Faults:

New brake discs at 42000 miles.

New clutch cable at 50000 miles.

Nothing else.

General Comments:

This was a very reliable little car. The little 1.0 litre engine started first time, every time and never gave any problems.

It was very slow, and very noisy. The 1.0 litre engine was definitely too underpowered for this car. Very economical though: It consistently achieved 45mpg.

Handling was very good with bags of grip and good body control. It is easy to see why the 205 is legendary for its handling. No power steering meant the steering was very heavy.

Not very well made with brittle interior plastics and the body panels were made from very thin steel so picked up dents and dings very easily. The red paint wasn't good either, being very easily chipped. The 205 generally felt flimsy and unsafe.

Very basic indeed. The Trio was a special edition based on the entry level 205. Trio spec added a sunroof, cassette player, and three coloured stripes down the side!

It was primitive for sure, but served me well and never missed a beat.

Faults:

Front right drive-shaft snapped.

Slight smell of neat petrol through the air vents.

Rattles from the interior panels and dash.

Horrendous insurance!! :- (

General Comments:

The car goes like a rocket and handles like a go-kart.

Just keep your foot down in each gear till you reach the red-line then drop it one and it will pick up like metal-detector bloke after a day at the sea-side. You can embarrass some much bigger cars and smaller ones like the 106 XSi, the full range of Saxos, the AX GT and many more. However don't try it on with the 1.9 because it will eat you.

It does have a high ratio gearbox though so the top-speed is about 110 unless you want to thrash the life out of your engine. This is enough, however, to make a quick getaway and steak your claim.

Keep your pug UN-modified and it will look a lot better. Especially when wasting the plasticized Ford Orions and Vauxhall Astra's. Show the boys what they should drive, with no need for extra spoilers and tinted windows.

Faults:

So far nothing, but both the drive shafts will need done in the next couple of weeks.

General Comments:

Bought the car for peanuts a few months ago.

Interior is in perfect condition.

Exterior has a couple of little bumps on the passenger door.

I heard the XS was quick, but I was still surprised when I drove it, bearing in mind a used to drive a Renault 19 16v and a mk1 golf!

I've put on a new set of 195x45x15 rims on it which has helped the handling a lot.

Next will be lowering it and perhaps a full stainless steel system.

Car starts first time every morning, again bearing in mind I live in Aberdeen.

Cheap insurance for a young driver or someone with a badly endorsed licence.

Nice little motor for the price and the performance is 2nd to none for a 1.4!

If your lucky enough to find a good one, buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Faults:

Dead battery.

Corroded driving lamp wiring needed replacing.

A lake forms in the drivers foot-well when it rains.

Drivers side seat bolster collapsed.

Valve stem seals have perished.

Coolant system has a slow leakage.

Exhaust middle section blew a hole in itself and needed replacing.

General Comments:

Handles like it's on rails - an overused analogy, but in this case it's spot on. Unless you lift off mid-corner that is...

The interior is basic and rattly and space is confined (not good for people over 6' 2") but the seats, though flimsy, are very supportive.

Exterior wise, all I can say is "you can't improve on perfection"!