A few years ago, I would have been all over this rare Peugeot wagon that’s an 8-seater and equipped with the rare 5-speed manual. The SW8 version of the classic 505 is known for being good at several desirable functions: first, it can carry 8 passengers; second, it has a significant load-carrying capacity, especially for a passenger vehicle; and third, it is known to be incredibly long-lived in terms of the mileage it is capable of racking up. The seller has owned this 505 listed here on eBay for almost three decades but has decided it’s time to move on.
I briefly owned a 505 wagon when I was on the hunt for one of these, and settled for a bit of an mongrel. It was originally a 505 Turbo, but a previous owner – who happened to be a Peugeot technician when the company was still selling vehicles here – swapped in a PRV V6 from an Eagle Medallion sedan, paired with the original 5-speed manual transmission. The idea was the PRV was a bit less fiddly to work with compared to the turbocharged engine, and with parts shared between the Eagle and Peugeot (and the DeLorean!), it was a bit easier to repair. That was the logic, anyhow; I still grew nervous about some random part failing I couldn’t track down and eventually sold it.
However, the 505 is enormously charming and the owners that love them are passionate about keeping them on the road. The seller even notes that he had the original engine replaced by a service facility in California that was previously a Peugeot shop before shifting to general European repair when the company departed the U.S. market. However, the business, known as DuBarr Peugeot, still works on these funky French vehicles, and the seller estimates that he’s put about 60,000 miles on the replacement 2.2 ZDJL gas engine. The 5-speed is a big deal for obvious reasons, but especially with the 8-person seating configuration.
Most of the SW8s were automatics, and you couldn’t get the third row in a turbo 505. These wagons had additional structural reinforcements that gave them a tremendous 1,265 pound load capacity, and with the seats folded down, almost 70 cubic feet of space. This was amazing in the late 80s and still impressive today; in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this 505 end up overseas or in Africa where they still provide reliable service as taxis and cheap livery vehicles. The seller isn’t asking much – just $2,900 – and while the body has some dings, it’s still a rust-free California wagon. Have any of you ever owned an SW8?
Not sold, not surprised. Could be a cool low riding custom SW, but the price is too high.
Listing has ended
“This listing was ended by the seller on Thu, May 21 at 10:20 PM because the item is no longer available.”
We had one of these in the 90s, almost the same car, 5 speed, etc. One of the best, most enjoyable, family haulers of my experience. Actually a joy to drive on our winding, two lane roads out here. Certainly not a powerhouse (ours was not a turbo) but well put together. Worth the price. The weird metric size tires were a challenge sometimes.
$2900 is just about $2850 too much. These are awful cars to keep running.
I sit here trying to think of one good thing about a Pew-go but if there is one I just can’t think of it.
And yes I know because I was once the service manager at a Pew-go dealership.
You couldn’t be any more wrong about these cars if you tried.
Here on the eastern side of the Atlantic, millions of these plied – and continue to do so – families in comfort; strong, tough, easy to repair…
I have a friend with a 1983 example – called Family here in the UK/Familiale in mainland Europe (SW8 was the N.A designation) – with nearly 800,000 miles on the clock with just regular maintenance.
It continues to be his only daily driver.
I’m afraid he’s not wrong for examples on the western side of the Atlantic. Equipment needed to meet stricter emissions standards in the US rendered the cars finicky and challenging to keep running. My mechanic had a non-running STi that he got for free, thinking he could get it running and turn a nice profit. After about a year of tinkering with it in his free time, he gave up and scrapped it.
Lovely car. I remember when the Peugeot was offered here in the USA.
Long lived and Peugeot somehow don’t correspond in my mind.
My ex’s mother had one, beautiful vehicle. However it spent an inordinate amount of time in the shop and repairs were expensive in eastern Massachusetts.
I traded it in on a new Saab 900s. The dealer gave me $2500 for a trade. I only replaced the alternator and the tail pipe on the Peugeot.it was a great car. It owed me nothing. My brother had a the same experience with an earlier 504 sedan. Dad, on the other hand, bought the first year of a 505 sedan. It did not have the dependability of our older years’. Frankly it was a nightmare. Dad had a couple of old Benz’s, one was a 280 coupe. The Peugeot’s beat them hands down for ride and comfort. The Benz however, was untouchable for drive, handling and dependability. Thanks for finding it
Sorry the first paragraph was deleted:
I bought a used 504 wagon with 45k for $2500. It started every morning in those Chicago winters. We later used it as a weekend commuter in and out of NYC. It was a great ride. Eventually no one could break the bolts on the front struts at 110k, so… I traded it in on a new Saab.
Engine was not from a Medallion, Premier perhaps.
I owned a 505 wagon….not an 8-seater, non-Turbo, but it was a five speed. It was super comfy and handled superably and I am a ….uuuuh…spirited driver. I really enjoyed throwing it around…it responded well to using the handbrake for abrupt turns (at age 73, I’ve mostly grown out of that!) It cruised just fine. Never thought it was underpowered because I understood how to use a manual transmission….and how to use an engine, not having grown up on lazy (albeit wonderful !) V-8s. Did ALL my own repairs. Clutch replacement required pulling the rear axle, as it was connected to the 5-speed by a torque tube. You also had to lower the front crossmember to get the trans out. The electrically clutched cooling fan, oh man: the gaps for the electromagnets had to be properly set…how dumb! JB weld eventually fixed that! The thick foam insulation on the firewall had to be cut out in order to do some repairs. Not an easy car to maintain. I feared the engine’s wet liners and base gaskets. It did indeed get sold and shipped to Africa, probably still in taxi service all these decades later.