Faults:
New handbrake cable at 71000 miles.
New brake pads (front) at 73000 miles.
Wipers every 4-5 months (curved windscreen distorts them)
Blower Motor noisy at 73000 miles.
Crank oil seal (clutch side) at 74000.
Water pump weeping at 74500 miles.
Usual headlight bulbs, dash bulbs etc.
General Comments:
This car has been good for me as a first time vehicle, I'm buying another car next week, but I'm going to struggle to part with this one.
While this car handles superbly for a small vehicle, it suffers from an incredible amount of body roll (worn shock absorbers and springs).
The engine however is surprisingly nippy, really deserving to be connected to more forgiving chassis.
It's exceptionally willing throughout the rev range.
It hates cold starts however, requiring some persuasion to get going on damp dark days.
The 4-speed gearbox is gritty when cold, with reverse sometimes a tad difficult to find first time, but it loosens up when warm to give an acceptable if not satisfying experience.
Equipment on the Style model is very basic, with no rev counter, or trip meter. Your only indication of the engine running hot is a "warning your radiator is about to explode" light on the dashboard.
Watch the bodywork as it can be dented very easily especially when parked.
This car has certainly made me a better driver however. You have to stay atop of it constantly (especially at speed), setting it up well before concerning.
I have never taken this car on a motorway, because it can be a handful on dual carriageways. While it does not bounce, it rides with an airy unstable feeling that does not inspire overtaking. It is much more at home driving round town.
In terms of comfort the seating and driving position are excellent, my only complaint being the height arrangement of the pedals which leaves the brake pedal very high, and the accelerator sitting much lower.
In general I have enjoyed owning my 205 and would recomment it as a first car.
I have considered up-rating the suspension and tyres, but I'm changing to a Citroen ZX or Peugeot 306 this year instead.
19th Oct 2002, 11:52
I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on the uninspired overtaking on motorways. I have the 1.1 G L, admittedly it has a 5 speed box, but I'm quite happy to take the likes of foot through the floor drivers of BMW's and the like.
As for having thing go wrong I've had very few things go wrong although the previous owner had to have a new timing chain @ 30,000. I've just had replaced the timing chain, head gasket, tappets adjusted, clutch adjusted and the handbrake cable and a couple of other bits sorted all that on a car that's done 90,000 miles. It just seems to keep going only requiring minimal work to get it through its MOT.
I have to agree with you on the sparseness of the interiors. My 205 also lacks a rev counter & engine temp gage, but it is made up for by the rude little light in the display saying; stop instantly or pick up pieces of me from the carriage way! I feel that it might be a Peugeot thing of not putting a rev counter in cars as I also have a 309 G L D 1.9 Diesel which also lacks a rev counter (quite important in a diesel vehicle!) It came with a standard radio/cassette player & sunroof a big improvement over my last car which had neither.