2001 Peugeot 306 Meridian review from UK and Ireland

Wipers failed to operate correctly - replaced motor under warranty.

Poor radio reception.

Steering column remote for stereo stopped working - replaced under warranty.

Engine idles erratically - this has been "fixed" twice by the dealer, but the problem persists.

Engine started cutting out when stopping or changing gear (at about 43,000 miles) - incorrectly diagnosed by the dealer at first, but subsequently fixed under warranty.

Intermittent dashboard fault where all dials freeze or drop to zero - this has been "fixed" 4 times by different dealers and still persists.

I bought this car "nearly new" from the dealer when it was 6 months old and had only been used for test drives. At first I loved it, great performance, a pleasure to drive. However over the last two years or so, it has been plagued with minor faults. The most annoying is the dashboard fault listed above. I've tried different dealers, but none can find anything wrong so they just clean the connections and tell me it's working.

More recently, the engine started cutting out when driving in stop-start traffic or when stopping at junctions or when changing gear. I took it to my local dealer who charged me nearly £70 to adjust the throttle cable (without asking me if I actually wanted this done). A couple of days later the problem was back, so I took the car back to them and complained. This time they kept it for three days, replaced the alternator and stepper motor under warranty, and at my request refunded the £70 charge from the previous "fix".

Faults aside, this is a fantastic car to drive. The engine is very quick and responsive in all gears. The ride and handling are outstanding. I've thrown it into many a corner and have never struggled for grip. There's also very little body roll and the brakes are fantastic too. Steering is positive and accurate with plenty of feel and feedback.

Most of the problems I've experienced haven't been too serious and have been fixed. However I've often felt I have been over-charged by the dealers.

I do intend to keep the car, and after reading some of the other reviews I will be changing the oil more frequently than the 20,000 mile service interval. I just hope nothing more serious goes wrong than has already happened.