1998 Peugeot 306 XSi from UK and Ireland - Comments

Alarm system needed attention.

A few minor trim squeaks and rattles within.

For what it is (ie a non-GTi) this car is fantastic in all respects. Goes, handles and stops better than almost everything else in its class.

The engine, though only up 12 horses on the 8-valve (pre-1998) model at 135 BHP (16V) against 123 BHP (8V), feels so much more willing than its predecessors. Though not a huge injection of power, the difference is noticable, if only due to the different characteristics of using sixteen valves.

Away from the lights, the XSi is able to embarass more exotic machinery (in name and reputation at least...), such as the Golf GTi 2.0, BMW 318iS, Audi A3 1.8T Sport, Ford Focus Zetec 2.0i and other so called 'sporty' machinery, all of which is very interesting considering the XSi is not even the pinnacle of the 306 range, this title being reserved for the scarily quick (and scarily hard to insure) 167 BHP GTi-6.

Although timid and easy to drive around town and at low speeds, I assure you that when you feel this engine come on cam at around 3250 RPM, then hear it scream up to the redline tearing at the tarmac, it's hard to stop yourself from grinning like the village idiot.

However, that said, it's not the grunt of the XSi that captivates you most when you first have a go - it's the handling. It is simply sublime, from the minute you hit your first hard corner to the minute you first kick the tail out, you will be laughing like a drain. This car understeers and oversteers completely on demand, though never takes you by surprise. The steering is meaty, loaded up with chunky, connected feel, you know exactly what each tyre is doing on the road below. This chassis talks to you in a way that would make a rally co-driver feel inadequate.

On the downside, the gearbox, while full of deliciously 'clunky' feel, can occasionally balk between 2nd and 3rd, a problem compounded by attempting fast, violent upchanges. However, with a deft touch and a little patience, this is easily overcome, and will not be a problem to someone who likes to drive their car with a little consideration, even when caning it!

The original equipment Pirelli P6000's wore out not too long after I got the car, a combination of vaguely hooliganistic driving and ignorance that the fronts would happily light up in third... I replaced them with a set of Toyo T1S's, a tyre which I and many friends have used before, and if anything, these cheaper tyres enhanced the handling of the car even more, even if they don't look like they have quite as much shoulder as the Pirellis, making the puny 15-inch wheels look even smaller in the arches. But you won't worry too much about look once you have a shot of one of these, believe me!

The rear brake pads wore out after 14000 miles, which I feel is acceptable if not brilliant, but £70 replaced these at an official Peugeot dealership, which is a fair price.

Servicing must be carried out every 9000 miles, which is not really acceptable in these days of 20000+ mile intervals on hot hatches, but it helps to remember that the 306 design and engineering is almost a decade old now... However, Peugeot has recently introduced a new official servicing schedule for 3+ year old Pugs, which gives cheaper, fixed price servicing on all older Peugeots, and saves a worthwhile amount when compared to the original servicing prices (ie £100 vs. £160 for an intermediate service).

Finally, the jewel in the crown of 306 ownership - insurance. Compared to the GTi brigade, this car is much more economical to insure. Most of the GTi's and similarly fast small/medium cars tend to weight in at group 14-15, reflecting the GTi name, desirability to thieves, and performance. The XSi is obviously less appealing to the thieving scumbags than the GTi-6, and enjoys similar performance to latter day hot hatches, and all this for group 11 insurance, which means that at 23 years old, with one years full NCB, I am able to comprehensively insure my car for a smidge over £700.

I truly hope this review can gain Peugeot's current light-middleweight champion a few more fans before the 307 steals it's reign :o)

For true piece of mind I would change the oil and filter every 4500 miles.

The manufacturers claiming 20k mile service intervals for new model cars are having a laugh!

I don't reckon manufacturers are 'having a laugh' at all with 20,000 mile service intervals, after all, if the engine goes while the car is under warranty, won't they have to replace it? Why would they want to burden themselves with that extra work, as well as damaging their own reputation for reliability? Manufacturers are simply getting better at making efficient, effective engines, so service intervals will continue to increase. Keep in mind that some new Cadillacs (including those sold in the UK) now have a 100,000 mile service interval!

Glad you're enjoying your XSi. A friend has an 8 valve version as a company car, which has stayed in service a bit longer than planned. It has now covered 125,000 miles but still goes and handles brilliantly.

The 8 valve engine has a different delivery, being all about mid range torque. It delivers strong pull between 2,500 and 5,500 RPM, but sounds a bit strained if you push it harder.

