Bangers and Flash: Peugeot 309 XS Heads to Auction
This 1987 Peugeot 309 XS last saw an MOT testing station in 2014. A lot can change in seven years, but although the list of reasons for failure is long, nothing looks terribly taxing.
Brakes, tyres, lights and wipers – the kind of things you’d tackle as a matter of course when rescuing a car that’s been laid-up for a few years.
The want is strong for this Peugeot 309 XS. The want is very strong.
It’s going under the hammer at Mathewsons in February. That’s the auction house famous for playing host to the second best motoring show on television. The listing says that the car is likely to sell for at least £1,500.
Need for tweed
Before the arrival of the 309 GTI, the Peugeot 309 XS was the performance flagship of the range. It features the 1.6-litre engine and five-speed transmission from the 205 GTI, which makes it a bit of a sleeper.
The engine produces 115bhp at 6,250rpm, with peak torque of 98.4lb ft at 4,000rpm. Top speed 120mph. Zero to 62mph in around 10 seconds.
It might lack the visual impact of the 309 GTI, not to mention the 1.9-litre engine producing 130bhp, but that just adds to the appeal. Besides, you get the tweed sports seats from the 205 XS, front fogs, a very 80s pinstripe, subtle rear spoiler and 14-inch alloy wheels.
‘The makings of something’
The Speedline SL201 alloys were lifted from the 1.6-litre 205 GTI, so they come with a rich pedigree. They’re also in with a shout of being the coolest alloy wheels of the 1980s. Well, in the top 10.
According to Mathewsons, the Peugeot 309 XS “has got the makings of something”. Simply spending a weekend with crate of cleaning gear would be a joyous experience. Just imagine what the bumpers would look like after a gallon of trim restorer.
Records suggest that there are no examples of the Peugeot 309 XS on the road, with a further 16 listed as SORN. This makes it one of the rarest Peugeots in Britain – it’s your duty to restore it to former glory.
It’s one of two Peugeot 309s available at the Mathewsons sale. For some reason, PetrolBlog finds the 309 XS more appealing than the 309 GTI Goodwood. It’s a 1.6-litre 205 GTI saloon. What’s not to like?
Click here to view the auction description. Maybe PetrolBlog should buy it for use as a Club PetrolBlog pool car. Now there’s a thought.
2 Comments
I really like this, I have suddenly had a desire for Pug 309s, leading to a saved search. The XS is my favourite as it is a performance model but the one no one remembers, perfect for me!
Will have to see what happens, they are around, when is the auction date? That rust scares me though…
Are you going to take the punt?
Had one of these for several years, Silver with the red pin stripe. Was a lot more enjoyable to drive than the Talbot Samba (Trio) that was my first car.
Every time I took it to the tyre place someone would say “Alright these. Had one myself. Rolled it.”
Great fun and pretty reliable from what I can remember, Kept it for several years but at one point I was doing a lot of long motorway journeys and it was starting to feel a bit less happy on there. Living just up from the Peugeot dealer we were taken in by the deep carpeted comfort and mod cons (like central locking) of a mint low mileage 405 GTX so this ended up part exchanged for not a lot of money against that.
Two weeks later it was written off on the local bypass 🙁
The 405 had a good run though and only left the family three years ago, I think we had it for 22 years in the end so it wasn’t a bad buy. Do miss them both, for different reasons.