1999 Peugeot 306 HDI LX 2.0 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Attractive but flawed

Faults:

Usual things such as shocks/cambelt/bushes replaced. However handbrake mechanism was faulty, and in the end, engine electricals went into meltdown. Apparently later cars have VERY poor wiring.

Some exterior trim is very weak and easily broken.

General Comments:

A great looking Pininfarina styled car, which handles very well, and with the HDI engine, has plenty of torque.

Let down by poor electrics, some weak trim and uncomfortable seats. Also poor pedal positioning and lack of driver footroom.

Suspension on estate isn't up to load carrying, although the engine can cope with anything. Typically French!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 15th February, 2011

1999 Peugeot 306 XT 2.0 petrol from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

It has been an excellent reliable car

Faults:

The leather on the steering wheel started to show wear and tear, which is understandable after so many years.

Also in the first 2 years, the aluminium knob of the gear was breaking off, causing scratches to my hand. It was changed twice by the Peugeot dealer while still under warranty. Finally, they admitted that was a faulty batch, and they installed one of the new batch, and I never had any problem since then.

Only once in the first year, I had an instance when the car totally shut down (it was dead). They blamed it on the computerised parts; it was promptly fixed and never happened again.

General Comments:

Excellent car in terms of handling.

I find the pedals are a bit too close to each other.

Lack of storage space in the front, such as no cup holders, no bits and pieces compartment, and it would have been a lot more comfortable if there was an armrest for the driver and front passenger.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th October, 2010

1999 Peugeot 306 L 1.9 diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

French pile

Faults:

My, what hasn't gone wrong with the heap of crap?

Could fill a bog roll with the list of problems. Good lord.

Central locking.

Electrics.

Cambelt.

Windows.

Lights

Tracking.

Brakes.

Tailgate.

Glow plugs.

Exhaust.

Windscreen wipers.

Washer jets.

Interior.

Front suspension.

Rear suspension.

Radio.

CBA anymore, I'd be here all day.

General Comments:

Bought this V reg diesel for 700 at an auction, thinking bargain! How wrong was I.

Every single morning, I had to suffer with the multiple times of trying to start it. When it decided to work, there was a massive plume of black smoke.

It gave a rattly noisy unpleasant ride.

I hated every second of being in its miserable existence. I swear to God it was made to especially wind me up. It's like it was possessed; should have christened it Damien.

Performance, if you would even class the movement of this object as 'performance'; trying to overtake was as stressful as it was scary. I would no longer try to keep up with cars, the only thing I could race were wagons. I was screwed though if they weren't towing a trailer. 5000rpms, chewing precious diesel like no tomorrow, and giving an unbearable din; painful was the only word.

Handling, turn the wheel and the car would say b****cks and carry on in a straight line, into whatever; it's up to you to decide what you want to hit, go for soft things, for instance hedges. If you're in the wet, you had no hope; if you managed to get the front to grip, the ass end would fly out in an attempt to murder you.

Brakes, ahh yes, the absence of ABS, even though it did have it, the front would happily lock up, leaving you enough time to remember your insurance details as you plow into the poor sod in front of you. Brake on a corner? You have just signed your death certificate.

Interior and comfort, well the interior didn't work, so the sponge on the seats was only thing that didn't go wrong, amazingly.

Exterior, further inspection of the 'vehicle'; I thought it had been in a massive accident at one time, and never put back together properly. Not even Peugeot themselves could have messed this one up as-well as the repair job on this. Just gets better.

Central locking, the creme de la creme. The Peugeot's party trick was to lock every single door, then open it again; you must them decide which door to lock the other doors with, however if you went through the wrong door, you were back to square 1. The rear driver's door was the usually the one you could get away with, but sometimes it would like to play a little game and choose the other side. This was always amusing, especially at places like petrol stations, posh restaurants, Tescos, and when you're in a rush. Oh it loves to challenge you when you're in a hurry.

In November 2009, I bought a Rover 400, the best decision I have ever made; older, more miles, but hey it works.

I have never come across a car like the Peugeot; how could the manufacturer get away with making a car so unsafe and rubbish?

I worked on this car a lot; peel back the sturdy looking exterior and covers; you may as-well use paper mache; the metal is so thin and so poor quality. God help anyone who crashes one of these things.

Eventually fixed the central locking by unplugging it all, and sold it for 900 quid. Many painful man hours went into it, countless times the interior was stripped out trying to find wires. It was just a constant chore.

Do yourself a favour, think twice about buying anything french, even croissants.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th August, 2010

1st Mar 2013, 08:48

We were contemplating buying a 306 diesel - but after wiping away the tears of laughter reading this hilarious report, we have decided to look elsewhere. The writer would do very well either on a stage or writing comedy - incredibly funny man - good luck with your new car :)