Pug 306 LX.....what to look for?
Discussion
Chatting to a neighbour about cars and he just said that a work colleague of his has an S reg 306 LX for sale with 12 mth MOT and 6 mth Tax. He just popped by with photos and the chaps number. From the photos is looks very clean and well kept (apparently his work mate is into US Muscle Cars and a bit of a petrol head).
Now he is asking for £650 so I am expecting it to be pretty high mileage.
Any thing in particular to check or look out for?
Now he is asking for £650 so I am expecting it to be pretty high mileage.
Any thing in particular to check or look out for?
Edited by Daston on Thursday 15th April 21:01
HellDiver said:
A petrol head would never buy a 306.
What!? How so... the 306 is a vastly better steer than an an Astra, Escort etc... and personally I prefer its move lively drive to the Focus too. Never mind the fact they did a whole range of warm to hot-hatches, with soem cracking little petrol engines, and also the D-turbo (along with the ZX volcane) was the very first real 'performance' diesel, or hot-diesel-hatch. They are a fundamentally good car - I'd much rather have a cookign 306 than a cooking Mk3/4 Golf, Focus, Mk4 Astra, etc etc.A couple of particular problems I remember infrared central locking, keys can easily get messed up, but easily fixed.
Door looms can wear out/crack causing faults with leccy windows/mirrors.
Check the rear beam feels solid and the rear wheels dont feel like they are loose.
Usual suspension floppiness and clonks, ARB droplinks are often buggered but a piece of piss to fix and cost tuppence.
All the usual 2nd hand car things really.
They are fully galvanised from the factory and dont rust - if you see one with rusty arches, sills etc, then its either been badly repaired or really, really not looked after.
I like them a lot, great cheap cars.
ETA - yup, little andys got a couple I've missed - spare is often really rusty and horrid.
A/C - if it works, be very pleased. The vast majority of them dont. If the vendor tells you it just needs re-gassing, dotn beleive them. There is a design flaw on one of the pipes where it corrodes at the contact point between alu pipe and steel bracket.
Edited by snotrag on Friday 16th April 09:55
Very helpful, HellDiver. 
I'm not a Pug expert, but I would say check all the electrics, especially heater matrix (ensure it blows hot air once engine is warm). Check central locking if it has it, leccy windows, all the usual.
If you can, have a look at the suspension for worn/snapped/rusted components - listen for any knocking/clunking when turning or over bumps. Ensure ABS light comes on when started, but then goes off again.
Also check A/C blows cold if it has it. (another common fault)
Should be fine for rust on bodywork (all galvanised). Check the spare is there - I think they hang underneath on a hanger, which rust badly.
Not an exhaustive list I know, but is all I can think of at the mo.
I'm not a Pug expert, but I would say check all the electrics, especially heater matrix (ensure it blows hot air once engine is warm). Check central locking if it has it, leccy windows, all the usual.
If you can, have a look at the suspension for worn/snapped/rusted components - listen for any knocking/clunking when turning or over bumps. Ensure ABS light comes on when started, but then goes off again.
Also check A/C blows cold if it has it. (another common fault)
Should be fine for rust on bodywork (all galvanised). Check the spare is there - I think they hang underneath on a hanger, which rust badly.
Not an exhaustive list I know, but is all I can think of at the mo.
HellDiver said:
A petrol head would never buy a 306. Avoid.
Worst comment I've read on here in a long time sadly. GTi6 is a corker. XSi is decent fun. Great handling, excellent ride, superb motorway muncher and quick enough.Granted a petrolhead would probably bypass the LX, but as a generalisation that statement is wrong.
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