Is the 306 GTI-6 Peugeot's last great hot hatch? | PistonHeads

Should the 306 GTI-6 be mentioned in the same sentence as the Renaultsport Clios and Meganes? Could it be the most underrated hot hatch of the 20th Century? Cam finds out.
Massive thank you to ‪@Number27‬ for letting us drive his 306 GTI-6 and taking the time to chat to us on camera.
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[@al1356]

No way is this underrated by anyone who knows their cars. 106 Gti, 405 mi16 and this are all brilliant pugs from the same era.

[@batman291]

I totally agree. This model was very much appreciated at rhe time.

[@jamiegarrod2237]

Don’t forget the rallye models

[@johannfindeis4421]

"desolate country road" my brother those roads are better than anything you will ever find in brazil, lovely video

[@PistonHeadsTV]

They were absolutely lovely roads, must admit. GTI-6 was the perfect car for it - thanks for watching! - Cam

[@fredericberthou]

@@PistonHeadsTVvos vidéos sont très bien , mais vous devriez inclure quelques minutes d’accélération supplémentaires car l’ennui s’installe un peu au bout d’un moment , plus de rythme est une bonne idée je pense 🤩👌

[@w1ldwesty]

Very tempted. Had one of these back in the day. I remember the dealer principle taking me out in his. First time he chucked it round a corner I was sold. Put a deposit down as soon as we got back to the showroom.

[@andytait3262]

Interesting video/car, more of the same sort of thing please! Peugeot used to make some properly fun cars like this, still have very fond memories of my 205 GTI. . .

[@ryanjessop2419]

I have a 208 GTi atm and it's a great piece of kit. If you ignore the 07 series peugeot they've always had it. Would absolutely love the 306 gti6!

[@dgbservices6049]

Had a 208 too the Peugeotsport one. Epic car and I would have loved to have kept it had I not needed something more practical 😔

[@thedrivebygg]

I remember these back in the day, a cool car. I had the 106 sxi and both the 1.9 and 1.6 gti 205 cars, loved them all.

[@Number27]

Great video, think you’re spot on Cam, thanks!! Have to say though I’ve driven a Rallye and unlike in the 205 and 106 in the 306 you can’t feel the difference at all. I’m not sure that 60KG difference was real. If it is I could not feel it.

[@PugEngineer]

I can 😉

[@asimmalik6378]

Quite right Jack. I've owned both and there is no discernable difference in the driving experience.

[@Stumpy77]

The 306 XSI (as Harris will tell you) was an absolute PEACH of a car. My old man had one on an M-plate that he let me drive (god only knows why) and I can confirm, it was an absolute joy to drive quickly in

[@bigphilswheels]

Yes, I can confirm that. I used to look after a pals XSi and he only pottered around in it. I gave it many a good thrash with his blessing and have to say I preferred it to my 205 GTi 1.6. It was less twitchy and rode far better, which meant you could go faster! Wish I had one tucked away!😢😢

[@W0o0dy]

Not sure if they put them on this, but Peugeot used to nake their own dampers so they could have a two stage set-up. Small high frequency stuff gets polished away by the first stage of the damper. The bigger bumps and thumps are dealt with by the second stage. It improved the ride and handling. Of course every wanna be boy racer threw them out but there is definitely something to the concept.

[@asimmalik6378]

Yep, the GTi6 came with Peugeot's own dampers. No longer available unfortunately

[@jasoncooke1999]

I have a mint 306 Rallye in red… just for shows, superb car

[@ATomRileyA]

Awesome, always wanted one of those back in the day.

[@jackfalls1722]

I own its little brother the 1.8 XS 16V in black..... Only 13 left on our shores, rare beasty!!😁

[@RichEarll]

I had a 1999 China Blue 6 back in the day. Still miss it. ❤ In fact, I preferred it over my 1.6 and 1.9 205 GTI.

