General Comments:
Replacement front struts and anti roll bar links, new discs and pads.
Replacement rear brake shoes cylinders, handbrake cable and new rear copper brake pipes. New rear subframe mounts. But what 130,000 mile car doesn't need a little overhaul?
The engine is sweetly put together, surprisingly smooth for a diesel, pulling like a train, leaving many more modern rivals with red faces and still returns a figure of 50+mpg.
A recent trip to France two up and fully loaded with two bikes on the back returned 46mpg.
The handling is beautifully balanced and the steering direct and responsive as a 205 should be. There's a little play creeping into the rack which will be cured soon. And when pushing through the bends the brakes pull the car up well inspiring confidence.
The car is shortly to benefit from an intercooler which it should have had fitted from new. Some Peugeot main dealers had these fitted as an option from new. Power and torque is increased 25%, without economy suffering, if anything improving slightly.
The car is well trimmed in the style of a GTI and well equipped. Everything works and apart from a previous owner losing the fob for the central locking, which is now only operable on the door key.
The only down side is the central wheel caps are easily detached by thieves, as the alloy wheels match those of the larger 405 which are commonly used as taxis...
Also an occasional rattle from the glass sunroof, which doesn't leak, and doesn't really become intrusive.
It's a pity Peugeot still don't make them. They continued to do so for a few more years in France.
30th Oct 2003, 12:28
An update to the above review.
The car has now been fitted with an intercooler (aluminium) so that the hot exhaust gases exiting the turbo are cooled before entering the inlet fuel side. This makes the air temp lower and the fuel more dense.
This has brought a marked increase in power up to about 115bhp. Acceleration is up, genuinely sub 10seconds now and torque is higher. Driving the car the engine feels a lot freer and willing.
Fuel economy has not suffered returning at worst 46mpg and 58 mpg on a long run. However having the extra performance of the engine it's tempting to drive a little quicker.
Brakes and suspension are well up to the job.
Everything else is going well with the car. Frequent oil changes every 6000 miles and giving it a warm up, at least seeing the temp guage move before setting off has meant this engine is still pretty sweet and smooth as far as a diesel goes.
And the cost of the intercooler conversion? £580 and it's worth every penny. Some Peugeot main dealers had new cars fitted with intercoolers from new as Peugeot themselves hadn't cottoned onto the benefits.
The rest of the car is in pretty good condition. Everything works and nothing has fallen off or given up.
Eventually the car will need replacing, but it is a difficulty to know what modern turbo diesel to replace it with as nothing comes close to this special 205. Believe me I've been looking. Poss the Seat Ibizia TDi Sport (ride too hard) or the Alfa 147 JTD 16v Multijet? It's expensive and Italian.
The answer is 205. Happy driving.