1990 Peugeot 205 GR from UK and Ireland - Comments

Nothing much - 3500 miles of trouble free motoring apart from a wet passenger footwell, traced to a leaking windscreen seal.

One of the driveshafts clicks when the clutch is engaged, but seems fine on full steering lock.

Mysterious underbonnet oil leak - the engine will only hold half of its oil!!

Pretty quick (will be even faster with the XS carburettor) and comfortable.

GR gearbox gives longer ratios than the XS in 5th, so high speed cruising is a lot quieter.

Hoping to put 1.9 alloys and GTi/XS front spoiler on soon - make it look a bit better. Also hunting for an XS carburettor.

Gives about 35mpg with a heavy right foot, more than 40mpg if treated well.

I can beat XR2's easily. A BMW 325i really had to give it the full monty to get past - you should have seen the look on his face!!!

For an even quicker 1.4 try the R5 GTT!!!

I agree... the 1.4 GR does surprise some people!

My mate had the XS but for all the extra cash it cost him it didn't seem worth it really... the GR really is a surprise bundle - and I don't think the insurance companies have realised this yet as I found it very very cheap to insure. I had to sell mine and I regret it : (

I put a GTi front wing on my GR. looks great.. I also put a pair or Cossie vents on the bonnet... try it.. it looks good.

For a 1.4 it's a very impressive car.

*** Update ***

After putting on a twin choke carb (from an XS), the performance hasn't changed much, but it is better at the top end. Economy has improved though, I'm getting about 40mpg. Sorry, wouldn't touch a R5 GT Turbo with a bargepole. It won't produce the full 85BHP as the XS camshaft is slightly different to the normal 1.4.

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The XR2 was probably a 1.1 lookalike as the GR has 65 BHP and an XR2 has 95 BHP the 85 BHP XS can easily keep up with an XR2.

I own a 1989 XS 205 I haven't had many problems except from the usual distributor, driveshafts and a hand brake cable they are pretty quick for an 1.4 the body work is immaculate with no rust I have fitted a gti body kit to it and have put some 15 by 195 by 45 tsw fury alloys on it this is the biggest I can go without changing the front strut on the back I have had to use 10mm spacers with 45mm wheel bolts to clear the radius arm they look pretty good though the 205 has to be the best hatchback ever made.

Keep up with an XR2? No way! I've got a Citroen ax gt and that will laugh at Xr2's and ax gt's are rated at 20 BHP more than your car! Get your self a little Citroen mate and XR2's, Honda civic 1.4 16v, 1.6 16v si fiestas will all be toast!

**Update** 9/3/03

Car has now been sold to my sister.

AX GT has 15 bhp more, but my car had twin choke carb with uprated jets, polished and skimed head. Methinks it won't have 15bhp less any more :-), so yes, it did keep up with XR2i etc etc. Now got a 306Dturbo with 1.5 bar boost and increased fuelling and larger front mounted intercooler. Now that, is a rocket. Try 50 - 70 in top in 8secs, 60 - 80 in top in 7 seconds. Can't measure 0 - 60, too much wheelspin. Now remind me, why would I want an AX GT??? :-D.

I've had a GR since May, its my first car and I think its great. Its handling is great and has good acceleration. I think it goes 0-60 in about 10 seconds, great for a little banger. Mines a C reg, its had quite a bit of work done, new HT leads, alternator, ignition coil and sequencer, and a bit of welding. And its only done 80k, not bad for £50.

I was going to get a new car in may, I've been looking at astras and 306's, but nothin compares to my 205 GR. Maybe next year.

My GR is my first car. Its has the 1.9 GTI alloys, they did rub on back at first, but a hammer sorted that. It's a great car, but does have the oil leak problem from the head gasket through use. Added GTI front valance, Powermaster exhaust and Green cotton filter. Sounds and looks bril.

Just need the GTI interior then its sorted.

To the person who has the 306 turbo diesel.

1. why would you want top end performace.

2. I have a citroen ax gt with kent cams and uprated fuel jets and carb. it only weights 780 kgs, where as your diesel engine probaby weights that alone. my ax runs at 104 bhp on the dyno and does 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. beat that. also the twin choke carb is very resposive on the motorway and picks up to 100mph quickly. 50-70 in 9 seconds. get a citroen. only the best will do.

So you have an AX gt woopy doo :)

I've got a 306 dturbo as a runabout and it's a fantastic little car. Uprated boost, although its only running 17psi (not sure - about 1.2bar?) with bigger brakes and lowered about 40mm. Very good on the motorway, 50-80 is superb which is IDEAL for motorway driving. Shoves two fingers up to some much "quicker" cars out of roadworks into national limit on a regular basis.

When I'm not commuting to uni and back there's a 200bhp focus sat here for some high revving, 0-60 action :) Which will run circles round anything french... I think I can pull twice as much g in the wet in the focus as the 306 in the dry, but they're designed for completely different things - so your AX GT/306dturbo argument is completely pointless.

Er, thought this was about the peugeot 205 GR and NOT citroen ax or 306?! I've just bought a GR. It's a 1.4 1360cc engine which the local peugeot dealer tells me puts out about 75bhp at 56mph and will get you from 0-60 in just over 11secs. Not bad for £500 and group5 insurance! And I havn't had to modify a thing! The interior isn't bad, these 205s tend to wear quite well and the seats are very comfy. The suspension is excellent too!

I don't doubt that a citroen ax gt or a renault 5 gt turbo wouldn't kick my ass, but then my car is a standard 1.4 so what can I expect?! I wonder what would happen if we got a standard citroen ax and a standard renault 5 with the same power as mine and had a little granny mobile race. My money's on the 205!

I found the suspension on my GR poor to say the least and it had only covered 40,000 when I got it off my mum. its much better with the suspension I have now.

Considering its the most basic 1.4 version it is bad and it's a good base car to start fiddling about with bits on it to get more performance.

I had a pug 205 gt bout 10yrs ago and before that an ax gt.

Ax was quicker.

I've had Mr2 import twin entry turbo and uk turbo mr2.Both tail happy.Quick, but ax gt would leave for dead round twisty country bends, handles better than minis and 205's.Spun the 205 gt!

Had escort 2000.Corrado vr6 and honda crx vti which was go kart fun and loads a revs and quick, but guess what I have got again now at 36yrs of age.

AX GTS.Fast, fun, economical, light, good feedback through the steering and handling. Amazing cars.Modern cars just aren't the same!

These fetch more than old peugeot's now. Cult following going on.

Your right, modern cars are not the same, and we should all be thankful.