Peugeot 306 GTI-6 | Cars under the hammer
We've chosen a '90s hot hatch legend and all-time PH favourite for our first-ever auction car video. Enjoy
As you’ve no doubt noticed, our auction platform is growing at a rate of knots. So much so that it is giving us plenty more to talk about. Whether it's British icons like this Aston Martin V8 Vantage or JDM specials such as this DC5 Honda Integra Type R (the rarer facelift, too), there's always something likely to tempt the hard-earned cash from your pocket. This means there are lots of stories to tell. And what better way to do that than with a video camera and some pointing?
Hard to think of a better way to kick off than with a PH favourite: the Peugeot 306 GTI-6. Not only is it one of the all-time great '90s hot hatches, but it’s arguably the French carmaker’s last truly world-beating performance car. Peugeot all but gave up on fun cars throughout the '00s, with the 206 GTI being about as hot as leftover pizza, and although the 208 and 308 GTIs were a very welcome return to form, they were hardly unmissable staples of their era - not like 306 GTI-6 was.
So what is it that made the GTI-6 so special? True, the addition of a sixth cog squeezed into a closer-ratio gearbox was a big deal back in the late '90s, especially in a hatchback, although that’s only a small part of what made the car memorable. Upgrades to the exhaust manifold, intake and pistons saw power from its naturally aspirated, 2.0-litre four-pot rise to 170hp (up from 157hp on the S16), while revisions were said to have been made to the suspension setup and the brakes beefed up.
Then there’s the car we have here, which is a little bit different from the rest. The seller Jack, who you may know as Number 27 on YouTube, bought the 2000 example just over a year ago and, although part of its appeal was that it didn’t need much doing to it, he couldn’t resist making a handful of improvements to make this 306 GTI-6 the best it can be. That includes a respray to return its deep blue paintwork to its original lustre and an audio upgrade that keeps the stock speaker housing to retain the OEM look (a stainless steel exhaust had already been fitted by a previous owner).
And boy, does it sound good. No booming on throttle, no artificial pops and bangs on the overrun; just the sweet sound of a high-revving four-pot that’s been ever so slightly dialled up. It’s responsive, too. The claimed 0-62mph time of just under eight seconds doesn’t sound especially quick, but it's the way the revs pick up the moment you brush the accelerator that stands out in 2024. As does the wonderfully weighted steering, which never stops seeming like an oily tonic when measured against current hot hatches.
Best of all, there's the sensation in the GTI-6 that you're getting everything it's got from the moment you turn the key. There's no nagging feeling that its potential remains untapped as there would be if it had a zillion horsepower and nine gears. It's still brilliantly suited to British roads and the speed limits that govern them. Moreover, despite its glowing reputation, GTI-6 values haven’t quite skyrocketed as they have for the mechanically identical 306 Rallye. This 75,435-mile car is guided between £6,500 and £7,500, which, as you'd expect, is about on par for a car of this age and mileage. Factor in the chunky history file, very tasteful upgrades and the nailed-on certainty that Peugeot isn't going to repeat the trick, and it starts to look like one for the ages. Which it is.
I was amazed at the alacrity with which they handled, going around the outside of me on bends that I was, in my mind, fully committed to, yet left me standing.
Came close to buying one a couple of times but never pulled the trigger, I’ll probably regret it when these start to catch up with 205 GTIs on price and I still haven’t had one…
I think they were all Blaze Yellow demos - nice cars but I ended up thinking the 106 GTi (or the very similar Saxo VTS ) did everything a little bit better for me for less money new - apart from having aircon. So that’s where my money went
I do think, like the first post says, though that these are good value for money for a 90s driver’s car
Toyed with getting another, R488 CHP is still alive and being MOT'd but I don't want to have my time with the car tainted, as I suspect compared to my mk7 Golf GTi, things have moved on a lot.
6.5-7k for this lovely looking example looks a bargain in today's inflated price world though.
I was amazed at the alacrity with which they handled, going around the outside of me on bends that I was, in my mind, fully committed to, yet left me standing.
Came close to buying one a couple of times but never pulled the trigger, I’ll probably regret it when these start to catch up with 205 GTIs on price and I still haven’t had one…
0-60 I think was officially just over 7s, although I'm sure I saw a test somewhere that had it just under 7s.
I'm also not sure how the '90s was a "lean" decade for the hot hatch...
Peugeot 306 S16/GTI-6/Rallye
Peugeot 309 GTI
Peugeot 106 GTI/Rallye
Peugeot 205 GTI/Rallye
Ford Escort Cosworth/RS2000/4x4
Ford Fiesta XR2i/RS Turbo/RS1800
VW Golf GTI/VR6
VW Polo G40
Nissan Almera GTI
Nissan Sunny GTI/GTi-R
Lancia Delta Integrale
Citroen AX GTI
Citroen Saxo VTR/VTS
Citroen Xsara VTS
Renault Clio 16V/Williams
Renault 5 GT Turbo
Vauxhall Astra GSI/SRI
Vauxhall Nova GSI/SRI
Vauxhall Corsa GSI/SRI
Rover 200Vi/BRM
Fiat Bravo HGT
Fiat Tipo 16v
Fiat Punto GT
Fiat Uno Turbo
Proton Satria GTI
Seat Ibiza GTI
Alfa Romeo 145 TS
Honda Civic VTI/SiR/Type-R/Jordan
Suzuki Swift GTI
Daihatsu Charade GTTI
Toyota Corolla GTI
I often try to defend the editorial quality on this site but...yeah...not exactly lean
I always enjoy watching Jack's videos too, and he is one of my favourites on YouTube for sure. I'm looking forward to watching this video when I get chance as well.
