Peugeot 206 1.4 HDi

[radiodanno]

Excuse the non pH nature of this thread, but it'll help me into the w124/201 of my dreams quicker.

Anyone any experience of running one of these daily? I'm looking for a beater to go up and down the A1 whilst asking for no more than a sip of DERV. Looks pretty easy to

1) Buy one of these for under a weeks wages
2) Achieve 65mpg+ on a run (and that's all I'll be doing)

Any other suggestions welcome but I really do need an easy 65mpg doing 65mph. Yes I can buy a bigger car and compromise slightly on economy but I really don't want to. New toy to come for weekends instead.

Any experiences/help really appreciated.

[TurboHatchback]

My first driving instructors car was one of these, it was utterly woeful. The engine has no power whatsoever, the clutch had massive travel followed by a completely binary engagement right at the top and the whole car just felt really nasty in every way. It blew around in the wind like no other car I've ever driven. Getting back into my mothers shagged 1.0 Vauxhall Nova felt like a real step up after a drive in that thing.

So to summarise I wouldn't recommend them based on my personal experience.

[radiodanno]

Oh good. Drawing board it is.

Focus 1.6TDCi?!

[phil y]

My wife had one, put 50k on it over about three years. Not bad as small hatchbacks go, but we had to replace the rear beam at one point which was over a grand. Was considering another til I recalled that fact, would cost more than the car's worth these days. Having driven a 207 1.6 hdi, I preferred the way the older car drove.

They didn't sell 6 million of them for nothing.

[x type]

Wife had a 206 hdi for 3 years did 40,000 miles never went below 50mpg around town 60mpg on a run

replaced alternator .... common fault
replaced crankshaft pulley .... common fault
luckily both in warranty

nothing else went wrong she loved the car

bought a fiesta diesel after that then fiesta petrol then fiesta diesel ...... never ever again buy a Ford ,hateful cars

now got a Peugeot 207 diesel
quieter , more comfortable , nicer to drive etc.

[BFG TERRANO]

My wife had hers for 13 years and 90000 trouble free miles. You will hit 60mpg and tax is £30 a year. Hers was an 02 bought as ex demo nearly new and with what she sold it for it equated to a loss of £360 a year! It never failed an mot, only silly advisories and only had services, an exhaust and battery. Brakes also a couple of times. It wasn't bad to drive either and quite happy at motorway speeds.

[Sensibleboy]

I had one as a courtesy car ten years ago. 60mpg just pottering round town. Not the fastest of cars but with 70bhp it's perfectly adequate for trundling along. I recall the ride being really good too.

[HumbleJim]

I like the 206 family has had a few but always petrol. Good VFM they are what they are and nothing wrong with that.

[andy-xr]

Looked at one, and also the 1.5 Clio, both cars I looked at had faults, that was just those particular cars - the 0-60 wouldnt and didnt put me off as I was looking for something just to get across the A57/A1 twice a day five days a week at 60-80'ish. Acceleration wasnt and tbh isnt an issue commuting in traffic, if you find one you're happy with I'd say take a punt

I ended up in a 2.0 HDi instead which got 50'ish to the gallon

[radiodanno]

Just started looking at the renault family options now to broaden scope.

A megane 1.5dci looks like a good comprimise - bigger interior and no real loss on mpg.

Any experiences?

[Toaster Pilot]

radiodanno said:

Just started looking at the renault family options now to broaden scope.

A megane 1.5dci looks like a good comprimise - bigger interior and no real loss on mpg.

Any experiences?

Assuming you mean the fat arse Megane, it's an electrical minefield....

Regularly see them available at scrap money because some electrical whatsit that costs loads has st itself.

[nails1979]

Id recommend the clio diesel too. 06 shape onwards though not the 172/182 shape as they have a terrible seating position. Oour r u n around does mid 60 mpgs. Is comfortable and quiet and handles ok ish too. 117000 on the clock and I know the car from 08 with 50000 and all its ever had is the yearly service tyres and brakes. Everything else aprt from cambelt is original and running good.

[MGgeordie]

I drive a 2.5V6 petrol as an everyday car and cover around 400 miles a week. I also considered swapping it for one of these Peugeout's and saving a st load of cash!!

However, I have since taken a long hard look at myself for having such a stupid idea!!


On a more sensible note you could consider the older Peugeot XUD engine, fitted to early 206's and 306's. Apparently that does 50-60mpg and won't ever go wrong as its not a 'modern' diesel engine. These newer HDi, TDCi things are apparently costly to repair if they go wrong.

[radiodanno]

I'm 670 miles a week at the moment. It's a real toss up because I will die (an old man) before the Avensis outside does. The thing is I can't ignore the reality, £200 a month is a noticeable amount of money.

I'm not hard up (far from it) and it'd be different if I loved the car outside. But ultimately it's just a tool for the job and whilst it does certain things admirably, I'm a little sick of £500 a month on unleaded. Moving doesn't help because I work for myself at four different sites, all across East Anglia. I'm sited centrally and it all works well.

[Toaster Pilot]

You could quite easily erode that £200 quickly in repairs/inconvenience if whatever diesel you pick isn't as reliable. I did 600+ a week in a diesel Felicia without much issue but it did need a bit of maintenance and was the most uncomfortable, noisy thing ever.

[radiodanno]

Agreed. To an extent.

But the likelihood of it wanting £200 every month for a year?

[Mr2Mike]

radiodanno said:

I'm 670 miles a week at the moment. It's a real toss up because I will die (an old man) before the Avensis outside does. The thing is I can't ignore the reality, £200 a month is a noticeable amount of money.

I'm not hard up (far from it) and it'd be different if I loved the car outside. But ultimately it's just a tool for the job and whilst it does certain things admirably, I'm a little sick of £500 a month on unleaded. Moving doesn't help because I work for myself at four different sites, all across East Anglia. I'm sited centrally and it all works well.

But what price do you put on not doing 670 miles a week in a small, sluggish diesel hatchback of dubious reliability?

radiodanno said:

Agreed. To an extent.
But the likelihood of it wanting £200 every month for a year?

That's unlikely I agree. Far more likely that the bill will be larger and less frequent.

[A900ss]

I had a Pug 307 1.6Hdi a long time ago as a hire car for about a month and I'm sure that did 65MPG (or very close to) at 65 MPH.

Just an option

[radiodanno]

LPG the avensis then? I know the car very well and the oily bits are superb. Emissions are A1 and everything has been done by previous owner and I regardless of costs.

Kit could always be moved to another avensis in the case of bork?

[Sensibleboy]

MGgeordie said:

These newer HDi, TDCi things are apparently costly to repair if they go wrong.

The 1.4 HDi isn't really a true modern diesel. No DPF, DMF etc.