Another OT diesel sedan... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lietuviai · #1 05-09-2004, 07:25 PM

I want to get some opinions on this car and the model in particular. It's an '83 Peugeot 505S diesel. I remember seeing lots of these on the road in the 80's and they seemed quite popular at the time. I rarely see them around anymore and I wonder if its just the lack of parts for them or are they just bad cars and should be avoided like any other French car.
Its on eBay at

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6388&item=2478033272&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
What do you all think?

Wasuchi · #2 05-09-2004, 09:13 PM

I think I remember reading that parts are scarce now but they are an ok car....... I've never even seen one however.

#3 05-09-2004, 09:15 PM

As far as I know the French engines aren't
really bad but you can't compare them to
the German engines.

The only real problem is that the body panels
are thin as paper and rust faster than a russian
empties a bottle of wodka.
Interior fit isn't the best but has improved in
the last 10 years.

Louis.

#4 05-09-2004, 10:37 PM

It's not as if the French are known for great cars. Stick with their wine and leave their cars in France.

I think the worst car that I've ever driven in my life was a Peugeot that I rented in Nice, France. I drove it around the Riviera and turned it in at the Milan airport. I was amazed that it actually made it that far. I think it probably shared some parts with a Yugo. What a piece of junk!

Personally I don't buy anything French. Since I don't drink I can even pass up the wine.

Have a great day,

grimgaunt · #5 05-09-2004, 10:51 PM

WRONG !!!!!

The 505 platform was one of the best Sedan chassis ever made upto that time, including the Mercedes of that era. real heavy weight body metal, try opening and shutting a door on those things, they 'thunk' just like a MB
The engines (diesel) will go to 300 k easy. Lots of power with the stick, not so hot with the auto
The suspension is on par with a benz if not better. The dealers would (if there was one nearby) do the test with a customer in the car and go over railroad lines at 55 mph
The car would make a thunk and glide over it.
Cornered and drive like on rails.

Lack of support here is what killed them

Peugeot has since seen its offerings take a nosedive in quality because of the lowest common denominator approach that comes with mergers of multiple nationalities of auto makers.
Up to the late 80's they were VERY good.,

Jorn · #6 05-09-2004, 11:15 PM

If you go to any African country you will see a lot of old 404, 504 and 505 Peugeots, they last forever just as our babys. A friend of my bought a beautiful 504 convertible in South Africa.

Where can I get one?

SoyDriver Matt · #7 05-10-2004, 10:06 AM

My despised ex-mother in law has one, and she's known for her lack of maintainance killing cars, and it's still going after two years...

#8 05-10-2004, 10:24 AM

Anybody notice the W126 parked next to it?

I thought that it would be neat to have one of these. However, there are just too many conflicting stories as to how well built these cars really are.

#9 05-10-2004, 10:24 AM

while he was a NY State trooper (now retired) and he says that he really regrets selling it rather than fixing it forever, but all those years of upstate snow driving had made the rust basically unstoppable.

Palangi · #10 05-10-2004, 11:04 AM

I used to have a Piggout 504 diesel. It was a pretty good car, but not at the same level as an MB. Parts were always a problem in that whatever part number the book called for often wasn't the right one. I don't know where you would be able to find parts to keep one going nowdays. The diesel engine is a wet sleeve design. You have to retorque the head bolts and adjust the valves regularly as part of routine maintenance.

lietuviai · #11 05-10-2004, 10:13 PM

Well the car sounds even more appealing at this point though I would much certainly rather have a W123. It's just I doubt that I would ever find a W123 with that kind of low mileage for even twice the buy it now price. One things for sure, I would be SOL with our forum if I had any questions regarding any problems I could have with it.

grimgaunt · #12 05-10-2004, 10:15 PM

the peugeot forum is very active and helpful too.

lietuviai · #13 05-10-2004, 10:38 PM

I e-mailed the guy to see about taking a look at it.
Over 20 years ago when I worked in a shop, the owner of the shop was rebuilding a wrecked one. It had very low miles at the time, something like 15K or less. I had a chance to drive it after it was put back together and I remember now that it was a total dog. I'm not sure if the turbo was working or not but I had to floor it to get it to even move. I'm guessing there may have been issues with the engine. I don't remember anything more about it but I think the owner of the shop gave it to his wife to drive it around for a while but I didn't see her drive it much. I guess she liked her V-6 Volvo better.