Just me and my dog.

[Cavcraft]

Don't think I've done a thread about my car and because I've been enjoying it since I got it maybe it's about time I did, so here goes.

 

For the princely sum of £205 on the nail on the 27th June (or thereabouts) I became the proud owner of this.

 

 

It came with 5 months MOT, 6 weeks tax, 205 GTI 1.9 alloys and near new tyres. Had a leaking rocker cover gasket which I think helped get the car so cheap as the eBay advert was shit and said something like 'has oil leak from gasket' which probably put a few off.

Anyhow I wasn't over keen on it at first, seats too low, nasty colour, dull as you like etc but I've grown to really like it now. It looks shit, has no real redeeming features, no s sunroof, no air con, no electric windows and no central locking, but it's got power steering and to be fair is bloody reliable.

Bosch pump so dirt cheap to run and although it's not quick if you drive it properly and use the roads correctly you can get places fairly briskly, it's just more involving that's all!

Despite it absolute dullness it's got that weird sort of charm where it's great to own and I'd jump in it and go anywhere at all without worrying about it packing up. I've done a good couple of thousand miles in it already no danger and it's exactly 227,916 times better to own than 'that' dreadful Passat.

It's a right bin at the moment, some 'fuel' stains down the side, inside is absolutely bogging and there are myriad dents from previous owner. Used daily, thrashed daily and makes a good parts chaser, cycle carrier and general daily duties.

[dollywobbler]

Is it a 1.9 NA Billy? Can't recall. The 306 is vastly underrated I reckon. They handle well, are comfortable enough and it's the last attractive Peugeot hatchback.

[KruJoe]

I'm not surprised you're getting along well with this. They've faded from the radar for 'yer motoring public', but to me they look fitter than anything else in their class, and they styling wasn't even ruined in the facelift. They've always been a good steer in whatever guise.

The earliest ones are about to turn 20 years old, so I'll be on the lookout for one to go on the cla$$ic policy.

 

Your one would be brightened up somewhat if the wheels went back to a smart silver, and may I suggest a simple thin stripe along the flanks in a nice contrasting colour?

[dollywobbler]

You know, I'm really not keen on the early ones. The first facelift (which Billy's is) was an incredible transformation considering it was just headlamps, grille and tail-lights. Smartened it up a treat.

 

The second facelift was a bit blingy for my liking. All fancy lamps and stuff.

[willswitchengage]

They handle well, are comfortable enough and it's the last attractive Peugeot hatchback.

 

I do love the FIGHTA PILOT dash in those, much more exciting than your company Saab "we used to make planes". I'd go for the 206 as the last noice looking Peugeot (other than the funky 407), it still looks the business especially with no wheeltrims and covered in dents, with the POWAH dw8 engine. 6th most produced car design of all time, can't have been doing much wrong...

[Cavcraft]

Yes, 1.9 n/a, Ian.

 

I was less fussed on the first ones and prefer the later ones with that sort of 'bodykit' look to the sills and I think they had a slightly more jazzy front end? You're right about needing to sort of break up the paint a bit, Joe, probably not the right forum to admit this but I quite fancy doing the wheels yellow or gold or something.

One fault I forgot about is the handbrake is rubbish, we'll need to sort that soon and it's way overdue a service too. Oh, it's got a hideous big chrome aftermarket air filter but I'm leaving that as is due to the rep these have for sucking in water due to the low air intake at the front.

[Lacquer Peel]

Poor handbrake is probably just worn shoes and fucked self-tensioners.

 

I like 1990s PSA stuff, especially XUD powered - they are always pleasant to drive, to sit in and very reliable.

[trigger]

I used to own a 1993 L reg 306 XLD, paid sod all for it really but it was a fantastic car, The last owner had fitted a XSi front bumper with working fog lights so it looked quite smart, it used to run on fresh air, over 50mpg and was quite pokey for a N/A.

 

I got rear ended in it once driving home from work and got a insurance company paid me £500 and I got to keep the car, there was only a small dent in the back of it, I ended up selling it to someone at work for what i paid for it, I only lasted 6 months with him before the head gasket went and he scrapped it.

[HillmanImp]

I was hanging around outside TK Maxx in Crown Point Leeds (on lookout whilst a bunch of my mates were inside on the rob, so that we could buy a few bags of brown, innit to get well off it later on like), when a child pointed at a 306 going past and exclaimed to his parents 'Look at that really small car Mummy!'

 

I thought it was odd but as it drove off I looked at it compared to all the other cars in the carpark and they are proper tiny compared to a modern car for what was an Escort sized car in its day. Just goes to show how stupidly big modern cars are these days.

 

I do think that there are nice looking cars. They are like a big brother to the 205 IMO stylewise. Proper Bo' like.

[Guest]

Poor handbrake is probably just worn shoes and fucked self-tensioners.

 

I like 1990s PSA stuff, especially XUD powered - they are always pleasant to drive, to sit in and very reliable.

 

About the only fucking thing you do like, to be honest.

 

This looks great Billy - it's in the same Forest Green as my old TD GLX, P363 PNC. The normally aspirated diesel 306s seem to be worthless now. but they still give good economy and the 306 has a roomy interior, a large boot and much best rust protection than the Astras, Golfs and Escorts of the same age. 306s are also well set up and are a laugh on country roads if you keep your foot in. If the one nine speedlines have decent tyres on you'll be surprised at how much speed it can carry.

[Spiny Norman]

Decent old sheds these 306s, I'd happily have one, even a Diseasel, which is saying something for me.

It's funny how Peugeot's fortunes have changed in just 10 years. Most people I know have fond memories of 205s, 306s & 405s but it's hard to find anyone with a good word to say about the modern ones.

