RE: SOTW: Peugeot 306 GTI6
Discussion
rmcoboy said:
Had a 306 XSi (similar but only 135 bhp) from nearly new in 98. Not the quickest in the world (though compared to the previous 1.1 Fiesta it was like a starship) but fantastic ride / handling balance. Always wondered how much better the GTi6 would be. Eventually traded it for a 1.8T Golf GTi which felt like I'd grown up 10 years from the hooligan Pug.
it's a much better engine overall and packs a hell of a lot more punch. suspension is pretty much the same as is the rest of it, but the power / gearbox combo really make it a much better car. only downside is the right hand steering lock being limited due to the 6speed box, thus mini roundabouts and 3-point-turns become something you have to really plan ahead with!fourwheelsteer said:
Nice shed but I feel any journalist who uses the phrase "rifle-bolt gearchange" should be forced to specify the rifle they are using as comparison. Some rifles in my experience have an action so unpleasant that you wouldn't want a gear lever to behave in the same way. For the rest, I think only the current Mazda MX5 and the Honda S2000 have come anywhere close to the feeling of carefully machined, precision engineering of the best rifle bolts and both cars were still a long way off.
Of course I haven't driven a Peugeot 306 GTi-6 so maybe it really is like that. But you have to wonder, how many people even know what a bolt-action rifle is? It seems like an odd thing to reference within a car review.
There's always one..... Of course I haven't driven a Peugeot 306 GTi-6 so maybe it really is like that. But you have to wonder, how many people even know what a bolt-action rifle is? It seems like an odd thing to reference within a car review.
rob.e said:
I had a 306 Xsi from new back in '97 (same as this but only 8 valve) which was a real weapon. Not much grunt but a super chassis - great satisfaction in stroking this along keeping your momentum up through the twisties.
Personally I rate the 306 higher than the over hyped 205 GTI (flame jacket on!)
Agreed, as far as the 'stroking' bit, although I have never driven a 205 GTi. Miss my XSi a lot. Bit fragile, but great fun.Personally I rate the 306 higher than the over hyped 205 GTI (flame jacket on!)
Top, top shed! Just sold mine to someone at my work as it was beginning to look rather tired and i didn't have the budget or time to keep it looking good. Great handling cars and very easy to make fast progress in. One of the best sheds every time one comes up. If anyone is looking for something to do everything cheaply this is what you need. Great cars!
ringweekends said:
PugLove.
The thing is with these cars, that people don't appreciate until they revisit a good one, is just how well they ride compared to modern metal.
There's long since been an obsession with 'hard equals fast' in terms of suspension setup when really, as a good 306 will show you, you can corner AND have superb ride comfort.
Agree - the suspension setup on all the Pugs of this era was extraordinarily good. To me, anyway, This one to me is the spiritual successor to the Alfasud.The thing is with these cars, that people don't appreciate until they revisit a good one, is just how well they ride compared to modern metal.
There's long since been an obsession with 'hard equals fast' in terms of suspension setup when really, as a good 306 will show you, you can corner AND have superb ride comfort.
_Neal_ said:
Yes, they are outgunned (I replaced a GTI-6 with a 172) but not "totally", and a decent GTI-6 can be had for around the £1k mark (I bought mine for £1100 2 years ago) whereas a 172 in similar condition is pushing £2k. I agree that the 306 has aged well too.
I prefered the driving position and steering (both for feel and responsiveness) on the GTI-6. They are excellent to drive, with superb handling, but the Clio is a smaller and lighter car, and feels it from behind the wheel. Neither are slow, but the Clio is quicker, with a more "special"-feeling engine and better brakes.
No aircon is a very common fault (the pipes are badly routed) and pricey to fix. Rear beams also need checking carefully - I had to replace mine at around 110k.
