Faults:
The gear linkage failed resulting in late night roadside recovery and a week to get the replacement parts (the Peugeot dealership did not even have them in stock).
The electrics in the key failed (very expensive to replace).
Door window electrics were replaced before I owned the car. The mechanic didn't bother to refit the acoustic quilts and the doors are now very noisy when you close them, and rattly in general.
Poor radio reception and the control stalk doesn't work.
The engine has an erratic idling speed and has a habit of repeatedly cutting out when trying to park or waiting at lights etc. (and no, it's not due to my poor driving skills!)
The brakes seized up on one rear wheel - when it was taken to the garage they discovered the handbrake cable casing was also cracked.
Major rust patches have been discovered in numerous places, most notably under the rubber door seals and when lifting up the rear seats. This is appalling for a car that was only built in 1997.
Generally lots of niggling rattles, mainly from doors and sunroof area.
Bits of the interior trim & dashboard panels seem poorly put together.
Front & rear window washers often clogging up.
All these problems have arisen in the space of a few months.
General Comments:
Despite all the above faults, I still love driving my Peugeot and think it is so much better than the newer 206 or 307, etc.
It's a good all rounder, coping well with city driving and prolonged motorway cruising.
However, I have found the Peugeot dealerships to be horrifically expensive to go to if you need work done. Every time I have taken the car in for one problem they somehow always manage to discover something else that needs putting right and the bill ends up being twice what I bargained for.
This, combined with the general unreliability of the car means I won't be buying another Peugeot next time.
8th Mar 2004, 11:40
Good review and pretty much sums up my experience with my 1998 (S) GLX 1.8. Cracking car spoilt by silly problems and hopeless dealers. I now have a D-Turbo which I service and maintain myself apart from major items which I entrust to a respected independent. I seem to have far fewer problems with this car than with the dealer serviced GLX.
Particularly, your comments on the dealers "finding" additional faults, and their bills always adding up to significantly more than originally suggested is exactly what I found. I did catch them out twice though. The first was when they told me my car had severely worn front brake pads and discs, and that it would be dangerous to drive if I didn't stump up the £140 to replace them. Funny that, as I'd fitted new ones myself just 1,000 miles previously. There were hasty excuses about mixed up paperwork when I suggested they were trying to rip me off.
The second time was when they said the alternator was on its way out, and quoted something utterly ridiculous to replace it (about £250 I think - fully guaranteed, reconditioned "as new" replacements are readily available for less than £100). Due to the cost and the fact I disputed it needed doing, I opted to leave it. A year and 15,000 miles later, the same alternator is still on the car, and is still working perfectly.