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Any Peugeot owners from Vancouver, BC?


85PugSTI

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Hi all,

I recently bought an 85 505 STI (not a turbo, I know... :D ) and was wondering if there are other local Peugeot owners here. I see 505s driving around every now and then. I had an 84 505 S before (a rust-bucket) and a fairly nice 78 504 wagon. Anyway, it would be nice to have some local contacts/support, so just saying hi I guess. :)

Here's a link to my Flickr gallery (pics of my 505 and a few of my Saab):

Pics of my 505

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Welcome to the forum,

That is one MINTY 85 - gorgeous car. I had a similar parts car a while back, but it was the 5-sp. The 3-sp auto makes it a bit of a dog, but if you ever decide to swap it out for the 5-sp it'd be quite peppy indeed. Hard to justify a swap on such a clean minty car though.

I'm not in BC, but I am a fellow Canuck in Saskatchewan. I've mostly got 505 Turbos (3), but I do have a sweet 76' 504 5-sp that I've modded over the years. Still has the XN1 4 banger in it - but SO much fun to drive.

Love the Saab too. Happy to hear the deal with Spyker went through to save that brand. Our family car is a Volvo - I guess the Swedes make good companions for our French orphans... :D

Rabin

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Nice, nice car. Please keep it bone stock and unmolested. Sure it's an auto and sure it's a non-turbo, but it is one gorgeous rare car.

There is one guy here from BC. He met us down in Olympia when Stephan had that parts sale a couple of years ago. I think his car got totaled by another driver so he may not be hanging around here. How many miles on that 505?

Yup, I had a mint 74 Sonnett a number of years ago. FUNKY car.

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I have to disagree with Koll on one point - It does need one modification for sure. It should really have a nice set of euro lights on it. The US spec ones are crappola in comparison to the euro lights, and it totally makes the look of the car. Light output is staggering on my set - but I'm also running 90/100W bulbs. Perfectly clean cut offs mean there's no blinding on coming traffic - so it's all good.

I wouldn't touch anything else on it though. :D

p1040410.jpg

Rabin

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I have to disagree with Koll on one point - It does need one modification for sure. It should really have a nice set of euro lights on it. The US spec ones are crappola in comparison to the euro lights, and it totally makes the look of the car. Light output is staggering on my set - but I'm also running 90/100W bulbs. Perfectly clean cut offs mean there's no blinding on coming traffic - so it's all good.

I wouldn't touch anything else on it though. :D

p1040410.jpg

Rabin

Hey I am going to have to agree with Bean...I had euros on the 3 peugeots that I have owned! It def makes the look of car crisp!

Hey I am going to have to agree with Bean...I had euros on the 3 peugeots that I have owned! It def makes the look of car crisp!

P.s. are my eyes seeing correctly...is the original car stereo in still in there? That is one gorgeous car...looks brand new!

post-702-1265266795.jpg

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Thanks for the welcome and the kind words guys!

The car has 127,xxx kms on it (~ 76,xxx miles). It's a local Vancouver car, sold new by a now-defunct Chrysler dealer (there was never a "Peugeot Canada" and Peugeot used Chrysler's distribution network). It's in really good shape, though the paint is beginning to oxidise around the sunroof area. No rust though! Everything is original, down to the stereo. The tires are Michelin TRXs, which the previous owner went to great lengths to obtain.

Based on what I've seen around town, it's likely one of the nicest Peugeots in the city. I got collector plates for it a couple of weeks ago. To get collector plates here in B.C., the car has to be at least 25 years old, in great condition inside and out, and totally original; no modifications (e.g. aftermarket stereo) are allowed. Since I have my Saab insured as my daily driver, I was eligible for really low insurance premiums on the Peugeot. As a secondary collector-plated vehicle, which I can only use for pleasure purposes, insurance for it is around $400 per year now. :) I agree with the Euro lights looking much nicer, and it was my plan to do the conversion, but that would have amounted to a modification which probably would have made it inelligible for collector plates. Now that I got the plates, I might do the conversion, yet the keep the originals handy just in case.

