Little Bit Ot: Thinking Of Buying A 206gti

[EnglishRob 0]

Hi folks,

 

I just wanted some advice, I'm looking to buy another car to get me around while my 205 is being fixed (and possibly something to use as a daily driver so I can keep the 205 for weekends).

 

I've been looking around at 206s and although I was hoping to get a diesel I can't seem to find a decent model within my price range, at least not within a travelling distance that I can make.

 

So I decided to look further a field. Being a bit of a Pug nut I decided that I really wanted to get another Pug (not to mention having spent nearly £1000 on my Prelude for it to go pop, I want something that I can just go to GSF and pick parts up for).

 

So this evening I've been to have a look at a nice 206GTI (standard GTI, not a 180). Looks wise it looked pretty nice, little bit of rust on the bonnet on the underside (just by the front of the bonnet when you lift it up), couple of small dings where the previous owner reversed into a bollard (hey I've done the same) and the interior was in very good condition compared to other 206 GTI's I've been looking at.

 

So I'm not expecting the earth, it seems to drive nicely, although it did get a bit twitchy when going round a roundabout (I wondered if it might be a bit of ice as it was -1 outside) but I'd probably look at putting better tyres on (any recommendations?) and I'm not planning on going quick, after just getting rid of 5 points I'm not in a hurry to get any more (and I'm still feeling the pinch on that accident I had back in 2008).

 

I just wondered if anyone knew if there was anything I should be specifically looking out for on it? It's MOT'd until April and taxed until May. I'm hoping to get a friend who is a mechanic to give it the once over tomorrow or Wednesday, I just thought I'd see what the general opinion was about the 206?

 

Rob

[welshpug 1,657]

not bad cars, gti's were a bit soft and seats not the best.

 

beams are scaled up 106 items, particularly prone to wearing out and cost more than 205/306 to repair, some can have electrical issues, surface corrosion on neglected/abused bodywork.

 

elsewhere typical PSA small car, droplinks wishbone bushes sticky bendix rear calipers etc.

 

I do believe the 138 is fairly decent on fuel when driven well.

 

 

re-tyres, make sure the pressures are correct, and don't skimp on tyres regardless of your driving style, is it running the 16" Ouragan's?

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

Beams definitely, I've done a few now, on low mileage (e.g. 45k) cars as well.

[EnglishRob 0]

not bad cars, gti's were a bit soft and seats not the best.

 

beams are scaled up 106 items, particularly prone to wearing out and cost more than 205/306 to repair, some can have electrical issues, surface corrosion on neglected/abused bodywork.

 

elsewhere typical PSA small car, droplinks wishbone bushes sticky bendix rear calipers etc.

 

I do believe the 138 is fairly decent on fuel when driven well.

 

 

re-tyres, make sure the pressures are correct, and don't skimp on tyres regardless of your driving style, is it running the 16" Ouragan's?

 

It's the same wheels as this one, so yeah I think they are 16" wheels. I was looking at maybe something like the Toyo Proxy (black circles has them at about £69 each fitted). I had Eagle F1's on one of my old 205's and nearly span the thing round going round a bend on a slip road (in the summer, so a hot sunny day) might have just been me at fault there though as I never had any major problems with the Eagle F1's otherwise.

 

Beams definitely, I've done a few now, on low mileage (e.g. 45k) cars as well.

 

Any ideas how much they tend to go for?

 

Looking at this link it seems someone else had a twitchyness problem where it was the anti-roll up-link bar (whatever that is).

 

I'm not sure too but my friend who was with me said there was a display around the heater controls which displays temperature etc which he pointed out wasn't working. The fans, heater and interior lights seemed to work okay though.

 

I don't mind having a go at fixing some things like electrical bits myself (done small bits on my 205) but anything more mechanical than maybe an oil change or something like that for the time being I'd probably get a mechanic to look at it.

 

Rob

[welshpug 1,657]

experienced eagles on a 306 and would rate them far far higher than Toyo's, fairly similar performance to a Michelin but stiffer sidewalls.

 

Pirelli's in that size are decent too.

Edited January 31, 2011 by welshpug

[DaveW 6]

Id get a 306 gti6 tbh....

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

If you can get along with the seats then it's not a bad car, Nippy to around 100 then a big sluggish but handle well like most Pug's,

Not one for me as the seats do me in.

[BusEngineer 7]

Same problem as Miles with the seats, within half an hour of driving, they've broken me!! Got to be one of the worst seats/driving positions ive ever come across, for me anyway

Edited February 1, 2011 by BusEngineer

[Batfink 201]

The chassis is very responsive but the car is let down with a poor driving position and uncomfortable seats.

[EnglishRob 0]

Thanks guys, I did consider a 306 but I can't find anything close by (at least not GTI6s) and I've kind of been given an ultimatum that I need to sort out a car (joys of being a contractor good money but about as much security as a temp).

 

I didn't think the seats were too bad but I'm not well built (although I am a bit on the tubby side :-D).

 

Actually the seats did seem tighter than the 205.

 

I'm going to get a mechanic friend to look at it later on this afternoon so I'll update you all worth his findings (and mentioned that you've said about the rear beam etc).

