French car at its best
Nothing.
Hugely practical and highly entertaining. Cheap to run and easy to maintain, yet still with tons of character.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th June, 2002
The definitive GTI
Most major thing was the timing belt going on the car at about 80000 miles which cost over £500 to repair.
Constant problem that never really got fixed was it stalling after just starting the car. It would just drop below idle and would only be fine after 10 minutes of driving. This was especially bad during winter when it was cold and sometimes made it un-drivable.
My first car and I still sometimes think about it even today.
It could take corners and roundabouts with such precision and the feedback through the steering wheel was just wonderful.
It was also pretty quick in a straight line as well, but it was the handling that made it such a quick point to point car. Never failed to inspire confidence and put a smile on my face.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 7th June, 2002
The cheapest topless summer fun to be had
Front brake discs and pads replaced at 91,000 miles.
Exhaust back box replaced at 99,000 miles.
Four new tyres at various mileages.
New steering rack at 99,000 miles.
New track rod end at 99,000 miles.
New constant velocity joint boot at 99,000 miles.
New windscreen (bronze tinted) at 99,000 miles.
New front fog lamps at 101,000 miles.
New battery at 102,000 miles.
Needed a new hood when purchased, but due to cost not yet replaced. It has deteriorated rapidly over the last winter and now leaks like a sieve.
As the car has frame-less door windows a good body to window seal is required when the door is shut, however mine have perished leading to lots of wind noise at high speed. Unfortunately my local Peugeot dealer quoted me £137.00 for new seals per side!!!
Drivers seat has suffered due to getting wet from leaky hood and gradually collapsing on the right hand side. I now have to sit on the metal supporting frame of the seat. Not very comfortable!!!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th May, 2002
Great first car, makes you think about your driving
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.
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.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 23rd May, 2002
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.