I had to drive to Mansfield yesterday to go view a car im trying to buy and on my way back i found myself sitting side by side with a E reg 205 1.9 gti at some traffic lights.
I used to own a G reg 205 1.9 gti and it brought back some fond memories but i sold it to buy my current car which is a G reg 405 MI16.
Anyway i always thought what the speed difference would be if i went head to head in a straight drag race and yesterday i found out.
Im glad to say i kicked ass and im glad i made the right decision in getting rid of the 205.
Im not going to admit what speed i was doing for legal reasons but i never got into 5th gear if you know what i mean because i ran out of road and it was a very very long road and not once did the 205 get ahead.
Fair play to the 205 driver, he pulled up next to me at the next stop and praised me on how fast my car was.
I asked what engine he had and he only had the 1.9 8v and my engine is standard but it felt good to win because i thought the 205 might have won due to less weight and only 30 bhp difference.
I dont normally do this kind of thing to my car but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up and find out if i made the right decision and i did.
Sorry if this offends any standard 1.9 8v 205 owners but i can see why most of you want these engines now.

Depends on the car. IMO 405's will have had an easier life than a 205. A friend of mine had a fairly low miles 205 1.9 GTi the same time as I had an MGF engined Metro and there wasn't alot in it speed-wise. I know for a fact that the Metro would have beaten my current 405 Mi16

The Autocar magazine tested for these cars they got 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds in the 205 and 8.0 seconds for the 405. 30-70mph the 205 was 7.9 and the 405 was 7.6 so it's all very close. However for the 50-70mph in 5th gear I think it was 8.6 and 11.8 respectively which isn't surprising what with the Mi16's true advantage being at higher revs. Once up to speed the weight of a car is less important and the aerodynamics count for more and that's when the 405 comes into it's own so to speak. The comparison isn't really fair though because it's not comparing "like for like", i.e 405 Mi16 versus Cavalier GSi and Primera GT would be more appropriate.

I could never undrstand why 205 owners would rip a perfectly good mi16 apart for the engine, only to shove under the bonnet of a car that handles worse than the Mi16 from whence it came.

Hehe I've noticed you saying that on other forums and getting rather heated responses!

The truth hurts, eh mate?

Haha, good point well made!

I agree about the handling. I throw my car around islands and bends and due to me having tried both cars on standard suspension, i would rather have my 405 anyday!
Plus its got more creature comforts than the 205. That only had central locking and 2 electric windows where as ive got everything electrical, sunroof and all.

oooh, can of worms!!

In what way do you mean the 205 handles worse?

I presume that you mean the LOOS characteristics, which i suspect in many cases is a love/hate relationship for many 205 owners. I love the way they handle personally, and the overall character they have as a complete car. I just also like my 405 though of course...

205's are a bit more "skittish". 405's are an altogether more secure handling thing, plus they ride alot better than a 205

I can see the topic that i started is going to turn into a 205 v 405 debate.
Im sure many people love the 205 because i know i did but i find it hard to not love my 405.
Its more practical for me, its got more power and its hardly noticable on the road because people dont pay attention to a 405 compared to my 205.
Everywhere i went, i constantly got people wanting to race me in the 205 because everyone knew what it was but nobody sees me coming in my 405 and when i do want to race, people have no idea what has happened until im gone.

I love the 205, and a big valve 1600 GiT would look mighty fine in my collection, but the 205 has one big problem - it ain't a 405!