[ashmicro]

I fixed one of those for my mate Joanne. 1.9 DW8 atmo engine - I was surprised at how well it went. It would have been even better if Jo had cleared out the 2 metric tonnes of shite inside the car! It ate it's lift pump in the end, and got scrapped. Bloody waste, I could have fixed that for about £30.

[R9UKE]

306s are a great car for just getting on with it. No day to day abuse really phases them. I've only ever had a white 1.6 petrol SEDAN. It was proper shite, loved it.

[warren t claim]

[Morgan84]

I guess them dark wheels do make the car look a little drab,but they are a nice stylish car inside and out,and pretty well screwed together as well.The gold wheels would be a bit french in a Clio Williams kind of way,but would certainly lighten it up;another possibility is white wheels,but if you arent into regular wheel scrubbing,thats not going to look too good for long.

[garethj]

All the best people have cronky old Pug diesels. I think electrics can be a weak point on these, central locking and electric window faults are quite common but otherwise they're an agreeable old thing. My brother had a turbo diesel one when it was new and it cornered nice and flat although the ride wasn't as compliant over the bumps

[Cavcraft]

What's this 'Atmo' thing please, mine's a 1.9 n/a diesel but I always thought they were an XUD lump?

 

I can imagine a TD must be quite a jolly wheeze in a 306, then again as I got this just for the economy I'd be slightly concerned that if I converted it I'd get used to the extra massive* power increase, welly it round everywhere then lose out on MPG.

[dollywobbler]

I'd assumed that all 306s were XUD as well.

 

I also had misgivings about economy going from an NA BX to a TD one, but I've managed the opposite. It seems much easier to see the happy side of 50mpg than the NA, presumably because my foot isn't welded to the floor permanently. That said, I never seemed to be able to top 45mpg with my 306 DTurbo, probably because I did always drive it like a maniac. Perhaps I've got older and more sensible since then...

[CreepingJesus]

Atmo = atmospheric, or naturally aspirated; as the engine's air intake is strictly at atmospheric pressure, unlike a turbo, which is forced induction.

IIRC, the turbo's had a reputation for throwing a leg out of bed, (or was it just bad maintenance and regular thrashing that caused that?) so you're probly better off with the atmo. The XUD in my old LDV was slow but damn tough.

I quite like the dark look myself; it's a stealth shiter...

[willswitchengage]

I'd assumed that all 306s were XUD as well.

 

Later models had the DW8 instead, which is slightly less powerful but made of shiny newer materials and I think was also additionally ECU controlled. I'm guessing to meet Euro III or something.

[oman5]

Our everyday hack is a 306 Dturbo with the xud engine. I cant rate it highly enough- it's everything you want in a cheapie car. The Dturbo goes like stink (comparatively) excellent handling, not too bad to work on and touch wood its been mega reliable. if you hoof it MPG will be mid 40s but 54 or so is achievable.

The D turbo was kind of marketed as a diesel hot hatch- it has firmer suspension, sports seats, alloys etc. I'd have bought one years ago if I'd known how good they were.

[Cavcraft]

Aha, so the Atmo and the XUD are the same thing then? Maybe I was getting confuddled with thhe DW8 which is another thing I've only heard of very recently.

[meggersdog]

we is bezzy mates,drive around together in the same car but a different miserable colour

 

Throttle cable snapped on mine.New cable kit needed soldering so I drilled a hole in a 6mm bolt and put two nuts on it.

My spare wheel is weird, each wheel nut hole has a shoulder welded to it, had a puncture on Saturday and because of the spare I haven't used it until I get the puncture repaired.

[warren t claim]

IIRC, the turbo's had a reputation for throwing a leg out of bed, (or was it just bad maintenance and regular thrashing that caused that?)

 

My Xantia did just that at 6 years/90,000.

[Volksy]

I had an estate one a few years back, was the Turbo Diesel and it was a grand thing. Boot's not massive for an estate, but still useful. I did several work trips down to Southern France in it, which it excelled at. IIRC mine was a special edition so got half leather amongst other goodies. Although the alloys had managed to weld themselves to the rear brakes, which was fun when I got a puncture.

[dollywobbler]

Ah, that'd make sense. Of course late D Turbos were HDi too. Ignore my previous!

[Micrashed]

Aha, so the Atmo and the XUD are the same thing then? Maybe I was getting confuddled with thhe DW8 which is another thing I've only heard of very recently.

Later ones did indeed get the DW8 Donkey.

Its awful.

WJY and WJZ VIN codes identify if you have a DW8 donkey or not. DJY and DJZ are the XU9D donkey (IIRC)

 

EDIT:

http://www.peugeotlogic.com/workshop/ws ... code_d.htm

I wasnt wrong! Handy little chart this ^^^

[Micrashed]

we is bezzy mates,drive around together in the same car but a different miserable colour

 

My spare wheel is weird, each wheel nut hole has a shoulder welded to it, had a puncture on Saturday and because of the spare I haven't used it until I get the puncture repaired.

Sounds like you have a steel wheel spare designed to be used with alloy wheel wheel bolts. Did yours have alloys once upon a time?

[meggersdog]

Ah, so maybe it is the spare that is wrong for the car.The last owner had mine for six years and I don't think it had alloys in that time.

[Cavcraft]

we is bezzy mates,drive around together in the same car but a different miserable colour

 

My spare wheel is weird, each wheel nut hole has a shoulder welded to it, had a puncture on Saturday and because of the spare I haven't used it until I get the puncture repaired.

Sounds like you have a steel wheel spare designed to be used with alloy wheel wheel bolts. Did yours have alloys once upon a time?

 

Didn't the 16V BX have the same arrangment? I'm damned sure I had a couple of those wheels previously.