2000 Peugeot 306 XSi 2.0 16v petrol

Summary:

Good all round package with stunning handling

Faults:

External temperature reading gives comical results. 49°C for example on a cold (but sunny) December morning. Probably just the thermistor gone in the passenger mirror, but I can live with it.

Carpet needed to be re-seated around the sill trims where it had started to pull away.

Gearbox crunches into 2nd when cold, but fine when warm.

General Comments:

Good, but not stunning performance. Engine doesn't rev very happily for a multivalve unit. Old 8 valve was a better engine in my opinion. Didn't lose much up top, but pulled far harder in the midrange.

Chassis beyond criticism. Turns in sharply, steerable on the throttle, quick and talkative steering and a lovely smooth ride. Will keep up with pretty much anything on a good B-road. Very difficult car to drive sensibly when the going gets twisty.

Good reliability, but interior quality is poor. Chassis and engine both still pin sharp after 53k.

Still looks good - much prettier than the 307 that replaced it.

Lowish running costs thanks to reasonable insurance, and >30 mpg in most daily driving circumstances.

Probably Peugeot's last "proper" drivers car before they lost the plot. Good, sensibly priced ones sell within hours of being advertised - it took me 3 weeks to find this one.

Had I wanted to pay a grand over CAP retail or settle for a dog (or in some cases both), I could have found one quicker. Lots of rough and comically overpriced ones about too so be careful.

This was the fifth I looked at, but patience paid off. It's been a good car, and entertains me no end on my dull commute to work.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th January, 2006

2000 Peugeot 306 XS 1.8 16v petrol

Summary:

Hot Hatch looks without the £££

Faults:

Haven't really had the car very long, so nothing as yet...

I ensured the garage gave it a service, MOT, 2 new tyres and removed the dent before I bought it.

General Comments:

I love this car. I had a 306 1.4 Meridian before, but this looks the same as the GTI or XSI without the running costs. OK, so it's not as quick, but it handles well, it is responsive, fuel economy is very good and has a great list of equipment.

Seats are very comfortable and don't give me a back ache or numb bum!!

All I have changed are the rear speakers. Personally I think these are awful and how Peugeot could get away with selling such rubbish I will never know. Both 306's I've owned have had the same, and if you have the volume above speech level they are distorted and very rattly.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 18th October, 2005

2000 Peugeot 306 DTurbo 2.0 HDI

Summary:

Fantastic, fun, sporty diesel

Faults:

The only small problem I've had is with the alarm system failing, but easy to fix.

General Comments:

This is a fantastic car, I've had mine proformance chipped to 120BHP. The car handles like its glued to the road, would advise anyone who asked to get one.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th September, 2005

2000 Peugeot 306 GTi-6 2.0

Summary:

Discreet and mature performance car

Faults:

I bought this car as a ticking time bomb. I got lumbered with repairs totaling £2000 in the first month.

Alarm system needed total replacement at 38000 miles (not under Pug warranty).

Tyre's are continuously being replaced, whilst the balancing is constantly being redone.

Battery has disconnected from the wires as a result of corrosion.

General Comments:

The gti6 has its ups and downs in that if you want a real hardcore driving experience, you can't look & get further than this.

Some of the standard equipment such as the Clarion stereo leaves a lot to be desired, and I do believe the exhaust tail end could of been better image wise. However, standard equipment is plentiful with Leather / Alacantra seats, rain sensor wipers, A/C, steering wheel stereo control.

The interior has plenty of equipment, its just that I feel the quality is not what you would expect from an £18k car in year 2000. The shape of the dash looks low budget, the glove box can't fit a CD in it, the central console has some flimsy silver plastic surrounding the A/C knobs and the instrument panel holding the speedo' and temp gauges just look rather apathetic.

I love the seats, the look of the car, the power, the handling, the mature discreet look of one potential track day car.

The acceleration in 1st gear I personally find is lame when comparing it to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th. I would guess a comfortable 7.4 seconds to 60mph from a standing start and a confirmed at least 145mph top end. Drive this car around a track day circuit, and I'm absolutely sure it will leave some known sports cars in its wake. An Audi TT could be a prime example of this. The all round performance of this car for the money I paid is truly unbelievable. There is nothing on the market that can compare. The handling is just awesome when pushed to the limit, and leaves you thinking 'just how hard can you push this car before it does loose itself?'.

The exhaust note is crisp and gives a slight burble noise under idle mode, and a lairy note when pushing through the gears. This is 6 gears by the way, and all of which are truly a pleasure to be handling. I could not go out tomorrow and buy a 5 gear car after this.

If you do decide to purchase this car, a lot of money will be spent in regards to low fuel consumption (about 22mpg if regularly driven hard & about 30mpg is not), service, tyre's and quite possibly insurance being a group 16. As a young guy myself, I prefer to to make the sacrifice and keep this absolute monster for one great driving experience I don't think could be replaced in the same price bracket.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 25th July, 2005

29th Jul 2005, 08:48

The 306 GTI-6 is twice the car the TT is as a driving tool, regardless of petty arguments about 0-60 times. To be brutally honest, the GTI-6 is not a particularly quick car in the greater scheme of things, but that chassis is to die for. I haven't driven another front wheel drive car that combines such amazing front end bite, throttle adjustability and steering feel. It can be pushed to the limit, and slightly beyond, in total confidence. A TT, 180 or 225PS, wouldn't be left for dead on a typical British B-road.

The TT is a looker, and it's beautifully made, but you need more than a warmed over Golf chassis to keep up with a car like the Pug.