[@steveskipper6473]

Harry's corner @6:31

[@jarokenny]

looked familiar

[@jarokenny]

fan of 306s here..owned 1.9D and 306 S16

[@besagic]

i miss my gti6...thank you for the great video. It brings up sweet memories

[@samcourt6228]

The 306 is a good looking car, I think it’s aged really well. I learned to drive in a 306 D Turbo, so have a soft spot for the 306.

[@keefeeweefee.8714]

I’ve driven one of these. My mate had one. Such a great car to drive.

[@mattiaslindgren7794]

I just bought myself a Peugeot 306 Montana Hatchback 1.8 16V 81kW,"1999" that I will use to and from work, I like the little car ^^

[@cheffashaba]

I bought a 1997 306 new with the gutless 1.8 8 valve and 4 speed auto. Still to this day the most enjoyable car I have ever driven. Twisty back roads were an absolute blast. My current 2020 308 GT just doesn't have the same magic.

[@russellmalone3532]

I used to love driving my mates GTI 6. I told her to keep it but instead she swapped it for a nearly new diesel Astra about ten years ago. Such a shame. Great little car. Also had 205 & 206 GTIs. Good memories ❤

[@karlfontanari2169]

Bought one back in 2001 it was 1 year old and paid then £16K had it for three years and did 65000 miles without any issue, brilliant car, mid range very strong I remember, only sold it as I put so many miles on it, and had it in this colour, whoever gets this one will have a lot of fun!

[@bentait7018]

Looks great - never tried one but it’s platform twin, the Xsara VTS, was a total hoot!

[@DontPanicDear]

I agree to an extent. Mine was brilliant for about two weeks from new, when it then went wrong for the new three years and Citroen couldn’t fix any of the faults with the suspension, engine, brakes, seats, trim, AC, or gearbox. Every time they tried, they made something else worse. Shortest honeymoon period ever, and I was too young and didn’t know I could have probably rejected it 😮

[@geoffclarke3796]

Great cars. Have fond memories of my 1.9 205 GTI which I had back in the late 90's. A shame Peugot lost their way as regards making drivers cars after the 306 GTI-6.

[@jimmer1976]

Lovely cars, had quite a few 306’s in my time but never the Gti 6. If I didn’t have a 309 Gti I’d be definitely looking for one of these.

[@craigdrew9672]

I had an Astor grey GTI6 and loved the way it looked, sounded and handled. It was fantastic! But, i found the seat, or seating position, extremely uncomfortable on long journeys and it began to develop some annoying niggling issues which sadly put me off keeping it for very long.

[@dutchschaefer5787]

I had 1 of these on on R reg. absolutely loved it.

[@ΛεωνίδαςΚουκουβάος]

Love my silver 306 with compomotive th2 wheels…looks crazy

[@jimcarey1716]

its the last and the best peugeot ever made, no 106, 205 can go after it in any case. 306 is divine.

[@McLaren-so9xb]

One of the best hot hatch EVER 👏👏 the car got me into cars my dad had one but it was gold

[@clownworld-honk410]

Nice. I used to own a 206GTI 180. Not perfect but under rated. Always in the shadow of the Clio but, in real world conditions, a better car in many ways. It suffered from being the car that didn't quite match the 205GTI.

[@oliverp4115]

Just posted the same comment. Is a case of those who know, know. All you heard was "it's not a 205, too safe etc" cracking car the 180, still cheap enough as nobody cares.

[@knighty6988]

I love my 308 GTI, many owners do….so I’d say not Pugs last Hot hatch!! 👊🏼🔥

[@unclebanga5976]

Agree. The 206 rc I've heard is pretty decent too, as well as the 208 gti bps. But I would say that in a world class comparison I think the 205 gti and 306 gti6 are the standouts from Peugeot. Honourable mention to the 106 gti as well 💚

[@Bongo4611]

308gti is a special car, So much grip, so lightweight, it's so underrated

[@steveberridge4648]

Think what he is saying is that the 208/308 gti great as they are didn’t top the class in their day whereas the GTI-6 is the last Peugeot that did just that - it topped its class from 1996 to 2000….