Bean, I'm really happy that the deal with Spyker went through also. I was checking the news every hour for updates. At one point it looked like GM was determined to shutter Saab, but there were unprecedented outpouring of support from Saab enthusiasts and lots of media coverage. Dealers in the US and Europe were ready to commence legal action also. Hopefully, Saab will go back to its roots now that GM is out of the picture. GM really damaged the brand. I'm happy that Saab is purely European again. You must be the only Pug owner in SK?! How have you kept the rust at bay?

I've been a fan of oddball cars and orphans ever since I started driving. I've had 7 older Saabs (3 99s including a 78 99 Turbo, 3 900s and a 9000), an Alfa Romeo Milano, an MG Midget, a Lada Signet wagon, and this is my third Peugeot. An older Saab is as close as I've come to the mainstream, which is saying a lot. :D

I'm glad I found this forum.

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I don't think euro lights will amount to an official "modification" as it could easily be considered a factory option since they were sold this way in other markets.

It also likely wouldn't even raise their attention since it really does make the car more "European" in it's looks.

Here in SK we got you guys beat with insurance. Full liability and collision for my 89' 505 Turbo is $650/ year. Antique plates on my 76' 504 are $128 per year, but I need to get extra collision insurance once I complete some exterior restoration on the 504. Getting $5K in stated value insurance should be ~$150/year. It looks very rough now so getting it appraised wouldn't be worth it till I get it painted.

There are very few Pug owners in SK, and sadly the rust here is an issue. My 504 needs new rockers and various patches, but is still very saveable. All three of my 505 Turbo's are basically rust free, 2 being southern US cars and the 85' must have just lead a sheltered life. The 89' is my baby that I purchased from August (forum owner) just outside Portland and I drove it back this past August. Just had it rust proofed at Ziebart to hopefully keep this car rust free. I was skeptical about getting it treated - but we don't have a Krown dealer, or a Rust Check dealer in Regina, so I had to go with the Ziebart treatment.

Also cool to hear you love the odd ball cars... :D Do you do your own work on your cars as well?

Rabin

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Wow, talk about cheap insurance! ICBC is ripping us off then; well they do have a monopoly after all...

89 is the year with the revised rear-end right? Very rare too! I like that look a lot.

Unfortunately, I'm not mechanically savvy AT ALL. I rely on my mechanics for everything, even oil changes, which doesn't make owning high-maintenance oddballs exactly cheap. That said, it still turns out cheaper than leasing/buying a new generic car, which I would not enjoy nearly as much. There's one shop in Vancouver, run by a Frenchman, that specialises in French cars, and another shop, run by a Brit, that has been servicing Saabs exclusively for 30 years. They're trustworthy and reasonable price-wise. I'll be fine as long as they're in business, but, in any event, with the abundance of online sources etc. I'm not too worried about parts availability.

I had a 78 504 wagon a couple of years ago which I bought on eBay, and ended up selling on eBay to a fellow right here in Vancouver! He wanted to restore it (the car was in good shape but had some minor rust issues); haven't heard from him since. I have many pics of it on my old laptop. I've seen a few 504s around town over the years but all rust-buckets; interesting beaters basically.

I know a Citroen fanatic who has a DS-21, a DS wagon, a CX Turbo 2, a 2CV6 Club, an Ami6 and a Traction Avant. I rent a parking a spot at his building, so I get to see those cars twice everyday and it never gets old!

Do you have pics of your 89 turbo?

Sebastian

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yeah sebastian, click the images section on top bar, members cars, and you'll see a lot of us members' cars.

You should add yours too!

ps, I used to be like you, and didn't touch my car. but after I got my license, I bought a shop manual and started working on my own cars.

Saved me * a lot* of money and hell, its pretty fun. You're never a true petrol-head till you work on your own car :D

owning a peugeot, you need to know that you will *have* to start working on your own car at some point. that's some advice i got from rabin, and it was very true.

