1989 Peugeot 205 GRD review from UK and Ireland

Front shock mounts had lifted slightly - this can be cured by getting a 3mm thick one and a half inch washer machined to fit under the metal collar to take up the play. About £5-10 the pair instead of £32 per kit and needing to dis-assemble the unit. Can be fitted with car still on the road. Doesn't affect handling at all.

Clutch is badly worn - but I don't know how long it has been in there.

Thermo-switch for radiator fans has failed - temporarily bridged by 2 core cable and a manual switch on the centre console.

Noisy heater fan - easily removed and disassembled/cleaned. Brushes only worn over half their area so turned them upside down.

Steering rack damper section failed after hitting a pothole - new rack was quite expensive at £80 exchange.

Eats front drive-shaft gaiters - car has had 5 drive-shafts (not all one side) in the last 6 years. (Known as car bought from friend and had a stack of bills with it too).

Ultra reliable - only let me down once when the alternator belt failed.

Normal mixed driving, most runs under 2 miles or over 10 gets me about 58 mpg. Never seen less than 50 and long motorway cruise at 60 has seen 70+ mpg.

Ventilation is poor and noisy with the fan at standstill/low speed, but is good at high speed and the heater is good.

Tilting glass sunroof can leak, but this can be cured while leaving it usable with a couple of pounds worth of p-section draught excluder strip placed around the rubber seal (not on the glass).

Seats are supportive and comfortable up to about 200 miles, beyond that I get a little stiff.

Handling is very stable yet nimble, though hard cornering does scuff the front tyres a lot.

Doesn't complain at being loaded with 5 people and luggage, though it does struggle to give much performance then.

Don't like the temperamental bottom quarter of the fuel guage - it tells you empty when there is still a good 1 or 2 gallons left in there.