Beginners modding - Peugeot 307
Discussion
I guess rather than just slating the OP's choice of car we could chime in with some suggestions.
MG ZR is a good shout, the K series engine gets some stick, but it is a great engine.
Ford Puma, not 5 door, but a hoot to drive.
Skoda Fabia/Seat Ibiza?
Honda Jazz, not the most stylish, but far more likely to be reliable. In fact, my colleague who used to have a 307, which was written off by an ECU failure, replaced it with a Jazz and he said he wished he'd done it sooner.
MG ZR is a good shout, the K series engine gets some stick, but it is a great engine.
Ford Puma, not 5 door, but a hoot to drive.
Skoda Fabia/Seat Ibiza?
Honda Jazz, not the most stylish, but far more likely to be reliable. In fact, my colleague who used to have a 307, which was written off by an ECU failure, replaced it with a Jazz and he said he wished he'd done it sooner.
jay44 said:
-It's not about the money it will cost p/hr - you're looking at this from completely the wrong angle. It's something I want to do, that is justification enough for me. Who cares if it's a waste, it isn't your money?
Good for you. I have to admit I'm in the "you picked the wrong base car" camp, but that's done now so there you go.I'd recommend doing all brakes, discs and pads. Maybe you don't need new discs, but as you say, having done a set you'll know how to change brake discs in the future, so consider that money spent on your "lesson". Maybe even get a kit and rebuild the calipers.
Similarly, a full service on the engine. Cam belt, valve clearances, fluids and filters change. New plugs. Leads and coils if these fandangly new modern cars still have 'em.
Find every little niggle and fix it properly. Electric window packs up? Whip that door card off! Odd rattle? Track that f
ker down!If you want to lower the car, get and fit some proper coilovers, don't chop the springs like some ape. Oh, and change the bushes while you're at it. In fact, change the bushes anyway.
Can you get a slippy diff for these? Oh, and get proper tyres on it!
These are all things you can learn and then transfer that knowledge to other cars. Also, treat every fault as an opportunity to buy another tool!
Whatever you want to do cosmetically (wheels, stereo, intake system, etc) is up to you but you can't go wrong with getting a good handle on the basics first.
Oh, and have fun!
crofty1984 said:
jay44 said:
-It's not about the money it will cost p/hr - you're looking at this from completely the wrong angle. It's something I want to do, that is justification enough for me. Who cares if it's a waste, it isn't your money?
Good for you. I have to admit I'm in the "you picked the wrong base car" camp, but that's done now so there you go.I'd recommend doing all brakes, discs and pads. Maybe you don't need new discs, but as you say, having done a set you'll know how to change brake discs in the future, so consider that money spent on your "lesson". Maybe even get a kit and rebuild the calipers.
Similarly, a full service on the engine. Cam belt, valve clearances, fluids and filters change. New plugs. Leads and coils if these fandangly new modern cars still have 'em.
Find every little niggle and fix it properly. Electric window packs up? Whip that door card off! Odd rattle? Track that f
ker down!If you want to lower the car, get and fit some proper coilovers, don't chop the springs like some ape. Oh, and change the bushes while you're at it. In fact, change the bushes anyway.
Can you get a slippy diff for these? Oh, and get proper tyres on it!
These are all things you can learn and then transfer that knowledge to other cars. Also, treat every fault as an opportunity to buy another tool!
Whatever you want to do cosmetically (wheels, stereo, intake system, etc) is up to you but you can't go wrong with getting a good handle on the basics first.
Oh, and have fun!
I was questioning the man maths of the effort and cost for 2k miles, so 40-50hours of actually being in the car. And then probably reducing it's end value.
I am all for an appropriately modded car - but seems a massive waste of effort for such a tiny amount of time "in car"
jay44 said:
- I really like the design (I'm a very picky person in that sense)
And yet you end up with a 307?Is Heineken your favourite beer, and wallpaper paste your favourite food?
jay44 said:
My brother told me to stay well away from MG ZR's and I trust his word blindly. He's very familiar with motors, and for him to say no is enough for me to not even consider.
And yet you end up with a 307?"My brother told me bungee jumping is very dangerous and I trust his word blindly" you say, right before basejumping off a cliff.
