Faults:

Ignition leads, normal for its age.

Hatch badly rusted.

Headlight leaked.

Constant idling problems.

General Comments:

Really enjoyed owning this car, it was comfortable and very quick.

It had the original 1.6 injected motor, which was surprisingly economic, it returned around 32mpg on a regular basis.

The steering was heavy and clutch was difficult in stop start traffic, but was amazing to drive on open country roads.

Was very reliable in all the time I owned it. I used it mainly to commute to work, which was a 120km round trip.

Very comfortable seats, and large boot once the seats were folded down. While playing bass guitar in a band, I managed to fit in 2 large speaker cabinets, 1200W amplifier, bass guitar, a few drums and part of our P.A. in the back and passenger seat.

The plastic used on the interior was of pretty poor quality, and rattled and squeaked.

The only thing that I really disliked about the car was its inability to idle properly; some mornings it would start and idle at 1500rpm, after a drive at 2000rpm, after another drive 500rpm, and sometimes even stall at traffic lights. I replaced the air flow meter and cleaned all the intake, but it never really improved.

Faults:

Nothing so far in 5 months.

Creaky steering and suspension.

General Comments:

I was sceptical about buying a secondhand 205, imagining they'd be pretty unreliable. However, I was hooked on the character of this rugged little machine and so far this one has been a very happy little pug.

The last Peugeot I had was a 404 in 1990 and even though the 205 has a plasticy interior and knobs, it still somehow has the same Peugeot charm.

No rust, no leaks, starts instantly every morning.

Its quirky, but the 'funness' grows on you and you end up getting attached to it.

Faults:

Brake lights worked intermittently. This was put down to the switch. It was taken out and squirted with CRC which solved the problem.

General Comments:

Interior is plain, but attractive with well laid out functional controls.

Seats are unusually comfortable, compared with other vehicles.

Lack of power steering in this model can be a problem for parking.

Driving this car on the open road is wonderful, steering is smooth and responsive with good acceleration (passing).

Hand operated windows, they wind freely and operate well.

This car certainly attracts attention wherever it goes, due to it's unique timeless styling.

Faults:

The starter motor failed, would have cost $2000 to replace (as much as the car cost me!) so it has been fixed - badly.

The clutch is in a bad way, starting to slip and may need replacing, another expensive job.

The brakes need regular attention.

General Comments:

For a very cheap Euro, this car has been a dream. Small enough to fit into the tiniest parks in town; yet get it on the open road and it feels like a car twice its size.

I've taken it on road trips on New Zealand's worst back country roads, over winding dirt roads, up ski fields - and it's never missed a beat. It eats gravel for breakfast; unusual in a small car.

It's heavy in the city; lack of power steering makes it feel like a truck and the clutch makes for a gym-like workout in traffic.

The only problem is, living 12,000 miles from Europe, if you have a problem it tends to be major and expensive. Find a good mechanic who knows what to do and it won't be so bad.