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Opinions please. '1.9 205' gti Vs 'Valver'



  Mint Clio Valver!
My friend is an absolute 205 gti nut and loves his laser green special ed to bits, i must admit so do i.
But you still wouln't catch me driving one home.

the 1.9 gti and the valver are fairly closely matched so thought b interesting see what everyone thinks.

looks?

pace?

handling?
...
 
  Turbo'd MX-5 MK4
personally i don't like the look of the 205 at all, but from what I hear it is a bit of a legend ( the 1.9 GTI ). So you can't argue with that. Never see me driving one though, would prefer a valver.
 
  Audi A3 TDI 170 B.E.
IMO in it day one of the best hot hatch around and could still give a few newer models a scare.
 
  106 GTi
Not owned a valver but as another past 205 Gti owner, they are something special. The Valver will have a little more power than a standard 1.9, but the driveability of a 205 Gti is something to behold.
 
  Beetle
Looks wise i'd have the Valver anyday:cool:
i'm not gonna comment on the others because i've not driven a 205 gti.
 
  Vee dub
I'd love a drive of the 1.9 gti....

as already said, I prefer the looks of the clio, but the 205 is a classic *aswell* ;)
 
  mk1 phase 3
my mate has just bought a 205 gti, laser green aswell! ill try and persuade him to let me have a go! tried with his mr2 turbo but he wasnt diggin it. never know though! may aswell try. i hear its good, specially the handling.
 
  106 GTi
Looks wise the valver was born at the end of the 205's life, that said the 205 GTi is a classic timeless design. I'd happily own both. i'd love the change to drive a valver and Gti back to back.

My old baby, how could you not like it?

nxt-2.jpg
 
  Saphire Cosworth
People always praise the handling of the gti - it may have been good in 1986 or whenever they came out but not up to todays standard imo. The 205 is made out of tin foil so it'll probably be a little lighter.
 
  106 GTi
Scoobywhoo said:
People always praise the handling of the gti - it may have been good in 1986 or whenever they came out but not up to todays standard imo.

Really, have you driven many miles in one? I'd love a modern car that felt as good to drive as a 205 GTi.
 
  Saphire Cosworth
yeah a good few miles in one - just really didn't impress me !! My cup is much better in imo. You can't really compare as the one i was driving had 60k on it not 20 !! That can do a lot to make a car more sloppy !! Plus every one i've driven has a tight spot in the steering rack - it feels really un even - not only on 205 but 106's are like it too!! Maybe you can tell i'm not a pug fan !!
 
  Saphire Cosworth
I'm with you on the "older cars" thing - modern cars do generally feel too "refined" - that's why i liked my cup !! a bit raw.
 
  RenaultSport clio 182 CUP
Sorry but i had a 1.9 GTi and had a load of problems and before that a 5GT TURBO miles better the only problem i had with that was a clutch cable .
 

Bluebeard

ClioSport Moderator
  Whichever has fuel
I had a 1990 H reg with 127000 miles in silver.
Brilliant car, used to scare the s**t out of anyone who was stupid enough to get in it with me! (yes, i have grown up now!)
I'd still own one now, i think its one of the best looking hot hatches to date.
My mate has a track day 1.9 on throttle bodies, B E A S T !
 
  Snotter's
the 205 handles miles better than a valver but in terms of speed the 205 would have no chance,valvers are a lot quicker
 
  Clio 172 mk2
I had a D reg 1.9 GTI in Graphite grey with a factory fitted, full Dimma kit.

Was a nice car at the time but definately wouldn't want to own one now...I think car technology has moved on quite a bit since then.

In saying that though it's still a 'benchmark' car which handles well:D
 
  megane coupe F7R
.Id imagine them to be neck and neck up to silly speeds. Handling is debatable and there is no point in starting that one lol. Although the clio being 16v and the 205 being 8v could favour the clio higher up after a ton maybe.:S


:evil:
 
  Vee dub
Rich your more than welcome to have a spin in YOJ when I meet up with you mate..... i've never driven a 182 ;) lol
 
  1996 Valver
Scoobywhoo said:
People always praise the handling of the gti - it may have been good in 1986 or whenever they came out but not up to todays standard imo. The 205 is made out of tin foil so it'll probably be a little lighter.

You must have been driving one that was in a big accident, I have driven about four 1.9's and two 1.6's.....and they absolutely awesome handling, I agree they may not be as good as cup's but.......(and this is coming from a valver owner) they are certainly better handling than valver's. But;

Valver is a bit quicker, and if both cars are standard, nicer to drive long distance, plus better looking IMHO

Back to handling......the vaver is easier to control on the limit, 205...back end comes out and you wont get it back!!
 

Rich-D

ClioSport Club Member
  E90 LCI 330d
SOHROB said:
the 205 handles miles better than a valver but in terms of speed the 205 would have no chance,valvers are a lot quicker

There is no way that a Valver is a "lot quicker" than a 205 1.9 GTi :S
 
  Street Triple R
I would say that the 205 GTI to get is the 1.6, i have to say that the 1.6 GTI was the best handling car ive ever driven, Ive owned Evos/ a VTS/ 1.9 GTI and a Clio Cup and seriously in the handling stakes nothing has come near the 205, take one down a twisting country lane and you will have the biggest smile ever lol

Bloody awful round town though!...and thats an understatement
 
  Clio 182 FF w/Cup packs
Owned 2 1.9 Gti's and 2 16Valvers, I would choose the 16V each time. Both were quick, but I preferred the handling on the 16V which to me is more important...