Don't get me wrong, if you want a 307 by all means go ahead and get one. Doesn't even matter why you want one in the end. It's just that your current reasoning and logic behind the decision is ... off, to put it mildly.
If you want to modify it, go nuts and don't care what anyone thinks, it's just a 307 that gets sacrificed anyway. Slam it, rat it, stickerbomb it, strip the interior, put on a fartcan exhaust, paint it rattlecan beige. Have fun with it and in a few years look back at the experience with equal amounts of fondness and shame, and regret nothing.
fathomfive said:
I ran a '97 Rover 214Si for a couple of years from 2001ish.
It had the 105bhp engine, one new head gasket and no other problems in the 30k I hammered into it.
By far the worst thing about it was the fake wood Rover insisted it was furnished with.
Decent little cars.
It was real wood, I had a 94 200 and took the trim out to paint body colour, when i sanded it back to key for painting, it was real wood!It had the 105bhp engine, one new head gasket and no other problems in the 30k I hammered into it.
By far the worst thing about it was the fake wood Rover insisted it was furnished with.
Decent little cars.
307 is literally one of the last cars I'd choose to drive, nevermind modify.
Get a 306 instead? 
Why not spend the money on an ICE setup? At least then you could take most of it away with you for your next car?
My friend had a 307 1.4 as his first car and traded it in for a Saxo Vtr which was much better, my old Saxo that I sold him though!
Good tyres, Good brakes, Eibach springs, keep it very clean, de-badge it, Osram bulbs, K & N induction?
I personally wouldn't spend too much on it, however that is the list of things I would expect you to go for and not be disappointed with it afterwards
Why not spend the money on an ICE setup? At least then you could take most of it away with you for your next car?
My friend had a 307 1.4 as his first car and traded it in for a Saxo Vtr which was much better, my old Saxo that I sold him though!
Good tyres, Good brakes, Eibach springs, keep it very clean, de-badge it, Osram bulbs, K & N induction?
I personally wouldn't spend too much on it, however that is the list of things I would expect you to go for and not be disappointed with it afterwards
Just realised you're 21......
Bin the 307 off and get something with 3x the power
I'm 21 and can insure pretty much anything this side of a 911 Turbo for under £1200. That list of modifications will cost more than a years insurance anyway and I'd rather have a standard quick car than a modified 307, but each to their own
Bin the 307 off and get something with 3x the power
I'm 21 and can insure pretty much anything this side of a 911 Turbo for under £1200. That list of modifications will cost more than a years insurance anyway and I'd rather have a standard quick car than a modified 307, but each to their own
roverspeed said:
It was real wood, I had a 94 200 and took the trim out to paint body colour, when i sanded it back to key for painting, it was real wood!
307 is literally one of the last cars I'd choose to drive, nevermind modify.
I think they stopped using real wood at some point, but that may have been after 1997.307 is literally one of the last cars I'd choose to drive, nevermind modify.
I thin kthe issue is the interpretation of the word "modifications", to some its a legacy from a previous generation where the mechanics of the car were more accessible and you would take an existing part and improve it through your own skill and effort such as head porting etc.
To other people modifying a car is simply buying bits on line adn bolting them on. It takes little skill and the results just look like every onther "modified" car out there, as an example, see how many VW Lupos are now lowered, running stance and have a multitude of stiockers all over them, but to some thats modifiying a car, take something bland and dull and make it look like every other VW Lupo out there but then I never get the VW scene obsession.... If you want to be taken a little seriously, ditch the idea of buying things online, bolting them on and thinking you have "modified" you car, sit there, look at it, draw some stupid plans like gullwing doors, make a mould for some bodykit, if you dont expect to sell the car for much afterwards turn it into a touring car replica or something, research what bits from others cars fit, put Alfa Romeo head lights on it or something and work out how to fit them yourself, just be different, I think the point most people are making is dont just sit there infront of a computer and buy the same crap that everyone else with a 307 has bought....
