1999 Peugeot 206 GTi review from UK and Ireland

Engine sounds noisy on start up, but does fade somewhat after a while, and the exhaust brackets snapped off.

Seat are starting wear a little (around the rib cage area).

The 206 is a good looking small car and I consider it to be one of the better looking super-minis available (much better than the modern Peugeot's, even if it is ever so slightly girly).

The interior of the car is quite well laid out; you can adjust the steering wheel rake, but not reach, and you can't adjust the height of the seat either, but it is just adequate. There isn't enough room for your feet really (but that is being a little harsh seeing as this is a relatively small car).

The seats are quite comfortable and supportive (GTI has half leather and alcantara also)... the dash is the main let down; while it isn't ugly, it is just poor quality plastic.

The performance was good, and overtaking was made quite easy due to the 2.0 engine, but it isn't a rocket ship. While I say it was good, any small car with 130bhp should be pokey. It can even be called economical if you keep it below 3500 revs (this is a warm hatch, so I doubt that you'll be doing that often though).

The poorest aspect of the car is the handling. In the dry it is a chuck-able car up to 55mph-ish, but over those speeds it feels a little unstable (the car just feels like it isn't heavy enough) and on a wet road its almost laughable. It wheel spins without any provocation, and under-steers at every corner like the french little piggy that it is.

I do get the impression that the engine isn't the strongest in the world, and after 80 odd thousand miles I'm expecting something to go on it fairly soon... fingers crossed though.

In conclusion, it isn't an awful car, but there are much better packages available, and the thought of paying £14k for a new one seems crazy (I wouldn't have considered a 206 normally, but this one was at a very low price).