2001 Peugeot 206 LX review from UK and Ireland

Bought the car second hand, as a relatively cheap runaround for my partner. So far nothing big has gone wrong, although we have noticed a surprising number of poor build quality issues.

For a relatively new car the passenger door creaks like a car 10 times its age.

The wiper actually fouls the bodywork due to slop in the linkage (the nuts are all tight, it's just badly built)

It started leaking water into the passenger footwell as the plastic membrane behind the door card had 'unstuck' itself. An easy fix with some duct tape!

The engine also makes a disconcerting 'ticking noise' at low speeds, which sounds like a loose heat shield or similar. It's not the injectors, and it clears as the revs rise, so it's a case of keeping an ear out for it getting any worse.

The gearchange is more notchy than I'd have expected too.

We took the car for a couple of test drives on separate occasions, but it's only after living with the car that we're finding it's shortcomings.

If I'd known how thrown together this car was I'd have never even considering buying one. It's by no means a bad car, just built poorly with cheap materials.

The MPG is not as good as I'd have expected from such a light car.

It goes OK, but the disappointingly rough engine note dissuades the driver from exploring the rev range.

Finally the seating position is dreadful and impossible to find a comfy angle. Once you get it relatively correct you lose the setting as soon as you let someone in the back (it's a 3-door).

We'll be selling it soon and getting something German!