 

Rob

[Richie 32]

Always preferred the 306, feels a bit better screwed together inside and seats are nice. But as a puglover i appreciate the 206 its not a bad car at all.

[EnglishRob 0]

Okay, so an update, I got a friend who is a mechanic to look at it in the daylight, he found a couple of oil leaks, the exhaust is on the way out (at least the back box is) and it's MOT is due next month.

 

He said it's a nice car but I could end up spending a few hundred on the MOT.

 

So I've decided to give that one a miss. Shame as it was nice but I don't need the grief from the wife.

 

So it's back to square one, I've seen another 206GTI in Okehampton but it's a bit of a distance, also seen a nice looking Miami Blue 205 (1.6 in Tiverton, wondered if it might be anyone on here?)

 

Considering the 205s have been most reliable cars I've personally had (apart from my old Lada Samara) I do wonder if I should get another one and have done with it :-)

 

Rob

[Baz 421]

I bought one basically new from the Pug dealer i worked at in '01, gave it to my mum 6 or so months later as i disliked it, nothing like a 205 i was used to! She kept it until 2yrs ago. My ex & I also bought one for her a couple of years ago, took her abuse and mileage well, despite needing a few things along the way, the usual wishbone/ball joints, drop links, engine mounts and exhaust, and my 406 i have now has the same engine.

 

Summed up simply; not built that well as expected really, uncomfortable driving position, fairly thirsty, not mega-reliable but hardly unreliable tbh, not mega quick but ok, handles ok but a little scary in the wet, feels like a scared cat on a varnished wooden floor at times, but generally good cars in the great scheme of things really.

[Baz 421]

Considering the 205s have been most reliable cars I've personally had (apart from my old Lada Samara) I do wonder if I should get another one and have done with it :-)

 

Rob

 

I would if you're not that fussed about mod-cons and just want an honest, reliable, cheap to run car, maintain it preventatively and it'll look after you!

[Batfink 201]

If you are looking at temporary runaround I would not look at the hatchback market. Cars are so overpriced for what you get.

[blue_haddock 2]

Well i've got a 51 plate 206 GTi and i like it. In fact i've owned this one the longest i've ever owned any car (2 years).

 

In that period its had a new backbox and a set of rear discs and pads, this week for the MOT i had to have the rear beam replaced and there was quite a bit of play in the one arm. Apart from that though its been very reliable, and all the toys and gadgets work as they should.

 

Fuel wise i get approx 38 mpg in mixed driving and up to 44 mpg on a decent run. Some people say their not that quick but on our welsh run and lakes trip i'm always all over the 205 MI's and 306 Rallye's.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

I've worked on and driven a few belonging to customers, I found them to go better than just the power figure on paper would suggest, it is a gutsy engine that pulls well from low down, as opposed to the earlier 16v lumps that are screamers up top but need to be kept wound up.

 

It is just a shame really that you need to have a body shaped like a chimp to drive the damn things comfortably over any period!

[allye 530 3 Cars]

I would say one of the major draw backs are people would see you driving it

 

I think 206's are awful looking cars.

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

I would say one of the major draw backs are people would see you driving it

 

I think 206's are awful looking cars.

 

Agreed !

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

They were always under rated but make excellent second hand buys as the chavs never really got their hands on them as the Fast and the Furious came out and all eyes went east.

 

I have only ever driven a 180 all the way to the Nurburgring and found it fine but a firm ride. It was brand new though.

[EnglishRob 0]

Hmm, gives me a bit more to go on. I'm going to see if I can get up to see this one in Okehampton at the weekend, and maybe the 205 in Tiverton too.

 

Rob

[DaveW 6]

Even a late 306 xsi? its nearly has the same power as the 206 gti! yeah get a 205, stick with what you know

[shalmaneser 26]

I'm not sure why you're dismissing the 306 outof hand? A decent 16V XSi or even HDI Dturbo would do you nicely?

 

I really like 306s, they're far superior to the 206 IMO.

[allye 530 3 Cars]

I think we all know what its like to have our heart set on something and no one is going to tell or convince us otherwise! Although he did ask for our advice

[Anthony 1,003]

I'd certainly suggest at the minimum taking a longish test drive in one before buying, as while they seem fine around town (suspect driving position aside) I've never got on with them once speed increases - it might be the examples I've driven have all been poor, but none have inspired any confidence whatsoever, feeling both nervous and vague, reminding me very much of a 205 with tired suspension and dead beam mounts.

 

Beam problems and electrical gremlins seem to be rife on them from what I can tell too.

 

Certainly given a choice of a 206 GTi or 306 GTi-6 I'd take the 306 every time - so long as you accept that they're lacking the agility and rawness of a 205, they're a very good choice and in my opinion probably the last decent car that Peugeot made. Fuel economy isn't the best and insurance can be a little expensive, but in terms of driving they're very good indeed, parts plentiful and generally fairly reliable (so long as you buy a good one - plenty of tired basketcases around now)

 

Away from French tat, how about either a Ford Puma 1.7 or a Nissan Almera GTi? Both 206 GTi money or less, and both very under-rated cars in my opinion, particularly the Puma which people write off as a girls car - drive one and I'm confident you'll prefer it to a 206.