2003 Peugeot 206 GTi 180 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Slight electrical faults, indicators would not cancel, horn was sounding on it's own.

Great looking hot hatch, manages to look fast when parked up.

Gets lots of attention from all manner of drivers, even old people who don't drive hot hatches can't help, but look.

Brutally quick off the mark, amazing handling, fantastic noise! This little car will put many cars twice it's cost to shame, beware & treat it with respect as you will reach your limit far before it does!

I'm not being funny, and I'm glad you like your car... but I drove the GTi180 a few months ago, and hated it! : (

I have a 106 Quiksilver at the moment, and I honestly prefer that! OK, so it's not as quick... but it's more comfortable to drive, handles far better and doesn't feel as if you're driving a bus! That wheel is far to big in my opinion. I was very disappointed with the test drive, and disapointed in Peugeot! It'll never be an icon like the 205GTi.

If you want something with a more grunt and torque, try a Leon Cupra R 225BHP! The 206 looks superb, i'll admit... but everything else was just poor.

Anyway, I hope it stays as reliable for you as my 106 has been! Peugeot's are damn fine motors, but sadly the 206GTi is cramped, has an awful driving position and is just too gutless at low RPM for my liking.

I'm so glad I chose the Cupra R! 290BHP and 302lbs of torque... now that's what I call a sports car! :) £500 mod gives you nearly 80BHP and 100lbs more, as a result of that superb turbo! With nearly 300BHP at the front wheels, it's vital you fit a limited slip dif, like a Quaife for instance, or you'll be understeering all over the place!

See you in my rear view mirror! :D.

I owned a 206 GTI from new, when we had "W" Reg. I started to hate the car one week after delivery because it felt so cheap and the interior rattled. Not to mention the vast amounts of technical problems it developed. I had the car 8 months, and I swear I will never own another Peugeot or any French car ever again.

I would never buy a 206 GTI 180. If one were to have an accident in this vehicle at any speed, it would be fatal. After all, it's a tin can.

I had a "52" Reg Clio 172, a fast car, but French and built badly.

So glad I bought a Volkswagen Golf 25th Anniversary Number 1566. Germans make proper cars :o)

To the avove comment.

You Sir are a fool, how can an accident at any speed be fatal? At high speeds yes, if an accident is fatal in a Pug 180 then I would bet my mortgage that it would be the same in your big heavy and slow Vw. Unless you buy a tank you are as likely to be hurt seriously in almost any car at high speeds.

With regards to the review, i feel a bit sorry for Pug 180 owners. It was a nice try, but this car comes last in every single magazine and reviewers review. Its beaten now from every angle by all the so called hot hatches under 20k.Mini cooper s, Honda civic type r, Focus st 170,Leon Cupra and the new king on the block Renaults Clio 182.Not a Vw in site, but that's no suprise as they have been missing the mark for years and years now.

It's a shame really that the company that brought us the classic 205 gti then later the respectable 106 gti fell so short in its attempts with the 180.Still I'm sure you love your car and that's whats important.

Lets face it... the honda type r is the car to go for. For 15000 you get a porche boxter beater. Someone tell me a car you can buy new for that sort of money that can do that... BIG RESPECT TO HONDA!!!

Bigger respect to Renault in that case then. The Clio 182 has won EVERY group test, Evo, Car, Auto express and Auto car. Evo quotes it as the best hot hatch ever and Auto express actually tested one as opposed to manufacturers figures and it came in at 6.3 seconds 0-60.

You could say it's a load of old bull, but they all put it on top of the pile.. and its over 1500 quid cheaper than the Honda, and with a much higher spec.

Get a Williams Clio (if you can find one) - and trouser the £££. Still unbeaten. Pug don't make the greats like they used to (205 GTi, 306 GTi/Rallye, 106 GTi/Rallye). Good to see Renault on form, as ever, with the 182.

I think you are all wrong with your comments. Me and my mate who is a peugeot mechanic for 15 years has worked on and owned lots of pugs. He has worked on 180's test driven them and pdi'd them. Cars are down to peoples own opinions, so do not slag them off just because you do not like them. I have the 205 gti, on a 1990 reg with 140,000 miles on the clock. The engine is not standard as its 160 bhp. I have also driven the gti 180. The handling may not be perfect from this new car, but what car does handle perfect, especially the small hot hatches which are very light anyway!!.

Personally I would purchase the car, smooth ride, nice handling and plenty of grunt.

Obviously if you put a turbo on this car it would leave a lot of other cars in its rear mirror!!

Buy a 182.

Drove the 206 180 last week. I expected a lot from such a good looking car, but was disappointed. The test drive was cut short (only 25 minutes) by a salesman who thought the correct way to test a 180bhp car was a 5 minute trickle around a local housing estate.

