1990 Peugeot 205 Style from UK and Ireland - Comments

New handbrake cable at 71000 miles.

New brake pads (front) at 73000 miles.

Wipers every 4-5 months (curved windscreen distorts them)

Blower Motor noisy at 73000 miles.

Crank oil seal (clutch side) at 74000.

Water pump weeping at 74500 miles.

Usual headlight bulbs, dash bulbs etc.

This car has been good for me as a first time vehicle, I'm buying another car next week, but I'm going to struggle to part with this one.

While this car handles superbly for a small vehicle, it suffers from an incredible amount of body roll (worn shock absorbers and springs).

The engine however is surprisingly nippy, really deserving to be connected to more forgiving chassis.

It's exceptionally willing throughout the rev range.

It hates cold starts however, requiring some persuasion to get going on damp dark days.

The 4-speed gearbox is gritty when cold, with reverse sometimes a tad difficult to find first time, but it loosens up when warm to give an acceptable if not satisfying experience.

Equipment on the Style model is very basic, with no rev counter, or trip meter. Your only indication of the engine running hot is a "warning your radiator is about to explode" light on the dashboard.

Watch the bodywork as it can be dented very easily especially when parked.

This car has certainly made me a better driver however. You have to stay atop of it constantly (especially at speed), setting it up well before concerning.

I have never taken this car on a motorway, because it can be a handful on dual carriageways. While it does not bounce, it rides with an airy unstable feeling that does not inspire overtaking. It is much more at home driving round town.

In terms of comfort the seating and driving position are excellent, my only complaint being the height arrangement of the pedals which leaves the brake pedal very high, and the accelerator sitting much lower.

In general I have enjoyed owning my 205 and would recomment it as a first car.

I have considered up-rating the suspension and tyres, but I'm changing to a Citroen ZX or Peugeot 306 this year instead.

I am a new driver as well and test drove a Peugeot 205 which I considered buying as my first car, in the end however, I had a "F" reg. Micra which was passed down through the family. It seems your Peugeot seemed to have a lot go wrong with it around the 72,000 miles mark. Probably wear and tear, but I can't help thinking about what you said about how on damp mornings the car needs persuasion to start. My Micra starts first turn of the key always and it has done considerably more miles (35,000 more) than your 205. I am happy to overtake in my car and to take it on the motorway. It is a nippy car, however the lack of acceleration is clearly noticeable when there are 3 passengers in the car although I imagine this is the same with most cars of this engine size and age. I have done 90MPH in my Micra 1.0Litre!

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on the uninspired overtaking on motorways. I have the 1.1 G L, admittedly it has a 5 speed box, but I'm quite happy to take the likes of foot through the floor drivers of BMW's and the like.

As for having thing go wrong I've had very few things go wrong although the previous owner had to have a new timing chain @ 30,000. I've just had replaced the timing chain, head gasket, tappets adjusted, clutch adjusted and the handbrake cable and a couple of other bits sorted all that on a car that's done 90,000 miles. It just seems to keep going only requiring minimal work to get it through its MOT.

I have to agree with you on the sparseness of the interiors. My 205 also lacks a rev counter & engine temp gage, but it is made up for by the rude little light in the display saying; stop instantly or pick up pieces of me from the carriage way! I feel that it might be a Peugeot thing of not putting a rev counter in cars as I also have a 309 G L D 1.9 Diesel which also lacks a rev counter (quite important in a diesel vehicle!) It came with a standard radio/cassette player & sunroof a big improvement over my last car which had neither.

I have just passed my test and my pug 205 style got passed through the famile and I have not had any problems with it although the brakes... well there not bad, there really good, but since I put alloys on it when I press the barkes at about 70 its al over the place, but I have just replaced the rear cylinder which has made it a bit better, but it still pulls to the right a little not much. my tires and pressures its all fine, it pulled to right before I put the alloys on it. I do agree with the feeling of stability it is a bit "wooooohhooww" wen doing speed, but it feels fine on the motorway just a bit dogy on the contry roads. if you have a style my advice is to put wider wheels and a strut brace on it the grip is amazing and upgrade the suspetion if you want also, I am going too.

P.s if any1 knows why its pulling/all over the place could they e-mail me at-rozzer2000@hotmail.com-thanks!