Peugeot 309
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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.
History
The 309 originally planned to be called Talbot Arizona, and was the replacement for the Simca based Horizon, using a slightly stretched version of the hugely successful 205's chassis.However, months before production, PSA decided to axe the ailing Talbot brand before the car was released, and decided to market it as a Peugeot instead. The 309 was not intended to replace Peugeot's own 305 model, but the out of step model number (technically the car should have been named "306") was allegedly to distance it from the 305 in the marketplace. The 309's slightly awkward styling (especially when compared to the 205 and 405 of the same era) is due to the fact that not only was the 309 supposed to be a Talbot, hence carrying it's styling cues more from the Horizon than the 205 it would have if it had been planned a Peugeot, the 309 was designed "in-house", whereas other Peugeot cars were designed by the famed Italian design house Pininfarina, right up until the introduction of the 206.
The initial engine lineup in the UK market consisted of the chain-driven Simca-derived 1118 cc (E1A) and 1294 cc (G1A) overhead valve petrol units from the Horizon, while Peugeot provided the 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 the high performance GTI version of the 309 in fuel injection form, which 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 it has 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 (namely the 405, 306 and 206).
1989 Facelift
A mild facelift in October 1989 revised the design of the rear, lowering the boot lip and redesigning the rear lights, and would see the 309 gain a much improved 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 1st. 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. It was replaced by the Peugeot 306.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.Trivia
Given the Peugeot numbering system, a new 309 should appear at the end of the 2010s; therefore, Peugeot might change their naming scheme.External links
- [www.peugeot309.net] - A website dedicated to the Peugeot 309
| Peugeot — A marque of PSA Peugeot Citroën — timeline, 1950s-present | [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| City car | 104 | 106 | 107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | 203 | 204 | 205 | 206 | 207 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | 304 | 305 | 309 | 306 | 307 | 308 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | 504 | 505 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 604 | 605 | 607 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leisure activity vehicle | Partner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mini MPV | 1007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large MPV | 806 | 807 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUV | P4 | 4007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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