2000 Peugeot 306 hdi d Turbo from UK and Ireland - Comments

I'm not saying there is no 110 bhp 306 (I wouldn't know, or much less care). What I am saying that no diesel engine revs to 7,000 RPM because it is impossible. No point comparing what's possible with a petrol engine because the fuel and burn process are completely different.

Even the 650 bhp Audi R10 TDI Le Mans car only revs to "a bit over" 5,000. It's a limitation of all diesel engines.

Yup, there are no diesels that go to 7000rpm.

F1 Cars can rev to 15000RPM, but if you ever realise after 2-3 races the engine gets completely taken apart and rebuilt. Also F1 car engines are built with exotic materials like titanium and magnesium aluminium alloys.

Which is why most petrol cars don't rev above 7000rpm. Cars generally have to work reliably for more than a few days.

Yes I know a few honda engine can go to 9000RPM, but those engines have a high degree of engineering... something most peugeot's lack.

HDi's only came in 90bhp. The 110bhp is called a "remap". Sure it may have a silver engine cover, but have you ever heard of something called "paint"??

All D-turbo's came with leather seats as standard, as did the meridians.

Sunroofs were optional extras, but most people didn't get them so they are pretty rare.

F1 cars can rev to 20000 rpm or more as they did 2 seasons ago, but last seasons regulations stopped that and limited them to a mere 19000 rpm lol.

I have a 2001 306 Meridian HDI 90. I've just notice a rattling sound coming from the left side of the engine when viewed from the front. This is not easy to explain, but from what I've read from other websites, it could either be the injector (?) or most likely the crankshaft pulley which I'm bracing myself nothing disastrous will happen.

I did notice earlier before that I did hear an odd occasional squeak from the same side of engine. I'm JUST BAFFLED. Any ideas suggestions??

Not all of them came with half leather!! My friend has a Meridian and he hasn't got half leather!

And yes I have heard of paint, but have you ever wondered that if car companies make a special edition car, that the little things such as silver engine covers and such things make it special!

As for the squeaking noise, if it's all the time, your PAS/alternator or whatever you want to call it belt needs adjusting. It is possible that the crank pulley is on its way out; get a garage to check it out.

Hello I am the writer of the original review, didn't think it would get a response such as this. My peugeot has made way for a bora tdi now (which is a lot better). The hdi d-turbo did not have half leather seats, the meridian has them as standard, and peugeot never made a 110bhp 306 for the uk market. As for petrol v diesel, my friend has a v5 bora with 170bhp compared to my 150bhp and there is no contest, diesel wins every time.

The Peugoet 306 HDI is a good car, and they seem to be dropping in price now and are fairly affordable. They aren't the most pokey units, but they are reasonably refined and return decent mpg.

I am not a fan of the ride as I prefer something that grips and engages with the driver like a Fiesta Zetec S, or even something all out like an Integra Type R, whereas the 306 is all about comfort and floaty suspension. The upside is a very relaxing journey, but equally I found the car to be a forgettable one.

Hi I've got a 2001 306 HDI 71K chipped to 109 BHP, lowered with 17" wheels. My problem is I'm getting through rear brake discs every six months. Every 6000-7000 miles! What on earth is going on please!?!?...

My mechanic thinks it might be something to do with the lowered suspension... Rear tyres develop 'patchy' wear also...

You might care to answer this as well! - How bad is it to have 4 people in a lowered car - am I asking for trouble?

I have been in a 306 hdi with 17" alloys on it that used to catch the tyres when the car went over bumps-but the car wasnt lowered, just standard suspension. The lowered suspension might actually firm the ride up enough to make back seat passengers less of a problem.

Have you checked to see if the pads are sticking? Take the wheel off and spin the hub and see if its free, a wire brush and copper slip should help. I don't understand how the back is getting through discs faster than the front, cars do about 80% of the braking with the fronts. Other than that, it might be the quality of the discs. Is the handbrake sticking on? Check that as well. Hope this helps.

The guy who has had his 306hdi chipped to 120bhp and claims 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds, you really made me chuckle with that!

Book figures vary depending on where you look, parkers say 12.4 seconds, wisebuyers claim 12.6, I'm sure other websites/magazines claim different figures.

My point is, with a book figure of AROUND 12 seconds, you're claiming 7.6seconds with it chipped to 120bhp doesn't seem at all reasonable (even with a massive torque increase, the cars gearing is still going to limit what performance increases you can achieve). Knocking over 4 seconds off your 0-60 time is never going to be realistic.

One other point: with a fairly hefty torque advantage it would be perfectly reasonable to assume that the 14/185's would really struggle to put down any power, similar to the Golf TDI150 which makes a mockery of its traction control system.

...and the uneven tyre wear will probably be the tyres catching in the arch when you go over bumps, and more so when you have people in the back.

I currently have a 306 hdi which I only reving to 2300 rpm I think my common rail fuel sensor is faulty I am just wondering if anyonecan help.

I used to own a 2000 HDi a couple of years ago, and if my memory serves me right, it was never a performance car as so many people seem to think it is. I will admit you do get your head knocked back on gear change as the turbo thumped in, and you then realised you were barely moving!

I did like the car for a simple A-B runaround, but to be honest I didn't find it that economical, as I only ever achieved low 40s (which most diesels will better, and petrols of similar power will match).

As for people saying they are faster than Saxo VTRs, they are not, as I found out when one easily overtook me on a local dual carriageway. And to be honest, I once tried to get past a 1.2 Corsa SEi, and only managed to stay level with it! Fast this car is definitely not.

And to the person who said handling on this car is second only to an Integra R: I think the only other vehicle they must have traveled in must have been a boat, as the suspension was that soft. If I went too fast over speed humps or dips in the road, the tyres would skim the arches. And as for cornering, it would nearly tip over! The ride was very comfortable, and nice and relaxing, but I have driven better handling vans; it was not what this car was made for.

Although it sounds as if I am slating the 306 HDi, I am not. It is good as a daily runner and it has got reasonable mid-range pull for everyday use. But even when chipped, it is not even a warm hatch, nor least of all a performance monster that some people seem to think it is.

Hi guys, thinking about buying a 00 306 HDI, it has 146,000 miles on the clock and is running at 110bhp. I'm not sure if it has been chipped or re-mapped. Would there be much of a difference between the 2? Also, do the hdi engines achieve many miles before time of death, and does power increase shorten the life?

Brian..

Hmm. a vtr is going to be faster than a 306hdi. they are more powerful according to uk car, but yes they do have less torque. but the torque in a diesel will start sloping off at around 3500rpm and they don't have the power to compensate for that like petrol engines do.