1998 Peugeot 306 XS 1.6
Faults:
Both doors made clicking noises as bolts were missing. Handbrake light flashes on and off.
General Comments:
Good handling, good looks.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 17th May, 2000
1998 Peugeot 306 Cabriolet 2.0
Summary:
Good looking and great fun
Faults:
Slow passenger window motor, alarm immobiliser kept going off for no reason, amazingly sensitive to stone chips.
General Comments:
Beautiful car to look at - the best looking cabrio in it's class. Chassis is brilliant, and doesn't shake too much. Grip and handling top of the league. 135bhp is not enough - needs more power. Good boot space for a cabrio - holiday luggage for 4 no problem. Superb standard CD sound system. Dreadful dealers - technically inept and prone to lying - they told me they had replaced the alarm system when in fact they had disconnected the siren!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th May, 2000
1998 Peugeot 306 XSi 2.0 16v petrol
Faults:
Gearbox had to be replaced (under warranty) after approx. 6,000 miles due to failure of syncromesh on 1st, 2nd and reverse gears. Nothing else major.
General Comments:
A practical and sporty car. Great handling, decent performance, very comfortable on long journeys. Reasonable fuel consumption - I usually get 33-35 mpg. Good level of equipment.
Overall performance is very good - engine has plenty of torque, car handles well and has loads of grip. Can be great fun to throw about on a twisty B-road that you know well. But for a real laugh, go to a track day - ruins the front tyres but well worth it.
Only drawbacks - rattly dashboard and a couple of other rattles from inside the car, also windnoise can be irritating.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 19th October, 1999
1998 Peugeot 306 Vivant 1.6
Faults:
None.
General Comments:
Supple ride with good roadholding. Performance is okay in town but I would like more pull on the motorways. Comfortable and quiet, when the 6 CD changer is not on. Lots of options as standard and good value compared to the LX. Love the colour Diablo Red.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th August, 1999
1998 Peugeot 306 XSi 2.0 16v
General Comments:
Nothing wrong with this type of car but performance (acceleration) is extremely disappointing, handling feels like it has no grip, gearchange is sloppy, and when you sit in it the first time you will find the position is a bit awkward.
Unlike my old Clio 16v which had brilliant acceleration and great grip, but always break down and weren't too reliable.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 22nd May, 1999
9th Jul 2001, 14:54
Fair enough the XSi might be slower than your old Clio, but poor handling and lack of grip??
306's are very tyre sensitive. Use Pirelli or Good Year for consistent results. Avoid Dunlops at all costs! Nothing wrong with them normally, but are hopeless on these cars.
The 306 should destroy the Clio handling-wise. If yours doesn't, start looking into why. It's not typical of the car.
12th Sep 2002, 07:10
Are you saying that your Clio always breaks down and is unreliable, or your 306 breaks down and is unreliable?
In this case it seems your grammar has broken down and is unreliable.
1998 Peugeot 306 Vivant 1.4 petrol
Faults:
Generally reliable - no significant problems. Some switches have become loose.
General Comments:
Engine is very boomy on the motorway.
Good equipment levels in this special edition.
Roomy inside but cabin very dark and plasticky.
Handling is grippy and fun even if the steering is a little rubbery.
Fuel economy OK.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 28th February, 1999
1998 Peugeot 306 GLX Sedan 1.8
Faults:
Airbag light kept coming on.
Dashboard lights went.
General Comments:
Funny old cars Peugeots, great to drive, the sedan is actually great, the boot is enormous and the car is not given the notice the hatches are.
Have great character, lacking in the German Teutonic ranges.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th February, 1999
26th Oct 2002, 18:38
I too have a 306 GLX sedan, the dash lights refused to work when I fit the stereo in.
It was a fuse, the wiring was all messed up in the car, and so the fuse kept blowing all the time.
However the car is good, accelerates well, but the gears are, whats the word, notchy.
When going into second gear it felt like it was struggling to get into it, and so sometimes you would let up the clutch too quickly before getting it into gear and the gears would crunch.
Driving position is a little strange at first, but I think I've gotten used to it.
The pedals are close together, annoyed me at first, but okay now.
1998 Peugeot 306 XSi 2.0 16v petrol
Faults:
Nothing at all!
General Comments:
Engine is strong but the power is not as usable as it could be - 16 valves means that revs must be kept high to get any performance out of it - the only good point is the pull in top gear at motorway speeds (due to high gearing) - very strong.
Handling, grip, body control, balance are all a joy. The steering is very communicative. The turning circle is terrible. The seats hold you well but there's no lumbar support and on long journeys they get uncomfortable.
Front tyres last about 15K - rears much longer. MPG 30+ with reasonably sporty driving.
Wind noise from passenger side irritating. Looks are understated but pleasant. Engine sounds noisy rather than sporty - although not intrusive on the motorway.
It's a fun car with a balance of virtues but I would say if you're being practical the Turbo Diesel is a better buy (excellent mid range torque) and if you're feeling WILD go for the GTi-6.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 3rd December, 1998
5th Feb 2001, 10:18
Very, very susceptible to stone chips.
1.8 model, not nearly enough power.