1989 Peugeot 205 XE review from UK and Ireland

Break went at 950 kms

Rotator broke at 100.000 kms on the motorway (UK dealer had failed to heed my warning)

Electronic distributor went at 105.000

New suspension (front) at 115.00 kms

(I am still driving on the original rear suspension!)

Needed two new drive shafts twice within 4 weeks (dealer in UK installed the wrong model)

Alternator replaced several times within months (UK dealer again)

Drive belt replaced three times in two months (UK dealer again)

Refund for unnecessary dealer repairs promised by Peugeot Coventry - never happened though

Other repairs were very much part of the normal wear and tear on the car.

This was (and still is) a lovely, nippy car with lots of oomph for its 1.1 l engine. And it handles very easily and comfortably up to 12O kms/hour

It parks easily due to its size and its excellent visibility all round.

But above all, at 173.000 kms and 13.5 years it still offers me a consumption of 4.5 l/100kms at a reasonably steady 120 kms/hour.

In the light of the incompetence at the various Peugeot dealers and the disappointing contact with Peugeot UK, I would not buy another Peugeot again in the UK.

The car was finally properly repaired in France and since then I schedule my trips so that the car can be serviced and pampered at either of two Peugeot dealers: one in a small town in The Netherlands, the other in a similarly small town in France. Both dealers are family firms. They provide me with a free replacement vehicle too!

I have every intention of keeping this one going for as long as possible. Even if this summer's huge hailstones south of Lyons finally managed to dent it!