At a first look, there is nothing that links the mighty Porsche 911R to an old French hatchback with some colorful stickers applied but the ethos behind the two cars is basically the same.
Everyone remembers and praises the Peugeot 205 GTI for being perhaps the most enjoyable hot hatch that ever existed but the lightweight Rallye version was even better to drive.
Tipping the scales at 790kg (1,741lbs), the Peugeot 205 Rallye is one epic performance model, even if it has just 105hp from its tiny 1.3-liter four-cylinder.
A naturally aspirated engine, paired to a manual gearbox, fitted to a lightweight body that has a proper suspension: sounds like the same recipe Porsche used for the 911R, doesn’t it? Yes, obviously having 500hp under your right foot and a lot more car does make you feel a little silly for making this comparison but the philosophy is there, proving that there are cars out there that offered that level of excitement without breaking the bank, as well as the ones that do.
But there is a certain magic on driving slow cars fast; they are more accessible, leaving you using them as hard as you can without reaching stupidly dangerous speeds.
Chris Harris takes his personal 205 Rallye and compares it to the best manual Porsche 911 of recent years in his latest video.