| Hands up those who remember rollers skates, | | | | which gives decent fuel economy a |
| the forerunners of those annoying trainers | | | | claimed 39.2 on the combined cycle. |
| kids scoot silently round supermarkets on | | | | |
| these days... | | | | Brakes to are worthy of special mention, |
| | | | being very efficient which is what you need |
| Little things with four wheels that you | | | | when you're motoring quickly across country. |
| strapped on your feet and which gave you an | | | | When you arrive at a bend that's a little bit |
| often uncomfortable ride down paths and over | | | | tighter than you initially anticipated, you |
| manhole covers. The modern day equivalent | | | | don't want an overly sloppy pedal. It isn't. |
| could well be the new Peugeot 207 GTI, only | | | | |
| in this case you strap it to your nether | | | | The cabin is well laid out, as are all 207s, |
| regions and prepare for a hell of a ride. | | | | and very neat, with the instruments having a |
| Which it will give you. Although there are | | | | new look chequered background to complement |
| times you need to have your teeth firmly | | | | the red needles on the chrome edged dials. |
| clamped together to avoid the risk of biting | | | | Neat touches abound, like the satin chrome |
| the end of your tongue off. The ride is, | | | | finish door mirrors that tuck in as you |
| shall we say, without compromise. Firm | | | | activate the centre locking. And it comes |
| perhaps doesn't quite sum it up, a fact | | | | with a pair of front seats that have a |
| you'll discover at the first pothole you | | | | definite competition feel to them, their |
| encounter and you wonder if there is any | | | | ergonomically shaped frames giving superb |
| suspension travel at all underneath. In fact | | | | lateral support from the base of your back |
| it can sound like you've broken something | | | | right up to your shoulders. Legroom is so-so, |
| underneath, such is the noise that | | | | with height adjustment your only real |
| reverberates back through the chassis. But | | | | alternative if you find your knees are higher |
| yes there is suspension, and the big plus | | | | than your rear end. To be honest it's not |
| from the set up is that on a cross country | | | | uncomfortable. I managed a lengthy trip down |
| route the GTI is very directional. It goes | | | | the A34 without too much discomfort. But mile |
| where you turn the wheel, with classic | | | | after mile after mile on the motorway leaves |
| understeer if you push too hard, and there is | | | | your arms taking a pounding as everything the |
| very little body roll to worry about. Just | | | | GTI encounters is fed back through the |
| what a small hot hatch should be, you're | | | | steering. And tyre roar, on poor surfaces, |
| thinking, and you'd be right. It corners like | | | | can be tiresome. But if most of your mileage |
| its on proverbial rails, it looks like it's | | | | is non-motorway orientated, then you'll in |
| taken an overdose of steroids with its | | | | all probability find it a hoot if a small |
| purposeful front end, 206WRC inspired flat | | | | point-and-squirt type of car is your thing. |
| wheel arches, side skirts, rear spoiler and | | | | |
| big 17 inch alloys, and it goes like muck off | | | | It costs £14,995 - small price for a |
| a shovel. | | | | sporty look that enthusiasts will dribble |
| | | | over. First small GTI Peugeot I ever drove |
| Its 'developed with BMW' 175bhp 1600cc engine | | | | was on a motor industry test day and I |
| sees to that, making it very quick off the | | | | steered clear of the track, preferring to go |
| mark and while you might wonder why there are | | | | for a run on a country lane route that had |
| only five gears in the box, there are plenty | | | | been marked out. I figured the 205 GTI, the |
| cogs in there to keep you occupied if you | | | | 1.9 version, would be more fun and I wasn't |
| need to get from A to B quickly. It's a | | | | wrong. It brought a great big smile to my |
| relatively small engine with a high output | | | | face, and so did this one. |