I totally agree on your handling comments. I've driven this car and it made me giggle like a complete idiot. Lift the throttle, out comes the tail, plant the throttle again, wind off the lock, and catapult out of the bend. Brilliant, and makes most of its rivals feel leaden and slow witted! I love the way you can play with the car, and it responds exactly as you wish. The steering is also superb - one of the best set up PAS systems at any price.

I just hope the 307 is as talented!

I agree with all the nice comments... but what about reliability. My 1998 XSi has cost over £1000 in repair bills in the 18 months I've had it. Not impressed at all.

Our company has run 306's since they came out, including several XSi's and 1.8 GLX 16 valves, and I have a soft spot for the 306, currently running an XSi 16 valve myself. Our overwhelming impression is that the 8 valve XSi's (old shape) were much more reliable than the newer 16 valve ones.

I'm sorry, but the Peugeot 16 valve unit is a joke in both 1.8 and 2.0 form. It starts leaking oil past about 40,000 miles and is breathless over 5,000 RPM. It also lacks the 8 valve units superb mid range torque, and suffers from all manner of problems. Over 100,000 miles most of our 16 valve cars had problems with head gaskets, ignition coils, ECU's, idle quality, inlet manifolds, catalytic converters, poor cold starting, stalling and oil leaks of almost epidemic proportions. None of which ever arose on the 8 valve engines.

The 306 is a cracking car to drive (miles better than the 307 IMO), but the shocking engineering does let them down. It's a shame, especially when the old ones always seemed to keep going. It's also worrying that this dog of an engine has been carried over to the new 307.

Not very much to say on this except "Buy a 306XSI and you will not be disappointed!" I have had no problems with my Peugeot and it's the first one I have owned. The car is black, looks good and handles great! Considering chipping it soon which should give me another 10BHP all in all can't wait!

Senna.

I bought my 97/r-reg 16v xsi over 2 years ago with 27,000 miles, and since covered just under 20 thousand mile without any problems, the only part that I needed to replace was the axillary belt which cost £50 supplied and fitted by peugeot. It cost little to run, it's also very reasonable to insure, is great fun to drive and offers swift acceleration over 3'000RPM. Overall the car is excellent and offers a good compromise between cost, performance and comfort.

I've had a few so called hot hatch's including Astra SRi's (OK not that hot), Golf GTi 16v's, and whilst the Golf had more power I find my XSi 16v is far more usable especially when coming out of corners. It does tend to run out of steam at around 5,500 rpm though - a bit more like an 8v motor in that respect. Agree about the build though both the VW and dare I say it the Vauxhall were much better put together.

I think also the 8v engine has more low down power, although is does tend to get very noisy at high rpm's.I've owned my 96 n plate 2.0 8v for 2 and a half years, with the most expensive fault being idle control stepper motor failing, this being the only time the car has let me down, even then my wife still managed to drive it five miles to the main dealer. the radiator went at 40,000 but there is no need to go to main dealer I replaced mine for £95 incl anti-freeze, I fitted it myself with a little help from my friend and a haynes manual (it was hard to bled though).main dealer wanted £280 to do the same job. i had the cambelt and alternator belt changed at 55,000 for safety, it's a pity others don't do the same then they couldn't slate 306's so much.

I have had my 306 xsi for 18 months and have tuned the nuts off it.

It now runs 385 bhp and does 0 60 in 3.5 seconds and hits out at 176mph not bad is it cost £16000 to do I bet mines better than yours.

385bhp in fwd car? and on a 2l, chassis nor engine could handle that. what planet you on? good for a laugh though.

Knocking on 400BHP from a Pug engine? In your head, little boy. Grow up and stop wasting bandwidth. Maybe one day you'll even own a real car!

Hate to dampen your fire people, but whether "he" actually has one or not that sort of power and more is available in both fwd and 2L formats, for just one such example check out the green 205 cti on peugeotperformance. net owners gallery, it belongs to a french woman and it puts out 440 bhp on high boost! so get your facts straight before you start taking the wee wee out of people coz they don't share the very narrow plane you you think on!!!

Of course you can have 385 BHP out of a FWD 2.0, it's a 2.0 turbo just the same as an EVO, Impreza or cossie, but no way would you get 3.5 seconds to 60 MPH from a FWD car. If you planted your foot down like you can in an EVO or scooby, you would just end up sitting in a plume of tire smoke, and if you skillfully applied the right amount of throttle not to spin the wheels, you would not get 3.5 seconds. Good at high speed though.

Hi, just to add to the debate I have a honda integra type R dc2 which is a 1.8 litre engine and I've seen one with a turbo on a rolling road printout on you tube kicking out 712bhp!!! not bad for a 1.8 FWD car. OK granted you couldnt use it anywhere, but still it shows you whats possible. mine personally with a turbo and only 5psi of boost has been rolling roaded to 300bhp.