1991 Peugeot 205 XS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Clutch cable snapped.

Clutch wore out.

Brake pads wore out.

This, ladies and gentlemen, could possibly be the best first car of all time.

Decided early on in my life I wanted a 205, I was appalled when I tried to get insured for a GTi. On paper, the only alternatives were the GT and XS models. Both posted identical figures for performance/economy, but had different engines fitted, though both displaced 1.4 litres.

However, the GT, while a fine looking car in its own right, had five doors, and therefore less 'GTi-a-like' credability. The XS however, was the full monty three door, missing only the plastic arch extensions and lower rear apron from it's more powerful cousins.

On driving it for the first time, I realised why 205's have been so popular from their introduction in 1986. The acceleration is just amazing from the 1.4 litre engine, getting up to 50 mph every bit as fast as the 1.6 GTi, before the larger engined car can use its midrange grunt to out-torque the XS. Top end speed is bordering on ridiculous for the engine size, topping out at just over 110 mph, almost perfectly at the redline. Peugeot's engineers must have spent a while getting those gear ratios so perfect.

But the XS is not just about speed - the handling of the car is just beautiful, it can be thrown into roundabouts and sharp corners, and the impression is always that the car can handle more than you can give it. Body roll is well controlled while cornering sharply, and it will not show any lift off oversteer until it is pushed as hard as possible in the wet, which most people wouldn't do anyway.

The brakes are adequate for the size of car, but do have a tendency to overheat when pushed ultra hard, though again this is only when pushing the car to its limits.

The bodywork and fitting are obviously not up to Teutonic standards, but as French cars go, this is one of the better built examples when compared to its equivalents, such as the Renault 5.

Overall, a car which impressed me no end, and I would heartily recommend it, first car or otherwise.

This seems like a good review, though I would like to see how the owner felt after a year!

Apart from that, it was obviously well written and thought out, and truthful, so I would say well done to the authors, for being truthful and not trying to bigup a car which has obviously cost you!!!!! Not that that matters on good car...

Although I've had to fork out a bit to keep my 205 XS on the road, it's gotta be the best first car I could have ever dreamed of! You see I'm only 18 years old and the 1.4 engine seems to go really well even though the insurance has cost me half that of the GTi! It's very economical too, yet still can frighten my mate's GTi off the mark. It makes most equivalent Fiestas and Novas look stupid, even the XR2 and GTE models!

Steve (Stephen_Proffitt@yahoo.com)

I too have an XS. I bought it about a year ago and have enjoyed every single moment in the car. I couldn't agree more with the reviewers comments.

From the time when I first opened the throttle I was totally in love and still am. So far I have spent very little on the car, only needing to get a new battery terminal, front tyres and a full service.

Fully agree. I am reselling a used 205XS in France but I still enjoy driving it. If I could, I would have kept it. The car is really powerful and you are really kicked at the bottom when you push the right pedal up to the carpet!!

***Update***

Hi, it's the guy who wrote the review above, just to say I finally had to chop in the 205XS due to wearing out 3 starter motors (no comment, mainly my own fault), one gearbox (OUCH! £££!), one battery and another set of front tyres (heheheh...)

I also needed something more reliable for travel to work, so invested in a '98 306 XSi 2.0 16V... review imminent :)

P.S. To all the doubters... I added nearly 40000 (yep, forty-thou!) miles to my 205 in the 15 months I had it, so mile for mile, it wasn't actually toooo costly!

I purchased my 205XS in march 2001. Wow, after driving 1.6's previously, and driving friends GTI' si didn't expect this car to be anything like it is. For the insurance cost, and its low end grunt its well worth the money! I can scare off the XR2's, GTE' s and the Golf GTI 16s of the mark to 60, and that is true. A superb car. My next cars a WRX!

Hello mate I agree, I have had two XS's, due two the first one written off and I'm sure the one I've got now is quicker although they are/were both standard, I have raced lots of other vehicles, but the ones I am proud of beating a 1.6Gti (don't ask me how, but I pulled past him, he was definitely racing me), a Suzuki Swift Gti and a Ford Orion 1.8EFi, just to tell you, the 5 door version of the XS is not a different engine, its exactly same, the only difference between the two cars is the amount of doors they have.

To all the above, how true that the 205 xs is truly an amazing car. I've had my (xt) xs for 1 year shes on a j plate and has done 136 thousand miles? and that's no lie, as costs go I have spent around 1 thousand 300 on a lot of mechanical, interior and ice bits for her. a lot wasn't needed, but I am basically creating a new and improved xs, but still keeping it as original as pos. As for power (gulp) I've won 1.6i escorts Efi and the older ones and have had my car up to 115 mph at 6 and a half revs and I'm not lying because my mate was behind me in his rover coupe.