With some cars mentioned, its far easier to modify them in the traditional sense, Pumas, 106s etc but I guess thats not what you want to do, you dont seem to want to get oily fingers and just want to buy bolt on parts which is fair enough but there are more peopel here familair with the traditional concept of modifying rather than the bolt on mods hence the responses. I dont see the fascination with changing the brakes and intake, the standard brakes are more than adequate for a 307 and changing the intake wont do anything bar potentially confuse the ECU and reduce MPG.
If you were buying a car to use on tracks days I get the brakes upgrade but fundamentally, your list of potential mods is just a list of the easily changeable items that can be bought online, you are just changing the things that can be changed and for no real reason other than to do it. Personally, I'd keep it standard, not waste money on superflouous "mods" and go hire a caterham or something from a trtackday company every few months to get a thrill.
Heres your list and my thoughts.
~ gearbox oil - this is servicing not modifying
~ short ram intake - dont see the point but its relatively cheap and will make you happy
~ headlight bulb upgrade - as above but will improve visibility
~ pedal set - as per intake
~ custom seat covers - why not fit seats from another model/car, get some big old leather seats from an old BMW or something, find some cheap bucket seats, adapt the mountings to fit the subframes, be creative...
~ aftermarket exhaust - why not buy a new rear valance and change the design of the exhaust pipe? have it exit from the other side or even a side exit?
~ new spark plugs - servicing
~ new brake discs + pads - as i said, why? its relatively cheap but its not like the OEM ones were unsuitable for general road use
~ tire set - consumables, good tyres are safer and usually quieter than cheap ones
~ aftermarket steering wheel w/ airbag - pointless "mod" but if it makes you happy...
~ wheel nut - pointless asthetic "mod" no one will notice but will make you happy...
~ engine oil flush/change - servicing
To other people modifying a car is simply buying bits on line adn bolting them on. It takes little skill and the results just look like every onther "modified" car out there, as an example, see how many VW Lupos are now lowered, running stance and have a multitude of stiockers all over them, but to some thats modifiying a car, take something bland and dull and make it look like every other VW Lupo out there but then I never get the VW scene obsession.... If you want to be taken a little seriously, ditch the idea of buying things online, bolting them on and thinking you have "modified" you car, sit there, look at it, draw some stupid plans like gullwing doors, make a mould for some bodykit, if you dont expect to sell the car for much afterwards turn it into a touring car replica or something, research what bits from others cars fit, put Alfa Romeo head lights on it or something and work out how to fit them yourself, just be different, I think the point most people are making is dont just sit there infront of a computer and buy the same crap that everyone else with a 307 has bought....
With some cars mentioned, its far easier to modify them in the traditional sense, Pumas, 106s etc but I guess thats not what you want to do, you dont seem to want to get oily fingers and just want to buy bolt on parts which is fair enough but there are more peopel here familair with the traditional concept of modifying rather than the bolt on mods hence the responses. I dont see the fascination with changing the brakes and intake, the standard brakes are more than adequate for a 307 and changing the intake wont do anything bar potentially confuse the ECU and reduce MPG.
If you were buying a car to use on tracks days I get the brakes upgrade but fundamentally, your list of potential mods is just a list of the easily changeable items that can be bought online, you are just changing the things that can be changed and for no real reason other than to do it. Personally, I'd keep it standard, not waste money on superflouous "mods" and go hire a caterham or something from a trtackday company every few months to get a thrill.
Heres your list and my thoughts.
~ gearbox oil - this is servicing not modifying
~ short ram intake - dont see the point but its relatively cheap and will make you happy
~ headlight bulb upgrade - as above but will improve visibility
~ pedal set - as per intake
~ custom seat covers - why not fit seats from another model/car, get some big old leather seats from an old BMW or something, find some cheap bucket seats, adapt the mountings to fit the subframes, be creative...
~ aftermarket exhaust - why not buy a new rear valance and change the design of the exhaust pipe? have it exit from the other side or even a side exit?
~ new spark plugs - servicing
~ new brake discs + pads - as i said, why? its relatively cheap but its not like the OEM ones were unsuitable for general road use
~ tire set - consumables, good tyres are safer and usually quieter than cheap ones
~ aftermarket steering wheel w/ airbag - pointless "mod" but if it makes you happy...
