1986 Peugeot 305 SR Automatic 1.6 Carb from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A great old car for retro cruising

Faults:

Strut top bearings started to knock badly, £9 a side and 1 hour of my life fixed it. Nothing else apart from general service items.

General Comments:

This is a cheap, simple old car, but it is superb.

Over the years I have driven many wonderful and expensive cars, but no car can match the power steering in this. It is razor sharp, superbly quick and responsive, and the car reacts in an instant, despite that it is easy at speed with an excellent turning circle for parking.

Then there is the suspension; it glides along, speed bumps are barely noticed, it's creamy, however it also handles very sharply, with excellent body control and loads of grip, despite its skinny 165 section tyres.

The 1.6 OHC engine isn't the fastest, but it is smooth, reliable with a pleasing noise too. Fuel economy is only average, but it will do 37mph on a motorway cruise on premium unleaded. The interior isn't the best quality, but it's pretty well made and quiet at speed. Nothing has ever broken or fallen off though.

The autobox is silky smooth, I changed the fluid as per the 24k service item, and it improved even more. This car is seriously cheap to maintain.

The bodywork was extremely flat when I got it, but had always been garaged so is in very good order, no rot, just a few little scabs that can be sorted in time.

The amount of space inside is also very impressive, and the general way the car behaves belies its age. A great car!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th February, 2009

1986 Peugeot 305 GLD 1.8 diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Bullet proof

Faults:

Tracking needed.

Fuel pipe perished from tank to steel pipe.

General Comments:

I was looking for a cheap diesel to travel to work, as I can run up to over 120 miles a day on some trips, and at least 65 a day. Mainly to keep the miles down on my D4D Avensis Estate, which I need for the caravan and trips.

In the free-ads, I spotted it, 3 owners from new and garaged, a 1987 305 GLD Estate with tax and MOT. I was on it like a shot, as I had heard from other people about the rugged ability of the old Pug diesel engines that like last a lifetime; just keep the oil and water right, and she'll never let you down.

Arrived at the house, and saw the Pug parked up in the garage. It looked clean, the old bloke drove it out, he said I've had this for years, and he kept polishing it. He told me the history, and when I asked about the cambelt, he said just changed it 3 months ago at 119,000 miles. It had 119,600 showing on the speedo. He said it was not due for another change at 150,000 miles. Reg, if it had a T Plate, you would not dis-believe it.

I dog it up and down to work, and average 44 mpg. I've changed the oil and filter, and fitted a new exhaust. Uses about 1 litre of oil every 1500 miles; I've asked Castrol what they recommend to reduce consumption, will let you know. Top speed around 90/95. It's fitted with a 1765 engine with a massive 43 kilowatts of power (around 60 horses), but the low down torque is fantastic; it pulls like a train. I cruise at 70/75, and sometimes faster! It's as sweet as a nut, lovely engines. These Pugs must have been the best diesel of the 80s by far. I blow past these modern cars; they look and wonder how the old Pug just blasts pass. Wish it had turbo; there again, if it had, it would be in its grave.

The tyres are like rocking horse poo; 155x80x14 and skittish. Make was Kanghang or something. One was an old Motorway, but I've just replaced these with 165x70x14, which are off the shelf and cheaper. Got the tracking done, and the steering is much lighter now, even with the wider tyre. And a lot easier to drive. Change in gearing was around two and half percent for the better revs up to top whack; much quicker.

Just fab the way she starts. Turn on, wait till the orange heater light goes out, then count to 4 (the old guy said this is the way), then start, whoom, first time every time, sweet as a nut, no fumes. You would think the engine has covered a couple of thousand, not 122,456 as is showing now.

Rust is non existence due to the thick Waxoyl all over the place; must have been done when it was new. Rear wiper has packed up; trying to sort this out.

Brakes are smooth and powerful. You need plenty of pedal pressure to squeal the tyres, but with no ABS, this is good.

The old guy looked sad when I drove it away; it must have been his pride and joy for the last 12 years. A definite tear in his eye as I revved it hard and blasted away.

Loads of room in the back; with the seats dropped, it's like a van! Unique rear suspension, like a lorry, creating a nice big flat rear load area; why don't modern estates use this idea? Typical Pug good chassis.

Running a lot better now that it's had the cobwebs blown out of it. These are made for thrashing, and that's what it gets, plenty of caning, the engine is unburstable on the rev up. Bullet proof.

Now on 126,700, and running excellent on semi-synthetic, using half a litre every 1700 miles; excellent.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th November, 2004

1986 Peugeot 305 srd estate 1.8 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A small rugged economical deisel with plenty of room for its size

Faults:

Drive shafts, front suspension bushes, rear springs, brake calipers, gearbox/final drive, cabin leaked badly filling driver's foot well, rear tail gate catch broke.

General Comments:

The xud7 Peugeot diesel engine is brilliant. Its quiet, economical and very reliable with lots of low ratio torque when pulling heavy loads. It towed my 16cwt caravan as well as my previously owned Volvo 240, which is testament in itself. It is let down basically by all its other supporting components like the gearbox, final drive, suspension and brakes which were always needing attention. The bodywork was good for its age and there was only a little superficial rust showing through. None of which was in a critical place where it would fail its annual road fitness test. It was a good load carrier with plenty of space inside. It gave the appearance of being much bigger than it really was. It never let me down at the road side, but it did need a lot of attention at service times and annually for it road fitness test (MOT).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 2nd September, 2002

1986 Peugeot 305 SR 1.6 petrol from Italy

Summary:

A really serious car

Faults:

Only the synchro of the 4th gear has broke out.

General Comments:

It's really a good car and during these years it has never let me down.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd August, 2001