Peugeot 205 xs - ultra budget!

[Williams99]

Welcome to my ultra budget Peugeot 205 xs!

I love the cars, and bought this one in early August. Can't quite insure a GTI yet, so I'm running this for a few years until that goes down. I had planned on buying this,a dn then using the left over money to make some "enhancements" like suspension and brake upgrades, but due to a blown head gasket on the day of purchase, I now have very little money to spend. Yes - I'm a bloody student! My degree is car related though...

The wheels were in terrible condition, so I had them sandblasted, which makes the car look much better.

So, all ideas regarding how to improve it (short of buying a gti!) are welcome! Cheaper the better!









Apologies for the crap camera phone pictures, Dad's pretty nifty with a camera so will get him to take some next time I'm home.

Bought for £750
Head gasket, cam & alternator belt, £450
Wheels sandblasted and powdercoated £one bottle of whiskey (Gf's dad!)
Drunk Ebay GTI rear valance £16
New air filter £10
Breather pipe £2
Fuel hose 30p!

Plans: Get it through the MOT, then new plugs leads & oil

[Rollcage]

Having seen those prices (Car and HG job), I have one thing to say - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVvcD4Czx4Y!

[MrMoonyMan]

Brilliant cars.

I bought one for £70 years ago and ran it round for months till we threw it away.

Seems like a waste now, they are huge fun. Enjoy!

[Williams99]

I know they're a bit much, but the rest of car is in great condition, only 80,000 miles and the HG was a getting into uni present from my dad. I couldn't find a cheaper example in better condition, and yes, I probably could have saved on the HG by doing it myself, or getting a mate who knows a little more about cars etc, but I wanted it done within the week and done right. Anyway, it's all money spent now, so I'm concentrating on what to do next.

[Jonnas]

I had a White one about 16 years ago, couldn't stretch to a Gti but I loved it. Seemed rapid at the time and never went wrong!

[Rollcage]

They are brilliant things, I'd agree. I've owned a few 205s over the years, but never an XS. I did once have a 5 door GTX, which had the same twin choke engine as the XS, which was the same engine as the AX GT IIRC.

[Williams99]

It's got a shorter gearbox than the GTIs, so it gets off the line very respectably. A completely unverified iPhone timed 0-60 on cheap tyres came out at 8.9 seconds, so it's quick enough for me at the moment!

[MC Bodge]

Nice.

Lighten it

Service the brakes

Change suspension bushes

Keep the standard wheels and fit 4 good tyres

Fit some spot lights

I don't know anything about the engines. Maybe fit 4 bike carbs?

Edited by MC Bodge on Saturday 29th October 14:18

[Williams99]

MC Bodge said:

Nice.

Lighten it

Service the brakes

Change suspension bushes

Fit some spot lights

I don't know anything about the engines. Maybe fit 4 bike carbs?

You must have been reading my mind! That's what I would love to do, but everything on it is standard at the moment... I suppose I could just keep everything I take off and then whenever I wanted I could just put it back on...

[MC Bodge]

Williams99 said:

You must have been reading my mind! That's what I would love to do, but everything on it is standard at the moment... I suppose I could just keep everything I take off and then whenever I wanted I could just put it back on...

Take as much out/of it as you can you can, then put things back that you can't do without. I'd keep the spare wheel, don't just rely on tyre foam.

Definitely keep everything and if you end up scrapping the car you can sell the parts you've removed on Ebay.

[GB123]

Fit GTI wheels!

[coogy]

I've had two of these, one was my first car, until it met a fairly catastrophic end. Anyway - massively underrated little cars and cab be surprisingly quick. I used to have 1.9GTi wheels fitted which made a big difference to the grip levels. Its worth stripping it out and just enjoy it! Great fun on a damp deserted roundabout, lift-off oversteer mad!

Good work

[coogy]

PS My first one was £310 with 54k on the clock

[Spitfire2]

Had one of these when they were new.

Quite a rapid little car at the time and handled brilliantly.

I'd be happy with a nice one even now.

[Belly954]

My Dad chose one of these for a company car,brilliant little car,he bought it off the lease company my sister was the last in the family to own it and never gave any problems,not like the 206 gti's they both bought after!Shame I can't remember the last one I saw on the road have fun with yours

[Simes205]

Service it and keep it standard. These are great fun to drive and almost as fast as a 1.6gti.
If you do find it getting slow the engine from the Saxo vts is a good upgrade.

[soxboy]

I used to drive one of these as a pool car during my placement year at Uni. It was absolutely fantastic fun, I actually found it more driveable than the GTi 1.6 that they also had (which other guys clamoured for the keys of, I didn't care). I tried to buy it when it came to the end of its lease, sadly I couldn't afford it.

My housemate got one years later, an absolute pile of ste. It made the strangest engine noise I've ever heard.

OP - keep it as standard as you can, there are hardly any left and it looks great, especially on the steelies.

[twazzock]

Used to have something very similar (205 Junior with XS engine) and absolutely loved it. Head gasket went though so I had to get rid, still miss it!

Keep us updated

[PaulG40]

I do like 205s!

I remember years ago looking into the 205 challenge, starter budget rallying and they had a XS class, and was strictly regulated to ensure fairness. Was sorely tempted to get into it.

[bamberwell]

i was given a 205 xs about 7 years that needed a new clutch. had it fixed and mot'd for around £200 and ran it for around 10 months before selling it for £100. had gti wheels and looked ok from certain angles........