306 Gti 6

[Rusty]

Looking at getting one of these instead of the BM as a mate has made me a good offer on mine and I have decided I need une hatch chaude. Anyone got one or had any experience, I've been in a few 306s over the years and they've all been typically French, some have been hot and all were hatch like. Just what I need to wein myself off rear steer, a few more ponies and some entertaining handling to match. Can't stretch to a Rallye, S16 is an ooption but rare as a non-leaking coupe and the XSI can be modified to GTI6 spec but what's the point when they're not much cheaper.

Have had a few golfs, a polo, mk.2 8v is in budget, mk.3 16v too but BTDT, leave it till I need a cheap track car and then go mad on one. I've been in and really liked a renaultsport clio a few times, think I'm going to wait till the 182 cup is in my price range before taking the plunge there, early 172s are close but not quite the one.

[K Simmonds]

Get a MK II 16V instead, I've got a mate with a 306 GTi 6, it's very French, does go well mind, but it's most definitely not German in anyway!!

[Jamo]

Yes I looked into them heavily.

Check if they've had a replacement engine and when the cambelt was done? the cambelt snap in half the recommended service interval taking out the engine.

A lot of them had replacement engines half paid for by Pug the others by the owners!

One thing with them, the turning circle is absolute sh**!

[Rusty]

I've always had German, up for some cheese eating hairy armpit action now really... still can be swayed tho

I've noticed a lot of replacement engines, seems like pug got that one wrong Can't really afford a decent mk.2 valver but can get a nice 8v (bored of 8vs though, especailly after 7k5 in the IS of 16v reviness), if a valver pops up for the right money then I think that head and heart would rule desire for frogginess and go with some teutonic lovliness but for the moment I'm going to go down this route, worst that can happen is I get bored and go back to VAG and that's not a hardhip now is it

[curlyks2]

Test drove a 306 GTi 6 as one of the options when I got rid of the last car (ultimately replaced by the S2). Hated it: French build quality, truly **** clutch and a hideous driving position. Nippy enough, but still hated it.

Ck.

[Rusty]

cheers, I think I'll have to have a go in a few and see how it fits me, the S2 was pretty shocking in terms of clutch and driving positio but then I wanted the car so I've worked my way around those points...

[dest]

What about a 205 GTI?

[curlyks2]

with a bad back the driving position was very important for me - a no-compromise point - so when I sat in the heated leather recaro's in the Audi my mind was made up!

[Error404]

poor build quality but cheap parts for the them. they handle really well

[Rusty]

Ah, leather recaros explains it all

Yeah, my Mum had a 306 for 4 years and it was fine TBH, something like a mk.2 Golf but newer, not a scratch on the S2 but then it's not a £35k car new.

Lots of other options for the £1500-£2000 budget but I'd like to include any remedial work in that, getting proper tyres instead of budget crap is the biggest expense I can see coming, wil have to find a car with proper tyres on it for a start.

[K Simmonds]

V6 FWD Coupés go for peanuts at the moment. I got one for a mate, ended up paying £400 for it with 6 months T&T, good tyres, lowered and with new OEM dampers, bargain. Only slight negative was the Grey dash and interior, but that was off set by having factory ambient temp display and headlight washers.

[terrybullwon]

Can i just point out its French.

[Puglife]

Less of that james
The problems with GTi6 engines is down to the automatic tensioners failing... be very very careful about any car you go look at as some have had minor failures and the engines are scrap afterwards...

205GTi is a fantastic little hatchback and the poor build quality comment has kind of been exaggerated through heresay and poor maintenance....
A 16v 205 GTi will beat a 16v golf hands down and having owned both I know which I would choose.

Be warned though peugeot ownership requires patience but not a huge bank balance.

[Jamo]

Can i just point out its French.

So is Noemie Lenoir, wouldn't you? :mischeif:

[Rusty]

How much is she

I know it's French but I've only ever gone Deutsch to it's time to go through Belgium and play with la Resistance

I love 205s but this is a daily car and not a toy (believe that and you'll believe anything ). It's there to take up the slack for when a stripped and bucketed S2 just isn't suitable transport, as an aside it ahs to be fun, somewhere in the region ofg 150bhp/ton and do reasonable FE when the requiremnet is there. Seat do some stuff that suits but might as well get a mk.3 Golf for the same money, 16v is all I'd consider there, I owned a tuned 8v and even with 140+bhp it was slow and predictable.

Open to other suggestions, V6 isn't really on the cards due to FE, same as a VR6 Golf/Vento/'rado, V6 Alfa and MG ZS180.