[@SimonLX]

😂 It's not even in the same category of car

[@focusedman5759]

I had a H reg 309 gti for a year or so and it was a great handling, unfiltered and raw drivers car, then had a 406 coupe(not so great).

[@frenchbred2081]

Awesome car, I have a lovely gti 6, s16 and 306 maxi rally car and it’s great to compare them all, so responsive and fun. Can’t see prices staying low for much longer. That exhaust is stock not stainless, and it’s a genuine flat pan exhaust just like it had from factory.

[@MrLg55555]

Nice collection you have there, but the Maxi really can't be included in the discussion or comparison with the Gti6 or S16... It's a beast on a whole new level... Quite possibly the finest handling tarmac rally car, especially in the hands of Gilles Panizzi , Didier Auriol and latterly Sebastian Loeb... I built a Gti6 to be the finest handling cross country car possible and as awesome as it was, it wasn't to be mentioned in the same conversation as the Maxi... By the way the Maxi is my favourite car of all time and I've owned some nice cars... Back in the early to mid 2000s I looked into having one built from scratch by Dimma, who built the Maxi for Peugeot, but the stumbling block was sourcing a really good engine and gearbox... The £250,000 price of the project wasn't an issue but the lack of the aforementioned engine/drive train combo meant I spent my cash elsewhere, due to lack of patience... I added another £80k and settled on a Carrera GT...

[@leemiguel3437]

Lived on Dhekelia garrison in Cyprus when I was a kid and one of the soldiers on the base bought a gold GTi 6 when they first came out….I used to ogle at this thing constantly. Then his neighbour bought a new 3dr Impreza STi version 5…🤯

[@tommyr7105]

The DTurbos were the 306 to have. Bosch pumps and the Garrett turbo. Turn the fuel up and disconnect the waste gate for a smoky riot. The suspension was it's downfall, the torsion beam rear axle would lose bearings on the arms and become slacks, likewise it would eat front ball joints giving it snap oversteer front and rear which was downright dangerous.

[@cliveturner7643]

Had a 306 xsi. Superb. Loved it. Then all the electrics decided they'd decide when to work or not!

[@procta2343]

are you joking about it been underrated? These were very well sort after, and held the value very well buddy! When they were starting to clock on. I still happen to own the HDI variant. The one that was underrated was the 206, going on how great these were and the 405, 406 and 106 GTi. 206 holds the crown, of been their last great hot hatch, due to the fact it was still production and a GTI version was launched after the 106 and 306 bit the dust.

[@timmyreeves9170]

Yep and i have one in diablo red ruddy love it mines a p reg

[@robinmarples5198]

208 gti bps . And even more the 308 gti.

[@Simas306]

LHD versions were called S16 in Europe. Owned exactly same spec like in video for 3 years. Absolutely loved it, great car out of the box for daily use, fast road and some trackdays. My favourite manual gearbox of all cars I drove, long first gear with closely stacked 2-6 like in a race car.

[@asphalthedgehog6580]

No, in the Netherlands it was a GTI.

[@Simas306]

@@asphalthedgehog6580 Strange, mine had only S16 badge on the right side door, it was phase3 2000 model and there were a few others I've seen with S16 badge in 167hp 6speed trim.

[@poosh6529]

Actually, the ultimate palette cleanser is a Citroën C1.

[@rideroundandstuff]

Why did you remove the Peugeot Logo from the steering wheel in some shots?

[@paulmichael3844]

Always wanted one but wanted the 106 gti even more because it was just so small

[@Moestuin2023]

I had a 306 once. Never again. The amount of problems the car gave me was so frustrating I ended up selling it with a loss. This, after I spended to much money on all the repairs.

[@pk-dn5sj]

2015 308 Gti 270bhp forged engine on 19's with mechanical Limited slip differential and 380mm!! front brakes...trust me this is a real GTI😅 And yeah it weights 1200kg😂😂😂 The most underrated hot hatch out there for sure...this car is properly quick Broad monster

[@MrLg55555]

1315kg kerb weight😉... Really nice car and indeed it is quick, handles really well and only underrated by those who don't know... However, there are a number of supercharged Gti6s floating around that would be its match... Low boost 260bhp cars would be a good match up or the high boost cars running 370+ bhp, along with suspension and brake upgrades would be more than capable of leaving most trailing on demanding roads... A friend has a 306 Rallye running around 395 bhp at the wheels and it is devastatingly fast on any road, yet it never draws unwarranted attention... Really beautiful car...

