The ultimate economical workhorse
New battery.
New tyres.
Bad wear to seats.
Replaced the heater matrix.
Paint tends to fade badly on this model.
Watch for slight collapse of the rear suspension, causes rubbing of rear tyre on inner wheel arch.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th March, 2001
Cheap and cheerful pocket rocket
Burst brake pipe.
Leaking boot seal.
Exhaust joints always go.
Heater motor gone.
For a motor with only 1360cc's, it goes! Top speed performance is poor but it gets there damned quick.
Very few problems had with this car and I will be keeping it a lot longer. One annoying thing is the spare wheel tray keeps dropping down, no matter how much you tighten it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th January, 2001
Run away as fast as you can. I am serious
Electrical system was a law unto itself.
Driver's door window wound itself down every time I went over a bump.
Glovebox catch snapped off.
Alternator.
Starter motor.
Fuel pump regulator.
Driveshafts.
Headlights.
Seats.
Fuel gauge.
Speedo.
Tacho.
Gearbox.
All the above were cream crackered after 80k.
Went like stink... when it went.
It spent more time at the Peugeot dealer than on the road and they never knew what was wrong with it, but made sure they charged me plenty to fix the wrong bits. I am loathed to say much more about it.
In fairness I've rarely seen anything go round corners quite like it and it did have more than its fair share of power, but the electrics just weren't sturdy enough to cope and in the end, what with the dismal fuel economy, it cost more to run than a Sherman tank so I cut my (considerable) losses and waved goodbye.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 24th November, 2000
Very fast, very cheap
Seats torn, electrical problems.
Very cheap to run, 40 mpg. Very quick with cheap insurance. Not really a motorway car, revs a bit too high. It cuts out if you go through too many puddles and it takes a long time to try and get it started again.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th June, 2000
In three years and 55 000 miles (now at 92 000 miles):
Starter motor, clutch, gearbox-clutch linkage, choke, four front discs, rear brake pipes, front brake calipers, distributor cap. Plus more usual wear and tear.
Reasonable looking, bodywork great, economical for its age. Has let me down a couple of times too many for me to praise it highly.
The engine itself is excellent.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th August, 1998
Most expensive thing - cam belt failed at 52,000 miles which required cylinder head strip and rebuild (new valves required). Rear 1.9 and GTi badges keep falling off. Radiator failed. Normal wear and tear - exhausts battery, tyres, brake pads, wiper blades.
Now has occasional starting problems.
Had car since new. Still no rust and performance is still great. Handling not as good as new but still OK. Too small inside to be a family car.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th July, 1998
Nothing, but due to the age I decided to refurbish the brakes and suspension.
Love it! In my opinion the best handling front wheel drive car there is.
Equipped with Koni adjustables and strutbrace.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th April, 1998
Suspension mount.
Suspension ball-joint.
Play in driveshaft meant replacement.
Play in anti-roll bar meant replacement.
Alternator.
General electrics failure.
Mine is the first of the 1.9s. Bodywork will last and last as long as you look after it. Through look out for rust patches at front edge of rear wheel arches and sweat rust on the lower edge of door frame. Difficult to get rid off.
Immense fun to drive, but can be costly to run. Main problem for my 205 have been around the subframe area with lots of squeeks and rattles meaning things have to be replaced.
Initial cost was £2000 in Jan 1997. Have since spent over £2000 on repairs and renovation (now Jan 1998). All work has been done at Peugeot dealerships. Quality of work has varied between great and incredibly bad.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th January, 1998
Sticky Disc Brakes, usual stuff for a old car, (silencer dropping off etc).
Good handling, Drivers seat still comfy! Of all the other cars I have owned (five in total) this has been the cheapest and most worry free - little rust. 110,000 miles and still starts first time!
And no, Pug spares are not that expensive.....
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd November, 1997
26th Nov 2000, 07:27
This is a serious warning to anybody even remotely considering a Peugeot of any age and any model.
I have a 405 MI-16, apparently a superb performance saloon. This is utter rubbish, every time you drive it you wonder if it will break down - and it usually does! The last time the throttle jammed at 7,000rpm and I struggled to stop. A few months earlier the brakes failed. These cars are lethal.
The same can be said for my father's 306 XSI, at two years old it also is just as unreliable - with the bonus of being even slower than my 405 despite being rated as one of the best hot hatchbacks available. This car has recently developed a tendancy to increase acceleration when you lift off the accelerator!
A friend also had a 405, again the brakes failed!
Now with this review of the 205 I can confirm my belief - Peugeots are the British Leyland of France, the worst cars in the world.