RE: SOTW: Peugeot 306 GTi-6
Discussion
Like any good car you need to have driven a good example. The dampers and the bushes need to be reasonably tight or it feels a bit pap.
I've had a few and, to me, they're my favourite hot hatch. Nothing else matches feedback, engine sound, space, practicality and plain fun as brilliantly.
I've had a few and, to me, they're my favourite hot hatch. Nothing else matches feedback, engine sound, space, practicality and plain fun as brilliantly.
Twincam16 said:
Riggers said:
I also have a complete collection at home of Autocar from 95-now... 
Sadly it's not a public collection... (neither mine nor Haymarket's)
Isn't that a euphemism for 'I nicked it'? Sadly it's not a public collection... (neither mine nor Haymarket's)
I'll have you know that I still pay a subscription - thus indirectly paying my own wages. Which doesn't really make sense... 
Dracoro said:
johnhenry said:
p4cks said:
Totally overrated. Second only to the appaling 205 GTI.
driven either? People are getting things a bit mixed up. Just because a car is overrated, doesn't make it a poor car. I suppose it comes down to expectation. Most cars, however good, won't be able to match up to expectation. Cars like this, the MX5, MK2 Golf GTI etc. are all fine cars, however people go on about them too much (esp on here, including many who've not owned/driven one) and it gets a bit out of proportion.
The more something is hyped, the higher expectation is, the more likely it becomes underwhelming when someone does finally drive one. The hype gets people thinking there's going to be a "wow" moment when they drive one.
FWDRacer said:
So how much more of a premium for 306 Rallye
That really was the last great Peugeot.
A fair bit, good Rallyes start at £2k.That really was the last great Peugeot.
TBH they're near identical to drive, mechanically identical the Rally misses out on AC which often breaks. I also loved the way my late diablo 306 GTI-6 (without badges) looked exactly like a D-Turbo. No fuss, just a great hot hatch with no stigma
Becs owned one for about 18months (X-plate, so Series-3?), which was in-parallel with my initial ownership of 'teg #2. And I have to say the GTi-6 didn't disgrace itself vs the 'teg, and was certainly better VFM (cost half as much for a similar-provenance car). It was nicely tail-happy without being dangerous (try finding a current fwd car that'll do the same!), the engine sounded characterful for a 4-pot, and the ride/handling compromise was typical Peugeot at it's best. I'd have one again without hesitation if I find myself back down at that price-point.
As for looks/interior - it's a lot more graceful-looking a car than half the current crowd. And TBH modern 'soft-touch' plastics just annoy me - take up far too much space and don't actually add anything to a 'hot hatch' driving experience. Leave that stuff for the reps and mini-execs, guys.
As for looks/interior - it's a lot more graceful-looking a car than half the current crowd. And TBH modern 'soft-touch' plastics just annoy me - take up far too much space and don't actually add anything to a 'hot hatch' driving experience. Leave that stuff for the reps and mini-execs, guys.
FWDRacer said:
So how much more of a premium for 306 Rallye
That really was the last great Peugeot.
But how much greater than a GTi-6 was it really? You can spec a Rallye back up to more or less GTi-6 levels IIRC and doesn't the phase one model of one overlap (in weight terms) with the phase two of the other or something? That really was the last great Peugeot.
Dracoro said:
johnhenry said:
p4cks said:
Totally overrated. Second only to the appaling 205 GTI.
driven either? Chris71 said:
FWDRacer said:
So how much more of a premium for 306 Rallye
That really was the last great Peugeot.
But how much greater than a GTi-6 was it really? You can spec a Rallye back up to more or less GTi-6 levels IIRC and doesn't the phase one model of one overlap (in weight terms) with the phase two of the other or something? That really was the last great Peugeot.
It's French. So invariably less to go wrong
Wind up windows rather than wind up electronics.
Heard the AC system was a weak point before.
This is great shout as a shed though - drove a friends XSi and that was great car - overlooked.
Edited by FWDRacer on Friday 6th August 12:03
Chris71 said:
FWDRacer said:
So how much more of a premium for 306 Rallye
That really was the last great Peugeot.
But how much greater than a GTi-6 was it really? You can spec a Rallye back up to more or less GTi-6 levels IIRC and doesn't the phase one model of one overlap (in weight terms) with the phase two of the other or something? That really was the last great Peugeot.
The lightest GTI-6 would be a P1 car with no AC and the sunroof deleted.
Nice. I always liked the 306's my cousin had one and it was a cracker! I have to say I did think this might be the shed this week, considering its a proper German barge: http://pistonheads.com/sales/1858901.htm
Neptune188 said:
I had one of these as my first "proper" car. It was a lot of fun but at 130k it'll be a money pit. Mine died at about 120k - this one will need (if it hasn't already had) Heater matrix, Head Gasket, Cam Belt, Water Pump...That's a good £1000s worth of work.
Good honest car though.
Not strictly true, the cambelt goes, the heater matrix should be fine and the HG shouldn't be a problem, it's usually only a symptom of something else going wrong (the fan sensor which only cuts in a short while before the HG melting point)Good honest car though.
I had an original one of these back in 1997, P???VFU I think was the reg. I bought it from a Pug dealer around a year old with only few thousand miles on it and ran it for 2 or 3 years. Mine was Sigma blue I think? The original car like mine didnt have A/C or was maybe an option so other than the leccy windows, half leather, CD changer and Sunroof it can't have weighed in much more than a Rallye. Back then the Rallye was not as desirable and seen as a poor mans GTI-6 as it was just downspec'd and didnt have anything extra than that to bring to the party. Daft thing is I would rather have a Rallye nowdays, funny how less can be more...
What a fantastic car, I had owned numerous Golfs before it and chopped an MX5 in for this in 1997. the 6 speed box was a big novelty then, other than a Calibra Turbo I dont think much else had that. Its still one of my favorite cars to have owned as it was a leap forward from other cars I had owned at the time. They must be getting very tired now but when new and fresh in 97 it was great fun. I just remember a time where I could carve up familiar Fenland back roads, then without potholes, getting from A to B faster than ever before or since. In a camera free and less congested world it also actually got to stretch its legs frequently. I've since had some far better cars but the GTi-6 was great for its time and the quality and fun factor of Pugs has never been the same since. It took the Civic Type R to come along in 2001 to finally take its crown.
What a fantastic car, I had owned numerous Golfs before it and chopped an MX5 in for this in 1997. the 6 speed box was a big novelty then, other than a Calibra Turbo I dont think much else had that. Its still one of my favorite cars to have owned as it was a leap forward from other cars I had owned at the time. They must be getting very tired now but when new and fresh in 97 it was great fun. I just remember a time where I could carve up familiar Fenland back roads, then without potholes, getting from A to B faster than ever before or since. In a camera free and less congested world it also actually got to stretch its legs frequently. I've since had some far better cars but the GTi-6 was great for its time and the quality and fun factor of Pugs has never been the same since. It took the Civic Type R to come along in 2001 to finally take its crown.
Chris71 said:
Dracoro said:
johnhenry said:
p4cks said:
Totally overrated. Second only to the appaling 205 GTI.
driven either? On my commute there used to be a gentle off-camber left which dipped down, past which you had to break for a tighter right hander which rose back up. The XR2 dispatched this with such composure that I never considered it a tricky bit of road, but the first time I went down in the 205, the back went light around the first bend, I braked for the right, and ended up spining a full 360 through the apex onto a grass verge.
After nearly loosing it again coming off a round-a-bout onto a motorway slip road I swapped it for an AX Gti which understeered for fun but was fast thanks to LAD motorsport.
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