| In 1988 the Peugeot Lion added another cub to its litter. Back in 1986 Peugeot introduced a special edition 1-litre 205 to the UK market. Called the Junior, its originality lay in its white exterior and its colourful interior. In 1987, sales were so good that Peugeot decided to make the Junior a fully-fledged member of the pride. A year later the CJ was released - CJ being an acronym fo Cabriolet Junior. The idea was to fill the gap in the market left by the demise of the Talbot Samba Cabriolet. The CJ has the body of the CTi and the trimmings of the Junior - ivory white paintwork with coach stripes, colour-coded wheel trims, a black soft top and a roll-bar. The conversion was undertaken by Pininfarina. The floorpan is substantially strengthened and box sections have been added in front of the fuel tank and under the front seats. The windscreen, too, is strengthened with steel tubing. The 205 CJ is powered by Peugeot's 1360cc engine (the same as in the Citroen AX) producing 70 bhp and 82 lb ft of torque. The motor is smooth running and when the hood is up, very quiet. The interior has denim-style upholstery and and door trims, with multi-coloured stitching - not to everyone's liking. The facia was updated for the new car, and is much neater, with the stalks on the steering column much sturdier. The improved heater controls are easier to operate, too. The hood is simple to raise and lower. The release mechanism is similar to that of the Five, with the exception that there are safety buttons which must be depressed before turning the handles. Whilst the hood is being lowered, however, you have to make sure that the rear window does not kink. With the hood down, the quarterlights help to direct some of the wind away from the occupants, as does the roll-bar, though to a lesser degree. When closing the hood you will find hydraulic struts to help the up-and-over action. The road noise is low with the hood up - quieter than the Five - though the position of the arial does create an annoying whistling. On the open road the CJ is nippy with a light and positive gearchange, and good brakes. The suspension, although the same as the CTi's, is set softer giving a more comfortable ride, and scuttle shake is less than that of the CTi. The ideal CJ would combine the the CTi's powerful engine and throttle response with the CJ's lighter steering and softer ride. |
| Head To Head |
| The 205 CJ |
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