1987 Peugeot 205 1.4 GR - smells of oil and petrol

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

Just picked this up from Leeds yesterday and drove it back to County Durham with no problems at all. In really good overall condition, zero rust though a few dings and poor touch ups. 

Interior is a bit shagged, especially the glove box surround so I'll have to have a think about how to tackle it.

Mechanically it's very good, starts easily with a pump and a bit of choke. 106k but had a couple of grand spent on it recently.  Got the old Douvrin "suitcase" engine with the 5-speed gearbox in the sump. Sounds rather like a muted Mini, though admittedly the noise is more French. 

It's a very late phase 1 but has a phase 2 steering wheel...not sure if there was a crossover period or it's simply been replaced.

Few issues - boot leaks a bit, clutch will probably need doing soon and seems to have a minor oil leak. Has the original Philips stereo but the front speakers don't work and I realised why when I took off the speaker grilles...they don't exist any longer. Got 11 months' test on it with no advisories though and smells of oil, petrol and oldness. 

Despite the fall apart interior and the occasional smell of burning, this thing is a hoot to drive.  Since I pumped up the tyres, the steering is relatively light when parking but has so much feel and directness when you're on the move. Sweeping bends become the multiple orgasms of driving. The gearbox has a ridiculously long throw like an old truck but is fun to use, while the tappety old engine with its pathetic 59bhp is so willing and torquey.  There is something elemental about driving motors like this, for a car nut it's the arcane equivalent of getting back to nature. It is such a basic car and yet such a complete one. Don't get me started on the insanely comfortable seats, the perfect driving position, even for a vertically endowed person like me and the suspension that just soaks everything up, or I'll never shut up. Potholes are to be avoided in my Doblo; in this car they should be viewed as targets.

Forgot to get an engine shot earlier so I'll take one tomorrow and add it on. Doesn't have a name yet so I'd be open to suggestions. 

[Alan Prost]

Oh this looks lovely...... hope the smell goes and you can find a more suitable steering wheel!

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

Actually I prefer the phase 2 steering wheel, chunkier and better to hold. If I find a phase 1 wheel I'll probably buy it just for the hell of it.

[Alan Prost]

It's not like it looks out of place... stick with it, same one in my 1991... comfy

[loserone]

Consider this an invite to the post lockdown 205 county Durham shiters' gathering.  Upper Weardale, everything else TBC.  Would be interested to compare with my GR

[Talbot]

2 hours ago, ANYOLDIRON1984 said:

Douvrin "suitcase" engine with the 5-speed gearbox in the sump. ..... smells of oil, petrol and oldness. 

Many do.

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

2 minutes ago, loserone said:

Consider this an invite to the post lockdown 205 county Durham shiters' gathering.  Upper Weardale, everything else TBC.  Would be interested to compare with my GR

I'll be there, on pain of death!!! Lovely part of the County Durham too, and the world.

[barrett]

That looks tidy! I'm jealous of your hubcaps...

[outlaw118]

<<nerd>> Essex registered! Looks well.

[Tartan58]

20 hours ago, ANYOLDIRON1984 said:

Sounds rather like a muted Mini, though admittedly the noise is more French. 

Ah, I'd forgotten about the sound of these. Brings back memories of my youth in the mid to late 80s (was born in 81 so I'm talking actual young youth) where my 'party trick' was to be able to identify when a 205 was approaching from behind before seeing it, I rarely got it wrong!

 

Yours looks really nice, there's something about these run of the mill versions that just looks right, and yes these wheel trims make all the differance.

[Talbot]

51 minutes ago, Tartan58 said:

my 'party trick' was to be able to identify when a 205 was approaching from behind before seeing it, I rarely got it wrong!

Only when it was a Talbot Samba or an early BX14 maybe?

[dozeydustman]

48 minutes ago, Talbot said:

Only when it was a Talbot Samba or an early BX14 maybe?

Or a Visa, LNA or 104. Or R14. Another engine I can recognise anywhere.

 

What a thoroughly splendid little car.

[Jimbob McGregor]

22 hours ago, loserone said:

Consider this an invite to the post lockdown 205 county Durham shiters' gathering.  Upper Weardale, everything else TBC.  Would be interested to compare with my GR

And our D turbo and Inca D. 
Lovely car and lovely seats too.

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

5 hours ago, outlaw118 said:

<<nerd>> Essex registered! Looks well.

Yeah I Googled the VVW suffix too!

[BL Bloke]

That looks like a nice example, well bought. 

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

The much coveted engine shot.

[bezzabsa]

3 hours ago, ANYOLDIRON1984 said:

The much coveted engine shot.

what engine?????

[Fumbler]

14 minutes ago, bezzabsa said:

what engine?????

Suitcase.

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

Yep. Also known as the PSA "X" engine, often nicknamed the Douvrin. It's a noisy beast. 

[BL Bloke]

That looks familiar although someone appears to have moved your jack. 🙂

[bezzabsa]

4 hours ago, Fumbler said:

Suitcase.

was more of a sarcastic "what engine??...where???"

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

8 hours ago, BL Bloke said:

That looks familiar although someone appears to have moved your jack. 🙂

Haha yeah it's in the boot for some reason.

Yours looks that bit cleaner than mine.

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

Anyone know where the oil filler is on these? I've looked and looked and can't see one.

[BL Bloke]

17 hours ago, ANYOLDIRON1984 said:

Yours looks that bit cleaner than mine.

It is a bit cleaner but then it has only done 45k. Yours is a nicer colour though.

As for the oil filler cap, according to my Haynes manual it's sticking up at the back of the engine with the two hoses coming off it. That reminds me, I need to check mine. 

[Timewaster]

3 hours ago, ANYOLDIRON1984 said:

Anyone know where the oil filler is on these? I've looked and looked and can't see one.

I'm pretty sure that's it.

Follow the breather pipes to check.

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

Ah, I thought that was something to do with ventilation due to my idiocy.

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

1 hour ago, BL Bloke said:

It is a bit cleaner but then it has only done 45k. Yours is a nicer colour though.

As for the oil filler cap, according to my Haynes manual it's sticking up at the back of the engine with the two hoses coming off it. That reminds me, I need to check mine. 

Thanks. that seems to be the consensus.

45k is astonishing. Mine has 106k. I actually like 205s in white, my brother had one years ago.

[ANYOLDIRON1984]

I'm thinking mine is some kind of unreported phase 1.5. It has the phase 2 steering wheel plus it has the screen wash reservoir in the boot for the rear wiper.

[vaughant]

Not a fan of naming cars but it has to be Vivien Westwood with that plate surely? 

Great looking car, always loved a 205. Had a 1.9 gti and whilst it was a great car I'm more of a turbo guy and i part exed it against a pajero "j top" for my mrs who adored the pajero. Had a great price fir the pug too.......

 £500 with a fresh mot 😱😱😱. 

2003 IIRC. 

[Wack]

In 1988 I bought a 1 year old 205 GTi  1.6 on a D plate 

My first real hot hatch , it changed the way I drove overnight , captain sensible to twat

It was so much fun to drive I'd just go out for the hell of it and find an empty country lane , had it a year then sold it to my ex brother in law who wrote it off within 3 months.

Still hanker after another but missed the hot hatch boat now