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