Tuesday 7th June 2016

Peugeot 106 Rallye: Spotted

Fast 106s are heading the way of 205s - get in while you can!

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Now every enthusiast is aware of the current Peugeot situation. Yes, things aren't quite what they used to be, but recent Peugeot Sport models have shown it hasn't completely forgotten how to build a great fast car. Then everyone carps on about the old stuff a little bit more...

When was the last time you heard 'optional airbag'?

But it really is worth remembering how hardcore some of these Peugeot pocket rockets were, proven perfectly by this 106 Rallye. Back in 1998, your Peugeot dealer would have asked whether you wanted your 865kg (!) 106 in white or blue, then asked if sir would like to pay extra for an airbag and power steering. One airbag as an option! Sure, the late 90s probably seems a while ago now, but this was still the time of Mk4 Golf GTI; it certainly wasn't an era of safety and refinement being secondary priorities. Well, unless you were Peugeot... And to think this is the softer of the two 106 Rallyes!

The Series 2 Rallye swapped the original's 1.3-litre screamer for a torquier 1.6-litre eight-valve engine, altering the character and making it slightly less frantic. These things are all relative though; today a city car hot hatch is something like a Twingo GT, and can you imagine what a Rallye feels like in comparison to that? 'Intense' may well be the word.

Commitment to the PH cause!

It would appear this intensity and focused nature is becoming in demand too. That or everyone who wanted a 205 has been priced out of the market and moved on to the 106 instead. Either way, where not so long ago around £3,000 would have bought you one of the best S2 Rallyes, this car is for sale at £5,995. Granted it is the last of these cars to be registered in the UK and has less than 60,000 miles, but it's clear that the values are rising. Even this 100,000-mile car is for sale at £4,495. As a point of reference though, six grand of 205 GTI is either a 1.9 GTI with nearly 100,000 miles more than the featured Rallye, or a CTI. Yes, a 205 CTI is six thousand pounds. A 106 Rallye still looks decent value then.

So now's the time to grab one. Buy one, remind yourself why light and simple cars really are the best, and you probably don't stand to lose a lot when you sell it. Sounds good, right? Meanwhile we'll badger Peugeot Sport to create a 108 Rallye for the 21st century and the resurgence can continue!

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PEUGEOT 106 RALLYE S2
Engine: 1,587cc 8v four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 104@6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 97@3,500rpm
MPG: Probably OK given the weight
CO2: Probably not given the age
First registered: 1999
Recorded mileage: 58,458
Price new: £9,895 (1997)
Yours for: £5,995

See the original advert here.

[Source: RallyeRegister]

[Krikkit]

Fantastic cars these, very raw and charismatic.

This one's got an airbag which is a rare option, and PAS as well (again a rare option).

[Krikkit]

Yes and no - it's a reasonable system, and gives the car a much faster rack. The standard manual one is a bit pedestrian for a car with a tendency for oversteer.

The ultimate is retrofitting a Quaife quick rack which the members club had commissioned, but that's an expensive option.

[generationx]

Somewhere in the dusty backwaters of my memory my brain is telling me that this, at least the S1, was a homologation special, right?

Unless motorsport, and particularly rallying, reverts back to the early-90s simplicity, I´m guessing such a lightweight, minimalist, pure little hot hatch will not appear again...

[slikrs]

I like my non-PAS variant - the rack is a tad slower but you can feel every white line through your fingertips and with the smaller moto-lita wheel I have fitted + increased castor + the track tyres - well, it's hard enough to park!

[DanQyou]

Are there any cheaper alternatives to this car? similar power and weight would be nice for a fun weekend car (:

[Dion20vt]

Why oh why did I turn down a nice S1 Rallye for £300 in 2007.....

Oh that's right, I had kids!

It wont be long before Saxo VTS's and Pug 106 GTi's go this way!

[Mike1990]

Yeah I'd love this. Can't be many left as good as this one.

