Faults:

Front disks rust and have to be replaced every 2 years.

Drive shaft UJ's wear out; have to be replaced when noisy.

Compliance bushes - every other year.

Dash rattles - always.

Oil leaks - Drive shaft oil seals, cam cover, sump bung.

Rust behind headlamp.

Petrol in carburettor evaporates when engine is very hot.

Alternator diode pack.

Spline on gearbox input shaft rounded off.

Trim round gearlever has never fitted.

General Comments:

I had this car to do the 80 mile round trip to work each day. It has done this for 6 years, and only broken down 3 times in 150,000 miles.

It's very economical, but gets through front suspension and brakes like service items. If it was not bio-degrading, I would keep it longer.

This car can fit very large items in it; 38 inch wide screen TV and 1 tonne bags of garden waste.

Faults:

Not good starter, especially in the winter. The engine was noisy - sounded like a diesel.

General Comments:

We loved our 1.6 automatic, it was really fun to drive, not very economical, but a great car.

Then we bought a new 206, which was big disappointment. If you have a 205, then look after it.

Faults:

1.9 GTI alloy Wheels rubbing on the inside of the rear arches of my 5 door.

General Comments:

How do you stop it?

Faults:

Reverse light switch needed replacing when I bought the car.

Exhaust needed changing 2 weeks ago because of a 5 cm split in it.

A little bit of rust that had spread around the arches.

The car was broken into via the window and the stereo stolen.

General Comments:

A very nice car to drive. It handles well and for a diesel it is quite nippy.

The seats are comfortable and the leg room is enough for a 6 foot 3 inch tall person.

Faults:

You name it! If it could go wrong it went wrong. Radiator, hoses, thermostat, gear linkage (made out of bits of old coat hanger!!), clutch, 3rd gear went (because of the clutch!), speedo, accelerator jammed, speedo never worked properly - common to all 205 GTi's!! Shall I continue?

General Comments:

Despite all of the above problems you should have a go in one of these at least once in your life. Crash test and emissions regulations have outlawed hot hatches, as light and as responsive as this. When it goes, it really goes! but at other times it is just frustrating. Beware the torque steer and mad lift off over-steer, otherwise you will end up in a ditch somewhere. Unreliable, unruly but still, unbelievable fun.

Faults:

Brake servo needed replacing, difficult to pin-point as a fault.

Split return pipe, probably caused by over-revving (oops!).

Tatty seats, leaking aerial mount.

General Comments:

Spirited performance for insurance friendly non-GTI. Not very keen below 3,000 rpm - but will pick up fast. Will go to 8,000 if you're willing to hang on.

Steering can be heavy at low speeds, but direct for corner chuckability.

Keen to wheelspin in the wet.

Twin Webbers need looking after, doesn't use a drop of oil or coolant between services. Fuel economy not great though.

Faults:

Tatty seats.

Oil leak.

Needed a new clutch and braking system, can't complain for its mileage!!!

Very unreliable in the wet, too many puddles and it cuts out.

Twin-carb balancing can be a problem, especially if one gets clogged.

General Comments:

A cheap and lively 'warm' hatch. Low insurance and fun to drive. Even though it's a high mileage car it still goes well.

Faults:

The usual from a 2nd hand car in city driving.....clutch, brake master cylinder.

General Comments:

Parts slightly above average prices, could do with more power, comfortable interior and useful space. Slightly excessive body roll.

Faults:

Mainly wear and tear. Shock absorbers, new brake discs, new exhaust, new clutch.

General Comments:

Extremely reliable. Never once failed to start although often reluctant when cold and damp. Paintwork starting to go but structurally sound. Over 80,000 on the clock mostly short town trips and still going strong.