306 Cabriolet

[willis 18 1 Cars]

What are they like? They've always looked good (well, I think so). Obviously not going to set the world on fire performance wise but I was thinking about something for the summer now the wife's Cooper S Works convertible went last year.

 

Is the 1.8 or the 2.0 the one to get? I've seen a couple on ebay as late as 2002 with major rust issues, so I obviously wouldn't want to buy a stinker. I'd like to know if there's anything else to look out for.

[Silky 33 1 Cars]

Early ones are 2.0 8v, then they moved to 1.8 16v and 2.0 16v (XSI engine).

 

SE comes with leather and a few other small options.

 

I think they look great. Hoods prone to electrics going. I prefer them with the hard top on

[hoodygoodwood 70 3 Cars]

2 years ago I bought a p reg 2.0 litre 306 cabrio for the wife , she loves it and it is nippy . Deliberately got an old one so I could get it on a classic insurance policy , about £165 per year fully comprehensive .

All the drivers seats seem to wear out and the metal internal seat frame can break .Also get the odd flashing airbag light .

Look for rust at the bottom of the door apertures ( B post ) .

Best looking converted hatchback cabrio of the period by far although it has no rollover protection and you can feel the scuttle shake over London roads . The original alloys were tatty so I put a set of home refurbed 'Ouragans' on it and they suit it really well .

Best £1000 I spent , earnt some serious brownie points for myself .

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

I used to own one in Tie Break Green, with the 1.8 16v engine, many years ago. Spent a bit of £££ making it a bit different and even bought a hard top for it after the electric roof started having issues.

 

I must admit it looked so much nicer with the hardtop on, even though that did defeat the point of having a cabriolet lol Although it was excellent in the winter when the snow was around

 

Checked it last year and it would appear it ended up being broken for parts about a year ago

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

The Roadster ones with the hard top look fantastic.A guy inthe PSC Derbyshire group has a late yellow one with a black hardtop which looks well. Roof hydraulic pipes can be expensive. I think the 1.8 ones are just as good as the 2.0 ones from what I heard as there is only 10 bhp in them but they are a little bit more revvy (a lit like the 1.6 / 1.9 debate)

[willis 18 1 Cars]

Yeah, I was reading that the 1.8's always make more bhp than they ever said. Apparently they have an ecu that you can't tinker with, but then if you'll only ever make a few ponies more there's probably little point. Apparently the 2.0 is much thirstiest too.

 

Even though I quite like the exterior style on the early ones I think I'll probably hunt out a later one as the interior looks a lot nicer and have the option of a 1.8.

 

Thanks.

[Silky 33 1 Cars]

I think the 1.8 is easier to fiddle with, ie GTI6 exhaust and inlet manifolds