RE: SOTW: Peugeot 306 GTI-6

[BarryGibb]

wal 45 said:

The GTI-6 would have been in a different league to the 309 in all respects IMO.

Would the steering have been as sharp?

[matthias73]

doolie said:

This takes me back. R818 UYX, where are you now?

I had a blaize yellow (gold to the rest of us) GTI-6 from new in March 98, drove it for 50k/2.5 years and traded it for a 206GTI. A bad day that was. The 206 was kept for 6 months and given the boot.

I loved that car (almost as much as I loved my old ZX volcane).

Terrible turning circle though.

And some nicked my spare wheel.....a common occurence I'm led to believe on 306's.

nick four of those, and you have a set

edit- probably what they did with that merc...

Edited by matthias73 on Monday 27th February 13:36

[wal 45]

BarryGibb said:

Kitchski said:

wal 45 said:

but believe the last cat (K and L plate) versions had the same engine as the XSI..

More similar to the early ZX Volcane. The 309 used the 1.9 alloy block 8v - the cat version was just detuned to around 120bhp. 306 XSi used a 2.0 8v iron blocked engine, as fitted to all manner of Pugs and Cits in the early 90's.

Didn't the XSI moved to the 135 bhp 16 valve at some point?

Ours was the 8v late phase one but think you're right with the later ph 2 cars being 16v. I've never had a look at a cat GTI engine and thought seeing as outputs were the same they took the easy/cheap option. I'm sure the injection system was changed at the same time, seems crazy for the few 205/309 they must have sold at that late stage.

BarryGibb said:

Would the steering have been as sharp?

Not sure thinking back, didn't really stick out as being a redeeming factor on the 309

Edited by wal 45 on Monday 27th February 13:40

[Carter207]

I had one of these, really good car, mine had done 131000, and the engine was brilliant, quick, rev happy, reliable and not too awful on fuel. The gear box was brilliant in mine, everything about the car was really! wish i had kept it rather than getting the new 207!!!

Here's mine;



and the supposedly improved peugeot;

[coxy1]

Absolutely love mine, surprises a few people but mine does have 420bhp ;-)

[crocodile tears]

coxy1 said:

Absolutely love mine, surprises a few people but mine does have 420bhp ;-)

I imagine it surprises more than a few

[Baryonyx]

Carter207 said:

I had one of these, really good car, mine had done 131000, and the engine was brilliant, quick, rev happy, reliable and not too awful on fuel. The gear box was brilliant in mine, everything about the car was really! wish i had kept it rather than getting the new 207!!!

Here's mine;



and the supposedly improved peugeot;

Just look at them! You can tell the 207 is not going to be an improvement.

[Si_man306]

coxy1 said:

Absolutely love mine, surprises a few people but mine does have 420bhp ;-)

Nice

Anyone interested in these cars, get yourself over to www.306gti6.com

Excellent forum and i'd say the best cars remaining will be sold on there. My cherry red rallye T796 TRE was the best car i've had. I spent a good sum making it a spot on road/ track car That nurburgring video is a great example of the fun that can be had- our trip in the rallye was one of the best weekends i've spent and that car will keep most others honest with a grin on the drivers face whist it's at it. Best sampled with bilstein b7/ eibach suspension for the track...


I replaced it with an exige which was no-where near as fun on the road, despite costing 10x what the 306 did.

[Mr Whippy]

Si_man306 said:

coxy1 said:

Absolutely love mine, surprises a few people but mine does have 420bhp ;-)

Nice

Anyone interested in these cars, get yourself over to www.306gti6.com

Excellent forum and i'd say the best cars remaining will be sold on there. My cherry red rallye T796 TRE was the best car i've had. I spent a good sum making it a spot on road/ track car That nurburgring video is a great example of the fun that can be had- our trip in the rallye was one of the best weekends i've spent and that car will keep most others honest with a grin on the drivers face whist it's at it. Best sampled with bilstein b7/ eibach suspension for the track...


I replaced it with an exige which was no-where near as fun on the road, despite costing 10x what the 306 did.

Is that Ryan's old car?

It was a bit loud though, didn't exactly move around discretely You could hear it approaching literally from miles away!

Dave

[chevronb37]

Si_man306 said:

Nice

Anyone interested in these cars, get yourself over to www.306gti6.com

Excellent forum and i'd say the best cars remaining will be sold on there. My cherry red rallye T796 TRE was the best car i've had. I spent a good sum making it a spot on road/ track car That nurburgring video is a great example of the fun that can be had- our trip in the rallye was one of the best weekends i've spent and that car will keep most others honest with a grin on the drivers face whist it's at it. Best sampled with bilstein b7/ eibach suspension for the track...


I replaced it with an exige which was no-where near as fun on the road, despite costing 10x what the 306 did.

The Exige/Rallye fleet is the perfect two car combo. Exige is just amazing fun but in a very different way to the 306.

We went out for a drive last year - couple of Elises, a VX220 and my Exige. Girlfriend was in the 306. She managed to hustle along with the Lotuses and barely any slower than the VX in a straight line. This can be independently verified by the PHer who was in the VX and couldn't get away from a girl driving a 12 year old French hatchback. They're remarkable little cars and fantastic value these days.

[coxy1]

Mr Whippy said:

Is that Ryan's old car?

It was a bit loud though, didn't exactly move around discretely You could hear it approaching literally from miles away!

Dave

Yes Ryans old car, been in my hands a little over a year now, he bought a bright green focus rs from me but iv never been able to bring myself to sell it! Its still very very loud!

