1994 Peugeot 106 XSi 1.6 review from Belgium

Virtually anything that could break down, broke down. A summary:

- electric power steering failure (6 months to solve problem)

- exhaust pipe fell off (rust)

- brake plates changed (bad)

- rear brake brake fluid leak

- remote controlled door-locks failure: electro-mechanical problem with driver door (dealer never solved the problem, but charged me twice!).

- radio-cassette failure

- factory-fit rear speakers too light for standard radio (came loose)

- electrical failure => engine cooling didn't work => cylinder-head damage & replaced

- handbrake axis broke

- brakes very badly

- lacquer came loose on both sides after cleaning with Kärcher on low pressure

-...

After all of this, the car

almost broke in half. On a routine check at my dealer's I noticed a crack: 15cm long, 3cm wide. The engine compartment was coming loose from the passenger compartment. I filed a formal complaint with Peugeot's head office.

This is the only time when my dealer gave me full service (because they knew I wanted to sell the car asap after repairing the crack) : replacement car and work for free, pieces at wholesale price.

I had a love-hate affair with this car.

The financial chapter was a true nightmare. In two years, I paid it at least twice.

On the other hand, I loved it. Imagine: 110bhp engine (test bench 125bhp) and 780kg dry. Red zone at 7.000 rpm (orange 6700rpm). And of course, sublime Peugeot sports suspension. Which means you can steer it with the steering wheel as much as with the accelerator. Very sportive indeed, but also comfortable. I remember once I saw a BMW 530d before me that started a drift around a corner. I shifted from 4th into 3rd gear and overtook the astonished BMW-driver swiftly on the right. Especially in very tight corners, the 106 was sublime. Longer corners (over 120kph) were sometimes a bit unstable, but seen the speeds & car weight, one can hardly complain.

The 106 XSi forgives minor driving errors in the dry -albeit somewhat sharper in the wet- it all remained very controllable and surely a lot of fun. Overall handling is VERY well balanced. A true GTI.

I would have kept the car if it wouldn't fall into pieces. But it did, and so I bought a new Seat Ibiza Evo2 TDI to replace it.

I considered a new 206 GTi (138bhp) at the time. Seen the bad service I got at different dealers (5 in total), I chose to buy a new car at a dealer with a good reputation. And I haven't been disappointed since.