michael Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I'm thinking about a 306 to join the fleet, probably ~1996, either the 1.9 Turbo Diesel or a 2.0 XSi, I may even gay it up with a Cabrio if I can find one cheap enough. Reason: I drove one a few years ago and found it to have a very entertaining chassis. I'm concerned that my reasoning doesn't take into account things like it being French or any potential mechanical issues they may be prone to. I've had a read up on places like HonestJohn.com and the potential problems seem to be basic enough, just asking for real world feedback I guess. At the moment I'm considering the 306 or a high mileage Focus for the same money, budget is low, sub £1000. Other cars under consideration for the same money are either ugly barges with good engines or rusty 80's sports cars that lack power but have quirky looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobSheffield Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I once 'gayed it up' with a 306 cabriolet. Apparently they are known for cooling problems, specifically hoses blowing and the lower rad hose runs through the wing making DIY a bit 'interesting' Incidentally, in my limited experience Peugeot dealers in general know nothing at all Gaz Eaves has a TD version iirc, something i looked at recently but could only find high mileage knackered sheds for the sub £1000 budget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiten55 Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 i had my 306 TD for almost 5 years, never had an issue with it to be honest. granted it was off road for a year and a half, but that was down to me running out of funds to finish the project. good cars, full of torque, great handling. didnt have any problems with build quality either. go for it mate, its a fun car with cheap parts!! oh and ive got some nice front seats and a catalytic converter in my shed if your interested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Ive got a 306 but its the 1.4 petrol. This one has been well looked after and as a result has been mechanically sound for the 90k its done. Only trouble i have is it eats front pads for fun. Needs a set every year at MOT time. My girlfriends brother has the Diesel Turbo and it has given him nothing but grief since hes owned it. Cost him a fair amount in repairs. He hates the thing, so i guess its like any car really, if you get one thats been looked after then you are laughing, if not then expect a few things to go wrong. I was looking at getting a GTI6 as a track car a few months ago, its one of the option when i sell the supra. Meant to be great fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I once 'gayed it up' with a 306 cabriolet. Why am I not surprised by this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobSheffield Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Why am I not surprised by this? Just cos you are big doesnt mean im frightened to open a can of woopass on you, capische Want me to bite ya ankes?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyknox Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Had my 306 TDi and it's been a little gem!!! Made me laugh..had two new tyres and an exhaust not long ago...the guy at the garage said..."right...are you sitting down..that will be £90 I'm afraid" I just smiled and thought to myself..if only you knew how much I spend on my Supra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_SWZ Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Had my 306 TDi and it's been a little gem!!! Made me laugh..had two new tyres and an exhaust not long ago...the guy at the garage said..."right...are you sitting down..that will be £90 I'm afraid" I just smiled and thought to myself..if only you knew how much I spend on my Supra LOL we all wish that was the price of just one tyre ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Michael, have a word with yourself, it's French FFS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyknox Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 LOL we all wish that was the price of just one tyre ! Indeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 Michael, have a word with yourself, it's French FFS! I'm having words but the Japanese alternatives are either bland or rusty, I just want a bit of handling fun and good MPG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobSheffield Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 What about a Golf Tdi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 What about a Golf Tdi? Too expensive and I'd lose it in the car park here, it's like a VW dealership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millsy Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I used a 306 XSI for a while. Never really enjoyed it but I think that's more down to the crappy seats someone put in it. No real problems apart from I believe something went faulty with the keypad immobiliser. Never felt particularly quick either - although would be well tempted by a D Turbo myself. Still look pretty good, go well and economical. I've had two 205 GTIs and a 206 SW and got to say have been quite impressed overall with Peugeot reliability - silly things in the GTI like heater matrix whining etc - but they always started and got me to where I needed to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I had a 306 GTI-6 and I've had a focus. If you really want a 306 I'd buy the diesel ones - they are not really quick cars and I don't know why they pretend they are. Of the two - I'd buy the focus. Pennies to run, and although the build quality was pretty poor I still think it was a lot better than the £18K pile of french garbage I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Jons bro has an XSi, for a normal car it's quite quick and it takes a proper battering from him too. I think they are ok looking also. But they are French. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I bought a 98 GTI-6 with 18k on the clock and kept it for about 3 years. The engine was great and sounded superb when opened up and the handling was a treat. Ease off hard into a corner and the rear would start stepping out helping you round, hammer the throttle then it would go into a 4 wheel drift letting you know everything that was going on. On the negative side, It kept snapping front springs which would then go through the tyre walls. There is a big connector at the bottom of the radiator that fills with moisture and knackers the cooling fans and A/C. (my fans went on full blast everytime the ign was turned off) The rear brakes kept seizing along with the balance valve. The A/C pipes are in a stupid place below the rad and oxidise around the mounting brackets letting the gas escape. It needed new front discs every year. (16k a year). Hope this helps mate, just my personal experience. I replaced it with a Civic Type R and sold it after 3 months because it was crap to drive compared to the pug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBDJ Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I had a GTi-6 for a while, and my ex had an XSi that I used to look after. Used to have problems with the cooling system - blanking hose on the back of the water pump blew - and the cooling system is a pig to bleed properly as well - I used an elevated reservoir (2L coke bottle) to assist with this. Electrical problems are common, especially with the loom where it runs through into the door causing problems with window control and central locking. On the plus side, most work is easy and parts are cheap - I swapped out the entire rear axle on my sisters car, including making up replacement brake lines as they disintegrated and it was a quick and easy job, as was changing the head gasket. Her car was a pup though! Not quick cars though, I'd probably choose the turbo diesel rather than an XSi/S16 to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 S16, that's the other one I was trying to remember - I've driven one of those and a GTi-6. Thanks for all the input, I'll do some more digging around but I'm still keen despite them still being French. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 1.9 lx diesel here - pile of crap, best thing on it is the Supra Club sticker in the back window; has cost me more to fix than the bloody Supra FFS. I need it to thrash to death down the A30 every day for that it is ideal lol Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeT Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 1.9 HDI lx here. Unbelievable mpg after driving a supra for so long. Mines an estate but i bought it to transport the dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muffleman Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 My missus had an XSi for a year, really not impressed, seemed dreadfully slow, no 'fun factor', doors would unlock themselves and the main dealer coudn't fix it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathman Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 S16, that's the other one I was trying to remember - I've driven one of those and a GTi-6. Thanks for all the input, I'll do some more digging around but I'm still keen despite them still being French. I had an XSi which I absolutely ragged the tits off for a year and it never gave me a problem, I then traded it for an S16 which was an absolutely superb car, I still miss it to this date! It handled like it was on rails, went like stink and always put a smile on my face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Michael, mate. What are you thinking? It's French. Two words. Sacha. Distel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 My housemate had a 1.6 Mederian (or something), really did feel like a bigger car. Very smooth, quiet and nippy, very well equipped too. edit: Back on topic, he didn't have any mechanical problems. Well, until he wrote it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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