Faults:

Just normal wear and tear.

Front brake pads and disks replaced, minor works on steering mechanism done, back shock absorbers replaced, new cooling system tubes, new battery. Some minor faults maybe, but fixed by myself in a couple of minutes. Extremely reliable car.

General Comments:

That was the best car I've ever had. Beautiful, with excellent fuel economy, reliable, easy to drive and handle, with good acceleration and decent long-distance average speed. It was also quite comfortable and spacious for its size.

I would still be owning it, but unfortunately I had an accident when a careless driver took my priority and it had to go to the junk... In little more than one year I'd done 30.000 kilometres with it, but on 270.000 km of base! It took me around a great part of Europe.

The first owner told me that the clutch was never replaced! 300.000 kilometres with the original clutch. And it was still OK! He replaced the alternator and the cooler at 200.000!

At the end, the car started to overheat a little and I planned to replace a head gasket soon... but it's normal for that age and mileage. Unfortunately, the accident overtook me... I was planning to keep that car even after purchasing a new one, to become an oldie. I'm still sad because of the accident. I'll never have the car like that any more.

Faults:

Needed new choke cable about 18 months ago.

Glove box door has broken (a common fault on the 309 I've been told)

Very occasionally gets a fuel starvation problem and refuses to start, had to call out the R.A.C. once to sort this out, the guy showed us how to start it (remove air box and start with somebody's hand over the throat of the carb!) She always starts first time after that!

(Touch wood, she hasn't does it so far this year!)

General Comments:

Well, this was my mothers car, and the car I'm learning to drive it, and I love it.

It's still got the original battery under the bonnet (Charged week 48 '91!)

Parts are very cheap (Especially as I work for Motaquip!) But seriously at retail they are still very reasonable.

Strange for a car this "new" to have a manual choke. But that doesn't really bother me.

Nips a long quite happily.

Plenty of space in the back (enough for a drum kit, two guitars and amps!)

Only small point, the car does seem to wonder around the road by its own accord, again I've been told that this is common with 309's.

Faults:

Sun roof seal has perished.

Exhaust is making noise.

Cassette on the stereo stopped working.

General Comments:

The Peugeot is solid. It hasn't got great electrics (pretty basic even when compared to an older Nissan Micra) but it is solid with a decent engine.

It's got enough power to get you, two mates and a pile of computers to do 92 on the motorway, although the acceleration could be better.

Easy to maintain also, although you do need to do it - neglect is not a good idea!

Seals, particularly sun roof and boot, need maintaining carefully.

Furnishings wear well.

A good car all in all, but don't expect too many fancy extras. (i.e. electric windows, decent stereo, power steering)

Faults:

Alternator.

Fuel pump.

Windscreen washer (Electric pump?)

Radiator (radiator block caused head gasket failure, but head gasket failure known 309/Peugeot/Citroen fault)

Hand brake cable seized.

Piston rings (this year 2003) at 85,000 miles.

General Comments:

Good handling and ride.

Comfortable seats.

Comfortable driving position.

Quite economic.

Quite roomy.

Nice to drive.

Smooth.

Quiet.

Reasonable insurance (British group 7)

Fairly brisk performance, even carburetor model.

Good all round vision (better than Peugeot 206, I know cos' I've driven a 206)

Spares can be reasonable (but not general electrical gear, for example alternator)