What Car? Pug 306 GTI 6 vs Focus ST 170

[Haribo Man]

I am currently looking for a new car after a woman has recently pulled out in front of me and totalling my 306 HDI.

I bought the HDI as a cheap diesel commuter with having to do a 50 mile round trip however I am due to start a new job in a couple of weeks which I will be cycling as a commute so no need for a diesel hence something with a bit more poke. The car will be used mainly for short trips and the odd blast here and there if I fancy it.

I like 306's as I used to have an XSI and also rated the diesel as a good drive and good on the reliability front and the GTI 6 seems a natural solution but does anybody have any experience as to how these compare to the ST 170? I assume that the interior quality will be better on the Ford but are they as quick/involving to drive?
I have considered clio 172's but would like something a bit larger.

Any thoughts are welcome.

[GenePoolReject13]

Not driven either car but the gti-6's can be fragile. Supposedly very good to drive though.
The ST170 is known for feeling quite sluggish considering things like fuel consumption but the mk1 focus handles very well, with some good rubber it will corner on rails if my experience of the lower models is anything to go by.

[C.A.R.]

An ST170 will be newer and likely have lower mileage, but that's about where the plus points end. As a hot hatch it's not really hot, just a bit tepid.

GTi6. You're already acustomed to the 'build quality' (if it can be called that) and the engine really does help make the car in this case (or the engine + gearbox).

Will your budget stretch to a Clio 182? Best of both worlds and newer than the 306.

[aka_kerrly]

What sort of budget do you have?

Out of the two original suggestions I'd favour the 306-GTI but also have a look at Civic VTI models

[Haribo Man]

I would be looking to spend about £1,500 but could push a bit more for a particularly good example

[anonymous-user]

I had a 1.8 zetec focus and a 306 gti a while back. 306 was reasonably fun to drive but I wouldn't buy another pug. It felt like it was made of foil. There was always one thing or another wrong with it. Focus or civic gets my vote. Anything but a pug.

[thiscocks]

No brainer: Peugeot

[chrisw666]

With a £1500 budget I'd look at the Pug or you could get a pair of Pumas.

I prefer the ST170 to the 306 but I'd want a pampered later car which would be closer to double your budget.

[longdogger]

Shed of the week? 170bhp and fit your bikes in the back

[Krikkit]

I never found the ST170 to be very exciting really, I've not driven a GTI6 but anecdotal evidence says they're significantly better. Peugeots of this age have a few niggles, but they're really cheap to fix if you can't put up with them.

[speedtwelve]

I reckon the GTi6 lives up to the hype. Other than the comical build 'quality' I was very impressed at how manic and immediate it was. It drove just like other proper 'old school' Pug hot-hatches. Sharp throttle-response, loads of torque (for what it was), very direct steering, and agile, adjustable chassis and no understeer. I was quite taken aback at just how direct a package of throttle, steering and gearbox the car was when chucked down a b-road. It was very keen to turn-in.

I haven't driven an ST170.

[snotrag]

I've had a GTi-6 superb.

Purely on the basis you've already had an XSi, what about a ZS180 Saloon?

[ali4390]

My Dad has an ST170. As another poster mentioned, it really does handle like it's on rails but is slightly lacking in power and to get it to move you really have to rev it. At the top end of the revs, it sounds a bit rough like it doesn't like being revved at all.

The gearbox is lovely though and he's seen 35+MPG so not too shabby.

[seismic22]

306 GTI6 for a proper hot hatch

Or... Clio 172, Civic VTI (1.8) or Xsara VTS should all be in similar bracket to the 306 and cheaper than the focus.

[chevronb37]

speedtwelve said:

I reckon the GTi6 lives up to the hype. Other than the comical build 'quality' I was very impressed at how manic and immediate it was. It drove just like other proper 'old school' Pug hot-hatches. Sharp throttle-response, loads of torque (for what it was), very direct steering, and agile, adjustable chassis and no understeer. I was quite taken aback at just how direct a package of throttle, steering and gearbox the car was when chucked down a b-road. It was very keen to turn-in.

I haven't driven an ST170.

+1.

My 306 Rallye is the best FWD car I've driven by an enormous margin. Made my old CTRs seem numb and inert by comparison. We've decided to keep mine for good now. Mrs Chev uses it as her daily since I got a company car.

Go in with your eyes open - they do break. Mine has had some niggles recently so make sure you're on friendly terms with a good garage. However, I took mine out for a run near York on Saturday and was reminded how brilliant they are. Such a benign, honest, tactile car. And you won't believe the noise as well...

[rallycross]

As a 306 owner you already know how good a decent 306 is, the Gti-6 is even better, and £1500 will get you a decent one. Old age is the problem with them now.

If you go for St170 it will be 2001-2004 so a bit newer, better built, but no where near as good to drive as the Gti-6, Ford made a very poor job on the St170, ie the standard focus is a brilliant all round car but the St170 is only an average warm hatch, seating position is too high, gearing feels wrong, engine is not pleasant to rev hard. Could have been brilliant but is not.

[anonymous-user]

I used to have an ST170 and thought it was a great little car. Even tracked it a few times