[300bhp/ton]

slikrs said:

I like my non-PAS variant - the rack is a tad slower but you can feel every white line through your fingertips and with the smaller moto-lita wheel I have fitted + increased castor + the track tyres - well, it's hard enough to park!

How heavy is the non-PAS one? I used to autotest my 106, it was a diesel non-PAS. It's only real failing was the steering was a tad heavy at autotest speeds and you couldn't spin the wheel round with the ball of your hand.

[ilovequo]

£6k
hmmm
That's halfway to a good e46 M3

[Krikkit]

DanQyou said:

Are there any cheaper alternatives to this car? similar power and weight would be nice for a fun weekend car (:

There are a few Rallye's in various stages of modification available on the market - they only made 500 of the S2 so they're quite rare. A decent standard(ish) one can be had for £2k. A lot of them have some gentle mods, some of them have the transplant of a GTI engine which makes them very nippy indeed (faster than a Clio 1*2 thanks to the close ratio box).

[PistonBroker]

I always thought these S2s were 16V. Every day's a school day!

[Dale487]

The want is big & it's not too far from Manchester but I don't need it & there are more important things to buy

[300bhp/ton]

DanQyou said:

Are there any cheaper alternatives to this car? similar power and weight would be nice for a fun weekend car (:

Plenty of small fwd hatches about. Maybe not so many as focused as these out the box, but still lots of choice. Even more so if you don't mind a little modding.

1.4 Gta/GTI Metro's/Rover 100's have similar power and weight. And can be made very good drives.


There are still lots of other Pug 106's and Saxo's about of varying spec. And most will be way cheaper than this one.

[300bhp/ton]

ilovequo said:

£6k
hmmm
That's halfway to a good e46 M3

I quite like these, but for £6k I think you've "really" got to want it. Lots of equally fun cars about for a lot less money.

[richardalanlee]

Well, I paid top whack for my red S1 last year, and then spent a fair bit more re-comissioning it from storage. It had sat for seven years.
It owes me about £5k now, and I've got a plan to do some more bits to stay ahead of a full restoration. It's pretty much standard.
It's a very lovely road car and a complete ripper. Worth every penny.

[Smitters]

Turned down one of these when looking for my first "proper" car when I knew nothing, I repeat, nothing, about cars. Because it had steel wheels. I regret that idiocy to this day. Three years in a 1.1 Saxo. Smitters, you utter bellend.

[Vroom101]

Whilst I'd love to have a drive of this, what puts me off is the pedals. I had a 106 as a hire car once, and the pedals were just too close together for my size 11 feet

[suffolk009]

I tried to buy one of these 4 or 5 years ago. Couldn't find one, so went with my second choice a Rover BRM (crazy quilted red leather interior, orange grill and a VVC 1.8K). The BRM was lovely but eventually died on me.

Now the top end for Rallyes is 6,000 pounds, and a nice BRM is 600. Craazy.

[ukaskew]

suffolk009 said:

I tried to buy one of these 4 or 5 years ago. Couldn't find one, so went with my second choice a Rover BRM (crazy quilted red leather interior, orange grill and a VVC 1.8K). The BRM was lovely but eventually died on me.

Same here, looked hard around 5 years ago but couldn't find the one I wanted. Bought an Ignis Sport instead, absolute hoot and I've no regrets in that respect, but it hasn't appreciated in quite the same way!

[PaulJC84]

Got one of these at the start of last year, travelled from Edinburgh to Swansea for it as was proving difficult to find a decent one. Got in it and was like what have I done as it felt so hard work, I was getting lost and I had a long journey home. Hit some of the more remote parts of Wales on the journey home and thought it just felt right and all was forgotten.
The steering is heavy when parking but lightens up when rolling, seats are more supportive than they look as they have that 90s Peugeot trait where you sink into them. I have only used the car for about 2k miles and have had 5 strangers comment on the car and a couple enquire if I would sell it. For something so cheap it does have something about it. I admit £6k is a bit more than I thought they would rise to but if someone wants a nice one they probably will have to pay more than sounds sensible or buy a cheap one and spend a few quid refurbishing it.