Peugeot 309

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Peugeot 309
Manufacturer: Peugeot
Parent company: PSA Peugeot Citroën
Production: 1986—1997
Predecessor: Horizon
Successor: Peugeot 306
Body style: 4-door semi hatchback
Layout: FF layout
Transmission: five speed manual
Wheelbase: 2469 mm
Length: 4050 mm
Width: 1628 mm
Height: 1380 mm

The Peugeot 309 is a small family car designed and manufactured by Peugeot between 1986 and 1993, and between 1994 and 1997 in India by PAL-Peugeot Ltd.

Contents

[edit] History

The 309 was originally intended to be a Simca and, as development progressed, to be called the Talbot Arizona; it was the replacement for the Simca-based Horizon, using a slightly stretched version of the hugely successful 205 chassis.

However, months before production, PSA decided to axe the ailing Talbot brand; the car would be marketed as a Peugeot instead. The 309 was not intended to replace Peugeot's own 305 model, but the out of step model number – the next small family car after the 305 should have been named "306" – was intended to distance it from the 305 in the marketplace. The 309's slightly awkward styling (especially when compared with the 205 and 405 of the same era) is due to the fact that not only was the 309 supposed to be, and look like, a Talbot, but also it was designed "in-house". Other Peugeot cars were designed by the famed Italian design house Pininfarina, up until the introduction of the 206.

The initial engine line-up in the United Kingdom market consisted of the chain-driven Simca-derived 1118 cc (E1A) and 1294 cc (G1A) overhead valve petrol units from the Horizon, and Peugeot-provided 1769/1905 cc Diesel and 1580/1905 cc petrol belt-driven overhead camshaft XU units. Some markets also used the 1442 cc (Y2) and 1592 cc (J2) Simca units, as seen previously in the Talbot Alpine and Solara as well as the Horizon, instead of the 1580 cc OHC. The 1905 cc engine was used in a high performance GTI version of the 309 in fuel injection form; this quickly established itself as a class leading hot hatch.

The 309 was also significant in that it was the first Peugeot car to be assembled in the former Rootes factory in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, which Peugeot had inherited from Chrysler Europe in 1978. Largely due to its British origins, the 309 became a popular choice in the United Kingdom, and set the scene for future Ryton-assembled Peugeot models (the 405, 306 and 206).

[edit] 1989 Facelift

A mild facelift in October 1989 revised the design of the rear, lowering the boot lip and changing the rear lights, as well as providing an updated interior. Also, in 1990, a modified gearbox was introduced, a revision of the original "BE" unit, placing reverse in the "down and to the right" position behind 5th gear, as opposed to the earlier "up and to the left" position, next to first gear. In 1991 Peugeot gradually phased in their all-new belt-driven TU overhead camshaft engines, a development of the XU series, in 1124 cc and 1360 cc forms, eventually replacing the Simca units during 1992.

The 309 was eventually replaced by the Peugeot 306, returning Peugeot to their normal numbering scheme. The 306 was in turn superseded by the 307, with a 308 undoubtedly in development. Whether there will be a "new" 309 to follow the 308 remains to be seen, but Peugeot have not previously re-used model numbers.

[edit] Trim levels

XE, GE: 1118cc E1A or 1294cc G1A OHV Simca engine, X with three doors and G with five doors. The 1118cc engine came with a four speed gearbox, whilst the 1294cc came with a five speed gearbox. Standard equipment was sparse, featuring a rear bench seat, heated rear window, small wheel centre wheel covers, as well as a flick wipe facility. Options included a rear wash/wipe, side bump strips on the doors, and a pop up sunroof. Many special editions were based on the X/GE, such as the Sport model, which came with a spoiler and side decals; and also the Sunseeker model, which came with a pop up sunroof, and side decals. In some markets a diesel E model was also availiable, using the 1905cc XUD engine. All diesel models carry the D suffix on the model badge (e.g. GED). The Special Equipment model availiable in the UK in 1989 also added a pop up sunroof and a rear wash/wipe to the standard equipment list. The E designation was eventually replaced by the Style designation, which was initially another special edition, but became a part of the range, to denote the base model, in line with other Peugeot models of the time (e.g. 405 Style). The Style was also availiable with the 1124cc and 1360cc TU and 1905cc XUD (Style D) engines, all with 5 speed gearboxes, after the Simca units were phased out.

XL, GL: 1294cc G1A, 1580cc XU5, and 1905cc XUD engines (with D suffix), all with 5 speed gearboxes, X with three doors and G with 5. A three speed automatic option was availiable with the XU5 engined GL. The L model was availiable throughout the 309's production, varying differently from early to late cars. The early cars came with some standard features, such as better seat coverings than the E model, a clock on the dashboard, door bump strips, intermittent wipe, a glovebox door (as opposed to the X/GE's glovebox hole), 50/50 split/fold rear seats, full size wheel covers and a rear wash/wipe. Later in the production run, the XL model was dropped, and a 1769cc XUD turbo diesel engine was added to the L range, to become GLDTurbo, which featured alloy wheels (from the Peugeot 205 1.6GTi), uprated GTi specification suspension, and a pair of front fog lights. Options on this also included central locking, electric front windows and the Peugeot vacuum operated moonroof, essentially a large glass sliding sunroof.

