Shopping car: Peugeot 106 1.1 or 1.5D?
Shopping car: Peugeot 106 1.1 or 1.5D?
Author
Discussion

Merlot

Original Poster:

4,121 posts

237 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
In the market for a cheap <£500 snotter I can park on the road, run to work and back and chuck stuff in the back for trips to the tip etc. I want it to be as cheap as possible to run.

Like the look of the Mk1 or early Mk2 Peugeot 106. Head says to go for the 1.5D as it'll do a million MPG. However, there aren't too many of them for sale <£500 instead most are the 1.1 Petrol. Strangely, these are a bit cheaper to insure too.

Figures suggest that I could average 55mpg tootling about in the 1.5D and about 45mpg in the 1.1. Is this realistic?

Which engine is less troublesome?


soad

34,652 posts

205 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
I think petrol one is better for the short journeys, but I'm no expert.

BarnatosGhost

34,081 posts

282 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
you'll pay "1st car" premium. Better, bigger, cheaper cars available.

Go for something you won't be competing against daft 6th formers to buy.

volumeone

321 posts

193 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
Can you not get a Fiesta for this price? I would rather have a Fiesta for the interior room. You may find your knees pressing against the centre console in the 106 because its quite narrow like a VW Lupo.

wobert

5,571 posts

251 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
I ran a 106 1.5D 5 dr as a snotter when I was between MINIs 5 years ago.

Bought for 400 quid including a years MOT from my local cheapie dealer, it had 72k miles on the clock and FSH!

Gave it a cambelt change and a full service and ran it for 8 weeks whilst waiting for my next car. In this time it did 6k miles.

Averaged around 65mpg, and it would cruise at a steady 80 mph on the motorway.

Added two new branded tyres before I sold it for 775 quid.

Cheapest motoring I've ever had!

Robert

Citman

305 posts

213 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
Ran a Mk 1 106 XND Graduate from new until around 62k miles a year and a half later in the early 90s. This was the older 1360cc diesel, with only 50 horses. Felt woefully underpowered, I remember one windy, rainy night being unable to do more than 60mph on an uphill stretch of the M8!

1.5D was much better, even though it had only 8 more horses. Drove the Saxo variant of that, which might be worth considering, could be more of them around than the 106.

Worth bearing in mind, if it's important to you, than none of the Mk1 106's had power steering, and the base diesels on the Mk 2 106 and Saxo models didn't either. Steering was pretty heavy, as I recall, making it cumbersome around town and when parking.

As has been mentioned, though, the damn things ran on fresh air, it was pretty much impossible to get get less than 50mpg.


Xaero

4,063 posts

244 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
I had a 1.4D 106 for a year before the engine gave upon surprising low mileage but I got it cheaply (£350) so wasn't bothered.

At the end of the day both are fine, if they last you a year then you done well and will only be saving +-£50 whatever one you buy. Less insurance and initial purchase on the petrol will make up for the fuel savings from the diesel.

HellDiver

5,708 posts

211 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
I got 54.7mpg average from my 1.1 106 over 20k. The heater starts working in less than 2 minutes on a frosty morning in them too.

Merlot

Original Poster:

4,121 posts

237 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
BarnatosGhost said:
you'll pay "1st car" premium. Better, bigger, cheaper cars available.

Go for something you won't be competing against daft 6th formers to buy.
Not really, I can get a good example of either for £500 with plenty of T&T. If I was looking to spend £2k on the same size car than I'd agree with your statement!

A bigger car such as a Mondeo etc may be a small amount cheaper but will cost me more in insurance*, fuel etc.

I also want something as small as possible as parking on my street is at a massive premium!


  • 106 insurance is £200-£250. Mondeo insurance for the same is £330-£500 depending on engine size.

BarnatosGhost

34,081 posts

282 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
Merlot said:
BarnatosGhost said:
you'll pay "1st car" premium. Better, bigger, cheaper cars available.

Go for something you won't be competing against daft 6th formers to buy.
Not really, I can get a good example of either for £500 with plenty of T&T. If I was looking to spend £2k on the same size car than I'd agree with your statement!

A bigger car such as a Mondeo etc may be a small amount cheaper but will cost me more in insurance*, fuel etc.

I also want something as small as possible as parking on my street is at a massive premium!


  • 106 insurance is £200-£250. Mondeo insurance for the same is £330-£500 depending on engine size.
fair enough. Have you been in a 106? Not nice!

Merlot

Original Poster:

4,121 posts

237 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
BarnatosGhost said:
Merlot said:
BarnatosGhost said:
you'll pay "1st car" premium. Better, bigger, cheaper cars available.

