1995 Peugeot 306 XRd 1.9 diesel

Summary:

Good value, but unreliable electrics

Faults:

The central locking was so unreliable I disconnected it.

Radio cassette sometimes wouldn't switch on so I replaced it.

Various electrical indicators such as warning lights and the temp gauge are unreliable.

Drive shaft gaiter split leading to the need to replace the drive shaft.

Matrix heater failed.

Brake pipe rusted through causing a leak.

Leaks due to the metal above the windscreen rusting through where water collects.

A few glow plugs went when I renewed the battery which led to difficulty starting. However the plugs had done 70000 to be fair.

General Comments:

This car has given me good value motoring with high mpg, cheap insurance, reasonably priced parts & servicing.

The 306's Achilles heel seems to be the electrics. If you're thinking of buying one I would check radio, locking etc. carefully.

If you have central locking problems it may be due to several wires between the body and the door breaking, presumably due to copper fatigue caused by constant door opening & closing.

The matrix heater was fixed using a copper coloured powder you add to the cooling system, a sort of powdered Radweld. I was skeptical, but it worked and saved the drawn out process of changing the heater.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th March, 2005

8th Aug 2006, 06:36

These are good cars and will go on forever. It cost 695 pounds, had brand new wheels and suspension, and does 50 mpg. It is a diesel non turbo.

It is a very good car, 4 door, N reg 1996, 142,000 miles with a nice sounding engine, and will do over 200,000 miles easily.

1995 Peugeot 306 XSi

Summary:

Please read

Faults:

Just about to buy a new car. Need a cheap runabout and torn between a Renault 19 16V and 306XSI. A friend of mine has one and has had no end of problems:

Head gasket blew.

Radiator needed replacing.

Exhaust has fallen off twice.

Heater matrix packed up and had to be replaced.

Electrics constantly playing up.

General Comments:

I thought that this might be just his car, but after reading the reviews on here it seems that the large majority of 306`s have a lot of problems. Can someone convince me to buy one? It sounds to me like they aren't very well made. Thanks.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st December, 2004

22nd Dec 2004, 01:34

My friend put 175,000 miles on a 96 N example a few years ago.

Nothing whatsoever went wrong with it up to its 127,000 mile service, when he got a big bill to fix an oil leak, a problem with the catalyst and worn rear suspension bushes. Not exactly unreasonable at 127,000 miles, to my mind.

At 150,000 miles the original clutch started slipping!!! Again, 150k for a clutch is very impressive.

Oil consumption started to get quite high around this mileage as well, although the car still sounded sweet and performed well. It started smoking a bit on start up indicating the problem was just worn valve stem seals (parts to fix cost less than a tenner, plus labour or about half a day DIY.) He didn't bother and just kept the oil topped up.

At 170,000 miles it developed a serious fault with the fuel injection system where it suddenly started returning about 15 mpg and would stall frequently. The cost of diagnosis and the likely parts needed exceeded the value of the car, so he got rid of it a few thousand miles later.

I reckon personally that's a pretty good record for a hard driven performance hatchback. From the reviews on this site, I seriously doubt many of the mk4 Golf GTI's or Renault Clios will make 175k and be in any kind of running order.

Oh, and if you ignore the 306, you'll be doing yourself out of possibly the best front wheel drive chassis that was ever produced. I don't care what the reviews say, it's a much more fun car than the Focus I drive now, and in a different league to the mini-van 307 replacement. You steer a 306 on the throttle as much as the steering wheel on the limit. It's fantastic. Also proves that superb handling cars don't have to ride like skateboards.

Crappy interior, but who cares? Your call.

22nd Dec 2004, 04:52

I used to have one, a 1995 1.4 litre with A/C. I had no major problems during the 6 years I had it, apart from a suspension arm that had to be replaced and the ignition switch, whose spring that turned the key back, broke when I was just about to sell it.

All I had to do, apart from the above, was to put gasoline and respect the usual service.

Bes regards.

António Pinho, Portugal.

3rd Jul 2005, 18:27

Hi there.

I have a Peugeot 306 XSI and it has to be one of the best hatch cars on the market. For the price you pay you get a good 2 litre engine, excellent handling and a good strong engine.

Yes the parts are expensive, but if you have mechanical warranty, and do a regular service then there is nothing to worry about.

Simon.

3rd May 2006, 09:14

I've had my 306 xsi 95 model for the last 18months, it's quite possibly the best car I have had the pleasure of driving! It sticks to the road no matter how hard I push it, it has great handling! I agree it does have a crappy interior, but what the hell! And I'd rather be seen in my xsi than a Renault!!!