GLX: 1294cc G1A, 1360cc TU3, and 1580cc XU5 engines, all with 5 speed gearboxes and all with 5 doors. Standard equipment includes a digital clock, a tachometer, a sliding glass moonroof, sports style seats (similar to those fitted to the 205 XS), rear wash/wipe, door bump strips, intermittent wipe, and a small boot spoiler. The 1.6 model also added central locking and front electric windows to the list. Post facelift 1.3 models and the 1.4 model also have central locking. Curiously, if the GLX was ordered in white, and later burgundy red, the bumpers were body coloured, with a contrasting trim strip, red with the white bumpers and silver with the burgundy ones. After the facelift the bumpers also gained a pair of fog lights. A reflective strip panel was also on the options list, that replaced the louvred panel that sits between the rear lights.

GR Profile: 1294cc G1A, five doors. Intended as competition to such cars as the Austin Maestro HLE, the GR Profile used exactly the same G1A engine as the lower models in the range, but combined it with subtle aerodynamic improvements and lower rolling resistance tyres to reduce the drag coefficient of the car, with the brochure claiming a fuel economy improvement of 3 miles per gallon at a constant 75mph. The standard equipment list included an instrument lighting rheostat, a digital clock, an engine compartment undershield, a glovebox lamp, a carpeted boot and a boot light. Options included metallic paint, central locking, electric windows, and central locking. Was discontinued sometime in 1988, at about the time of the introduction of the GLX.

GR: 1580cc XU5, and 1905cc XUD engines, all five door. Much the same as the GR Profile in specification, with much the same standard features, and options. Was availiable later with the 115bhp fuel injected XU5 engine, and also a detuned 90bhp version, badged GRi, to address the problems Peugeot had with the XU engine and 95 octane fuels. Later in the run, a 1769cc XUD turbo diesel model was also added, to become the GRDTurbo. This came with all the features as the GLDTurbo, and also added the features on the options list as standard.

SR, SRD, SR Injection: 1580cc XU5, and 1905cc XUD engines, all with five doors. The SR model was intended to top the range, along with the GR, to provide sporty sophistication. The SR used the 80bhp tune single carb XU5, the SRD used the 65bhp XUD9, and the SR Injecton used the 115bhp XU5 from the 205GTi 1.6. Equipment levels as standard were much the same as the GR, with the addition of central locking, internally adjustable headlights, a map reading light, electric windows in the front, and Windsor seat trim. The SR Injection, in addition, added alloy wheels, remote controlled central locking, and remote controlled heated door mirrors. The options list included metallic/black paint, front fog lights, a sliding glass sunroof, an automatic gearbox (SR only), and SR decals on the rear flanks. Discontinued at about the time of the October '89 facelift.

XS: 1580cc XU5, three door. Marketed as a sporty model, to complement the GTi, with the 115bhp XU5 injection engine. Was a little more basic than the SR models, to enchance the sporty feel, and made do without such things as luxury seats and a carpeted boot, instead having a vinyl load area covering and sports seats (from the 205XS). It also came with opening rear windows, a digital clock, a black spoiler, and a load area lamp. Options included alloy wheels, central locking/electric windows (only available as a twinned options pack), a sliding glass sunroof and front fog lights. Discontinued shortly before the '89 facelift.

GTi: 1905cc XU9, three and five door. Arguably the top of the range, fitted with the 1905cc XU9 engine, producing 130bhp, later detuned at around the time of the facelift to 122bhp to conform with 95 octane unleaded and emmissions regulations. The GTi came with some features unique to the range, such as the large black boot spoiler, four fog lights in the front bumper, remote opening rear windows (three door only), and the Speedline 1.9GTi alloys, the first car to be fitted with them. Also benefitted from uprated suspension, tinted glass, a deep front airdam, a leather steering wheel and internally adjustable headlights. Items on the options list included central locking/electric windows (as part of a twinned options pack), a sliding glass sunroof, and metallic/black paint. The GTi was introduced a little later than the range launched, in 1987, but ended up continuing to the end of production.

Other notable models included the Trio/Trio D, with 1124/1360cc TU engines and 1905cc XUD engines, with unique seat fabric and green seatbelts; the Look, availiable only in blue and white, and with a sunroof; and the infamous 309 Goodwood, a GTi with a leather interior, and wooden steering wheel and gearknob, only availiable in metallic green with anthracite Speedline alloy wheels.

[edit] Reliability

A common defect on the pre-facelift models was rainwater leaking into the rear of the car via the tail lights, resulting in puddles of water sitting under the rear seats which ultimately could rust out the vehicle around the rear suspension mounting points, as well as rotting the rear seat itself. Modification kits to resolve this were available for a time; some owners resorted to the use of liberal applications of silicon sealant. Curiously, the rear screen glass was important to vehicle structural rigidity, and on earlier models the hinge bolted directly to the glass. On these models, the wiring for the heated rear window relied on the boot gas struts to have electrical connections to complete the circuit; this is a weak point in the design, as not only are the struts difficult to get hold of with the necessary connections, they do fail often, which leads many earlier 309's to have heated rear windows that do not function, with no easy solution.

[edit] External links


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