205 boot/tailgate panel thing

[Helical]

...you know, the bit between the rear lights that is either a lairy neon red plastic. brandishing PEUGEOT and 205, or in later years a less shouty stepped grey plastic item.

Well does anyone know if they are interchangeable?? I'm tempted to purchase a 205, that looks well, but has the older red plastic trim - which Im really not a fan of, so I would want to change for the later grey stepped item, if possible?

[Helical]

Ahh perhaps it was a dealer option, Its certainly less common. That would be good in terms if either item fitting

[Helical]

I refer to this:



But much prefer this:

[Helical]

Jimmy Recard said:

I think so. Straight and easy swap between shiny red and dull grey, I think

So just bonded on presumably?

[Helical]

GrandAndrew said:

As said, the cars started off grey and then as a dealer fit option you could get the red reflective one.

I understand that both are quite rare now in good order but I'm sure you would find someone who is desperate to swap to the reflective one and probably give you some money back your way.

Fortunately we had one still left on the shelf when it came to the restoration on mine!

Poor photo but any excuse....

That's sort of encouraging. Not the not quite rare bit, but finding someone keen on the reflective one might be a winner. I've just started the lengthy process of joining the 205 GTi drivers forum so hopefully (should I actually buy said car!) I'll find someone who's up for a swap!

From that little glimpse, your 205 looks immaculate!

[Helical]

AlexIT said:

On the frogs' Ebay there's a grey one for sale:

http://www.befr.ebay.be/itm/Bandeau-de-coffre-rapp...

Good find! Thanks

[Helical]

Jimmy Recard said:

OP, if it's really a deal breaker, try to find a car with the panel you prefer. I wouldn't want to rely on it being removed well (as the last poster says)

Or, find someone with a car in the same colour who has the black panel and wants the red panel, and swap tailgates

not a deal breaker - just something I would choose to change

[Helical]

AlexRS2782 said:

As a few previous posters have said, the reflective panels were an aftermarket dealer accessory item designed to completely replace the standard grey (early cars) or black (later cars) slatted & badged tailgate panel.

Depending on how it was originally fitted, and also how long it's been fitted on the car, I wouldn't necessarily hold out much hope for the reflective panel coming off in one piece tbh. When new the reflective panel was meant to be stuck on with a strong double sided tape, but most were retro fitted / reaffixed in later years using various high grip adhesives, etc, and if one of those has been used it's quite likely the reflective panel will crack / split into a few pieces when you try to remove it.

TBH chances are quite high that it will crack / split anyway due to numerous years of weathering / fatigue on the car, so don't agree to any sales / swaps on it until you know it's come off undamaged.

Its a fair comment, and a consideration I'd already had. Of course it would be nice if it came off in one piece for someone else to enjoy, but if it cracked coming off - apart from a ripple of disturbance through the 205 community - it wouldn't be the end of the world if I had a damage grey panel to fit in its place

[Helical]

GrandAndrew said:

Thanks, yes, it is in pretty good order, we resprayed it and I had the seats re-trimmed at the start of last year. Did over 1000 miles in it two weekends ago and it was superb. I'd recommend joining PSCUK, lots of people willing to help on there.

My old one came off OK and it still is OK, just hanging on to it should the worst happen and I ever need another.

Oh and with regards to the sticker, I think if launched now it would still be a worthy winner! Although maybe not if you're going to get all technical and look at crash regs, emissions, economy, level of standard specification and the like.

You'll know - are there any differences in the front bumper across the phases?? The particular car I'm looking at looks less muscular than others, but cant put my finger on why. Quite possible just camera angle, but I know its got the old style rear lights so wondered what other subtle tweaks its missing?

[Helical]

Lovely car mate' looks well loved. What steels are those? C5 light ones??

[Helical]

After another night sleeping on it, I've decided to spend the money I haven't got, and buy the 205!!

Partly inspired by the wise words of my father-in-law...
"Just buy the fking thing..."

Should pick it up next week sometime