1994 Peugeot 306 DTurbo review from UK and Ireland

Brakes started squeaking for no apparent reason.

Odd vibrating noise from offside front wheel area when in motion - maybe track rod end?

Radio control stalk doesn't work.

Heater matrix sprung a leak - needed to bypass the pipes into the heater, using some copper piping.

Boot release catch jammed and needed to be jimmied open from the inside. The connecting rod had sprung off inside the lock. Easily fixed.

This was my second car after owning a Fiesta.

The difference in performance between this and the small engined petrol car was astounding.

The torque produced by this car is very pleasing to feel. When you put your foot down, there's a slight pause, then a nice shove in the back as the turbo picks up.

First, second and third gears have fantastic surge. Fourth is wonderful for getting you up to motorway speed. Fifth makes short work of overtaking when cruising down the motorway.

The short gear ratios and narrow powerband mean that off the line starts aren't as impressive as in a similar powered petrol car, but you still have enough under your foot to embaress most little chav-wagons.

I've beaten a new shaped, 1.4 16v Fiesta off the lights... pulling off in second gear! :)

At top end, it'll cruise at between 100-110 mph, and show it a slight downhill and you'll be seeing close to 120.

The car handles very well, resisting understeer especially well, except in the wet, where you'll need to watch it, if you have the standard pirelli tyres.

The clutch is amazingly stiff on this car - and apparently it's similar on a lot of 306 diesels.

The fuel economy of my car is nowhere near as good as I hoped for, but that's mostly because of my short journeys. Averaging about 350-400 miles out of a full tank of about £40.

The cars been very niggly in the number of faults that it's dished out, but that's all they've been - niggling.

The only major fault - the heater matrix - which led to the car overheating a lot, was easily bypassed with some copper pipe and everythings okay now.

In terms of ride quality and comfort, it couldn't be much better. The diesel engine gets very loud and growly above 3000rpm, but I like the sound of it.

Wind noise is acceptable and the big, supportive seats and good suspension dismiss the biggest of bumps with ease.

Unfortunately, my car's covered in dings now, to the point where the bodywork will cost more to sort than the car's worth.

Hence I'm p/xing my car for a new Citroen C2 VTS, which I'm picking up in september! :)

For anyone who's after a good, reasonably powerful, comfortable, economical car, with an excellent chassis and characterful engine, then go for the 306 DTurbo.

It's a very different car to drive, with an experience all to it's own.