I'm also not sure how the '90s was a "lean" decade for the hot hatch...
Peugeot 306 S16/GTI-6/Rallye
Peugeot 309 GTI
Peugeot 106 GTI/Rallye
Peugeot 205 GTI/Rallye
Ford Escort Cosworth/RS2000/4x4
Ford Fiesta XR2i/RS Turbo/RS1800
VW Golf GTI/VR6
VW Polo G40
Nissan Almera GTI
Nissan Sunny GTI/GTi-R
Lancia Delta Integrale
Citroen AX GTI
Citroen Saxo VTR/VTS
Citroen Xsara VTS
Renault Clio 16V/Williams
Renault 5 GT Turbo
Vauxhall Astra GSI/SRI
Vauxhall Nova GSI/SRI
Vauxhall Corsa GSI/SRI
Rover 200Vi/BRM
Fiat Bravo HGT
Fiat Tipo 16v
Fiat Punto GT
Fiat Uno Turbo
Proton Satria GTI
Seat Ibiza GTI
Alfa Romeo 145 TS
Honda Civic VTI/SiR/Type-R/Jordan
Suzuki Swift GTI
Daihatsu Charade GTTI
Toyota Corolla GTI
I often try to defend the editorial quality on this site but...yeah...not exactly lean
I’d agree though, contemporary press reports ( where they avoided a track ) were usually very glowing about on-road dynamics
Sometimes criticised for a rear end that was almost too mobile at times but can’t think of much else they didn’t like ( apart from turning circle thanks to gearbox )
I had 2 Rallye’s and drove many Gti-6’s
It feels like my new steer - GRY - is some how the spiritual successor of these - 20 odd years on…
These were really all the power, handling and fun you need…
They were great!
Of all the cars I’ve owned (nearly 60) - the Rallye would be in the top 3…
My GT4 718, would not make the top 3….!! Nor would the M2 comp, or the M4 X drive comp…!
Peugeot 309 GTI
Peugeot 106 GTI/Rallye
Peugeot 205 GTI/Rallye
Ford Escort Cosworth/RS2000/4x4
Ford Fiesta XR2i/RS Turbo/RS1800
VW Golf GTI/VR6
VW Polo G40
Nissan Almera GTI
Nissan Sunny GTI/GTi-R
Lancia Delta Integrale
Citroen AX GTI
Citroen Saxo VTR/VTS
Citroen Xsara VTS
Renault Clio 16V/Williams
Renault 5 GT Turbo
Vauxhall Astra GSI/SRI
Vauxhall Nova GSI/SRI
Vauxhall Corsa GSI/SRI
Rover 200Vi/BRM
Fiat Bravo HGT
Fiat Tipo 16v
Fiat Punto GT
Fiat Uno Turbo
Proton Satria GTI
Seat Ibiza GTI
Alfa Romeo 145 TS
Honda Civic VTI/SiR/Type-R/Jordan
Suzuki Swift GTI
Daihatsu Charade GTTI
Toyota Corolla GTI
Civic Type R
Golf Gti/ R
Leon Cupra
Polo GTi
Up Gti
Focus ST
A class AMG35/45
BMW 135i/Ti
Audi S3, RS3
Suzuki Swift Sport
mini cooper s/jcw
Toyota Yaris GR
er....
er,,,,
if the 90s was lean, this is ultra low fat
I'm also not sure how the '90s was a "lean" decade for the hot hatch...
Peugeot 306 S16/GTI-6/Rallye
Peugeot 309 GTI
Peugeot 106 GTI/Rallye
Peugeot 205 GTI/Rallye
Ford Escort Cosworth/RS2000/4x4
Ford Fiesta XR2i/RS Turbo/RS1800
VW Golf GTI/VR6
VW Polo G40
Nissan Almera GTI
Nissan Sunny GTI/GTi-R
Lancia Delta Integrale
Citroen AX GTI
Citroen Saxo VTR/VTS
Citroen Xsara VTS
Renault Clio 16V/Williams
Renault 5 GT Turbo
Vauxhall Astra GSI/SRI
Vauxhall Nova GSI/SRI
Vauxhall Corsa GSI/SRI
Rover 200Vi/BRM
Fiat Bravo HGT
Fiat Tipo 16v
Fiat Punto GT
Fiat Uno Turbo
Proton Satria GTI
Seat Ibiza GTI
Alfa Romeo 145 TS
Honda Civic VTI/SiR/Type-R/Jordan
Suzuki Swift GTI
Daihatsu Charade GTTI
Toyota Corolla GTI
I often try to defend the editorial quality on this site but...yeah...not exactly lean
I was amazed at the alacrity with which they handled, going around the outside of me on bends that I was, in my mind, fully committed to, yet left me standing.
Came close to buying one a couple of times but never pulled the trigger, I’ll probably regret it when these start to catch up with 205 GTIs on price and I still haven’t had one…
To be fair the Corrado did well, I’d sorted the suspension and brakes but it still had standard seats and no belts. The 306’s were,allegedly standard other than back seats removed and a decent seat and harnesses.
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