1998 Peugeot 306 GTi-6 review from UK and Ireland

No faults.

Anyone mourning the passing of the 205 GTI should get one of these because, if anything, it is even better. It goes harder than the old 1.9 GTI (despite feeling less torquey low down), and handles better too. What's more, it doesn't even seem to fall apart - yet anyway!

The extra size and weight doesn't matter. This car has the best front wheel drive chassis on the planet bar none, old 205 included. The 167 bhp 2.0 engine makes the most of its talents too, booting the car along quickly enough to make you grin. It's helped by the close-ratio 6 speed 'box which keeps the motor buzzing in the powerband, and by the lightning quick steering which has more feedback and feel than a lot of so called sports cars.

I'm not going to list famous "kills", but I have honestly left some serious machinery for dead in this car on twisty roads. So high are the GTI-6's limits, and so confidence inspiring is its behaviour, that where a lesser car has to back off, the Pug can be kept flat. It's not entirely without drama though, as it retains the 205's tendency towards lift-off oversteer when you're really going for it. However in this car it is so much more controllable and therefore useable than in its older cousin.

The dealers suck, charging £65+VAT an hour labour for everything they do, and for keeping the car for ages. However, I now use an independent who lavish much more personal attention on the car, and charge half as much.

In 8,000 miles, it's needed a service, new front tyres (which are already looking a bit knackered), and a set of front pads. Nothing to write home about at all.

IMO, the best car Peugeot have ever produced. The forthcoming 307 GTI is going to have to be a belter to even get close to this! Totally awesome, and very very highly recommended!