Description
It's important that our 1993 Peugeot 205 GLD finds a really good home. 'Betsy' as my wife and children have called her since buying over 3 years ago, is a member of our family and has only one previous owner.
In brief:
She has stacks of history including original bill of sale and the first ever fuel receipt.
Brilliantly maintained and until recently covered very few miles every year. We bought it on 65k and it has now covered a still very low 81k.
The XUD diesel engine is a retro motoring icon. Its unmistakable tone is reassuringly dependable and even with no turbo, the 1. 8-litre lump gives surprisingly perky performance. It also uses hardly any fuel and can be insured for buttons on a classic policy. It starts on the button every time and runs very cleanly.
True no-frills motoring. As a GLD it has no central locking, power steering or electric windows. It does have two adjustable door mirrors, a magnificently retro Saisho radio and a clock that cannot be adjusted. The odometer works perfectly but the trip does not.
It comes with a diary recording every diesel fill and detailed notes for longer journeys. We have covered just over 15k faultless miles since we bought it in May 2022 and it has averaged over 60mpg during this time, mostly on the school run and my wife's commute when not in winter. A personal best average over a full tank of diesel was painfully close to 70mpg.
PLEASE NOTE: this car makes the world a happier place. Children smile and point at the bright red car, and their parents enjoy the nostalgia as a once commonplace but now forgotten model trundles past. It works for occupants too, as even a short drive in a 205 will brighten the dullest mood on the greyest of days.
Of course, the engine has always started first time and runs beautifully. The gearchange is crisp and the clutch, brakes and non-power assisted steering are sharp. It's great fun to hustle along a twisty road and you'd never think it was over 30 years old. Well, apart from the odd front end rattle at low speed over rough roads, which I think are the anti-roll bar bushes (I bought two 18 months ago, but they were the wrong ones, and it's so minor that I've never followed up my investigation). Another benefit of these old 205s is that parts cost peanuts.
It has a clean MOT until June 2026, but sadly just is not getting use any more. My little boy wants it as his first car, but as he's only 8 it seems a little long to wait. He'll hopefully forgive me one day.
During our ownership is has had two front tyres and alignment, and I have serviced it at least twice, including in June this year. She had a front lower arm, discs and pads for the MOT in 2024. I have replaced a slightly leaky fuel pressure solenoid and an indicator stalk within the last 3 years, but it has never let us down or been anything other than dependable, frugal and wonderful fun for the whole family. Despite its apparently diminutive size, there's plenty of room for a family of 4 and a labrador will fit in the boot with the parcel shelf removed.
The interior has a few creaks and cracks thanks to the old French plastics, and the front seats have easily removable, washable fluffy seat covers fitted due to damage to the driver's bolster. Sun and thin materials are not a good mix. The passenger's seat is great, as can be seen in photos, but everyone loves the covers so have ended up leaving both on. The clock's adjuster doesn't work, but you can set the right time with strategic battery disconnection. It currently has an 8-ball gearknob fitted as the original disintegrated, as they all tend to.
The body has dents and scruffs commensurate with age, with the worst being on the passenger's rear door where the original elderly lady caught the gateway to her drive. The paint still polishes up beautifully and turns more heads than cars worth far more, although the lacquer on the roof and bonnet is badly scored and marked. I don't know if that's from having things placed on top of it in the garage over the years, or is just an old French car thing. We all age differently and Betsy is doing far better than me. It all adds to the character and patina...
