Faults:

Most things...

But nothing too serious.

Still on the original engine - they're v. strong. Gearboxes aren't though (mine lasted about 100k).

Considering it's age/mileage/ (ab) use, car is v reliable, but it's never long before you've got another job to attend to with it.

Main niggles are with keeping the engine in tune and general wear and tear with suspension - rear axle has been rebuilt; but the front suspension components seem to wear fairly quickly.

General Comments:

Brilliant car.

The enthusiast's magazines eulogise the car - and it really is that good.

There'll never be anything like it offered new again!

They're cheap to pick up, and, if you're reasonably careful, it's not difficult to find a good one.

Insurance is obviously an issue for some, but, otherwise, you just have to accept that it's going to require some maintenance. Parts are cheap though, and they're reasonably easy to work on. Plenty of decent specialists around as well.

To drive, it's just such a fun package. Torquey engine (3rd will pull all the way from 20mph to 90mph) ; so-so brakes; but the highlights are the (unassisted) steering and the handling.

Everyone says you'll be fired off the road backwards if you lift off whilst going too quickly - but you'd have to be an eejit to experience this.

For the most part, it's perfectly controllable and no where near as fearsome as some make out. You sometimes have to be quick when the roads are greasy, but, in the dry, it's just good fun.

I've had mine for 5 years and have covered 100k in it - it's unmodified (apart from a rude boy exhaust - I like a bit of noise!) and I use it for the daily commute, the occasional track day (the brakes fade v quickly), and also sprinting/hillclimbing.

I've tried the 206GTi180 and MiniCooperS (but not any of the Clios yet) - but the initial impressions were uninspiring.

If you're into cars and fancy some cheap fun, the 205 GTi has got to be one of the best ways of going about it.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with this Car!

General Comments:

I would recommend a 205 TD to anyone.

The Engine is great. Very fast and pulls well. I know it's sad, but I often pull a 14ft caravan with it and it copes amazingly. Very economical engine as well with 50+ MPG. When I'm not pulling caravans I can do 0-60 in under 10 seconds easily.

The inside is attractive and well layed out. The seats are much more comfortable than my old VW Golk Mk III.

The design still looks fresh - although I would have preferred the 3dr to the 5dr.

No rust on the outside!! Which is quite surprising for a 13 year old car. Very solid underneath as well. Overall the build quality is excellent and again much better than my 5 year old VW which everyone says should be well built.

I love my 205 TD!!!

Faults:

No significant failures over and above general faults associated with any car ie: minor electrical faults, leak-off lines failing, replacement exhausts, brakes, etc.

Door locking mechanism sometimes jams, but can be freed with WD40 with the trim removed.

General Comments:

The drivers door needs rehung soon, but that might have something to do with the car approaching quarter of a million miles.

This car has its original clutch.

MPG drops beneath 60mpg only when the tyres need blowing up.