New shite, new danger - Pug 309 EXORST FALE

[dollywobbler]

There have been a few clues about the place about transactions that have occurred behind the scenes. One result of this is that I now own a rather pleasant little Peugeot 309, previously in the ownership of one Minimad5. I took the car entirely on trust and at the time of swapping keys, had only actually sat in the back of it.

 

 

Looks pretty nice from a distance!

 

Here's the engine, surrounded by lots of space. Lovely. The 1254cc unit has Simca origins, yet isn't too loud...

 

The paintwork is ruined, but at least that means I haven't got to bother polishing it! OMG RATLUK INNIT!

 

Many shades of red

 

So, what's it like? Well, it's very solid - albeit with some welding to one strut tower. It drives nicely too. There's something very refreshing about leaping into a car which has no power assisted anything (bar brakes) and where you can see the bodywork on the inside, ie around the door trims. The big sunroof means it's very light and airy inside and by the 1980s, the French had finally learned how to make seat material that didn't evaporate.

 

The engine is not particularly refined around town, when you can hear the distinct clatter. Get up to speed, which it does very swiftly for the engine size, and it all gets nice and quiet and smooth, much like a BX diesel. The gearlever is very spindly, but it's easy to locate the gears and the synchromesh is good. The engine pulls very nicely, with lots of torque - a far cry from modern engines. Show it a steep hill and it'll soldier up it in top if you get your foot down at the bottom.

 

The 309 handles well, though there's a fair degree of bodyroll. However, you get lots of feedback from the steering due to the lack of PAS. In fact, I found it quite disconcerting as today was the furthest I'd driven in a non-PAS car (bar Mini and 2CV) for some time! Amazing how easily you get used to the steering NOT weighting up on the bends. Took quite a few curves for me to get a feel for it!

 

The sunroof impresses me.

 

For those who don't know, it has a vacuum seal to minimise leakage and wind noise. It literally sucks the roof panel down using vacuum generated by the brake servo. I believe there's a separate reservoir on the bulkhead, but this is all a bit new to me! Very impressive that it still works.

 

Problems? Well, I thought it was pinking badly. A mate happened to be close by so we had a fiddle, but this just seems to have made it misfire under load at lower revs. I need to get a timing light on it and check what's what. I think the pinking noise might actually be the exhaust system, which has some interesting rattles. I also need to sort out the wipers as they smear horribly. I think Mark had just fitted new blades, so perhaps the springs on the arms are worn out and not pushing the arm against the screen? The speedomoter doesn't work (Mark - has it had a replacement binnacle? Doesn't seem very 'GL' with the tacho and oil pressure guages) and the fan switch is kaput - though there is thankfully a manual switch if things get too hot. Not a lot to sort out and I very much look forward to putting some miles on it! As a winter get-around, it should be perfect.

[rml2345]

That looks like a very jolly thing to run around in during the winter. There used to be a beige 309 parked up my street, but it's long since disappeared.

Nice one!

[M'coli]

Cool stuff, Wobblah. The wife had an H-reg 1.6GR in that colour, the paint buffed up nicely with a bit of elbow grease, and the speedometer was sticky to say the least - it would stick at 20mph until the car was doing about 50, and then it would rush round to point correctly - I ended up judging speed on the tacho. The windscreen probably needs a good scrub with a detergent to remove the oxidised rubber from the last set of blades.

[Minimad5]

The fan does kick in, just it kicks in late* (so i personally think)

*not to cause overheating, but me being a big girl i just added the fan to ensure full control over everything.

 

As for the sunroof, you will see a blue round ... "Thing" , this is beside the brake master cylinder and is the one way valve for the sunroof, it is common for the diaphragm inside to perish, but can happily say it is fine on yours.

 

As for the pinking, i've had it timed up on a timing light a few weeks ago and it seemed to eradicate pinking all together.

But since i've fitted a new air filter and done an oil change it seems to have returned, i tend to just back off the accelerator and if possible drop it down a gear but i know it can be easily fixed.

 

Re wipers - Yep i not long fitted new ones and the smearing made me buy other new ones (Thats why there are some cheap universal ones on the back seat)

 

The drive back in the Rover was rather comfortable with lots of wafty torque, although it was interesting to try complete a hill-start successfully.

 

By the way, the pictures are awesome !

 

Any questions please don't hesitate in asking.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Problems? Well, I thought it was pinking badly.

 

We can see that.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks Mark. I have found the driver's door lock needs the right technique to open it too! All part of the learning curve.

 

Glad the Rover's behaving. The handbrake is pitiful on it - there is a mod (search the 75/ZT forum) that looks pretty simple to boost it. I think the rear discs/pads are fine, though the fronts probably want replacing at some point.

[garethj]

Nice! Here's proof that old red Peugeots can be red, rather than pink

 

When I was in university in Coventry those 309s were everywhere because they were made in Ryton. Now they're almost down to Pug 305 survivors

[warren t claim]

You forgot to mention the complimentary tank of petrol!

[dollywobbler]

Naturally, that was appreciated, though the half a tank in the Rover should give a pretty good range too. I feel bad that Mark left his flat cap in the Pug. Surely his Rover ownership experience has been tarnished?

[warren t claim]

Naturally, that was appreciated, though the half a tank in the Rover should give a pretty good range too. I feel bad that Mark left his flat cap in the Pug. Surely his Rover ownership experience has been tarnished?