[LeeThr]

coxy1 said:

Absolutely love mine, surprises a few people but mine does have 420bhp ;-)

:O 420BHP?

Whats been done to produce that power? Im assuming it's now Forced induction rather than the original N/A idea?

Either way, very impressive & pretty please can I have a go?

[The Jolly Todger]

LeeThr said:

:O 420BHP?

Whats been done to produce that power? Im assuming it's now Forced induction rather than the original N/A idea?

Either way, very impressive & pretty please can I have a go?

My guess is that it uses a Rotrex C30-94 S/C. Just a guess based on the numberplate though.

[Mr Whippy]

They are rather bonkers in the 400bhp+ s/c setup!

The torque comes on more like a power curve, but that probably works well for a car with so much power and fwd

I've never driven one, but from what I've read and seen they seem to put the power down very well when needed. I think that car above is also lightened a little bit too... Gonna be around the 350bhp/tonne mark with driver...

[flattotheboards]

chevronb37 said:

We went out for a drive last year - couple of Elises, a VX220 and my Exige. Girlfriend was in the 306. She managed to hustle along with the Lotuses and barely any slower than the VX in a straight line. This can be independently verified by the PHer who was in the VX and couldn't get away from a girl driving a 12 year old French hatchback. They're remarkable little cars and fantastic value these days.

This is unfortunately true, in a straight line my VX was only slightly faster than the Rallye - we were at 3 figure leptons before I was past. I was surprised by how little difference there was. Obviously I am a rubbish driver.

[Mr Whippy]

Being the geek I am, and having had a GTi6 and looking seriously at a VX/VXT as a next car, the speed difference is mainly down to the GTi6's good gearbox and aerodynamics.

Once out of 1st in the GTi6 (fairly long), the gears are stacked really nicely for 40-100mph work. They have about 25bhp more power, and only weigh about 1200kg. But once at 60-100mph they also have superior aero where the VX220 is a bit draggy so that 25bhp really costs.

Off the line and in outright handling the VX220 will obviously be miles better, but on a track with modest drivers the 40-100mph and fairly safe pointy handling of the 306 GTi6 will make it fairly brisk.




I never did much figure capturing in my GTi6, but having weighed lots of engine/drivetrain bits from a GTi6 (broke/scrapped one), and done lots of figuring in my GTi6, I'd say ALL the standard figures look a bit out.
I'd say 7s flat to 60mph is easily achievable if you perfect your 1st gear launching, and I'd say 1215kg is very pessimistic. My 306 HDi weighed 1128kg dry, and I can't see where a GTi6 weighs near 100kg more, maybe 30-35kg tops (about Rallye book weight in my opinion)

I think the GTi6 suffered with ste 0-60mph times back in the day because they were running the skiddiest low traction tyres ever put on a sporty car, the P6000 from Pirelli. The difference to me was night and day after moving to a modern tyre like the F1 GSD3 when I bought mine!


Dave

[fast_eddie]

I've just taken ownership 5 weeks ago of a damaged 306gti6 that still drives like new!
As a long term 309 gti owner(22 years mi16 on carbs) I can honestly say the 6 is a very nice bit of kit. It is not a vast improvement over the 309 but it is an improvement.

It pootles when you need it to and goes like a vtec if you want it to.

Best of all, it cost £350. It needs its rear quarter filling and some light paint work however, other than that I think its a proper bargain!

[Swifter]

Carter207 said:

I had one of these, really good car, mine had done 131000, and the engine was brilliant, quick, rev happy, reliable and not too awful on fuel. The gear box was brilliant in mine, everything about the car was really! wish i had kept it rather than getting the new 207!!!

Here's mine;

Oh, my old car pops up again.

I spent thousands on that car keeping it running spot on. Dampers and springs every 30k, drop links and bushes every year, not to mention the new gearbox. I do miss it sometimes, especially the noise.

She also went through a lot of tyres and brake's, during the many trackdays. All without any problems.

The best mod I ever made to the car was the wheels. I fitted some lightweight, slightly wider speedines and they where fantastic.

[s m]

Mr Whippy said:

I never did much figure capturing in my GTi6, but having weighed lots of engine/drivetrain bits from a GTi6 (broke/scrapped one), and done lots of figuring in my GTi6, I'd say ALL the standard figures look a bit out.
I'd say 7s flat to 60mph is easily achievable if you perfect your 1st gear launching, and I'd say 1215kg is very pessimistic. My 306 HDi weighed 1128kg dry, and I can't see where a GTi6 weighs near 100kg more, maybe 30-35kg tops (about Rallye book weight in my opinion)

Dave

Which figures are you thinking of?

The ones in Performance Car/EVO mags quote 6.9 ( 19.2 to 100 ) for a Rallye, and 7.2 ( 20.1 to 100 ) for a GTi-6 ( actual timings )
Those look broadly in line with what you're saying.

[chevronb37]

flattotheboards said:

chevronb37 said:

We went out for a drive last year - couple of Elises, a VX220 and my Exige. Girlfriend was in the 306. She managed to hustle along with the Lotuses and barely any slower than the VX in a straight line. This can be independently verified by the PHer who was in the VX and couldn't get away from a girl driving a 12 year old French hatchback. They're remarkable little cars and fantastic value these days.

This is unfortunately true, in a straight line my VX was only slightly faster than the Rallye - we were at 3 figure leptons before I was past. I was surprised by how little difference there was. Obviously I am a rubbish driver.

Why don't you take some lessons from wacko? I'm sure he could beat a girl driving a shopping wagon.