Faults:

Door switches for interior light don't work.

Hesitation when warm, misfire when cold, compression OK across 3 cylinders, but only 90psi on one of them. Oh dear.

General Comments:

The first thing you notice is there is no rust of the car. Quite what they did to stop these 309s rusting I don't know, but manufacturers obviously didn't do it on some most more recent offerings.

When you get in you immediately notice the very soft seats, more like an old sofa. I think this is partly down to the foam breaking down...

Although the car is light for it's size, the old Talbot/Simca OHV 1.1 really has its work cut out and performance is, um, leisurely. That said, fuel consumption is very good, especially for a 4 speed box at a solid 48mpg.

Engine noise from these engines always seems to be an issue most noticeably at idle. You can't really do much about it. They are supposed to be robust though. I suspect the lack of compression on mine is from being run on unleaded and valve seat recession etc etc time will tell.

Much over 60mph starts to sound a bit strained, slow down and enjoy the view. After driving a new Astra recently, which seem to have slits instead of windows, the 309 feels like you're driving in a greenhouse.

Whether the fact that everything still works (door switches aside) is testament to cracking build, or just that the GE didn't come with any kit to start with is debatable.

If you could get these brand new now, perhaps with the 1.3 engine I'd buy one in an instant, not a bad recommendation for a 23 year old car!

Faults:

Gear selector cable broke at 87,000 miles.

Sunroof panel had to be replaced due to corrosion at 92,000 miles.

Head gasket blew at 95,000 miles.

Driver's side window crank broke at 96,000 miles.

General Comments:

For its age, the 309 was a very good car, but towards the end I was starting to get frustrated by its flimsy body and interior.

High mileage and hectic overuse were starting to take their toll on the car's engine.

The 309 was also comfortable and practical for a small family hatchback.

Being a diesel, it was very economical to run.

I was also impressed by the 309's smooth ride and splendid handling.

It was a bargain buy at £1,500 for an eight-year-old small family hatchback. Two years later I traded it in for £700.

Faults:

Not much. A girling brake caliper locked after replacing the pads.

Front wheel bearings are due for replacement.

The engine leaks some oil, but nothing to worry about: it's caused by bad engine sealings.

General Comments:

If maintained properly, even at this age the car is very reliable and economical to run.

Faults:

CV joints knocking.

Gear selector rod fell off.

Rotor arm failed.

Battery, tyres and brakes renewed.

Wonky speedo.

Heated rear window broke.

Rear wiper trouble.

Heater fan failed.

Cassette player broke.

Handbrake cable renewed for MOT.

General rattles and sloppiness.

General Comments:

This was my first car which I owned for 2.5 years. While it was a bit of a shed by the time I got rid of it, I got good value from the car and had a bit of fun with it.

Performance was bearable, until you started adding passengers. Body roll aproached 2CV proportions though.

The Pug was generally a good runner, with a sound engine that you could always rely on to start.

Towards the end of its life though, the Peugeot build quality (or lack of it) really began to show through. Everything began to rattle and fall to bits. The car felt generally unsafe. No sign of rust anywhere though, which is good for a 14 year old car.

Faults:

Brakes seized up.

Tappets rattle.

Oil leak.

Tracking needed adjusting.

Handbrake failed.

Selector switch for the lights broke.

General Comments:

Cheap, reliable, can look quite good with little modification, easy to maintain for even the most unskilled mechanic and great potential for modifying it.