Are you certain of that with regard to HDI engines.   Some time ago there
was discussion about that on this group accompanied by dire warnings abut
using bio in HDI engines, in fact probably all common rail diesels.
Apparently, amongst other things, it screws the anti pollution system.  See
this link
http://forum.rac.co.uk/showthread.php?t=799

OK here's my 2p.
I've had two normaly aspirated 1.9 engines, the first in a 305 the second in
a 405.
I've also had the turbo version in a 406. The turbo didn't do anything much
for the perfomace, it just gobbled more fuel.
(It was the least ecconomical of all the pugs I've owned and didn't run ANY
better or quicker than either of the two non-turbo cars)
I now have a HDi 406 with the 2.0 engine which is quicker & more ecconomical
than the turbo 406 I traded in on it.
I've done well over a quarter million miles in these motors and so far have
never needed a head gasket replaced.
I've never, up to now,  heard of these lumps having head gasket problems,
appart from the obvious overheating of diesel engines generaly, which almost
always causes head warp probs and isn't in any way confined to Pugs.
I do wish Pug would make it's mind up as to what level of bio fuel the HDi
motor can stand, there's a bio garage just down the road from me. :-(

Djimbo.

Sorry to pop in late to this discussion but I do have a bit to add.
I've now driven the Peugeot 1.9 normally aspirated in a "Style" version
405 Estate I scrapped when it had done 209000 miles due to not stopping
quickly enough on a slippery road.  The engine was still running
perfectly except for an air leak in the fuel system.  I had a Citroen
BX 1.7 Turbo, which ran fine until the cam belt went.  It towed our
caravan happily to Poland and back.  After the cam belt problem the
engine was fixed and ran well for more than a year before being sold on
in fine running order.  Had a Renault Laguna 1.9 turbo which ate its
diesel pump spindle doing the top end in in the process.  8 months
later it ate its turbo for afters...  It has been repaired and sold on
and apparently runs fine.  Currently I'm running a Peugeot 406 with
78000 on the clock.  Runs fine and is incredibly efficient, its just
the steering that's giving trouble (see my query above).

We buy cars like this to tow our caravan very long distance and in
general have been totally converted to Peugeot diesel engines.  I did
quite a lot of research before buying my first and have never heard of
gasket problems (or any other really) with the larger engines (although
during my research on the tiny diesel I'm looking to buy if needed when
we finally manage to finish our move, I have heard bad things about the
smallest (1.4?) diesel engine).

The experience with the Laguna engine seems more due to a problem in
the diesel pump spindle than the engine itself - I put the turbo
failure down to the banging and crashing when the engine was repaired:
it had only done 110,000 miles.  The BX failure was due to believing
the guy who sold it to me , who "fitted a new cam belt" when he sold it
to me - only he didn't...

No I'm sure they are not "unbreakable" but equally, I think you'll have
to go a long way to get more reliable engines, and none of those will
drive like a car engine, like the Peugeot motors do, rather they all
seem to drive like a commercial vehicle.

The other key thing is to find a really reliable garage who you can
trust to do the work you don't want to do yourself.  I've been with
Renatek in Bristol for several years and would happily continue for
many more, except that we've moved to the Sunderland area.  Anyone know
a really trustworthy Peugeot specialist (non-dealer) in the NE UK area?

David

;-) nice one Matt,
as long as she don't wind ME up ;-)
Fitzy