1993 Peugeot 205 XR review from UK and Ireland

Brake lines under body (to replace them by sending them over the fuel tank the same way as the originals requires removing the fuel tank - so send the replacement along the sills instead)

Off side rear brake piston, and brake shoes both sides (fluid all over off side ones)

Water leaks in through roof where aerial goes in

Peugeot-fitted immobiliser went on the blink - three figure sum to replace, but frighteningly easy to wire it out.

Near side front brake calliper

Central locking actuator (£70 to replace - or just disconnect it and reach over to undo the passenger door)

Rear sub-frame mounting blocks

Gear remote actuator seized onto idler arm (kept popping out of gear - drilled out and replaced with a stainless steel bolt)

Throttle body (endemic to these single point injection cars - hundreds of pounds for a Bosch new replacement, or about £60 to £80 from a breakers yard, but they are rare as everyone else with an 8 year old Bosch single point injection car is after one, too).

OK, so this one was a dog. I don't know if they are all as bad as this - I guess not.

The single-point injection is a known weakness. One breakers yard I phoned in the hunt for a throttle body interrupted me as soon as I got to saying, "I've got a 1993 205 with Bosch single point injection...". "Ah!", they interrupted, "You'll be after a replacement throttle body then". Enough said.

With hindsight, perhaps I should have got a diesel instead.

The best thing about it is that is is such good FUN to drive. Re-live the days when you just got in the car and went somewhere just for the fun of driving.

Handles wonderfully, and looks good. The bodywork and underside are completely immaculate, except for a small patch on the bonnet where it looks like some nit used a cutting compund or similar. Give it a quick wash and polish and it still looks superb.