 

It's ok about the fuel, we did a drive off at the garage in Loggerheads next door to the shiter with the collection of Renner 21 turbos. I probably wouldn't wear that cap if your going into that garage.....

[Minimad5]

It's ok about the fuel, we did a drive off at the garage in Loggerheads next door to the shiter with the collection of Renner 21 turbos.

 

Where was that ?

wish we stopped to have a look

 

Ian, do please keep up updated with progress on thy little beast !

[M'coli]

Thanks Mark. I have found the driver's door lock needs the right technique to open it too! All part of the learning curve.

 

Glad the Rover's behaving. The handbrake is pitiful on it - there is a mod (search the 75/ZT forum) that looks pretty simple to boost it. I think the rear discs/pads are fine, though the fronts probably want replacing at some point.

Get some new locks ordered for it, the wife's used to do this until one day the key stuck in te lock and wouldn't come out. I ordered them from GSF and when I turned up to collect them the assistant said, "Do you know you've left your key in the door?"!! WTF do you think I'm here buying a new lockset?

[chaseracer]

...Loggerheads... collection of Renner 21 turbos...

Blimey! Are they STILL there...??!

[Timewaster]

The sunroof impresses me.

For those who don't know, it has a vacuum seal to minimise leakage and wind noise. It literally sucks the roof panel down using vacuum generated by the brake servo. I believe there's a separate reservoir on the bulkhead, but this is all a bit new to me! Very impressive that it still works.

 

I always thought that the seal was inflated to seal the sunroof as the glass is on a rigid runner (at least my 205 was). Dont they make a fantastic whooshhh....Schlurp! noise if you close them at speed

 

Those are "LOOK" special edition wheeltrims IIRC (I worked at a Pug dealer briefly when they were launched as a clear out model of the Mk1 and we sold loads).

EDIT: Found a pic:

I have always liked the 309 even if it was effectively a Horizon Mk2. Some might say that was a good thing.

I wonder what the next mid size peugeot will be called?

[dollywobbler]

You're probably right about the sunroof. I'll have to try shutting it at speed now...

[warren t claim]

I think you can put to great ride and handling down to the new shocks and an uprated rear beam MM5 fitted over the last year. Whenever he drives any of my cars he describes the steering as "a bit dead compared to the 309", even my 306 and 405.

[retrogeezer]

hey, I still have the Haynes 309 manual for Mark here!

[mat_the_cat]

I thought it was pinking badly. A mate happened to be close by so we had a fiddle, but this just seems to have made it misfire under load at lower revs. I need to get a timing light on it and check what's what.

Ooops! Well, as least you have my timing light to set it back up correctly again. I wonder why we couldn't see any timing marks on the flywheel though?

[scooters]

Top stuff

 

Those pug vacuum sunroofs are brilliantly simple...no buffering around with motors just flip back with a gallic shrug and there it is!

 

Like many things from psa that you expect to break they this type of sunroof is remarkably tough

[Pete-M]

Not often you get to say this in a car swap situation.

 

You're both utterly mental. Well done.

[Guest]

Just so you know, I am so using this as a camera car.

 

Just thought I'd should say that. Can't believe you thought I'd hate it.

[Minimad5]

Weird to say, that i am already missing this great little machine !

No i'm not just being a "post whore" ... i actually mean it

 

And to let you know Ian, thy lady has already beat me up for giving you "donkey"

Long may he / she live on in the Autoshite community

[Guest]

Weird to say, that i am already missing this great little machine !

No i'm not just being a "post whore" ... i actually mean it

 

And to let you know Ian, thy lady has already beat me up for giving you "donkey"

Long may he / she live on in the Autoshite community

 

Donkey, Donkey,

 

Have nice teeth,

 

Lets you eats pies full of beef.

 

Huuuuagh!

[dollywobbler]

Hello Mat! About time we say you on here. Thanks for the loan of the timing light. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

Wat - the Rover's lifting tailgate glass should make it a superb choice for car-to-car photography...

 

Mark - I'm sure your lady will come around to liking the Rover. The heated seats usually do the trick!

[retrogeezer]

hey, I still have the Haynes 309 manual for Mark here!

 

o.k, so I should have put a smiley after this post..

 

Mark, I was only kidding - honestly!

 

Dollywobbler, let me know if you do want a manual (and no problem if not)

[dollywobbler]

A manual would be most handy RG if you've got one going begging.

 

Pug wouldn't start this morning, so brought the timing back to where it was yesterday, which allowed it to start nicely but just made it pink again. I'm wondering if the mixture is too lean? I might nip down to a friendly garage next week for a bit of a tune-up. As Mark has mentioned, it has many shiny new things, including a carburettor. Perhaps some fine-tuning is all it needs. It really goes go well though!

[garethj]

Best of luck finding a garage that can fix / has ever heard of a carburettor.

 

You might be better off with a carb rebuild kit and some kwality Gunsons test gear from ebay

[dollywobbler]

Carb's brand new Gareth. And don't worry - Wales is very behind the times in places! People around here DO still know what a carburettor does and how it works.

 

EDIT - I'd be out having a tinker with it today were it not for the weather. It's a bit 'Welsh' today. I'm still very happy with the Pug. It is the perfect car for the moment.

[retro80sboy]

Nice to see my old 309 going to yet another autoshitter!.

 

enjoy.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

My mum got a 309SR new in 1988, replacing a 1983 VW Golf 1.3CL. It made the Golf feel like a tractor; the 309 was better than the Golf in every way.