Peugeot 206 GTI - Should I????

[Trickersson]

I have been looking for a small cheap run around car what is fun to use. What is the forums view on a 206 GTI?

I have seen plenty around at shed and under money. I looking to spend around £1k.

[schuey]

I have just got rid of mine for spares despite just putting 12 months MOT on,annoying.
I paid £650 for mine,used it as a work hack for a year and 10k,it was spot on apart from terrible build quality. Fast enough and did 40 mpg regardless of driving style,never let me down once until I headed home from the MOT and the clutch release bearing spat its dummy. I can't say I would recommend one though,much more sensible choice with £1k to spend would be a cheap Clio 172.

[s3fella]

I had a co car one, it went ok but driving position was a bit odd, so make sure you have tried before you buyed!

[80quattro]

I wouldn't describe a 206 GTi as 'fun' as such.

I would personally go for its big bro, a 306 GTi-6. The best hot hatch on the market prior Clio 172.

At least two currently on Autotrader sub £1,000.

[fartIN'ajar]

s3fella said:

I had a co car one, it went ok but driving position was a bit odd, so make sure you have tried before you buyed!

I found that when I test drove one. Also the pedals were too close together for my feet.

[Eighteeteewhy]

I've never owned but I've driven quite a few of these. They go well enough and don't handle that bad. The problem is they're quite numb.
It's one of thosecars you feel you're sat 'on' rather than 'in'

As said a nice 306 gti is a better place to be. Problem is finding one.

[liller]

schuey said:

I have just got rid of mine for spares despite just putting 12 months MOT on,annoying.
I paid £650 for mine,used it as a work hack for a year and 10k,it was spot on apart from terrible build quality. Fast enough and did 40 mpg regardless of driving style,never let me down once until I headed home from the MOT and the clutch release bearing spat its dummy. I can't say I would recommend one though,much more sensible choice with £1k to spend would be a cheap Clio 172.

40mpg?? I had one and never saw anywhere near that kind of figure. I found the 2.0 engine to be fairly uneconomical.

[exgtt]

They can be ok, or a complete pain in the arse. Check for knocks from rear end or excess camber on rear wheels. Recon axle is £400 + 1.5hrs labour to swap. My pals just went on his 2.0 petrol SW with 72k miles, turns out this one shares the rear axle with the gti 180 and are like hens teeth on ebay hence the full recon job. Avoid jump starting em - the ecu doesnt like it.

306 gti-6 are worth the hassle, £1200 should get something good. Rallye models are worth hunting down. I find the 138bhp 206 gti a bit meh. The 180's are getting there and sound lovely. A good alternative to a 138 gti would be a focus st170. Better built, nicer inside, bit quicker and cheap.

[Lefty]

An ex of mine had one of these and it was gash. Slow, raucous, understeery, crappy reliability, expensive parts. Hateful piece of st. She had a 106 XS before it which was better in every way despite being old and rusty.

[donz29]

I did 90k miles in my 206 GTI! Averaged just over 30mpg and never let me down once. It used to eat bulbs though for some reason. Great, cheap, fun car!

[schuey]

liller said:

40mpg?? I had one and never saw anywhere near that kind of figure. I found the 2.0 engine to be fairly uneconomical.

Yep,display didn't work so I had to work it out. 90 mile A road and dual carriageway commute was 39.7. As with all cars being able to carry speed = good mpg!