As reliability goes apart from the wrong size battery and a dry starter motor it has never ever let me down. I bought a 1.6 Gti that needed repairing, but after 1 look at the car decided that for interior quality and reliability the xs was far better. I am planning to keep my xs for a very long time whatever the cost and maybe try and get a turbo on as I have seen in Germany. to all xs owners, look after her and you will be looked after.

To the guy who left the comment in Oct 2003 about the turbo;

Get your self a set of twin 40 carbs for the XS, as this gives excellent power and has none of the reliability woes a turbo can bring.

Fit the carbs, get your cylinder head ported and polished and fit bolt on filters.

You could also fit a back box as well.

I have seen an AX GT/205 XS engine with this spec in a magazine give 121bhp and 114.5 lb ft torque.

For an extra performance pep, lighten your car by stripping sound deadening, and remove all stereo equipment and wiring-this will make a huge difference.

I myself plan to do a 205 RALLYE lookalike with the above mods,13 inch white steel wheels, French spec rallye graphics and perspex windows.

Hello, I have one 205 XS too. I really LOVE this car!!!

Have a very nice posture and motor.

Yesterday I was "racing" with a friend mine and one Rover 25 start race with us, in one curve he crash... (but the car and the people were OK:) ) and I was surprised because mine make the curve very well...lol

I buy the car one month ago, but day by day I like it more and more.

Again history repeating itself!. I had to make a choice between a 1.3 3door Ford Escort or a 205 xs as my 1st car, when I knew very little about cars. Luckily I bought a last of the line J-plate in black with the limited edition rally spoiler. 3 years later and £6000 later I had one of the fastest Fwd non turbo 1.4cc engine carsin the uk. Proof, Max power July 01 issue. Full Corsica bodykit, Resprayed in Meredes AMG black (6coats!) engine rebuild,, you name it was change/uprated. Now 7 years on, I'm on my 14th 205. Only one crashed, not bad going. Just finishing my latest one. K-plate black 2.0ltr 16v, yep you guessed it, a original rebuilt T16 lump good for 380BHP, Dyno tested. Look out for it at Santa Pod's RWYB middle of May 05., will be taking it there for its 1st run. Watch out you Ford and Nissan boys, I'm going to put you all to shame, if I can get it to stop spinning in 4th. New gearbox/ratios should sort this out! U have been warned. The best introduction to driving involvement in my opinion. Who cares how old they are when they make you grin so much...

I completely agree with all of the above! I'm on my second XS now and at 131000 miles it's still a wolf in disguise capable of giving huge driving enjoyment.

I've fitted a strut brace and a rear beam from the 1.9 with 60mm Spax all round so now I take roundabouts and country lanes at 70mph without worrying! 306 xsi front calipers with the disks at the rear stop it (too!) well, 1.6 alloys ensure there is enough grip.

The bolt on filter kit from K&N comes with a larger main jet, which although increases you fuel bill, gives you that echoing induction roar with very good throttle response throughout the rev range.

If you can afford the insurance you should obviously buy a GTI, but with 6 points on my license at 21 I only pay 700 quid!

With simple mods costing £300 second hand, this has to be the best car you can buy for easy, low budget, low insurance, reliable (ish), great fun performance.

Peugeot rule!!

"For an extra performance pep, lighten your car by stripping sound deadening, and remove all stereo equipment and wiring-this will make a huge difference."

Sounds like a Top-Tip from Viz.

Twaddle. It will make NO measurable difference in performance. If you remove 10 kg from a 1000 kg car it will improve acceleration by 1%. And have no effect on top speed.

It WILL make your car far more unpleasantly noisy to travel in.

I had a XS a few years ago, but still remember it fondly. It was in white (which I still think is the best colour for them), an F reg one with the TU3 engine. Sure, it was made of tinfoil and suffered the classic 80's Peugeot tappet rattle, but what a car. I had it 3 years and it didn't put a foot wrong. The only things I had to fix in over 40,000 miles were the warm air mixing valve for the carb air inlet and a broken rear light cluster where my sister backed it into a tree. It would embarrass many supposedly 'superior' cars, but was always overlooked in favour of the in-your-faceness of the GTi. I can still remember now the first time I drove it.

I loved that car and when I see one now (increasingly less often) I think of mine. I've moved on to faster cars since (MR2, CRX, RX-8) but would still love a go in one again.

I have an CJ - an XS with a monk's shaven head!!! Yes, it flies beautifully, corners and looks and sounds the part. The only criticism I have of it/them (I have bought 3 CJs actually) is the exhaust system is prone to rust.

I've installed an LPG gas system and it runs so cheaply it's unbelievable... next job is to replace the gearbox which is slipping now and again.

I love the pininfarina looks and with the top down it really does make the car look a million dollars... and the beauty is it cost less than a thousand for a mint example.

Having always driven big cars, I love small.

Vive la peugeotlution!!