Go for something you won't be competing against daft 6th formers to buy.
Not really, I can get a good example of either for £500 with plenty of T&T. If I was looking to spend £2k on the same size car than I'd agree with your statement!

A bigger car such as a Mondeo etc may be a small amount cheaper but will cost me more in insurance*, fuel etc.

I also want something as small as possible as parking on my street is at a massive premium!


  • 106 insurance is £200-£250. Mondeo insurance for the same is £330-£500 depending on engine size.
fair enough. Have you been in a 106? Not nice!
Not driven one much, but I've been a passenger for a few thousand miles. Admit it isn't the last word in refinement, but I'm only after a cheap snotter to run to the station and back, go shopping in, bung stuff in the boot to run to the tip and leave in pub car parks when I'm too pissed to drive home smile


230TE

2,506 posts

215 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
I'd be happy with the petrol. More of them about than diesels so more choice, bit better performance, and the running cost difference between 55 and 65 mpg isn't enough to get hung up about. Best thing to do is buy the best example you can find, whether petrol or diesel makes no odds really. My old AX (same mechanicals, different body) just hit 150,000 miles this weekend on its original engine and gearbox, which suggests that these flimsy little French cars are tougher than they seem. Light weight and well-designed chassis makes them more fun to drive than most sub-£500 bangers as well.

Oh, and don't touch the 1.4 diesel with a bargepole. They have all the durability of cottage cheese. 1.5s are fine.

BarnatosGhost

34,081 posts

282 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
Merlot said:
BarnatosGhost said:
Merlot said:
BarnatosGhost said:
you'll pay "1st car" premium. Better, bigger, cheaper cars available.

Go for something you won't be competing against daft 6th formers to buy.
Not really, I can get a good example of either for £500 with plenty of T&T. If I was looking to spend £2k on the same size car than I'd agree with your statement!

A bigger car such as a Mondeo etc may be a small amount cheaper but will cost me more in insurance*, fuel etc.

I also want something as small as possible as parking on my street is at a massive premium!


  • 106 insurance is £200-£250. Mondeo insurance for the same is £330-£500 depending on engine size.
fair enough. Have you been in a 106? Not nice!
Not driven one much, but I've been a passenger for a few thousand miles. Admit it isn't the last word in refinement, but I'm only after a cheap snotter to run to the station and back, go shopping in, bung stuff in the boot to run to the tip and leave in pub car parks when I'm too pissed to drive home smile
Right-o. Last attempt: what about a non-turbo golf diesel? Only a little bit longer, good economy and cheap insurance, but a miles nicer car. smile

Jeffmaniac

533 posts

228 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
quotequote all
Mr Jeffmaniac has had a 1.1 since new for 10 years now and it has very reliable and I quite often drive it as it is good and light to drive.

Only recommendation is make sure it has PAS.

aw51 121565

4,773 posts

262 months

Monday 30th August 2010
quotequote all
BarnatosGhost said:
... Right-o. Last attempt: what about a non-turbo golf diesel? Only a little bit longer, good economy and cheap insurance, but a miles nicer car. smile
What about an Octavia SDI? Same engine and basic chassis as 'your' Golf (I think), but mebbe cheaper? Not a fast car but probably ideally suited to your plans without being cramped like a 106.

OllieWinchester

5,700 posts

221 months

Monday 30th August 2010
quotequote all
The suggestions are getting larger and larger here guys. How about a Sprinter van?


I'd go for the petrol, and I have experience of both. Obviously the diesel is more efficient, but the petrol is miles more fun to drive and you won't pay a diesel premium on it. I borrowed a friends 1.1 graduate for a few weeks years ago, and it was suprisingly good fun, agile, revvy and pointy. The diesel loses a lot of this magic with its non existent performance and heavy old boat anchor in the nose.

wiliferus

4,214 posts

227 months

Monday 30th August 2010
quotequote all
OP - PM me if you want a nice example of a 1.1.

'S' plate, silver, 110k, 3 door, new clutch, PAS, will have 12 months MOT by the end of the week. Only downside is currently SORN'd, but at £120 a year its no drama. Lovely little runner, been in the family since 2000.

If you're interested PM me and we'll talk money!

Merlot

Original Poster:

4,121 posts

237 months

Monday 30th August 2010
quotequote all
wiliferus said:
OP - PM me if you want a nice example of a 1.1.

'S' plate, silver, 110k, 3 door, new clutch, PAS, will have 12 months MOT by the end of the week. Only downside is currently SORN'd, but at £120 a year its no drama. Lovely little runner, been in the family since 2000.

If you're interested PM me and we'll talk money!
PM'd.