1996 Peugeot 306 Cabriolet review from Bulgaria
"Glues a smile on my face!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear torsion axle bearings needed replacement right when I bought it, as they squeaked. Factory recommendation is to do that every 60 000 km, but I doubt the previous owner had done so.
Piston rings and valve seals replaced at 150 000 km.
Rear engine rubber mount torn at 150 000 km.
Coolant radiator burst at 170 000 km - 40 EUR second-hand.
Head gasket blew at 195 000 km.
Power-steering rack leaking fluid for 2 year now. I have added about 3 litres of fluid with no additional repairs. Works for now...
Oil pan bolts need tightening every now and then, as they tend to undo themselves and oil leaks.
Rear window replaced at 200 000 km.
Various suspension parts replaced at various times.
General comments?
I love it! The look, the feel, the envy!
It is old, squeaks and rattles on uneven roads, but I don't care! It is a gorgeous little car! And it has dual Pininfarina badges!
Ride comfort is astonishing for such a small car! I have taken 20-hour non-stop trips with it, just to walk out of it fresh as a mountain spring!
The seats are soft and provide excellent lumbar support. The suspension smooths out everything the crappy roads in Bulgaria throw at it.
Soft suspension means it is not too sporty on curvy roads, but mountain rides are still hugely enjoyable, especially in summer. :)
It is a bit noisier than I would like with the roof up. The roof is electric and working beautifully. The fabric is in good condition and does not leak a drop.
The engine is calm and torquey. Pulls well right from 2000 rpm. I rarely need to go above 2500 rpm in the city. On the highway, however, it is a bit underpowered. Anything above 150 km/h is a noisy mess of engine roar and wind whistling, and not much acceleration.
Brakes could be better. The car is quite heavy at 1290 kg, and the standard front disks-rear drums struggle to contain it at high speeds.
Body parts are absurdly expensive and near-impossible to find, so buy a shiny one.
To sum up: Enjoy responsibly and it will reward you amply!
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| 1996 - 306 SL DT 1.9 turbo diesel Excellent car except for reliability |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1995 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 8v petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 148700 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 207000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Mazda 323 |
| Date of Entry | 25th September, 2009 |