Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Peugeot 205 Junior?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1989 Peugeot 205 Junior?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1989 Peugeot 205 Junior?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1989 Peugeot 205 Junior?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Peugeot 205 Junior (1989)

788 real MOT outcomes analysed • 0.1% first-time pass rate

1989 Peugeot 205 Junior

CarHunch analysed 788 real MOT records for the 1989 Peugeot 205 Junior. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 1989 Peugeot 205 Junior has a first-time pass rate of just 10%, dramatically below the UK average of 80%, which is a serious red flag for reliability. The petrol variants in this cohort show a 0% pass rate, meaning virtually every tested example has failed its MOT, though the complete absence of recorded dangerous defects (0%) suggests failures are typically non-safety items rather than life-threatening problems.

At an average mileage of 105,726 miles for a 35-year-old car, these vehicles are heavily used, and the zero recorded advisories per vehicle points to either extremely limited reporting or cars that are simply worn out rather than gradually deteriorating. If you're considering one of these, get a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist in classic French cars—the MOT data alone won't tell you what's actually wrong, but the 10% pass rate means mechanical issues are nearly guaranteed.

Below average reliability 79.9% below UK average

0.1%

pass MOT first time

UK average: ~80%

ever had a dangerous defect

recorded at any MOT

avg MOT failures per car

over 1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Peugeot 205 Junior

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Peugeot 205 Junior

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate
Petrol (99%)	784	0%
Diesel (0%)	3	0%
Other (0%)	1	100%

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Peugeot 205 Junior?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

Other model years — Peugeot 205 Junior:

1986 1987 1988 1990 1992 1993 1994