Test Drive GTi180 Report

WebCode · Post by **WebCode** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 2:43 am

Well I drove one today at length..

1:Yes the suspension setup is much better than the old car, Thanks to the revised dampers/springs & the SW rear beam..
2:Yes it pulls harder, but higher up the revs than the 138..
3:The exhaust note is Fekin sweet..
4:The Brakes are better..
5:The seats are better than the old ones, but not as supportive as the pictures lead U to expect..
6:The Leather finish speedo housing is nice..
7:High speed handling/cornering is nice

But:

1:The factory tyres are disappointingly noisy...
2:The "carbon look" centre console, wing mirror tops are very very cheap and tacky looking.. Similar looks as the interior dash of the Proton GTi, Yuch!!!
3:Could do with the "silver" dials from the old GTi..
4:Gear throw is still Toooo long..
5:Elongated 1st gear is good, but it could do with a higher 5th or a 6th gear. Cos I found that I was always looking another gear due to engine noise/revs ..

Still the CC is Smart as FUK

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 2:34 pm

I've just come back off a 180 test drive. Unfortunately, Ilkley at lunchtime is not a great area to properly test drive a car (too many grannies in the way).

However, I did take it over the moors and down a dual carriageway.

Looks are great (but no SP grill, argh!), seats are great, inside is great (terrible sounding radio as normal though!) and the handling is superb. I pretty much floored it coming off a roundabout onto a dual carriageway and it flew round with precision, and only a touch of traction control!

However, I was surprised about the lack of power in the low to mid rev range. After getting out of some traffic, I floored it in 3rd gear at about 3k revs... and waited... and waited... and there was just nothing there! Maybe I'm just used to feeling a turbo kick in and push the car hard (not difficult for a 90BHP HDi!). This is a car that needs to be driven near to the red line. At low revs it felt the same as the CC SE and was only at higher revs that you feel the difference.

It's a good car and feels solid & trustworthy, but if power is what you want I would suggest you keep looking round!

In response to Webcode's comments...

- Yep, gear throw is still too long
- Yep, silver dials are much nicer than the black ones, bring them back! (I think black ones are now standard on all new CCs as well)
- Exhuast - couldn't really hear it much, was hoping for it to sound a bit better. Same with the engine - it doesn't sound as strained as a Honda CTR but still doesn't make me grin as much as I wanted to!
- Carbon look centre console is tacky but not too bad. Shame they couldn't have made that leather as well

CB · Post by CB » Tue Aug 05, 2003 2:37 pm

- Carbon look centre console is tacky but not too bad. Shame they couldn't have made that leather as well

Leather centre console???

That reminds me - Why do men like women dressed in leather?

Because it reminds them of the smell of a new car...

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 3:12 pm

- Carbon look centre console is tacky but not too bad. Shame they couldn't have made that leather as well
Leather centre console???

Well it's better than dull black plastic or a "carbon effect" surround!

Alex LS · Post by **Alex LS** » Tue Aug 05, 2003 6:12 pm

However, I was surprised about the lack of power in the low to mid rev range. After getting out of some traffic, I floored it in 3rd gear at about 3k revs... and waited... and waited... and there was just nothing there!

That was meant to be the whole attraction of the 180. The power difference wasn't meant to be really noticeable (as far as 0-60 goes etc) but the torque was meant to have been improved.

Darth Bourj · Post by **Darth Bourj** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 1:08 pm

I found the low revving torque has improved over 138bhp GTI, but not massively. I couldnâ€™t rev it that high due to the roads I was driving it on, however the types of road did make me appreciate the steering control. The car felt very solid and the seats were nice although lacked head support. The mesh material on the seats is strange, but looks good. Unlike the carbon stuff which looks crap. The brakes were sufficient, but not brilliant it felt less effective than my CCâ€™s. It could be due to the demonstrator not being run in yet though. The ride was a lot harder and grip seems good. The gearbox seemed a lot more precise as did the clutch.

For people wanting more BHP I think the 180 is a little late coming. With competition such as Clio cups, Civic type Râ€™s and cooper Sâ€™s already well established I would hope the Peugeot has superior handling. I also personally found the 180BHP engine wasnâ€™t as good all round as the old 167BHP unit. Which in even heavier cars seem to have more punch.

There is no spare wheel as this area is taken up by the exhaust system. I personally think Peugeot have F-Up. Perhaps if they make a ralley version with a 6-speed box or a sorted CC version with 180 BHP, sported up suspension and some individual styling mods then they might be on to something. But as I understand it a 6-speed box will not fit in to a 206â€™s engine bay and the exhaust system would not fit the rear of a CC.

The sales person I was speaking to said there has been no interest in the 180 GTI and was pretty disappointed in this. It was only a small dealership in the New forest, but I think I would travel down there to buy my next Peugeot. He looked at my car after the test drive and seemed interested in it. Saying that good secondhand CCâ€™s are hard to find. He should be ringing me up with a PX price. Should be interesting?

The 180 I drove was registered in May at a small dealership, but I have yet to see one at my local large Swindon Peugeot dealership.

I guess the 206 180 GTI is marketed to those of us that owned 205 GTIâ€™s and want to rekindle our youth. Somehow I wasnâ€™t convinced though.

Riss · Post by **Riss** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 1:12 pm

There is one at Fish Bros - the boss is driving it, we have a test drive booked for next week!!!

Darth Bourj · Post by **Darth Bourj** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 1:26 pm

Tell the boss he should leave it out the front or in the showrrom where people can see it. A mate of mine is interested in the 180, but wasnt aware of one in Swindon, but thanks I will tell him to venture in there.

Riss · Post by **Riss** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 1:28 pm

No probs! We went at the weekend and they had 2 there, one in the customer handover bit and one in the fleet bit - not sure who's they were, but tell yr mate he should be able to see one if he goes.

teddy206 GTi · Post by **teddy206 GTi** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 2:04 pm

How were the brakes better? They are exactly the same as the 138GTi.

Erm · Post by **Erm** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 2:08 pm

if the brakes are the same god help ya

WebCode · Post by **WebCode** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 8:39 pm

The brakes are similar to the 306GTi-6/307Xsi setup.. with 283mm discs, and a slightly larger bore brake master cylinder..

Cappy · Post by **Cappy** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 9:21 pm

What would you get???
The Peugeot 180.
Civic Type R
Astra GSI
Mini Cooper S
Vw Beetle V5
This is my short list but I need help!!!!

Post by **Lyndon** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 9:27 pm

What would you get???
The Peugeot 180.
Civic Type R
Astra GSI
Mini Cooper S
Vw Beetle V5
This is my short list but I need help!!!!

civic type-r for me but not yet

Cappy · Post by **Cappy** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 9:37 pm

That is what I want but CB hates them, Riss who is the boss dont kie it but I think there great and the Type R is the quickest, and I am traing to work on Hondas.
Need to keep on at Riss...