PH Service History: The 309 Effect
Hero model prices gone doolally? Fear not - for many icons of our time, there's a less storied alternative worth rooting around for...
These days, that particular story is changing; a good 309 GTI is respected by enthusiasts and looked upon with fondness and reverence. As it should be. But there are still plenty of other cars that live in the shadow of a more favoured sibling - and while that might be unfair, their relatively unloved status means, you've guessed it, some used car bargains afoot.
I give you, for example, the Mk2 Ford Focus ST. In its 'ASBO' Orange glory, it was once famed in McDonalds car parks across the land, but the advent of the more powerful Focus RS and gleeful Fiesta ST have both left the Focus sitting at the back of the classroom. Don't forget why we loved it in the first place, though; quick, sure-footed handling backed up by a storming engine that managed hairy-chested torque while also goading you on to ever-higher revs. And threw a terrific five-pot warble into the bargain. Yet the ST is also a terrific all-rounder, capable of cosseting in the cruise and about as practical as they come. All this for considerably less than £5,000 - indeed, this one, in a very tasteful black-over-grey colour combo, has done below average miles, has an exemplary history and is yours for no more than £4,199 - which has to be a £4,000 haggle all day long.
Staying with Japanese performance cars for a sec, the chances are you probably can't - or won't - afford a two-year-old Nissan GT-R NISMO, especially at around £110,000. Next to that, £28,950 for this 370Z Nismo feels like a snip. OK, the 370Z can't deliver the brain-twisting performance of the GT-R, but 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds isn't exactly to be sniffed at, and it'd be more than enough for me. Throw in meaty handling which rewards the driver who shows it who's boss, and it becomes quite a tempting thing.
Mind you, a car doesn't have to live in the shadow of a sibling to suffer from the 309 Effect - it can live in the shadow of a rival, too. A case in point is the Jaguar S-Type R. You may scoff, but the R was in fact a stonking performance saloon, with terrific chassis balance and a delightful propensity for lurid tail-happiness. That V8 sounds exceptional, too, particularly if opened up with an aftermarket exhaust system. Yet of course, the main reason you'd have to think twice about buying one has always been the E39 BMW M5 - a car which always had the legs on the S-Type, just, and furthermore which came with a manual 'box.
A couple of additional (some obvious) options:
Porsche Boxster. A good one from £6K but available for a lot less
Alfa Romeo Brera. Might not be the most dynamic but nice looking and less than £4K
BMW 330i (coupe, saloon or touring spec) for as little as £1K
Mazda 3 or 6 MPS from £4K
TVR Chimera from £8K
Prices for GTA's have gone above £10k whilst the GT still can be found around £5-6k
I think both fulfil the gawky looks box but I prefer the shabbier rear end on the GT ( I owned a 309gti which was similar styling )
Only 50-60 regularly taxed and about 300 SORN.
My Dad had one from new in 1987 to 2003 and it was utterly shagged by then. Every Mot was £500+ by the end.
I lost count how many times it happened in two years but around 7-8 times, I just couldn't keep the thing any longer as it was so unreliable and the final time in happened I left the car with them and excepted £5600 for it after originally paying £10,800.
And before someone says it was preparing me for what to expect in tvr ownership,I'm on my 4th and have never broke down.
I lost count how many times it happened in two years but around 7-8 times, I just couldn't keep the thing any longer as it was so unreliable and the final time in happened I left the car with them and excepted £5600 for it after originally paying £10,800.
And before someone says it was preparing me for what to expect in tvr ownership,I'm on my 4th and have never broke down.
It was low mileage but he advised me to get rid of it when it got close to 80k miles as that was the point at which he regarded them as starting to cost a lot of money to run
I've owned bòth, 205 was unreliable, uncomfortable and dangerous on the limit.
306 was and still is my favourite car, even after much more expensive vehicles. Comfortable, never let me down and truly astonishing to drive whether taking it easy or kicking the st out of it. Wish I'd never sold it but the lure of German metal at the time and the apparent 'presence' got the better of me.
I'd go back to Peugeot tomorrow if they'd make something interesting again. The trouble is the competition has caught up.
If this debate could turn to more modern cars, how about golf r vd s3 vs Leon cupra. I've driven them all and the best in my opinion is the Leon. Sales figures suggest otherwise though!! Another 309 (which was always better than the 205)
I'm sure somebody may enlighten me but the 2 levers between the front seats were magic
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