Choose A Cool Early ’90s Wagon: 1991 Peugeot 505 vs 1992 Honda Accord

I don’t know how station wagons became desirable, but I suspect it has something to do with modern crossover SUVs. When everything on the road has the same bloated shape, any variation is going to draw your eye. And if that variation in shape is every bit as practical, it’s even better.

Yesterday we looked at two station wagon replacements, one minivan and one SUV. Both of them had uncharacteristic manual transmissions. I think the price difference may have had something to do with the outcome; the GMC Safari van was three grand less than its Ford Explorer competition.

Price aside, personally, I’d rather have the van anyway. I think I’d have more fun with it. I’ve always liked the looks of the Astro and Safari, and having a manual transmission makes it an interesting conversation piece.

Now, let’s take a look at a couple of old wagons. They don’t have much in common: one’s French and the other Japanese, one’s manual and the other automatic, and one’s front-wheel-drive and the other is rear. But they’re both long-roofed versions of sedans, and that’s what ties them together. Let’s take a look.

1991 Peugeot 505 SW8 – $3,100

Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD

Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA

Odometer reading: 295,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

In a more just world, Peugeot would have ridden the yuppie wave right alongside BMW and Volvo in the US, and been just as successful here. But that’s not what happened; Peugeot’s 505 never caught on like the BMW 5 Series and Volvo 240 did, and the French firm left the US market after 1991. This 505 wagon was one of the last few stragglers to be sold here.

It’s a rare spec, even among 505s: it has a non-turbo gasoline four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. Most 505 wagons sold here were automatics, with either a turbocharged four or the PRV V6. It has a ton of miles on it, but the engine was replaced 70,000 miles ago, and it recently had a new timing belt, water pump, and clutch installed. It runs and drives well, the seller says.

In France, this car is known as the 505 Break with two rows of seats, or the 505 Familiale with three rows like this one has. Here in the US, it was called the 505 SW8: Station Wagon, 8 Passenger. It’s in reasonably good shape inside, but I think the driver’s seat has been replaced. It’s vinyl, and everything else is cloth. I guess it’s not surprising that the driver’s seat needed replacing after nearly 300,000 miles.

Outside, it’s reasonably straight, but the paint is in poor shape. At least it’s rust-free. I doubt anyone would bother repainting it at this point, but it actually doesn’t look bad all faded and scruffy.

1992 Honda Accord EX – $4,000

Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter OHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD

Location: Portland, OR

Odometer reading: 123,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

When it was introduced, the Honda Accord came in two bodystyles: a four-door sedan, and a two-door hatchback. That arrangement lasted until 1988, when a two-door coupe was added to the lineup. It wasn’t until 1991 that you could get an Accord wagon. Some station wagons made from sedans look pretty awkward, but I’ve always thought Honda did a great job with this one. I’d go as far as to say it looks better than the sedan.

The fourth-generation Accord is powered by a 2.2-liter engine, and this one has a four-speed automatic transmission. Since it’s an EX model, it has an extra five horsepower and a rear sway bar, and since it’s a wagon it has bigger front brakes. It has only 123,000 miles on it, nothing for a Honda of this age, and it has had a bunch of recent service work done. It also had its transmission rebuilt at 100,000 miles.

I think this might be my favorite Accord color combination too. I don’t know how a maroon interior works so well with champagne paint, but it does. The interior is in great shape, too. It has all the power stuff, since it’s an EX, and though the seller doesn’t specify, I’m sure it all works fine.

The paint looks good, but I can’t tell if that spot on the left side of the hood is a reflection or a bad spot in the clearcoat. One thing it doesn’t have, thankfully, is any rust. Corrosion has always been the Accord’s Achilles heel, so a rust-free one like this is rare and special indeed.

I’m genuinely curious to find out how this vote goes. Will the Peugeot’s rear-wheel-drive layout and manual gearbox overcome the Honda’s reliability and ease of finding parts? Will a scruffier car be worth a nine hundred dollar discount to enough of you to give the Peugeot the win? I guess we’ll see.