I was told that from 60 onwards the Pugs were just as fast as the Clios due to superior aerodynamics, and the fact the engines have more torque and actually make their book power (unlike the Clio). Also the handling of the Peugeots is supposed to be better. IMO as standard, Clio 1*2s don't really handle that well (Trophy excepted). Remember Fifth Gear where the Saxo VTS was all over the 172 in the corners? The 172s are easy to drive fast, but thats not the same as having "good handling". I can imagine the GTI-6 would be all over it like a nappy rash.I prefered the driving position and steering (both for feel and responsiveness) on the GTI-6. They are excellent to drive, with superb handling, but the Clio is a smaller and lighter car, and feels it from behind the wheel. Neither are slow, but the Clio is quicker, with a more "special"-feeling engine and better brakes.
No aircon is a very common fault (the pipes are badly routed) and pricey to fix. Rear beams also need checking carefully - I had to replace mine at around 110k.
I agree though 1200 kg is NOT light for a car of that age/type.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Friday 16th November 11:35
t at everything else.C.A.R. said:
V8 FOU said:
deadmau5 said:
I'm surprised with the statement about weight. Was 1200kg really that light in 1996?
1200kg for a sheddy old French hatch is LIGHT???? A Fiesta around that time wqas about 1000kg, a Mondeo 2.0 was 1275kg FFS, my V8Esprit is 1250kg, etc etcI always thought the point of a French hatch was to be light, like a Clio...
Unpleasant car IMHO, having driven a few, and way too heavy....
Are you sure your Esprit is that light?...I always thought they were around the 1400kgs mark?
According to Parkers the V8 GT is 1380kg, V8 SE is 1340KG.
StoatInACoat said:
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!
Same here, ended up having to go for a 172 cup (which are ten a penny). The 306gti6 is a better package, the clio however is the quicker car out of the two if that's your only concern.Dunc.
TameRacingDriver said:
I was told that from 60 onwards the Pugs were just as fast as the Clios due to superior aerodynamics, and the fact the engines have more torque and actually make their book power (unlike the Clio). Also the handling of the Peugeots is supposed to be better. IMO as standard, Clio 1*2s don't really handle that well (Trophy excepted). Remember Fifth Gear where the Saxo VTS was all over the 172 in the corners? The 172s are easy to drive fast, but thats not the same as having "good handling". I can imagine the GTI-6 would be all over it like a nappy rash.
I agree though 1200 kg is NOT light for a car of that age/type.
I've come across a few 172's in my Rallye and I can pretty much confirm exactly that. I agree though 1200 kg is NOT light for a car of that age/type.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Friday 16th November 11:35
I never considered these to be light. What they are though is beautifully balanced, supple riding in a way that even shopping cars today simply aren't, and in possession of a turn-in sharpness that almost defies belief even before you consider it is front wheel drive.
You can drive these cars beyond the limit of adhesion, and they give you options. They don't just understeer into the scenery like almost all of their rivals. At speed, the throttle can dictate the direction of the nose to almost the same degree as the steering wheel.
Sorry to sound so gushing, but it really is one of the greatest sub £30k drivers cars of all time, in my opinion. Of course whether a sub £1k example will retain all of the characteristics I remember so fondly from various low milers I drove back in the day is another question altogether.
You can drive these cars beyond the limit of adhesion, and they give you options. They don't just understeer into the scenery like almost all of their rivals. At speed, the throttle can dictate the direction of the nose to almost the same degree as the steering wheel.
Sorry to sound so gushing, but it really is one of the greatest sub £30k drivers cars of all time, in my opinion. Of course whether a sub £1k example will retain all of the characteristics I remember so fondly from various low milers I drove back in the day is another question altogether.
AC43 said:
Agree - the suspension setup on all the Pugs of this era was extraordinarily good. To me, anyway, This one to me is the spiritual successor to the Alfasud.
The dampers are remarkably well thought out for a cheap production twin tube unit, they have internal droop springs and hydraulic bumpstops along with a floating divider piston as standard. 95% of cars out there since then still don't have those.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff