1993 Peugeot 205 diesel... The French roller-skate!

[grifterkid]

First of all I do still own my Toledo ( retrorides.proboards.com/thread/149017/1976-triumph-toledo-mel ) but that little gem won't be back on the road for quite a while so in steps my new purchase...







It's a 1993 Pug 205 Style diesel and it was a ruddy bargain and I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with this...!!!

I like the simple look of it (it really cannot be much simpler!) but there are a few things that I want to do to tweak it just a tad...

1) The wheels look a bit big to me (in the wrong direction!) so I want to get some smaller diameter steels but with a bit more width added.

2) It needs a gentle drop I think, maybe 2 inches?

3) I want to add some Rallye style graphics on the grille and boot but not in the Rallye colours. I'm thinking something 'Tricolore' and quite subtle.

4) Yellow headlight bulbs...?!

5) Add a GTI steering wheel.

6) Add some beefier speakers.

7) Check to see if I can use veg oil then drive, drive, DRIVE!

I am hoping that this will prove a bargainous little motor so big money is out of the question with regards to the above points as I want to spend money on keeping it ship-shape and running perfectly.

The first thing I need to do though is get the brakes looked at as they are, well, they are not working properly...!!!

I've wanted a 205 for yonks and I saw this one advertised on here very cheaply and very locally so it just had to be done. You meet a better class of person buying a car on Retro Rides I think!!!

Anyhow, I'd love to know what you lot think and I'd love to know if you have any suggestions and also any tips on the above points I've made...

I will keep you posted as often as I can on this little gem...

C'EST MAGNIFIQUE, NON...?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[fpk]

I used to have one, they are amazing on fuel and great fun to drive, mine got written off when some one ran into it at a roundabout. Once it got up to speed it would chug along rather well.

[niwid]

Another non sporty 205, yay! Looking forward to seeing your progress. Bits are cheap, the cars are surprisingly well screwed together and they are a hoot to drive, regardless of engine or suspension

Enjoy

[stevietuck]

Nice find

[grifterkid]

So, last night this car made it back to my pad and a new chapter in its life can begin...

First things first though, those brakes!!! When I brake the pedal has no effect until the last cm or so of travel and when things bite the car tends to pull over to the right just a tad?! What do you knowledgeable people make of that...?!

From the short burst I had in the car I can say that for a diesel it doesn't seem to be a slouch! It has a bit of a kick... Also, it doesn't seem loud not chuggy for a diesel which I was pleasantly surprised about.

So, in short I am very happy indeed... I can see what people are saying when they say these little things are fun! This one seems very chuckable...

I like it so much I may have already nabbed a GTI steering wheel for it so as to add at least 1000bhp to things!!!

Keep suggestions coming if you have them.

I will keep you all posted...

[niwid]

Hmmm do you know if it uses any fluid? Try looking for a leak somewhere as I'd be assuming there was lots of air in the system. Might be worth bleeding the brakes too, as although it won't cure the issue itself it should get the fluid moving around and show up any leaks. Some rear cylinders have a tendency to weep in my experience, my be worth checking those. All brake components are dirt cheap and readily available though.

They are many fun eh! I've always wondered what the diesels are like myself

[grifterkid]

I love driving this little thing...!!!

Sorry there is not much to report but I'm after the following if anyone can please help...?!

1) 205 (or 309) GTI 1.9 wheels (4 or 5) with relevant nuts

2) Plastic triangle bit for middle of dashboard top

3) Piece of plastic trim for rear pillar (see above pictures!)

4) 205 user manual (1992/3 MY)

If anyone can (cheaply!!!!!!) help out with any of these that would be ruddy superb...

Just a couple of question also if you have the time...

1) Is it safe to cut the springs on these for budget lows?

2) Do Peugeot 405 alloy wheels fit?

If you know answers to the above I'd be very grateful indeed...

Many thanks to you all in advance.

[mavesyn]

Great them little 205's.....

[spoonerdtg]

Fronts are springs , rear is a torsion bar set up, don't forget the wheel pcd is 4x108 so ford wheels also fit

[niwid]

I don't think you could get away with cutting springs without modifying the spring pans. I seem to remember the springs do that annoying thing where they reduce the helix at the end, so the pan is flat, ish. Lowering springs are dead cheap though, and you only need them for the front as you can drop the rear with a socket set, slide hammer and lots of swearing.

[Brian Damaged]

Gti steering wheel will make the steering very heavy (trust me, I've made the same istake), especially with big tyres on. That XUD is a hefty old lump of pig iron!!

[grifterkid]

Not much to report on this other than I'm using it as often as I can and loving every corner and roundabout that I can dart around! Being a diesel straight lines aren't its most comfortable habitat...!!!!!

Anyhow, I am still on the lookout for a decent set of 205 alloys for the right price in the right location but I've also been thinking about other options...

What period alloy wheels can you good people recommend?! I don't want anything too outlandish but something nice and purposeful that will look really smart on my simple 205...

Any suggestion (and pictures!)? Ta all...

[Anthony]

If you're planning on lowering it, I would stick with 14" wheels - 15" 1.9 GTi wheels have a habit of rubbing on the rear of lowered base model 205's when running the usual 185/55 or 195/50 tyres.

As for 14" wheels, 106 Rallye steels always look good on white base models - Series 1 are 5.5" wide and Series 2 are 6" wide.

Pretty much any 4-stud wheels from a 106, 205, 306, 309, 405, 406, Saxo, ZX, Xsara or Xantia will fit and be the correct offset (other than 405 15" Mi16 wheels). Later stuff like 206, 307's etc is the wrong offset and would need spacers

As has been said, you can't get away with cutting the springs on Peugeot's. However, a set of standard GTi springs nicely lowers and stiffens a diesel without ruining the ride/handling.

A 19mm GTi rear anti-roll bar will really help it turn-in too, as being a base model diesel it either won't have one at all(!) or it'll be something weedy like 14mm.

[stevietuck]

Hey bud I got a 205 diesel a few months ago, and asked the same question on the general board.
I ended up buying these...





They are OZ racing plutons, Iv had them about 6 weeks now and still cant decide what colour to paint them

[Mike]

How about Allycats?

I had these on mine:



13x6, ET20 with 165/65 tyres (on the front at least).

[thododd]

porsche 924 tarantulas

or

Capri RS 7 spokes ... though @ 7j et0 they might cause issue

[THE_Liam]

The S2 Rallye steels are available brand new from Peugeot for about 120 quid a set and look great! 405 wheels will fit fine though.

[grifterkid]

I never thought of the 106 Rallye steels but I think they hit the nail squarely on the noggin...!!!

I like them alot but I think I want them in a graphite grey colour so a set will need to be sourced, stripped and re-painted.

Superb...

Thanks for all your suggestions folks, it is appreciated.

[V8Tej]

Hello,

I bought one of these about a month ago too as can be seen here:

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/184307/peugeot-205-1-8-1995

I am going for 15" Steel Wheels (Citroen Berlingo) which I got new and here they are being painted in the same colour as the car



These don't rub on the wheel arches and are ET18 offset which is a nice bonus. Wheels will be on tomorrow, the 'INCA' decals have now been removed and the valances are being painted as we speak.

I know exactly what you mean, I haven't driven the E28 at all since buying the Pug Lol.





Well done, and I hope it continues to give you joy as mine is doing I can get used to 65 MPG as mine is largely a motorway car.

[madwelshman]

Oct 27, 2015 8:46:35 GMT grifterkid said:

Not much to report on this other than I'm using it as often as I can and loving every corner and roundabout that I can dart around! Being a diesel straight lines aren't its most comfortable habitat...!!!!!

Anyhow, I am still on the lookout for a decent set of 205 alloys for the right price in the right location but I've also been thinking about other options...

What period alloy wheels can you good people recommend?! I don't want anything too outlandish but something nice and purposeful that will look really smart on my simple 205...

Any suggestion (and pictures!)? Ta all...

I've had a few 205 diesels and they're a great car. If the engine is a good'un, then give it a service and drive the nuts off it. Believe me, it keeps them clean and non smokey and if you wind the throttle stop out a little bit, you'll be surprised at how well they actually go. My 1st one, a 1986 5dr, would go off the clock on the motorway, sorry, I mean a private road ;-) and would give Fiesta XR2's a run for their money as well.
Suspension and wheel wise, I used to fit front springs/struts off a 1.6 Gti (they're a straight swap) and I'd fit 1.6 Gti alloys too. I never used to alter the rear torsion bars, found they always sat nicely and handled very well.
They're an awesome little car and GREAT fun to drive if you've got a mechanically good one.