Friday 16th November 2012

SOTW: Peugeot 306 GTI6

Golden wonder with this week's shed in the form of a classic slice of French hot hatchdom

---

After PH's recent Peugeot GTI frenzy, we've been trying to look elsewhere for Shed sustenance. The thing about great Sheds though is that they can appear out of nowhere and make themselves utterly unignorable, if that's a word. This golden Gallic temptress falls squarely into that category.

Very tidy looks for a car at Shed money

Motoring journalism is rightly famed for its hyperbole, but this time it really is no exaggeration to say that the Peugeot 306 GTI6 is one of the all-time great hot hatches. The 306's unprepossessing style is perhaps partly responsible for ramping up the 'surprise and delight' factor. The beating bit of that heart was a sweet and free-revving 2.0-litre 16-valve four turning out 167hp at 6,500rpm, mated to possibly the best Peugeot gearbox ever. A rifle-bolt six-speeder (hence the name) developed by Peugeot's motorsport division it was a first in the hot hatch class. "So precise and smooth, you find yourself changing gear for the hell of it," effused Autocar's testers.

The acceleration figures - 0-60 in 7.8 seconds, 0-100 in 21.5 - are good even by 2012 standards, but it was what happened through your hands and backside that set the GTI6 apart back in 1996. There was nowt special about the strut/coil/ARB suspension up front, or about the torsion beam/trailing-arm set-up at the rear, though it did have passive rear steer. The engine was mounted as far back in the chassis as was practicably possible, but the 6's best weapon of all was something it didn't have - weight.

Plenty of receipts help to reassure

Coming in at just a few kilos over 1,200kg gave it a distinctly handy power-to-weight ratio of 137bhp per tonne. Even the stripped-out 306 Rallye was only 16kg lighter, and that was at the expense of useful GTI6 stuff like air con and the nice half-leather trim. With the fast steering rack from the preceding 306 S16, the GTI6 was one handy tool - and 16 years later, a good example like this one here still is.

Anything to watch out for? Well, just the usual PSA stuff like fragile electrics, rust (galvanising wasn't part of the plan), flimsy seat mounts and adjusters, dead heater blowers. On a car like this it's always worth checking the engine mounts, suspension parts and driveshafts. Dodgy map sensors or coil packs will cause poor or non-existent running, but that's not exactly exclusive to Peugeot. Parts seem reasonably cheap and there's strong online support for the model.

Half Alcantara trim is a luxurious touch

You can read all about this car's excellent service history in the original ad. Seems like all you need to do as the next owner is fit some decent tyres, pop the spare key somewhere safe and head out on the highway. Expect average mpg in the mid 20s, over 30 if you're being careful, and under 20 if you're driving it properly.

With the Autocar summation ringing in our ears - "another great Peugeot hot hatch that knows what keen drivers want, and provides it ... easily good enough to be rated alongside the 205 GTI" - only the most churlish would quibble with Volkswizard's reluctance to take offers on £999.

---

See the original advert here.

Description
PEUGEOT 306 GTI-6 16V £1300 HEAD OVERHAUL IN 2011 MOT AUGUST 2013 EXCEPTIONALLY TIDY CAR THROUGHOUT - HEATED SEATS (£999)

1998 Peugeot 306 GTI-6 with 2.0 16v petrol engine and 6 speed manual gearbox. 9 owners from new. 1st was a lady from Pershore, Worcestershire. Last 2 since 2008 were local to our premises and lived very close to each other. Last owner traded it in at VW main dealership and we purchased it due to its outstanding condition and status as one of the best hot hatchbacks ever made according to Evo magazine who gave it a 5/5 star rating.

128000 with a near full service history. Service history in original service book as follows; 4653 (20/1/99), 18858 (10/7/00), 36174 (6/3/03), 44208 (17/3/04), (no mileage recorded - 14/4/05), 75062 (26/1/06), 82007 (13/6/06), 89585 (7/12/06), 98090 (1/6/07), 109276 (21/3/08). We have every old MOT certificate, from 2008 the mileages are recorded as follows, 106843 (2008-9), 113688 (2009-10), 118254 (2010-11), 122767 (2011-12), 127133 (2012-13).

We also have numerous receipts, some from the last few years which point to DIY servicing such as one listing oil and oil filter purchased in Feb 11 with "120000 miles" written on it. The most important receipt however is for £1378.91 from 24/11/11 for a thorough cylinder head overhaul which included a cambelt kit, water pump, thermostat, spark plugs, oil filter, drivebelt and much more (see the last pic below).

Current MOT expires 23/8/13

Great specification with heated seats, leather/alcantara sports seats, aircon, front fog lamps, Alpine radio/CD in dash. Spare key. GTI-6 mats.

This really is an unusually good example of the 306 GTI-6 bought by me specifically because it looked so good. I didn't know at the time that it came with a bill for the cylinder overhaul but that explained why it drove so well. Everything works apart from the electric mirrors and possibly the air con - this is a common problem on these and it's been too cold to know for sure whether it's working or not so please assume it isn't. All 4 tyres have lots of life left though are a budget brand. The bodywork really is close to perfect as is the interior - you'd be lucky to get a VW Group at this age and mileage looking and driving this well (although not many will have needed over £1k of work!)

PLEASE NOTE WE ARE NOT OPEN TO OFFERS ON THIS ONE SORRY

 

[CampDavid]

Cylinder head overhall means that it's had a snapped belt in the main. This in term means that there's a fair chance it'll make a lovely tapping noise all the time unless it's been refurbed properly; most haven't

If it doesn't tap then it's a fine chariot. I've had 4 of these and they're still, for my money, one of the best combinations of front drive handling, fun and practicality with a lovely induction noise.

[CampDavid]

Dion20vt said:

Good car! But always thought the Xsara VTS was better value for money?

Not any more. The Xsara misses the 6 speed box, leather and some of the handling sharpness. Personally, I wouldn't bother with one now 306s are so cheap

[CampDavid]

kilauea said:

two things i disagree with on this write up.

1. The gearbox was ste! The ratio's were o.k but none of my 3 rallye's had what you could call a "bolt action". Compared to say an mx5 it was awful and the clutches were heavy as fook too.

2. I've never had a spot of rust on mine and always assumed that they were galvanized? 205's certainly were.

Other than that, I bought 3 rallye's for a reason. Great cars.

I remember your first one on GTI-6.com, twas lovely.

[CampDavid]

kilauea said:

CampDavid said:

I remember your first one on GTI-6.com, twas lovely.

That was the best one I had, never should have sold it
I've kept a 205 gti for giggles.

Same. My first one was a black 23,899 mile example when I picked it up. I only sold it because I'm fking retarded

[CampDavid]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-PEUGEOT-306-RALLYE-...

Cheap Rallye at the moment