Discussion
The first performance car I ever drove was a friend's 306 GTI-6, back in 2006.
I remember being blown away by how much energy the engine had, and how it seemed to pull just as hard, or even harder in higher gears.
I think the touring car-style gear ratios had something to do with it.
I've always wanted one, but never got round to buying one, either for financial reasons or not finding one that I thought was good value.
I was about to go and look at an immaculate 120k mile blaze yellow example which was up for £5750, and chop in my Toyota iQ.
However, when I set off, the clutch completely went in the iQ. Possibly a recent return drive to Modena via Switzerland had something to do with it. Still, 74k miles from an original clutch wasn't too bad.
So, instead I decided to go and look at a 142k mile example, up for £2395, which I ended up getting for £2200.
It has very little service history, tatty paintwork, the dash back lights don't work for nighttime driving, the front suspension is too low, the decat exhaust wreaks havoc with my asthma and the brakes are shot, but the engine is a masterpiece, the gearbox probably the best I've experienced, and the handling is sublime. Also, the last 2 MOTs have had zero advisories, and there has never in its history been an advisory for corrosion or rust, which is great. Just a shame I don't have a garage to protect it.
Also, according to the seller, it's "Mechanically sorted with just having the lower crank pulley (pug 1 off) and cambelt kit fitted 15 miles ago. at the same time a full engine service was carried out with premium filters bosch spark plugs and premium grade oil." - He seemed a very genuine guy, who ran his own classic car restoration workshop. The oil looks fresh and it drives excellently. There's also no rust! Genuine reason for sale too - he picked up an immaculate Rallye and didn't need 2 fast 306s.
So my plan is to keep the iQ for mundane driving duties, and spend up to £800 getting the '6' driving nicely, it might even become my new daily driver, who knows. But I feel obliged to use the iQ once it has its new clutch.
I remember being blown away by how much energy the engine had, and how it seemed to pull just as hard, or even harder in higher gears.
I think the touring car-style gear ratios had something to do with it.
I've always wanted one, but never got round to buying one, either for financial reasons or not finding one that I thought was good value.
I was about to go and look at an immaculate 120k mile blaze yellow example which was up for £5750, and chop in my Toyota iQ.
However, when I set off, the clutch completely went in the iQ. Possibly a recent return drive to Modena via Switzerland had something to do with it. Still, 74k miles from an original clutch wasn't too bad.
So, instead I decided to go and look at a 142k mile example, up for £2395, which I ended up getting for £2200.
It has very little service history, tatty paintwork, the dash back lights don't work for nighttime driving, the front suspension is too low, the decat exhaust wreaks havoc with my asthma and the brakes are shot, but the engine is a masterpiece, the gearbox probably the best I've experienced, and the handling is sublime. Also, the last 2 MOTs have had zero advisories, and there has never in its history been an advisory for corrosion or rust, which is great. Just a shame I don't have a garage to protect it.
Also, according to the seller, it's "Mechanically sorted with just having the lower crank pulley (pug 1 off) and cambelt kit fitted 15 miles ago. at the same time a full engine service was carried out with premium filters bosch spark plugs and premium grade oil." - He seemed a very genuine guy, who ran his own classic car restoration workshop. The oil looks fresh and it drives excellently. There's also no rust! Genuine reason for sale too - he picked up an immaculate Rallye and didn't need 2 fast 306s.
So my plan is to keep the iQ for mundane driving duties, and spend up to £800 getting the '6' driving nicely, it might even become my new daily driver, who knows. But I feel obliged to use the iQ once it has its new clutch.
Edited by Limited100 on Saturday 26th August 00:30
105.4 said:
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
As an ex-owner of multiple 205 & 309GTI’s, I really lust after these, especially a white Rallye variant.
Will this be a daily driver or a weekend toy?
Thanks. Stunning aren't they. I adore 205s and 309s also.As an ex-owner of multiple 205 & 309GTI’s, I really lust after these, especially a white Rallye variant.
Will this be a daily driver or a weekend toy?
