1989 Peugeot 205 Reviews

Cold starting issues.

Alternator fault.

Water leaks.

Interior is fragile.

This little car served me well, all said and done. The alternator failed in the summer I bought her as my first car. It was scrap yard fix, so cost next to nothing.

For the whole summer she ran perfectly. Didn't even need to use the choke in the mornings; if I did, she wouldn't start.

The driving experience was entertaining. Handling first off was soft and a bit bouncy, thought the shocks needed replacing, but they were fine. Everything inside worked as it should, although it had a feel that it wouldn't for long... although nothing inside ever broke. The tailgate seal leaked no matter what I did.

When the weather started to become less favourable, she then started having a strop on the mornings. Full choke and a fair bit of coughing and spluttering. You couldn't leave her running and de-frost without her cutting out at least twice. So I found a way of balancing the choke and getting her to behave, and she normally did, and apart from coughing up the road for a mile or two, once warmed up she was fine. Good job too, because it's hilly here, and she hated hills when cold.

Never let me down, despite all the protests in the mornings.

Gertrude was a great car, and I'd have another one just like her.

Injection pump went.

That's it!

Superb little car.

I bought it, then decided to break it as it wouldn't be worth going to the trouble of changing the pump and cambelt etc.

Made £250 off it.

Superb car, I recommend it.

These engines go on forever!

When I first got the car I had to replace both CV joints.

It's blown 3 brake relay switches (sorted now though)

The 1.4 GT is a quick car for its engine size, with good throttle response giving it good acceleration.

This car has stiff suspension, so it handles itself extremely well through the bends.

Inside the car is very comfortable, but does not have the most desirable patterned material.

Seats after 11 years have molded around my body and are as comfy as can be.

She's like an old friend, never lets me down.

Sails through her MOT every year without problems.

Not so much:

- The brakes had to be changed.

- The cooler-pipes started to leak.

Of course I changed all the filters.

VERY good handling, and the suspension was in very good shape. The engine was very easy to handle. It still the best I have ever driven. On small village roads it's faster than many GTi cars (626GTi -88; Escort XR3 -94; Civic GTi -87), and with a 1.4!

It has a nice cabin with dominance of the green color, very pretty and comfortable to sit in. The doors is hanging a bit.

The gears are very low because of the high rpm on max output. But now I'm going to buy 206 XS, 206GTi or 306GTi-6 and use this 205 just in the summer and some slippery winter days.

0-100km/h (0-62) 9.2s

under 6liters/100km

top speed ~180km/h

64kW@6400

116Nm@4100

1360cc

I'll never sell it :D

There where a few paint chips on the bumper and a few parking dents on either doors.

I also had a few gremlins in the electrics, which I got taken care of straight away.

Having owned two 1.6 GTi's beforehand, where I experienced some clutch failures this one has not gave me any issues (Yet).

Other than the general problems e. g like tyres and brakes needing repacing nothing has gone wrong, that has dented my wallet to much.

The GTi badges are a magnet for idiot kids who think its funny to pick them off.

One attempted break in which destoyed my door lock.

Now the fun part. I'm a 205 GTi fan and have been waiting all my life to get a 1.9 GTi.

I owned two 1.6 GTi's beforehand which was a great experience until a van driver crashed into the back of me and other one being stolen from outside my girlfriends house.

The engine may only push out 130 bhp, which is very low compared to the newer GTI's that are rolling off the shelf, but what it lacks in power it makes up for in driveability.

Being only about 900kg (rough guess) you feel like you are part of the car when cornering at relatively high speeds.

I believe this little French tin will go round a good set of twisty b-roads quicker than most newer and more expensive cars made today.

Happy Motoring.

I watched a programme with Jeremy Clarkson (famous car presenter) and he was reviewing all the GTI's made and even though the Golf GTi started it all off and many pretenders e. g Ford XR3 and so on, he commented that the 205 GTi took it to another level.

I personally cannot disagree.

There are cars out there that will destroy my car to 60 and top-end, but peiople should'nt really base the decision to buy a car just on stats alone.

If you want a classic GTi, you really can't go wrong the 205.

All I can say is get a good one as they have fallen into hands of many boy racers who destroy the gorgous look and handling by putting on big wheels and funny looking bodykits.

Stay clear of those ones!!!

Even though I'm driving an 106 GTi aswell, which is very close to 205 in some respects, i just can't bring myself to get rid of the 205.

Its completely standard and id going to stay that way for all the time its with me.

Pick a good one and ignore the little rattles hear and there, and enjoy 1 of the best Old school GTi's ever made.

Just make sure, you have good security, a fairly deep pocket for fuel (it drinks A lot),and a big face for having the biggest smile in the world, when you drive it.