309 model range help please

I have the offer of buying a G reg (first registered on 31 December 1989)
309GL. It is apparently in near mint condition and has had only 1 owner
from brand new - an elderly gent. It has covered a genuine 42,000 miles and
is a 1.3 litre unit. My questions are: 1) what should i look out for on
these cars/of this age and 2) is this model a facelifted model or not?

Many thanks in advance

 

atlantica wrote:

Did they ever facelift the 309? My parents C and J reg 309s and some
friends D & G reg 309s all looked rather similar. Now that you say it,
there may have been a difference in the tail lights, but that was about it.

Don't know what year this one is, but here a hint on fitting some large bass
bins!

http://www.kivlov.info/309/309_2.jpg

 

Hi,

it.
Mk1 309s have "old style" orange / red / white tail lights (and orange front
side indicators) while Mk2 have white front side indicators, and some kind
of "405-style" tail lights (black / red).
Not a big matter, not that important compared to Mk2 205s... Have to say
here the relative disinterresment that Pug had into the 309. I won't explain
here how difficult it was do build the 309.

Regards,

 

Thanks for the advice friends. If there are any areas of the 309 which I
should look out for (known faults, issues etc) then I would be very
grateful.

 

Those colours (white indicators) would not have been legal in the UK where
orange is a requirement so I suspect that was just for the continental
market.

 

The lenses may have been white, but the bulbs inside should be amber or red
,, respectively,
Fitzy

 

He means that it has white lenses. Orange bulbs were fitted. The MK1
had orange lenses with ordinary bulbs.

 

My 2p, gleaned from a 'C' reg 1.6 GL
It's worth checking the rubber seal on the hatch, mine always leaked like a
sieve. A quick look under the carpet in the back should tell if it's been
leaking.
A really heavy clutch means a new clutch reqd not just a cable etc.
Oh and the 1300 wasn't a particularly guttsy model.;-)
I think 'G's were the later style, although as previously stated, the
facelift was minimal.


jim.

 

Ah, my mistake. Should have realised because my 406 is like that. Put it
down to a senior moment.

 

Hi,

Same here, that's the reason why I said "405 style" (thought it was clear
enough)... Also had white light clusters & orange lights
I read answers below, I get it, grandpa

Regards,

 

Yup. Fifteen month old grandson. He's making me young again. Never
thought I could become a doting old sod, but he's done it. ;o)

 

Thanks folks.