2000 Peugeot 306 XSi from UK and Ireland - Comments

Head gasket blew when the car was just two months old - replaced under warranty. No problems since.

Clutch went at just 5,700 miles - replaced under warranty after a big row.

Passenger seat adjuster handle snapped off, glovebox lid pops open, drivers seat moves around, carpet peeling away in both footwells.

Heater matrix sprung a leak at 12,000 miles. Replaced under warranty, but interior has stunk of antifreeze ever since.

Engine idle is terrible - misfires constantly and the revs fluctuate. Apparently "it's normal", as is the fact that it rattles like a diesel when cold.

Cam cover gasket replaced three times. Last time it leaked onto an engine mount and caused it to swell. Lots of other smaller oil leaks mean a top up once a week.

Air bag warning light blinks intermittently.

Banging from front suspension.

Gearbox sticky when cold.

This is my second 306 XSi and unfortunately my last Peugeot. My previous L reg XSi 8 valve did 130,000 problem free miles. This car has been one disaster after another.

It's like owning a highly strung supercar, but without the good points. Clutches and head gaskets failing before 10,000 miles are inexcusable on a modern mass produced car. This 306 proves that Peugeot might know how to build a fun car, but it still doesn't know the meaning of engineering integrity or build quality. Or customer service. The dealers have an excuse though - if all 306's are as bad as this, they must really have to work for a living!

Yes the handling is superb and yes it looks nice, but I don't care any more. It's an unusable wreck which I will be getting rid of as soon as possible.

Seems like a problem with the later models to me, as like yourself I had a phase 1 306 XS i 2.0 8v and it got to 140,000 miles with very very few problems.

I'm going to have to take great care of my new GT i 6 or it looks like it will cost me a small country.

I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad time with your car, like the person said before me, the later ones must have problems, as my phase 2 97/ r- reg xsi has given me 50'000 trouble free miles. a battery is the only thing I've had to buy, but that's just because the battery's old.

Unfortunately I've had the same sort of bad luck with mine:

306 xsi 1997 P

bought second hand / ex demop from main dealer Warwick Wright Chiswick London with 5000 on the clock.

Thermostat welded shut after 6 months, engine overheated and radiator burst, all replaced under warranty after a fight (with Warwick Wright Hampstead)

Water pump replaced at 15000 miles under warranty.

Electric window on drivers side broken, fixed after two attempts by main dealer at about 18 months, just out of warranty, cost a fortune (Inchcape Peugeot, Southampton)

Electric wingmirror control broken after dealers attempt to fix windows, denied liability and were very rude; still not replaced it.

Engine management system replaced at great expense due to constant stalling six months after warranty expired.

Regular services and fine for 40,000 miles...

Rear suspension suddenly very squeaky, and engine stalling again - booked into main dealer and told head gasket blown (Hamble Motors - the only peugeot dealer I have come across that are nice to their customers)

Well, mustn't grumble I suppose - been fun to drive, handles well and good visibility etc whilst driving, but a catalogue of problems. Now the main dealer had the cheek to try and charge me over £700 to replace the head gasket (!) and then valued the car at £1200 even though trade price on Parkers lists it at over £2500. The local garage is going to do the head gasket for a third of the price including re-skimming etc, and then I'm going to see how things go.

Unfortunately, I won't be buying a Peugeot again - some new Pug with the same BHP would cost more than a classic 911 turbo...

Well I have got a phase 2 306 xsi 16v and I love it, it goes like stink and I have never had single problem with it. I will most certainly getting another 306, but it will be the gti6 model or the Rallye as they are brill.

Just covered 175000 miles in my 97 R reg XSI. Just changed the regular things like tyres, exhausts, timing belts and have also been through a few front drive shafts, headlight bulbs and wheel bearings. A fantastic motor...

I've got a 306 XSi 16v 1999 V reg and its fab, got 97600 miles on it and pulls like a train, will easily wipe the smile off people in GTi-6's; I know cause my mate's got a GTi-6 and I think they are over rated.

So why wasn't the XSi the top hatchback car in its time? I have got the GTi-6 and there's no way the XSi is faster. The XSi has got 135bhp and does 0-60 in 9.7 secs, the GTi-6 has 167bhp and does 0-60 in 7.2secs. The XSi will give you a top speed of 125mph, when the GTi-6 does the clock.

Its ridiculous how many people on this site claim they own a car which is underrated and faster than a bunch of cars, which it just isn't. If your car has less bhp per ton than another car, then the chances are your car is slower, in the case of the XSi vs a GTi-6, the bhp per tonne is 121bhp per ton compared to 140bhp per ton... the GTi-6 is not just a bit faster, it's a lot faster.