Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

After the continuous problems I had with my old 306, I said that I would never buy another Peugeot. However, this car was such a bargain considering the low mileage and immaculate condition that there was no way I could turn it down.

I am pleased to say that this car has proved to be very mechanically sound, and the running costs don't get much cheaper.

The Zest 2 is only a base model, and the standard equipment is very basic. I am disappointed at the lack of power steering, as most rivals seem to have it as standard on models of this age. The omission of a rev counter and temperature gauge on the dashboard is also woeful. Another bugbear is that there is no light in the boot or glovebox, and you really cannot see what's in them in the dark!

It did however, come equipped with a CD player, a good alarm/immobiliser and body coloured bumpers, which make the car look much better. I also fitted central locking for added convenience- a 2 door kit costs about £40.

As for performance I certainly can't complain for a 1.1. It is without a doubt the most sprightly small-engined car I have ever driven. It accelerates quickly, but gets very noisy at motorway speeds, but it's ideal for runs around town. Average fuel economy is 35-40mpg.

It's very pleasing to drive with a smooth ride, but the lack of power steering makes it hard work at times, as does the notorious Peugeot clunky gearshift. Body roll in corners is a bit excessive sometimes, and you have to grab the wheel with both hands to stop yourself from falling into your passenger!

The outdated cable clutch is a bit too heavy, and the pedals too close together fro people with size 12's, so it loses points on comfort, although the seats are supportive and won't give you back ache like some others do.

The quality of the engineering is fairly satisfying. The exterior is well built, and very resistance to corrosion. I've never seen a rusty 106. Fit and finish of the interior is mediocre, and it hasn't really changed much since the 106 was launched in 1991.

Reading this review, it probably looks like I have a lot of criticism for this car. I should state that I bought this car as a 'stop gap' that would be tidy, reliable and cheap to run, and in this sense it really delivers!

Faults:

The car seems to be very reliable.

We never had any problem. Except at 50.000 km, a breaking shoe (BOSCH) was broken, so we had no break pressure, and no brakes.

General Comments:

For a little car, it's quite comfortable and pleasant to drive. The handling is very good and you never have the impression that you're driving a little car.

The 1.1 l engine is rather economical. 5,5 l/100km highways, 6,0 l/100km daily use. The engine isn't extremely powerfull, but when the car isn't charged, he's quite quick for an 1100.

The general comfort of the car and the driving pleasure is very good.

The reliability is also a very good by Peugeot. I would say even better than most German cars of the same price class.

Our other car, a 205 is 18 years old, the engine still turns like a clock and we never have mechanical problems.

Well done Peugeot.

Faults:

Only had the car approximately two hours when the coil in the seat belt became tangled and refused to release the seatbelt.

Relay switch used for "indicator ticking", become loose and started ticking when car went over bumps.

General Comments:

The car is spectacular to look at especially in sundance yellow. I would advise lowering it at least 35mm as this improves styling as well as handling. I would suggest that people also fit 15" alloys as they do not comprimise handling for styling.

Air induction kits, alloys, lowering, superchip, full exhaust system are all a must if you want to get the most out of your car.

The car 0-60mph is virtually unbeatable by any car under £15,000. My car does 0-60 in 7 seconds, due to a few little modifications, which is fast enough for me.

Handling is unbeatable in the dry, I kept up with a Porsche 911 4s on a sweeping bend doing over 85mph, I wish I could have seen his face.

In the wet pushed at high speed it becomes slightly unstable and "lift off" over-steer sometimes becomes an issue.

The top speed is 140mph which is plenty enough for track days and certainly enough for the British roads.

There is an issue of insurance being quite substantial in cost. I am 21 which does mean the insurance premium is high.

Overall the car is perfect in nearly every way (except dated dash board), including handling of racing pedigree and acceleration which comes close to some of the most expensive sports cars on the market.