RE: SOTW: Peugeot 306 GTI6

RE: SOTW: Peugeot 306 GTI6

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
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
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
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

 

Author
Discussion

CampDavid

Original Poster:

9,145 posts

197 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
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.

Limpet

6,287 posts

160 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Love it. One of my all time favourite cars. I'd actually go so far as to say I'd prefer one of these to a 205 GTI.

Drive one of these to remind yourself just how badly Peugeot have lost the plot in the last decade.

richb77

887 posts

160 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Mmmmm.

Never been in a GTI-6, but i have the less hot 306's and they where quite respectable.

I get the impression it was the natural successor to the 205 GTi and probably the last of the un-bloated GTi's

Pretty good shed IMO.

Type R Tom

3,854 posts

148 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Always fancied one of these, they were new when I first started driving at 17. You never imagine you’d ever be able to afford let alone insure one!

Dempsey1971

383 posts

169 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Lovely, had one of these back in 98, it was sweet as a nut

Hudson

1,857 posts

186 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
My dad had one for a bit, fantastic little car!

Prawnboy

1,326 posts

146 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Time has been very kind to that shape......good shed!

Dion20vt

252 posts

161 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Good car! But always thought the Xsara VTS was better value for money?

CampDavid

Original Poster:

9,145 posts

197 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
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

chevronb37

6,471 posts

185 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
My 306 Rallye is just divine - I absolutely love the old thing. Perfect shed.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
These are good cars, bar the normal French interior quality issues. It's amazing just how well it has dated, I can't see the amorphous jelly blobs that Peugeot has been moulding for the last 10 years doing quite so well. The 307 already looks even more st than it did at release, which is quite some feat.

J.R.B.

319 posts

191 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Had two of these in the past. Fantastic cars.

FELIX_5

952 posts

196 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
After lusting after one of these since they came out, I've just picked one up, and love it! I was fortunate enough to find an unmolested 1 lady owner example with 53k miles and FSH!

Think this one is a keeper. Great car, great shed this week.

AV12

5,302 posts

207 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Admittedly overlooked by me when considering a pedigree hot hatch. I like.

Best SOTW for as long as I can remember!

Sam1990

398 posts

166 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Still looks great today.

I hear with a few tweaks these can be chasing down Civic Type Rs?

Bisonhead

1,567 posts

188 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
I may well be looking for one of these as the next runaround. I did not realise they were this cheap though!

I always gave a wave to GTi-6 drivers when I had my gold 106 GTi, especially in that colour!!

StoatInACoat

1,352 posts

184 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Wanted one of these instead of the 172 when I was car hunting and was prepared to pay top dollar for a good one. Couldn't find any decent ones at the time!

They shouldn't rust anywhere near as much as a car of a similar age. Our 306 is 13 years old and has 140k with no rust at all apart from some surface underneath. Check rear axles, trailing arm bearing fail giving you wikkid camber thus neccesitating a beam rubiuld or a new axle off a Xsara VTS. 306's are actually very strong and well put together despite the Frenchness.

Cambelt every 36k or it can (and lots have) snap and the engine eats itself. Lots of tappers about as said. Around £250 parts and labour for belt kit/water pump which should be done at the same time.

KIG1971

74 posts

180 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
I've never owned one but our local racing track, Croft, used them at their driver days in the late 90's.

It was the first car I drove with a six speed box, but just never got to use it on the track.

Whoever picks this up will have a great fun car.

FELIX_5

952 posts

196 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Heated seats must be quite rare on these?!

J4CKO

41,190 posts

199 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
The 306 was one of the prettiest hatches ever,before the headlamps started ending up under the A pillar, the lovely slight flare to the arches, ok this one is in a rather unflattering colour but still a nice looking car. These were from a time when they were still light but power had begun to creep up, 150 bhp used to be the limit for most hot hatches so 167 bhp sounded amazing back then, the 306 was a bit of a revelation really, the Dturbo had 90 bhp and was a decent drive, the earliest known examples of diesel owners thinking their car was a performance legend, a chap at work decided his shiny new black Dturbo was quicker than my 1.9 GTI Engineering Golf GTI, it wasnt but it was fairly nippy.

Good shed !