Peugeot 208 GTi

When you slide inside a car with a GTi badge attached to its flanks you know you are in for a treat. The Peugeot 208 GTi is such a car. Like its namesakes, the Golf GTi and Polo GTi, the Peugeot GTi is all about performance and handling.  It's a stylish beast, with scalloped side panels, aggressive stance, tinted windows and 17 inch alloys.
The interior highlighted in red on the instrument binnacle, door grab handles and seats gives further indication that the little Pug means business.

Another hint that this is a car to go quickly and corner with the best, is a racing /rally car trick, a red strip stitched into the centre of the upper rim of the steering wheel, so you know which way is up if there's some opposite lock action going on.(Not that there will be, the Pug GTi is an accomplished and neutral handler.) Speaking of detail,the dashboard is pieced together with more red stitching, giving a quality feel to the interior. A large central information screen tells you all you need to know about your car systems, including an excellent audio package.
The seats are instantly comfortable and have just the right amount of support for enthusiastic cornering, of which there will be quite a lot. The Gti is a car that begs you to take it through your favourite bends again and again. I guarantee it  will put a smile on your face a mile wide.

The doors open to almost 90 degrees, allowing easy access for rear seat passengers.
Unleashed to its 6,500rpm redline, the little Pug will reach sixty kph in first gear, 100 in second,and there are four more gears after that. The aluminium topped gearshift lever has a long throw,but swaps cogs with a fine mechanical precision, there's no danger of choosing the wrong gear.

The Gti accelerates from zero to 100 in about six seconds, accompanied by an enormous push in the back as your feet dance on the metal drilled race- style pedals. The 1.6 litre turbo produces 147 kw and 275 nm and is an absolute cracker. In fact this engine has won International Engine of the Year for seven consecutive years. (It's also fitted to the Peugeot RCZ, to be tested here next week.)The steering and handling of the Gti is pin sharp and totally exhilarating. It's an absolute joy. No hint of understeer, nor lift off oversteer. Pure point and squirt motoring at its best. There's a slight, civilised sporty burble out the unique exhaust pipe, but a little more noise, Peugeot, when attacking the throttle, would be nice. Designers are having a field day lately, coming up with innovative shapes for Daytime running lights, taillights and indicators. The Peugeot's distinctive lamps,another example of their fertile imaginations. 

I thought the ride was acceptable for a small performance car, not rock hard like some, but pleasingly compliant on most surfaces. Not quite as compliant as the original 205 GTi  of the 1980s, but pretty good nonetheless.

My only gripe about the interior, is the central armrest. When raised, it pushes against the back of your upper arm, and when lowered and your arm is resting on it, you have to change gears with your fingertips. Applying the handbrake, situated immediately below the armrest, when the rest is down, is also a fingertip job.
That aside, the Peugeot 208 GTi is an absolute delight as a daily driver or weekend sports machine. Add a whole lot of fun into that and you've got an unbeatable blend, especially for  just under 30 K.
Peter Sellen