..never lost control of a 205, but I spun the Clio once due to lazy driving!
 
  106 GTi
Rich-D said:
Shoulda bought a 172 Cup then Rich... :rasp:

I drove a couple before I ordered the 182. Neither them or the or my cup packed 182 quite had the feel of the old 205. Both the closest I have found in a modern day car though. Plus I need the toys so a 172 Cup was out of the picture.

As for handling the 205 is one of the best handling cars I have ever driven, but as Pat says they will bite you if you get it wrong! All I can think is Scoobywhoo drove a dog if he wasnt impressed.

Tom its a deal - I know of a nice 1.9 GTi I can invite along to for comparisons!
 

Rich-D

ClioSport Club Member
  E90 LCI 330d
r-jay said:
I drove a couple before I ordered the 182. Neither them or the or my cup packed 182 quite had the feel of the old 205. Both the closest I have found in a modern day car though. Plus I need the toys so a 172 Cup was out of the picture.

As for handling the 205 is one of the best handling cars I have ever driven, but as Pat says they will bite you if you get it wrong! All I can think is Scoobywhoo drove a dog if he wasnt impressed.

Tom its a deal - I know of a nice 1.9 GTi I can invite along to for comparisons!

Yeah, I know mate, but the 172 Cup is probably the most old skool modern car about.

I'm currently driving my R5 GT Turbo again though, so I know about old skool motoring... carburettor, manual choke, no PAS, no ABS, just all the thrills with no frills. :approve:


(God I miss my power steering)
 
  106 GTi
Nice one, I'd love a 5 aswell. Trying to resist the temptation to be something old school and fun and get a sensible car to commute i at the moment!

Little R5 cnat be that heavy on the old arms ;)
 

Rich-D

ClioSport Club Member
  E90 LCI 330d
r-jay said:
Nice one, I'd love a 5 aswell. Trying to resist the temptation to be something old school and fun and get a sensible car to commute i at the moment!

Little R5 cnat be that heavy on the old arms ;)

I'm kinda using it out of necessity after I blew the gearbox on the 306 :eek:

Soooooo much fun to drive though, I love driving it, makes my daily commute a hoot! :cool:

And it's not that heavy on the steering, but when I swap over to her 106 GTi and get back in the 5 I really notice it.
 
My mates got a miami blue (i think that's the colour) 1.9 GTi and it's mint but I wouldn't have one. His is fairly tuned like my valver, but the clio's still quicker!
 

Rich-D

ClioSport Club Member
  E90 LCI 330d
r-jay said:
Oh dear!

At least your having fun in the 5 though.

Yeah, I was thinking more than "oh dear" when it let go... :dead:

But, I've got a new gearbox ready to go on now, and it's not cost me that much to get all the bits.


Had this 5 for about 3.5 years now, never really used it much though, was always a second car and spent most of the time locked in the garage. Shame really, but it's getting the use now, I've been using it as a daily driver for a couple of months now.

Not bad, a 15 year old Renault and it's more reliable than my brand new Clio was! :eek:
 
  BMW E46 330i Touring
IMO the 1.9GTi is a cult classic that the Valver will never quite become... probably due to the release of the Williams, essentially a Valver taken to a whole new level. IMO...
 
acrebo said:
IMO the 1.9GTi is a cult classic that the Valver will never quite become... probably due to the release of the Williams, essentially a Valver taken to a whole new level. IMO...

Don't know why (vavler will be a better car id imagine), my pals got a 1.9 205 GTi and its nothing "special" by todays standards, not just in a straight line but handling/grip as well. We had a wee play round some wide open round abouts and he just had to back off, he said he felt like he was going to spin off the road, and my Cup wasn't near its limit..... Dog slow comes to mind.
 
  Snotter's
i got a m8 with a 1.9 gti which has just had a full engine rebuild by tms,its been run in and my bro's valver is still a lot quicker.Both cars are std aswell,imo the 205 handles a lot better than the valver
 
  megane coupe F7R
If the williams hadnt been released and voted the best hatch ever im pretty sure the clio 16v would have been 1 of the best to buy. It seems you dont here much in the way of reviews on valvers like you do the golf gti's and 205's when infact they are a very good hatch and in a 1992 autocar mag i have they quoted the clio 16v as being the benchmark for other hatches to meet or beat.
 

Rich-D

ClioSport Club Member
  E90 LCI 330d
Andyvalver said:
If the williams hadnt been released and voted the best hatch ever

So many cars have had that title though... they were only "best ever" until something new came along...
 
I know i 205 nut as well plus i've had a valver.

I think the renault is better car...most poeple seem to rave about the 205's handling but TBH the propect of going backwards into a wall if you get it wrong doesn't do it for me...neither does the tacky dash (its worse than a clio's FFS!).

16v is superior engine wise, superior comfort, superior speed...handling, well maybe the 205 gets it but thats an awful lot of areas it fall down on. More so if you end up with a s**t one...of which theres a lot thesedays...
 


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