~ wheel nut - pointless asthetic "mod" no one will notice but will make you happy...
~ engine oil flush/change - servicing
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 11th February 10:55
RobinBanks said:
I think they stopped using real wood at some point, but that may have been after 1997.
I wouldn't doubt it.Tell you what though, they did a fantastic job of making real wood look like cheap fake plastic!
306 is an excellent shout, even if it's a lower power model it will still handle well.
Here's my suggestion based on getting as good a steer as possible for your money without irritating the insurers:
1. Get it serviced/service it yourself
2. Give it a good clean and polish - I mean OCD level stuff
3. Pluck up courage to go to your local IAM group and sign-up. If you get a good observer this is the best 'performance investment you'll ever make'
4. If there are cheap tyres on the car, replace with good quality on OE alloys
5. If the car has more than 40-50k miles on the original dampers and suspension bushes, change these for OE + Koni Sports and get the geometry set right
6. Ignore all the above, spend money with Ripspeed and make the same mistakes the rest of us did.
SS7
1. Get it serviced/service it yourself
2. Give it a good clean and polish - I mean OCD level stuff
3. Pluck up courage to go to your local IAM group and sign-up. If you get a good observer this is the best 'performance investment you'll ever make'
4. If there are cheap tyres on the car, replace with good quality on OE alloys
5. If the car has more than 40-50k miles on the original dampers and suspension bushes, change these for OE + Koni Sports and get the geometry set right
6. Ignore all the above, spend money with Ripspeed and make the same mistakes the rest of us did.
SS7
Edited by shoestring7 on Wednesday 11th February 12:15
I'd be looking at a Focus instead of a 307, the Focus even looks better when modded and probably has more after market parts available for it. It would probably still be worth something when selling too, some yooth would want a modded Focus for a first car, whilst the only people looking at 307s, are going to be wanting a clean honest car.
You could even make it look like Mcrae's rally car.
You could even make it look like Mcrae's rally car.
Edited by The Turbonator on Wednesday 11th February 12:02
Get a 306 instead - that's a good suggestion. Preferably a HDi or GTi6/Rallye.
Come on, you're 21. Why on earth would you want to own a 307?
They're about on par with all of the stty MK4 Astras that you see being driven about by scroates.
I know they're cheap but so are a lot of cars! Have a look in the classifieds on eBay - there's many, many more interesting alternatives out there than a 307.
As for modifying one, I won't offend you with my thoughts.
Come on, you're 21. Why on earth would you want to own a 307?
They're about on par with all of the s
tty MK4 Astras that you see being driven about by scroates. I know they're cheap but so are a lot of cars! Have a look in the classifieds on eBay - there's many, many more interesting alternatives out there than a 307.
As for modifying one, I won't offend you with my thoughts.
I speak from experience here - my first car was also a crappy and unfashionable Peugeot - the 309 1.3 GL. Pininfarina were a little busy at the time making the 205 and 405 look beautiful, so the design work on the 309 was handled by Talbot. But most importantly it was much cheeper to insure than the Ford Orion I wanted.
At the time I had the same inexplicable desire to polish my turd as you do now - after lusting over 309 GTIs and Dimma kits in Max Power. Thankfully I managed to restrain myself from wasting too much money on it. I got a new set of bin lids that nearly looked like alloys, and added some red GTI electrical tape into the slot in the bumpers. The rest was lots of elbow grease, t-cut and back to black.
I learnt a lot by attempting to adjust the tappets myself - the Talbot pushrod purred so sweetly once done. Only lasted a few weeks though before it started sounding like a sewing machine again.
At the time I had the same inexplicable desire to polish my turd as you do now - after lusting over 309 GTIs and Dimma kits in Max Power. Thankfully I managed to restrain myself from wasting too much money on it. I got a new set of bin lids that nearly looked like alloys, and added some red GTI electrical tape into the slot in the bumpers. The rest was lots of elbow grease, t-cut and back to black.
I learnt a lot by attempting to adjust the tappets myself - the Talbot pushrod purred so sweetly once done. Only lasted a few weeks though before it started sounding like a sewing machine again.
Edited by mr_fibuli on Wednesday 11th February 13:23
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff