1998 Peugeot 306 1.8 XS (Phase 2) 1.8i from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Sporty, cheap to insure, good fun

Faults:

No major problems yet (fingers crossed)

Drivers electric window is a bit jerky.

General Comments:

The car is very cheap to insure (only group 5 or 6), so very good for young drivers.

Looks sporty (a lot more so than the standard/lower range 306's).

VERY good handling and easy to drive.

Fairly good stereo (6 CD Changer) and speakers.

People say the interior is outdated, but I think it looks fine. Although I've seen many other 306's with horrible patterns, however mine is not too bad.

The seats are very sporty and comfortable.

The car is very quick seeing as its in such a low insurance group (around 112bhp).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th November, 2005

1998 Peugeot 306 GTi-6 2.0 16v from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Super performance and handling, poor reliability

Faults:

Bottom end packed in at 90k miles (oil pump).

The car eats drive shafts.

Feels like I'm constantly changing tyres.

Changed wishbones at 80k.

Various other sensors replaced.

Probably more, but can't think at the moment.

General Comments:

Superb performance and handling, super tight chassis, and loads of feel through the steering.

Unfortunately the car suffers typical Peugeot reliability issues.

Engine had to be replaced due to the oil pump giving way and taking the bottom end with it. The car had a full and up to date service history, and gave no warning.

I managed to evade the dreaded cambelt snap, which is all to common on these cars (see www.306gti6.com for loads of info). They need changing every 40k at the latest, and this will cost you £400.

Insurance is reasonable if you're a bit older (I'm 26 no NCB and pay £700 FC).

Fuel consumption is dreadful; 26-27MPG mixed driving.

All that said, if you get a good one, it will make you smile every time you get behind the wheel.

If you're viewing a GTI-6, there are a few things to look out for.

Listen for a loud ticking from the engine; evidence of cambelt snap that has not been properly fixed. Walk away.

Check the air con is working and is ice cold; the air con pipes on these are prone to rusting through (they are underneath the radiator), and these will cost £70 each to replace plus labour charges.

Make sure all electrics are working (lights, rain sensitive wipers, windows, mirrors etc), as electrics aren't a Peugeot strong point, and will cost a fortune to fix.

If you can afford the running costs and future repair/maintenance bills, I would recommend getting a GTI-6. For this sort of money, there is nothing else that can make you feel like a 306 GTI-6!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st November, 2005

4th Jun 2022, 18:58

Good honest review, the faster versions of this car had reliability issues no doubt, but the smaller engined cars would soldier on if cared for and driven properly.

1998 Peugeot 306 d-Turbo s 1.9 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

French engineering at its best

Faults:

Everything! The airbag broke. The dash lights went off at night. The headlamps blow on a weekly basis. There is rust on all the door sills. The seats have torn through wear. The gearbox has been replaced five times. The car has broken down eleven times. The electric windows get stuck half-way down.

General Comments:

Awful car. Don't buy it. Milk floats are faster than it and they don't fall apart.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 11th October, 2005

12th Oct 2005, 05:38

You clearly bought a dog, and it seems you did it without a test drive as well (or you would have noticed poor performance).

I did 188,000 miles in mine (1996 model). Had to change the PAS rack at 160,000 (fluid leak) and the front wheel bearings at 171,000 (droning) and the original clutch lasted to 177,000. The engine never missed a beat, never needed to come apart, and was comfortably quicker than the 1.8 petrol "XS" model that a mate had. The gearbox never gave a second's problem either. None of your problems are typical.

The Peugeot 1.8/1.9 turbo diesel engine is bombproof if its looked after, and the 306 widely regarded as one of the more reliable Peugeots (more so than the 307 that replaced it). Poor performance and gearbox problems are almost unheard of. Perhaps next time you should check out a car a bit more thoroughly before buying it.