1978 Peugeot 504 Wagon 2.3 diesel from North America
Summary:
Unforgettable memories. A true workhorse
Faults:
Rust is a common problem, especially as the years go by, and even more so when it is very cold.
Some difficulty starting when the weather is cold, and even more so when it's not in the garage (it was not stored in a garage for a few years).
Brakes failed completely at 180,000 miles.
The clutch started making a loud noise and I had to replace it.
Being an imported car, spare parts were difficult to obtain and expensive; Peugeot never had an official dealership in the USA.
General Comments:
I had the car for almost 20 years and I don't regret my purchase back in 1984 at all.
I was looking for a robust family car to replace my old Ford Pinto and came across this 504 wagon. At the time, I was wary of a French car, but it turned out to be superior to the Pinto in every way: more spacious, better finish, easier to drive, and also much safer, more economical, and more reliable.
The materials, though modest, were of high quality and have stood the test of time very well. It was a very well-equipped car as standard, with front electric windows, disc brakes, and even air conditioning (the 504s competed with the Mercedes 123 here, so they had to have corresponding equipment).
The car is slow, like all naturally aspirated diesels from the 70s, but no slower than the competition at the time. A top speed of 90 mph isn't much, obviously, but it's not bad either, considering we're talking about a family car and a diesel at that.
The engine is a real workhorse, as reliable as a 70's Mercedes diesel. My experience confirms this; I've traveled everywhere, covered almost the entire country in 20 years, and not a single engine problem. All it asks is that you fill it with fuel, change the oil every now and then, and that's it. It's simplicity personified.
My old cream-colored 504 was sold over 20 years ago, but I'll never forget the good memories it gave me. It's a shame I couldn't get another Peugeot, but I doubt a 405 or 505 could be as robust and reliable as the 504.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 11th April, 2026
16th Apr 2026, 14:05
"Peugeot never had an official dealership in the USA" Incorrect. Peugeot began selling cars through dealerships beginning in the late 1950s until 1991. Parent company Stellantis had previously announced that Peugeot was going to return to the US this year but those plans were later cancelled.
17th Apr 2026, 12:26
Those were real workhorses.
I'm not a big fan of station wagons, but the 504 was beautiful. A neighbor had one back in the '80s, but it was petrol, gold-colored with brown seats. A real beauty, very spacious and comfortable.
The Peugeots sold in the US were very good; the only problem was the dealerships. But there's little negative to say about the cars themselves—the 403, 404, 504, and 505.
13th Apr 2026, 10:47
The 504/505 were some of the most robust cars ever built, unfortunately these rusted to pieces after some years. With regular oil changes these could do 300k miles with very little problems. However these were known for slow starts in sub zero temperatures and many sold them early on because of a problem that usually was easy to fix. Dealers back then were usually of no help. Had a petrol version of the 504 break that simply needed a factory rebuilt carburetor, after that it was fine. Bought it cheaply because it was "impossible" to start when cold. The dealer wasn't even able to figure this simple problem out.