Most value for your buck
General maintenance, but nothing major.
One of the best cars for the money you can buy. Very fun to drive, handles like a dream, and quick for its size.
Amazed how awesome this little car performs. Much better than a VW Polo or any Japanese model of this super mini size.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th November, 2014
As basic as it gets, and all the better for it
CV joints on both driveshafts clicking.
Sometimes surges on acceleration.
Driver's seat creaks.
Washer pump was seized.
Heated screen doesn't work.
Rear axle starting to sag.
Radiator is starting to rot!
Usual leaky filter head, bypassed with aftermarket unit..
Well, thanks to the government ripping us off on fuel, the insurance industry wanting its pound of flesh, and the local traffic police and their revenue cameras, I have been forced to downgrade to a small car again.
A trawl of the local secondhand car sites turned up a 106 diesel of 1994 vintage for the mere sum of £300. Considering most 106 diesels are well over £500, this example with 10 months MOT seemed to be a bit of a bargain!
I've owned several Citroen AX's in the past, and the 106 is basically an AX clone. The 1.5 engine and gearbox were identical with the AX one, so I knew it would be reliable. The clicky CV joints were pretty much to be expected too. Possibly it doesn't handle as well as the AX, more down to wear and tear than any fault of the car. The cheap price means that it won't break the bank to overhaul the suspension if I decide to keep it for a while.
Comfort wise, apart from the excellent heater, the car has no mod cons at all, not even a 12v socket! Which after my adventures with an old Audi A4 was something of a relief. The paintwork is faded beyond redemption, being a matte white colour now, and the aluminium sunroof surround will need rubbed down and repainted; jobs for next year.
Of course the only reason anybody buys a 17 year old diesel 106 is for fuel economy, the car's major good point, despite being allegedly less aerodynamic than the AX and having more miles than my example, it's much easier on juice; I'm averaging over 60mpg. Admittedly I seldom exceed 60mph these days, but it's cheaper to run than most small cars. Certainly, if it keeps going, it cannot depreciate any more.
The car is 17 now, and is getting to that dangerously endearing stage, where more than the car's worth will be spent on it to keep it going, but in these austere times, a gradual replacement of all dodgy parts might well work out cheaper than buying something else with problems of its own.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 23rd November, 2011
The BEST car I ever had
Timing belt snapped.
This car was the best car in the world.
Although it broke, I would give a hand to have it back. If you have this car and it still works, be proud of it.
I could manage 0-60 in 10 seconds, and was very quick off the mark. 1.1 is all you need nowadays.
I now drive a Ford Fiesta LX 1999, and this car is pants compared to it.
It was so comfortable, I even decided to have a sleep in it after having a couple of drinks.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 24th March, 2010
Is the snapping of the timing belt due to the fact that it has to be changed after 100000 km or five years, and in this 15 year old car and ~125000 km it never was?
Recommended frequency is 80-100k if mostly city driving, otherwise it can be pushed to 120k km if open road driving. Not sure if the year is a key factor. I got a 1994 XSi, and the cambelt was first changed at 143k after 14 years from new. These are amazing cars as far as reliability goes as well as comfort, but people do need to do the minimum; it's best to change the cambelt every 100k and service it every 10k.
3rd Jan 2012, 10:02
I like your review above, and you couldn't have put it better as regards the vultures, which there doesn't seem to be any end of. They're all out there, all waiting to feed on us, from corrupt insurance companies to oil companies. I hope you have many reliable miles in it. I am on the lookout for a Citroen ZX or similar, and like you I have driven a B5 Passat TDI, which is almost the same as an A4; no end of pulling power, but costly parts which do need replacing, but no character compared to a little Pug or Citroen.