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Welcome to the fold - nice looking car. I don't visit the site regularly but I am in Langley. Currently have an '85 N9T turbo, rust free but tatty looking in original paint with failed clear coat on upper surfaces. My wife has a '91 405 MI16. I've had a number of turbo diesels in recent memory but have been driving the N9T for about 7 or 8 years now.

Regards

John

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Welcome to the fold - nice looking car. I don't visit the site regularly but I am in Langley. Currently have an '85 N9T turbo, rust free but tatty looking in original paint with failed clear coat on upper surfaces. My wife has a '91 405 MI16. I've had a number of turbo diesels in recent memory but have been driving the N9T for about 7 or 8 years now.

Regards

John

Thanks! Maybe I'll run into you around town sometime. 405s are very rare in the Lower Mainland, let alone a 91 Mi16! There's a 405 DL that I see here in West Van every now and then, but it's very tired looking. Is that authorised Peugeot repair facility in White Rock still there? I think I heard it became a Kia dealer or something. <_<

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405's rare - then you need to trip out to the valley <_<). Between three of us out here we have 4 MI16's and another 2 S's. Daily drivers most of them.

The place in White Rock I think you mean is White Rock Sport and Import. He is still there but I do not believe that he was ever a dealer. I know there was a dealer in Vancouver and another in Abbotsford and one in Kelowna. I am not sure what others there may have been but these three are no longer.

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  • 2 years later...

I know the question is a bit old but yes there are a few of us left in Vancouver and we tend not to be too clubby.

However that has to change because we are getting few and far between.

Marc at Marc's Import Auto is the most knowledgeable person still around for repairs.

Marc also has quite a bit of used stock left. 604 432 6636 his wife Mina manages the front office.

I have a 1996 505 Turbo 5 speed that has 140,000 kms on it.

Once I get the "keying" damage repaired I'll try to get some photos up.

Regards,

Graeme

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Welcome to the forum Graeme!

There's a driving group out there that puts on cool touring drives and one of my goals is to do one or more with one or more of my Peugeot's. I've talked to the organizers and my 504 meets their criteria, but they said they'd even allow me to run my 89' 505 Turbo due to the coolness rarity factor. :)

http://www.classiccaradventures.com/

There's one this coming weekend even - but they only had one open spot that's likely gone already.

Rabin

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 7 years later...
On 2/4/2010 at 12:14 PM, 85PugSTI said:

...It's a local Vancouver car, sold new by a now-defunct Chrysler dealer (there was never a "Peugeot Canada" and Peugeot used Chrysler's distribution network).

Well now, that's just not so!  Peugeot Canada Ltée/Ltd. existed between 1958 and 1983 or thereabouts.  25 years more or less.  Here's a plastic binder as a prop.

The disastrous Chrysler Canada distribution deal  - which ensured that the 505 tanked in our market (compared to the 504 that outsold it 2:1) only lasted through 1987.  Four years.

Don't you love zombie threads?

Peugeot Canada binder.jpg

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  • 3 years later...

Hello Peugeot lovers. Just to keep the thread alive.

also if I can be of any help and bring (little) parts back in my suitcase, I am in Vancouver but french and travel back home several times a year. Probably easier to find bits and bobs there…

what mechanic would you recommend in Vancouver for restarting and maintaining a Renault, Citroen or Peugeot? I’ve read Marc… any other one?

cheers

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Welcome, Tom!

If you have a Peugeot, I'd sure like to know which model, the serial number and see a photo. I have a Canada-wide Register of Peugeots and so far nearly 3800 cars are on the list.

The best French car mechanic in the Lower Mainland was John Gaughan in Abbotsford, but he retired a few years ago. An absolute wizard. These days it's a DIY prospect more or less for French car owners. Even Marc is rarely at his place, just his employees....Lionel Hondier does Citroëns in Langley but he may not take on Peugeot work.

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