2004 Peugeot 307 S from UK and Ireland - Comments

Wiper arm flew off at 60 mph on the M1 when the car was just 3 days old.

Engine compartment undertray fell off.

Passenger electric window switch needed replacing after an estimated 10 uses

Load compartment light bulb blows every few weeks - dealer doesn't know why.

Reverse gear operation on rear wiper has never worked.

Radio intermittently refuses to switch off.

Indicator failure.

Brakes became stiff and the engine started to lose power. Brake servo needed changing.

Plipper button fell out of key.

Battery terminal connection would intermittently break, playing havoc with the central locking.

Horn has gone off of its own accord on three occasions.

Awful car. The only good bit is the engine, which like all Peugeot diesels is smooth, willing, quiet and frugal. 90PS is never going to make a lump of lard like this go like a ball of fire, but it's surprisingly lively with the usual diesel midrange clout. Averages 49 mpg which is 5 mpg more than my previous Focus TD 90PS.

The driving position takes some getting used to, as you feel about a mile from the base of the windscreen. One of my biggest gripes is that it feels huge from behind the wheel, and just like driving an MPV or a small van. Handling is okay, and very competent, but it lacks fun and involvement after a Focus and a 306. It also has awful overlight and numb feeling steering which is inexcuseable as Peugeot have demonstrated for 20 years that they can do better. Oh, and the brakes are stupidly over-servoed. The merest brush on the pedal makes the car stand on its nose.

As for reliability, it's been a disaster. Okay, it's done 31,000 miles in 8 and a bit months, but the Focus managed it, and so did the 306 before it. This thing feels like it's going to be scrapyard material by the time it gets to 100,000 miles. Lots of silly minor problems, and the people in the factory clearly haven't comprehended the simple fact that in order for something to stay together, the nut or screw securing it has to be done up! The wiper falling off after 3 days and the undertray after 3 weeks is inexcusable. Dealers are rude and overpriced too.

The 306 was a much better car.

I agree to the general comments on this. I have a 307 D Turdo and is not yet 1 year old. The engine and overall look is great as is the standard level of kit (cruise/climate control/folding mirrors and 17" alloys look good. However, its had 3 stereos, the passenger door handle flew off on the M23 (took a month to replace), the brake calipers/disks are rusty and I too have had some heart stopping moments with the dealer fitted mats - they hold the accelerator down!! I have lost confidence in the car and will be changing it this November. Such a shame as really enjoyed my 306 before.

I have just changed my 307 2.0HDI 90 for a new Opel Astra 1.7CDTI after two years. Hopefully the Opel will be at the dealers less than my 307 was! Mine appears to have been quite a "good" one, as I only had minor faults like THREE rear door locks in a year, a clunk in the front suspension which took three visits to sort out, numerous rattles and a new front electric window motor needed. I have previously owned two Peugeot 205 diesels, a Peugeot 405 diesel and THREE 306 diesels, two of which were turbo ones. I agree that the 306 was a MUCH better car, I had NO warranty issues with any other Peugeot. Peugeot seem to have lost the plot very badly with the 307, which is a great pity, as it is quite a nice car in many ways.

Agree with the comments above. I decided to foolishly ignore all advice and the customer satisfaction surveys last year and bought a new "53" plate Peugeot 307 2.0 16v XSi at the beginning of last year. It's been a total disaster.

The build quality and finish look fantastic initially, but quickly disintegrates - the total opposite to those of the 306 which looked crap, but actually proved quite durable. On mine however, it's the electrics and engine management that have provided most of the problems. A never ending stream of wiring faults, failed control units, water ingress, dry joints, "bad design" (quoted on more than one occasion by the dealer) and sloppy assembly standards. 14 visits to the dealer in 17 months, and it's still not running right.

I can't see how anyone "upgrading" to this from a 306 will avoid feeling intensely disappointed.

I used to own a 306 XSi - a very flawed car which cost me a lot of money to fix. But on the perfect road the chassis really sparkled.

People buy Peugeots for handelling. Seems like they are chasing VW buyers. How can they when their cars are so badly built. Worse still the 307 came second to last in the 2005 Top Gear survey (only beaten by a Pug 807!!)

Since my troublesome 306 I've owend an older Passat and now a Golf. Not totally without fault, but we are talking little things when they go wrong.

I used to own a 306 XSi - a very flawed car which cost me a lot of money to fix. But on the perfect road the chassis really sparkled.

People buy Peugeot's for handling. Seems like they are chasing VW buyers. How can they when their cars are so badly built. Worse still the 307 came second to last in the 2005 Top Gear survey (only beaten by a Pug 807!!)

Since my troublesome 306 I've owned an older Passat and now a Golf. Not totally without fault, but we are talking little things when they go wrong.

I bought 18 month old 307S in Dec 05. It spent 9 weeks at the dealership whilst they tried to find out what was wrong. First they replaced the entire fuel system and when the same problems (smoking on starting, noisy engine and lack of power) remained finally replaced the engine. Problem fixed, but the car has been back twice since after hoses split – the first time losing all coolant instantly.

I love the feel of the car, but after owning a second hand 405 for 7 years, I am very disappointed in this vehicle.

I have just bought a 307 so far in the last 3 weeks. It has been in the dealers twice. What a nightmare. I have only just passed my test and wish I'd seen this site before I purchased this car.

It is due back in the dealers on Monday as the same orange light on the dash keeps coming on, and he seems baffled again as to why. Well 3rd time lucky as they say.

Awful car, never had so much trouble.

I bought a Peugeot 307 8 months ago. On the way home the engine management light came on. Taken back to the dealer, only for the same thing to happen every month.

Flywheel was replaced last week, and the turbo's gone.

AVOID THESE CARS, PEUGEOT IS NO GOOD, AND THIS WAS THE TOP THE RANGE D TURBO. WHAT A JOKE.