Weekend toy and tip runs / carting my road bike around until it's tidied up.
samoht said:
Thanks for sharing, nice that these are still somewhat affordable.
How does it drive at that ride height? Any plans to change the suspension? The rear height on these can just be re-set right?
I'd imagine it would drive best with the factory suspension setup, but depends how it's been done I guess.
It handles great but could do with some more modern tyres.How does it drive at that ride height? Any plans to change the suspension? The rear height on these can just be re-set right?
I'd imagine it would drive best with the factory suspension setup, but depends how it's been done I guess.
Because the suspension is so low, the front bumper can scrape which is really annoying and not what I want in a daily driver, so I've ordered these:
I've also ordered Greenstuff pads as DS2500 are ludicrously expensive and Yellowstuff take too long to warm up:
Couple of other niggles:
The locks need to be locked manually, so perhaps the key needs a new battery.
The passenger window winds up and down electrically but the driver's window does nothing, although it can work intermittently.
The engine temperature sits at 80°C which is perfect, but can creep up at a slow cruise, which concerns me, so I've ordered these:
If it isn't these, perhaps it could be to do with fan activation, or it might need a new Bitron box which sits in the wheel well and can fall victim to water ingress.
The locks need to be locked manually, so perhaps the key needs a new battery.
The passenger window winds up and down electrically but the driver's window does nothing, although it can work intermittently.
The engine temperature sits at 80°C which is perfect, but can creep up at a slow cruise, which concerns me, so I've ordered these:
If it isn't these, perhaps it could be to do with fan activation, or it might need a new Bitron box which sits in the wheel well and can fall victim to water ingress.
okgo said:
Owned two or maybe three of these back in the day. Amusingly even a decade ago they cost about what you paid!
The first upgrade was the tyres! Awful things the ones it came with.
Great cars, timeless look, terrible turning circle and even worse A/C
Turning circle is hilarious, apparently due to the bigger gearbox.The first upgrade was the tyres! Awful things the ones it came with.
Great cars, timeless look, terrible turning circle and even worse A/C
A/C doesn't work and probably never will haha.
Which tyres did you go for? I reckon Uniroyal Rainsports sound ok, or AD08Rs.
okgo said:
F1 Eagles were always the go to back in the day on the 306 owners forum.
Not sure if still around but CG Cars in Leicester used sell a supercharger conversion kit to take them to nearer 400bhp. I took a ride in the prototype years ago - nuts.
Wow, I wonder if that's with stock internals. I've seen a GT28RS converted one in Poland.Not sure if still around but CG Cars in Leicester used sell a supercharger conversion kit to take them to nearer 400bhp. I took a ride in the prototype years ago - nuts.
okgo said:
I'm almost certain I bought that mag back in the day!Impressive considering the stock gearbox and driveshafts coped with 400 bhp.
C70R said:
Sounds like a fun project, but I'd absolutely recommend against Greenstuff even for just 'spirited' road driving.
My old R53 (similar weight, slightly more power) cooked a set in a morning on a run around Mid Wales. The first I knew was when I nearly rear-ended my friend's FTO when pulling up to a junction. What makes it even worse is that the specialist I used had fitted them when I'd asked for Yellowstuff.
I would recommend sending them back and spending the extra few quid on the DS2500s, which is what I replaced my Greenstuff with. For me there's no better pad for giving a kicking on the road and still having good manners from cold, and they even work on track in short stints on lighter cars. I'd also suggest swapping out the brake fluid for ATE Typ200. It's a cheap job, and will give you a bit of additional fade resistance.
Ah ok, will give Greenstuff a try and once done will try DS2500s next. I was recommended Greenstuff by Spoox Motorsport so will give them the benefit of the doubt, also the brakes have pretty much zero power right now.My old R53 (similar weight, slightly more power) cooked a set in a morning on a run around Mid Wales. The first I knew was when I nearly rear-ended my friend's FTO when pulling up to a junction. What makes it even worse is that the specialist I used had fitted them when I'd asked for Yellowstuff.
