Faults:

Got the car with a few issues, I replaced the aerial and the clock/temperature display myself with eBay and dealer parts.

The car had a strange gremlin where all the warning lights would go off unexpectedly. After two garage visits to a specialist, this was fixed with a new battery.

Next big issue was a new head gasket. I've also had a coolant leak fixed, and at the last MoT fitted a whole new rear wheel axle, as there was a wheel bearing issue. Peugeot don't make them to be serviceable.

General Comments:

I am fan of Peugeots; they have the best compromise of styling, performance and running costs.

The car looks great, is cheap to insure and cheap to tax at £140 a year. It will do 30 to 40 MPG, and parts and servicing are average with an independent.

The handling is so much better than my last car (the 306), and the 1.6 engine pulls well across the range and sounds pretty meaty out of the exhaust. I've owned BMWs and Golf GTIs, and this car is fun to drive around town, a perfect city car, very easy to park.

The disappointment is the reliability. I may have been unlucky, but my last two Peugeots have needed head gaskets. I had full service history with this car, and it had been looked after, so I guess they just don't make them like they use to.

But you get what you pay for, and this was a very cheap initial purchase. I may go Japanese next, now that I am getting old.

Faults:

I had a broken drivers seat. The bolts which hold the action in place just broke when I had to brake quickly, throwing me backward and away from the brake pedal. It was lucky this did not cause an accident. The car had only done 19,000 miles.

Peugeot refused to help, as did the dealership on the grounds it had ran out of warranty, yet this is a safety feature and bolts do NOT just break! A new seat costs around £680.00, plus fitting plus VAT, so it is bloody expensive.

Peugeot have a lot of seat problems, in fact a lot of problems full stop, and they just do not want to know. This is dangerous and someone could be killed. The bolts which hold the seat in place just broke, yet they are supposed to be designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle and to withstand impact. Obviously a defect, which Peugeot will not accept.

I believe one cannot mend the frame as the seat will not work properly. One has to buy a new frame with welded bolts in place and transfer the padding cover and airbag. Sorry, it is not any help, but I feel the more folk shout about problems, maybe Peugeot will do something about it.

Another point to take on board, Peugeot state the 206 has in excess of 30,000 components and they cannot guarantee each part 100 per cent. Errrr if this is the case, then they should honour those parts which break, especially if they are connected to safety or render the car undriveable. They advertise it as 'The drive of your life'... Ummmm Should or could be.. The last drive of your life.

In short, will I buy Peugeot again? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!!

Faults:

The main beam (bulb) pops quite a lot, which is aggravating about once a month in the winter months. Peugeot did not have good advice on a fix/fuse solution, so I guess it's a minor electrical fault. Main Dealer Services are a bit expensive.

Minor pull to the left on the steering. Last bill was for a steering arm replacement, but the roads may have had an effect.

The spanner symbol, which can only be turned off by the dealership's garage, is really annoying. I use a local garage to reduce cost.

General Comments:

Cam belt change at 120,000 miles was a welcome bonus from a cost point of view.

64 MPG is good enough for me after 4 years. It also makes it difficult to find a replacement, and even with diesel at 11% above the petrol price, it's still cheap motoring.