Peugeot 309 GTi
The Peugeot 309 GTI is an often‑overlooked hot hatch that delivers serious pace and involvement, especially in period‑correct blue. Powered by a 1.9‑litre four‑cylinder engine producing around 120–130 bhp, it combines a relatively light 909 kg shell with sharp front‑wheel‑drive dynamics, disc brakes all round and quick steering for a genuinely engaging drive on road or set.
Introduced in 1987 as the performance flagship of the 309 range, it shared much of its hardware with the legendary 205 GTI but wrapped it in a slightly more mature, practical body that makes it ideal for everyday‑use scenes, period street shots and characterful driving sequences. In blue, the 309 GTI strikes a perfect balance between subtle and sporty, reading clearly on camera without overshadowing talent, and today it stands as a cult classic that signals late‑80s authenticity, enthusiast credibility and a slightly left‑field choice compared with more obvious hot hatches.