I would recommend sending them back and spending the extra few quid on the DS2500s, which is what I replaced my Greenstuff with. For me there's no better pad for giving a kicking on the road and still having good manners from cold, and they even work on track in short stints on lighter cars. I'd also suggest swapping out the brake fluid for ATE Typ200. It's a cheap job, and will give you a bit of additional fade resistance.
Oil temp settles at 90°C and water temp seems to settle between 90°C and 105°C. I take it this is normal.
105.4 said:
Your oil temp seems ‘ok’, but your water temp seems a tad high to me from what I can remember from my last 309 Goodwood.
Is the rad in good nick? It might be worth reverse flushing it, changing the temp sender and the thermostat, just to be on the safe side.
I thought so too. It seems ok but will reverse flush it, thanks. Also new temp sensor and thermostat are on the way.Is the rad in good nick? It might be worth reverse flushing it, changing the temp sender and the thermostat, just to be on the safe side.
- not stolen, scrapped, not a write-off, no outstanding finance.
integraf40 said:
It's normal when in traffic or moving slowly, a low speed fan will come on at 97 degrees and the high speed fan will come on at 107 degrees. Usually the low speed one is enough to keep on top of it. If the fans don't come on disconnect the brown coolant plug on the thermostat housing and the high speed will run all the time. Had this issue and replaces the brown plug, and problem solved. Have a 98 blaze myself
Will bear in mind, thanks.ciaranthemurph said:
Lovely, I had a Nile Blue Ph2 one back in the day, was a fantastic car and I won't say no to owning another.
I wasn't a fan of the Blaze yellow in the day, but at least you are clear of having the Mustang cloth inside.
Blaze yellow is a very marmite colour for sure. Yeh I much prefer this interior style to the jazzier interior option.I wasn't a fan of the Blaze yellow in the day, but at least you are clear of having the Mustang cloth inside.
C5_Steve said:
Following with interest, you've picked that up at a decent price to allow you to put it back as it should be.
Great colour and base car to start with!
Thanks!Great colour and base car to start with!
Yeh I'm thinking..
Car £2200
Front brake pads £55
New tyres £200
Exhaust cat £130
Exterior trim £100
Stock front springs £110
New thermostat and sensor £24
£2819
Probably get £3k to £3.5k for it in a year or two if I sort out all the niggles. Cheap motoring.
donaircooleone said:
Oil at 90 is pretty standard, just you wait till it gets colder and notice how long it can take to get warm! Mind you mine lives an easy life with a dual carriageway commute.
Water on mine has only ever sat just below 80°C when cruising and will creep up to 105°C when stuck in traffic (fans manage nicely). When the AC was working it would never go above 80°C indicated.
Great cars, mine is on 208k now and just back from a French road trip.
Sounds like a great road trip. They're so comfy too.Water on mine has only ever sat just below 80°C when cruising and will creep up to 105°C when stuck in traffic (fans manage nicely). When the AC was working it would never go above 80°C indicated.
Great cars, mine is on 208k now and just back from a French road trip.
How often have you had the cambelt done? Has the head been rebuilt in that mileage?
C70R said:
Last post on brake pads, I promise.
Spend the extra 30 quid on these Mintex pads if you can't stretch to DS2500s. https://spoox.co.uk/brake-pads/377-peugeot-306-gti...
This isn't me being a snob. I've genuinely had better braking performance from OEM pads than Greenstuff. They were borderline dangerous in the way that braking just disappeared.
Ok, but.. http://www.306gti6.com/forum/showthread.php?id=129...Spend the extra 30 quid on these Mintex pads if you can't stretch to DS2500s. https://spoox.co.uk/brake-pads/377-peugeot-306-gti...
This isn't me being a snob. I've genuinely had better braking performance from OEM pads than Greenstuff. They were borderline dangerous in the way that braking just disappeared.
Perhaps Mintex are ideal then, thanks.
Edited by Limited100 on Wednesday 23 August 08:14
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