.
It’s sadly been taken off sale ahead of the arrival of the all-new 208, but thankfully, the used market is awash with tidy examples. What’s more, prices have dipped below £7000.
We’ve plucked this 2014 model out of the classifieds for closer inspection. It has a thoroughly reasonable 57,000 miles on the clock, comes with a full service history, and looks rather dapper in Prestige Black. The price for all this? A mere £6,991.
The 1.6-litre inline-four turbo engine produces a handy 197bhp, whisking you from 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds. It isn’t quite a dynamic match for the Ford Fiesta ST of the same era, but the GTI longtermer CT ran many years ago proved to be fun and capable to drive.
If you must have something that’s as good as a Fiesta ST to drive, though, you might want to consider upping the budget a tad. If you do, you should be able to snag a GTI 30th Anniversary.
For the 30th, Peugeot upped the power to 205bhp, but more importantly, widened the front track and added a Torsen limited-slip differential. Praise from almost all corners of the motoring world was rightly heaped upon this car, with the tweaked 208 GTI widely seen to have recaptured the magic of that old 205.
This 2015 example admittedly won’t be to everyone’s tastes with its two-tone ‘coupe franche’ paintwork, but has done just 30,000 miles and will set you back £10,500.
So, which will it be for you: the standard GTI or the 30th?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Not going to lie as an American I’ve always wondered what these small performance oriented cars are like along with what Peugeots are like.
I mean you got the Fiesta ST.
I think This is just better:
They are, but this thing is 7 grand. It’s practically free
Yes but at least it doesn’t have a dashboard made from literal crap and doesn’t have 1970s arcade graphics as it’s infotainment.
And the ride in those are just plain harsh.
No way in hell is own one
How is it better ?
Didn’t consider it because it’s not for sale in the U.S because…. reasons¿
We’ll see if Peugeot’s rumoured return happens
You could probably buy the standard car, add wider tyres and a limited slip differential and save a grand or so.
Like a Fiesta ST but good looking.
Yeah this is looking nice but there’s a catch….It’s right hand drive so count me out…
Well in the UK…
Or for £500 more you could have this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201708248645095?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=n193ju&model=LANCER&page=1&aggregatedTrim=EVO%20VII%20RSII&make=MITSUBISHI&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used
But then youll end up more than double the price in terms of fuel, parts, oil, back operations
Cool let me know when they drop below £0. Then I will buy one.
Insurance will still be on the up though
Woah yes
Underrated