1996 Peugeot 306 XS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Where do I start.

New clutch just after I got it, the new clutch is dreadful though, the bite is too sharp and the clutch pedal is so stiff.

Four new headlamp bulbs.

New front tire.

New windscreen wipers.

New plugs.

New front grille.

New front trim.

The alarm doesn't make a noise, this feature has broken and all it does is flash the headlights.

The electric keypad immobilizer is broken and is stuck in service mode which therefore means it is useless unless by chance the battery decides that it the connection isn't very good, which of course it does when it wants to and then you can't start it and the alarm goes off.

The knob you push to lock the drivers door has fallen off and it cannot be put back on because it wedges the lock open and the car won't lock.

The brake warning light appears every so often and I have had new brakes recently

Cracked exhaust pipe

It stalls after going through water

Recently it has started cutting out after you pull off and this not only jerks me forward into the roof because i am so tall but then it wont start for a while

New water pipe needed as the old one leaked into the footwell

This car isn't too bad to drive, the steering is very sharp and it is much quicker than most 17 year olds cars, but it is just so unreliable and is packed with niggling faults.

You cannot remove the rear parcel shelf because the speakers are wired onto it and therefore the boot is useless if you need to transport dogs unless you put the seats down.

The front seats are great when you are sitting in them, but are hopeless when you want to get out of them.

It drinks petrol, a 1.6 liter engine should do at least 30mpg, but mine won't do above 27mpg and it has dropped as low as 20mpg when driven hard even though I drive everywhere in fifth gear and freewheel down hills.

To be honest, I would be glad to be rid of this car because it just goes wrong too often, it has been in the garage for three weeks out of the five months I have owned it and is set to go in tomorrow for another two days and after that is set to go on for even longer to be resprayed after the first job was botched.

The brakes are awful, they are just useless in the wet

You can certainly tell the engine is an old design because it sounds dreadful, noisy and metallic sounding

In case you didn't notice, cars aren't actually designed to go through water!

Yes, but there are lots of floods around where I live and sometimes it is impossible to avoid them, you can go through them at 2mph and it will still stall,

I've got a 1995 Peugeot 306 XS, and I love it.. I've had loads of heartache too, it's going in tomorrow to have another oil leak sorted out (It's blowing from the breather) and I've had gearbox problems, but I can't help loving the fact I'm 18 and have a quick, saxo VTR and 206 sport powered flying machine.. The handling's great, and performance is lovely (I've also found I can get 40mpg when driven carefully, it drops to 20-25 when pushed).

All in all it's a very solid car, which suffers from typical peugeot unreliability- Can they ever build a solid gearbox???

The speakers on the rear shelf are actually connected using a really clever connector that unscrews, and therefore facilitates removal of the shelf (Read the manual!)

Also, the seats are BUCKET seats, and therefore designed to hold you in place when beaning around corners (Which the 90bhp 1.6 Allows you to do with enthusiasm) so you can expect to have a bit of difficulty in getting out.

The problems that most suffer with are down to neglect and cheap maintenance, not the car's fault. Buy one with full history for a sensible price and you've got a GTi6 lookalike for a lot less money, and reasonable insurance. (Group 5).

(By the way, the engine sounds great, they wouldn't use the exact same unit in saxo VTR's or the new 206 sport if it didn't.

The engine you have is either a TU or a XU engine, if you are unlucky to have the TU engine then this engine will be quite old, but won't sound old.

As far as economy goes, my GTI6 (2 litre 16 v, 180 bhp) does 35 mpg combined, normally 25 mpg and when ragged 19 mpg. something is obviously wrong with your car.

Have you modified the air intake system? if it stalls when going through water this means that you have got water into the intake manifold and considering the air scoop is above the the front bumper, you are either going through VERY deep water or your something is leaking. just get a newer 306 or join a forum to get help on fixing things...

Your car obviously doesn't suit you, why did you buy it? You would be better off with a canoe. They are simple to maintain, can travel through water and if your dogs are very small can fit in. Failing that, get your car repaired and learn how to read the owners manual.

Have you tried the keyswitch behind the near side headlight to activate/deactivate the alarm siren?

My 306 XSi keeps stalling at junctions? the revs seem to drop and it cuts out? does anything need to be tighten to keep the revs up?

Yes, all the "faults" you mention are simply wear and tear. Replacement of spark plugs is something I do every 12 months! And I've had two clutches in as many years!

I think your car has turned out pretty good! Be happy! But it does sound like you need the canoe too though! :o)

My 306 has a screw fitting which allows me to undo the speakers to remove the parcel shelf. Just follow the cable to the junction box and turn anti-clockwise half a turn or so.

My Peugeot 306XT 1.6 problems.

Gearbox has a huge leak in it, so it drains the oil as fast as it goes in.

The clutch has slipped or something, so when I put my foot down, it just revs and the acceleration rate stays the same.

It revs itself to about 4000 rpm, stays there, goes down to 3000, and then just plays around there.

One wheel only has 3 bolts holding it in, the actual disc is knackered.

It doesn't start unless I rev it at a certain point.

The handbrake gets loose very easily and is a b***h to tighten.

The radiator leaks, even though there are no visible leaks on the radiator or the pipes.

Its drinking petrol like theres no tomorrow, (£30 has lasted me a day and I've spent over £100 the past 4 days on petrol!)

My air-con is always on when I turn the car on, so when I forget about it, it just wastes my a/c.

The center console has no lights working in it, so when I need to turn the heaters on in the dark or put the vents to my windows, I can't see anything.

Personally, I think this has been a brilliant car! No, honestly, it got me and 3 friends to Manchester, Hastings, Brighton AND Somerset from London within the past 4 months or so, so really, I'm not surprised it's dying...

Wish I got a brand new car in the first place... or at least something reliable... oh if anyone has a gearbox that would fit a 1.6 pug 306XT then post it on here please =)