Overall, the car was thrashy, hard to control and gave the impression that it was unable to cope with the power. The seats were extremely uncomfortable and the driving position appalling. It also suffered from appalling ride quality (from those big alloys) and sounded like a sewing machine when revved. I have also driven the Clio 182 which, by contrast, sounded throaty, handled brilliantly and felt firmly planted to the road.

The 206's styling is also too aggressive; on the test drive, I received V signs and swearing from I guy in an Astra I had overtaken (safely and legally), leading me to suspect that the car would be keyed as soon as I bought it!!!

To top it off, the pug was more expensive than the Clio; the salesman struggling to get payments below £400 per month! An easy decision; Clio 182 ordered for September!!!

I had a standard 206 GTi for 2 years and took the 180 for a test drive in 2003. My first impressions were that it did not appear to be that much faster, or better handling than the standard car, so did not buy one.

However, I could not walk past one without staring at it, and went for a longer drive around some twisty roads earlier this year.

I have now had a 180 for 8 months and think it is phenomenal. The only problem I have, is that whenever someone sees the size of the exhausts, they always feel that they have to overtake me.

As for reviews and it coming last, I would not fall into the trap of believing everything these press people write. It was not long ago (before the 180 existed) that some magazine voted the standard GTi as the best GTi in history. That same magazine does not give it a mention now.

I have a 180 GTI and at first was a little frustrated. My previous cars included a 205 1.9 GTI and a 106 GTI both of which were awesome. The 206 felt lofty and a little slow. However after a weeks driving something amazing happens:

1. You finally discover the right seat position, as far down as possible in my case.

2. You discover how to use the gears properly. If you going 30 2nd gear will not do, you have to go down to first. Indeed when applying the throttle shift down a gear less than you expect and the car will propel forward at an alarming rate.

Test driving a 180 can be a real let down. However you have to learn how to drive the car, then it will reward you in spades. And devastate a Clio 182 or Honda.

I had to respond, I have a new 180 and "for a car" it is incredible. to respond to Mr "tacky Seat" above, what does he look like in a car that looks like a shopping trolley with spoilers.

As for speed, he may have the edge on my 180, however he, as many car drivers do, falls into the trap of thinking their car is fast. Cars are not quick, they are pathetic. My Suzuki GSXR would reach 140 before Mr Tacky had got to 60. If he wants to be a man, tell him to get a life and buy a motorbike. he will never think his car is fast again!!! Tony (Grantham Lincs)

OK no way could I ignore these without saying something.206 gti 180 may not be revolutionary, but its still a great car. It was used as one of the many supercars it 2fast2furious...who had some of the worlds motor experts overseeing which made it in.

As for awkward driving position... i would definately agree that once you adjust the seat perfectly there should never be a problem. Uncomfortable seats??? Since when have bucket seats been uncomfortable? That's what they are, ur standard bucket seats... which I find very comfortable.

Gearbox is close set, and a test drive isn't enough. You need to really learn this car in order to drive it to its potential.

My only complaint is the slightly harsh suspension and can be hard to control on the pedals (steerings excellent however) but that is only initially until you settle with the car.

As of now my friends are envious... it matches my Mitsubishi Lancer evolution as far as I'm concerned... and it certainly has impressed a few young ladies in its time!! hehe. Alloys do come out further than tires tho.. which led me to curb 1 of them when tired... but that's sumthin that's always gonna happen, but I intend to replace them with bbs alloys later this year.

If you like the style of the car and want one... then I see no reason why people shouldn't buy it.It's an alltogether great car that only a real veteran street racer could criticise.

However its all opinions and people r entitled to their own.

This car is basically the slowest in its class.

"BY SOME WAY!"

Evo done a 0-60 and 0-100 run and the PUG Gti 180 lost on all!

By todays standards its more like a warm hatch if you ask me.

If you are after something Rapid, "LOOK ELSEWHERE!"

The 180 GTI is the best, anyone says otherwise is just jealous. I've had one 4 months and wouldn't part with it.

THREE WORDS OH MY GOD!!! you all need to go out and drive a 180 properly!!

I absolutely love my gti 180 and would not change it for anything!, and unlike most of you I used to own a honda civic type r before some silly old woman drove into the side of me and I can honestly say the 180 is more than capable of giving one a fright!! the 180 rewards you in so many more ways than most other hot hatches.

Clio 182 : my mums metro has a better interior!!

Civic type-r : fast, but ugly chav mobile

mini cooper-s : slow and everyone has one it a girls car.

Golf gti: impressive, but expensive

gti 180: best looking best interior and very quick!