Built not bought: Peugeot 205 GTI by IXO
The thing about the Peugeot 205 GTI is that unless you were quick to make it yours when the prices weren’t as inane, your chances to get one now are fairly slim. Of course, you can empty the life savings on it, but that wouldn’t quite be the smartest thing. Unless, you strongly believe that life savings are a bit overrated, and spending on a hot hatch will bring you all the joy and success you’ve been waiting for. Fair point, too, actually, but IXO’s solution might not add to the mortgage and let you own a Peugeot 250 GTI, albeit one that requires no maintenance and — since we are well into the conversation here — can’t be driven. That might be a bit of a bummer for some, but let’s not get sucked into negativity.
IXO Collections has launched a new initiative called IxoBox, with which you can build yourself a brand new scale model from scratch using the parts sent to you in instalments. Which is very much like restoring a classic car, I’m told. Anyway, the Peugeot 205 GTI kit has 25 such boxes in total and is made available as a subscription, so you pay €49 for each box every month for two years, and in the end, you’ll have a sparkling 1:8 example ready for you to look at. You can then regret not buying the full-sized thing.
Regrets and/or good memories aside, the IXO model will also evoke other emotions, namely contentment and surprise. The latter because, from what the pictures suggest, the 1:8 205 GTI looks well-detailed. Think of it as a Lego Technic but better-looking, and more expensive as well. The final model will measure 53.6 x 25.4 x 11.5 cm, and weigh more than six kilos. It has doors, tailgate, and bonnet, that open. So you’ll be able to flaunt how good the functioning steering wheel looks and check if the ‘reproduced in every detail’ upholstery feels any good.
Every month, the assembly parts will be accompanied by a magazine that will have the relevant instructions for that box. The price of the entire kit comes up to €1199.76: €49 per month * 24; the first box is free for a limited period. The price is valid for those in France, but if you are in another country, there will be additional costs for shipping. Buying a subscription also gets you three gifts, sent as you proceed with the build and not at the time of picking up the first box: a 1:43 model of the 205 GTI finished in chrome, a metallic plaque denoting the model you are building, and a cap (meh). IXO’s website also provides links to all the assembly guides — along with instructional videos for those who can’t be bothered with reading…
The €1000+ price might be a bit steep (one can pretty much get a regular 205 for that money) but you can’t really put a price on the fun you will have as you assemble it. Alternatively, if you’re in the market for a smaller and cheaper 1:18 example of the 205 GTI, there’s the rather nice Solido-made model (photo below). And guess what, it costs less than one month’s subscription for the IXO.
Peugeot 205 GTI by Solido (image courtesy of Lobster Diecast)
Photos from IXO Collections; The Solido Peugeot 205 GTI scale model can be bought from Lobster Diecast by clicking here