Faults:
The exhaust need replacing 2 weeks after purchase.
New power steering belt needed replacing also, all after 2 weeks of ownership, all fixed under warranty.
Remote central locking failed in one of the keys.
Indicator stalk needed replacing after 1 month of ownership, as it was signaling left by itself, nearly causing an accident. (common fault on the 206)
Auto-sensing wipers ended up with problems... the car would have had to be sent to a Peugeot specialist...
Engine cut out.. and this was an automatic. Apparently there is a huge concern with the majority of the 206 range, a common problem of engine cutting out, stalling, coil packs failing and ECU faults... fortunately my car turned out to have a tight throttle cable.. so was fixed under warranty.
Major oil leak in the head gasket...
General Comments:
I used to drive a Nissan Micra, absolutely fantastic... never any trouble, shame it got too small for me and I could no longer drive it due to knee and back pain... and I also needed a 5 door car.
I decided to go for a Peugeot 206, as I learnt to drive in one years earlier, they were comfy and had the extra space.
I purchased the 1.4 GLX auto (top of the range) for bargain price with only 32,000 miles on the clock. I fell in love with it, and it ticked all the boxes... and the GLX came with all the extra luxuries... electric heated mirrors, A/C, 6 CD changer, auto wipers, remote locking & alarm, power windows.
That was until I experienced nothing but trouble...
The garage were fantastic, and had given me a free 2 year warranty, but I soon became very fed up having to take the car back to the garage 4 times in 8 weeks...
As I had so much trouble with the car, the garage were very kind and took the car off me and swapped the Pug for a Japanese Suzuki Ignis, which is 3 years newer than the Peugeot for no extra cost...
If you want a reliable car, DON'T buy a Peugeot!!! Now talking to other people, I don't know one person that has anything good to say about the 206.
It was a shame because I loved the 206, but I was obviously drawn into its nice styling and exterior, rather than performance and reliability...
Good Points:
Very nippy - 1.4 auto... luxury and comfortable..
Good equipment levels - (but prior to going wrong)
Spacious - for what I needed the car for.
Bad Points:
All the mechanical and electrical trouble...
Very expensive on petrol.
Bodywork can easily damage..
I will never have another Peugeot, although the newer models are probably OK...
I much prefer my Suzuki, Fantastic car, very reliable and cheap to run... YOU CAN'T BEAT A JAPANESE CAR!!
2nd May 2009, 01:18
Having had endless cars, your comments about buying Japanese ring absolutely true. I have had many stylish but flawed French and German cars, but the Japanese cars have just WORKED.
Be fair to the 206 though; it is a 10 year old French car, full of complex electronics and yours may be a bad one.
If you want reliability, look at the stats - Daihatsu won most reliable brand this year in 2009 Driver Power. After owning five, I understand how Daihatsu can offer a five year warranty and breakdown deal free - it is never used!