Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (Full Version)

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Aneirin -> Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (10/5/2008 3:42:02 AM)

Am fed up with public transport, and I have tried the healthy option of cycling, but around here, the hills are killers and I can't carry my groceries on a cycle. I have thought about motorcycle, but the same applies, can't carry groceries and it will cost me somewhere around £875 just to get the motorcycle licence, before even thinking about a bike.

So, what do I have, but my old skills, that of maintaining and driving a car, I have a full clean driving licence, and as far as insurance companies are concerned, I am a reasonable risk, being over forty and in possession of over fifteen years no claims bonus.

With this in mind I am looking to buy a car, my criteria is it must be small, diesel and reliable and with that, I have my eyeball on a 17 year old Peugeot 205 XLD for £200, the car I know starts and runs well, it has a few dents, but they add to the character, oh, and no rust. Has anyone any knowledge good or bad about this car ?

And on the subject of transport, our wonderful government forgets the poorer amongst our population, public transport is not for the poor, so what are we left with, we are left with bangers, polluting bangers and we are being constantly monetarily penalised for having the only transport we can afford. The clean, low emmission cars, well, tell me a poor family that can afford to buy those, they are for the wealthier to ease their conscience. The government and it's policies on cleaning up the enviroment, is blind to what makes up the population.



meatcleaver -> RE: Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (10/5/2008 4:03:56 AM)

They're not bad but make sure you take someone along with you to inspect it, you can't beat an objective eye. Though 205s were good, a seventeen year old 205 is oooold, seventeen years is old for a big car, never mind a small one!  The engine will probably be fine, Peugeot has always made good diesel engines but the engines tend to outlive the car. Check the body work thoroughly, the brakes and the rest of the running gear. Listen for rattles, tapping and other sounds that sound as though they shouldn't be there. They were good cars but as I said, seventeen years is old for a big car, never mind a small French car. I'd be more confident if it was a German car.



Politesub53 -> RE: Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (10/5/2008 4:33:41 AM)

If its been standing for ages the brake pipes ect may need doing. Check the radiator isnt falling apart, the fins often rust away. Mine always used to start first time, even after it had been standing for months. I would say its less risky buying it if it has been in daily use, than if its been standing on a drive for months.




Maya2001 -> RE: Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (10/5/2008 4:41:43 AM)

I can't tell you anything about the car itself ....google can be of assistance  to learn about mechancial issues.... but do know with  any older car one should expect age deterioration of things such as engine/transmission seals and rubber components around doors, windows, lights, locks, hoses, and lines  etc and some of those repairs can be quite costly with included labor eg replacing engine seals .. I recently had to replace some of my engine seals to the tune of $1200..some suspension parts added another $300 to the bill--parts that broke down due to vibration over time.

Not sure if a better option for you or if a motorcycle licence is required there for an electric bike

found something http://www.electric-bikes.com/bikes/legal-othercountries.html
kits to adapt  an existing bike into an electric bike  http://www.electricbikefactory.com/

a place in uk that sells the kits http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/heinzmann_kits.shtml




Aneirin -> RE: Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (10/5/2008 4:48:10 AM)

Seventeen years is old, but by far not the oldest car I have had, my first car was built in 1955, a Mark 1 Land -Rover, which I restored from a wreck in a field with a snapped chassis to working condition, that thing taught me about mechanics and welding. I have also had a 1977 VW camper, I had that one for ten years, engine building and welding was a common thing with that heap, it rotted from the inside out.

I like simplicity in mechanics, things I can fix without sophisticated electronic hardware, my last car, a Ford Focus, was a night and day mare, it scared me how much I couldn't fix on it, glad to be rid of that thing. I also like non power steering and braking, as I found with the Rover and the Vdub, a lot of what is happening outside can be felt through the controls. The V dub, it being slab sided, a slight steering shimmy indicated a side wind, I corrected before I had an involuntary lane change. Cars are too isolated from the enviroment now, sure people survive crashes better, but the question is, because of the isolation, has crashing become easier. I like a car with feel.

But a diesel, I have never had one of those, the mpg attracts me, the car I am looking at now, I know does between forty five and fifty to the gallon, honestly all I care about in a car, is a good engine, good seat, good heater and a radio I can hear.

What other aged bangers would be good to look at other than Peugeot ?



MadAxeman -> RE: Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (10/5/2008 5:41:22 AM)

For £200 that has to be a good deal. Why not google local waste oil dealers. This is now commercially cleansed and sold as fuel oil at massive price reductions, if you filter your own you might want to add a soap scent to avoid smelling like a chip shop.



Aneirin -> RE: Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (10/5/2008 5:59:49 AM)

Yes, I am aware of the 'chip oil' fuel, the car in question was is already running on a fifty percent diesel/ chip oil mix, with no problems. Diesel oil is awful stuff, I know that from working with site plant that runs on the stuff, get it on you, usually when it runs down your arm when you undo something and you stink for days, no amount of scrubbing seems to get rid of the pong. Diesel exhaust fumes are not nice either, they being a serious carcinogen, but the vegetable oil sort of sweetens the smell up a bit.

The car in question has a range of 400 miles on a tank full, that can't be too bad.



MadAxeman -> RE: Peugeot 205 XLD, any good ? (10/5/2008 6:03:33 AM)

I would say go for it. If it becomes awkward you could always address the problem and then move it on at a break even price. The camper van remarks took me back to festival days, when it didn't cost the price of a Peugeot to get in.



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