[@pk-dn5sj]

Yeah. Out from the box the 308 270bhp it's proper weapon. I've had it for 2 day as promotion from Peugeot and I've burned 2 petrol tanks...I've hunted everything...1200kg it's just so light...the amount of grip them 19's sticky rubber gives YOU... Really impressed

[@mt23289]

90,s to the early 2000,s Peugeot,s we’re class 👍

[@jamespearson7001]

Had a black One for 10 years, pulled like a train

[@petea7323]

Do these suffer from the old rear beam problems?

[@davyboy888]

Great car... but against a 182 which one do we think is the better car ?

[@Spark972]

The only french car I wanted back then, but it was so expensive, I went with Honda... 😅

[@johnbritton895]

Had the s16 myself.... There wasn't a month went by it never needed money spent.. LOL

[@stephenobrien8895]

Please explain how it is underrated when it arrived in the same ara as the focus and golf but didn't take off?

[@taxus750]

Any 306 was a good drive, never mind the GTI-6.

[@gulfstream7235]

Lol. You're absolutely right. Had a 1.4, it was a gutless engine and the electrics were dodgy as F, but the handling through the bends was superb.

[@MiniEggs1999]

Not quick but still the best handling car I have ever owned. Unfortunately the cam belt snapped on mine at 55k otherwise I might have kept it

[@thestig6078]

Find another! :)

[@granerdong7111]

My Mk1 gti6 p207gef was awesome. Wish I could get another

[@bertygonzalis]

I have it! It's stashed away until it is economically viable to restore, which it now probably is. I paid £300 for it with a blown head gasket, I fixed it, drove it for a few years then got a company car and it just sat in my garage. Still runs and drives but has been SORN for years now and will need a full restoration.

[@RS4B7BLACK]

206 gti 180 in my opinion had both

[@jaxonbrown3625]

Is this the route that Harry Metcalf uses on his tests? Looks familiar

[@J2I3H]

Its a really handsome car the 306, the engine is also used in the 206rc right?

[@yobama8344]

nope different engines, the one in the 306 is the older XU10 while the 206 rc came with it's successor, the EW10.

[@georgel3657]

Nobody gonna mention the nose bogie in the opening shot?

[@MR-GTI-180]

Your forgetting one car...the 206 gti180..i like the 306 gti-6 but i love my 206 gti180 even more if you ever get the chance to drive a gti180..take it n trust me its fun to drive 😁

[@lambrosstamos4494]

The 306 Maxi, one of the better rally cars.

[@chrisr1254]

Looks a bit rough for something which is about to get sold, it wouldn't have taken much effort to bring that up to scratch. Wheel refurb, new wheel bolts, the foglights have corroded, the battery / ECU cover is missing. So many little easy jobs. "I didn't want a project car, but I am selling one at auction with PistonHeads"

[@pixelbarnstudios2451]

I'd hardly call adding some plastic caps / repainting some wheel bolts being a 'project'. This is such a clean example (I know, I've seen it in person). It's had a respray, reupholstering the seats and has had everything done that it needs. Perhaps with the exception of £2 worth of spray paint and a plastic cover... Not exactly a deal breaker but if it offends you so much you don't have to buy it 😂

[@chrisr1254]

@@pixelbarnstudios2451 Way to prove my point. Why go to the extent of a full respray if you're not going to bother with the glaringly obvious, easy to fix cosmetic stuff? It's lazy and that lack of effort makes any potential buyer question what else has been ignored. As a former 306 owner, I would consider the paintwork and interior the least of my concerns on a GTi6. Moreover, close attention should be paid to the engine - cambelt, head condition, water pump - does it tap? Then there's the rear beam bearings and bushes. It's had a blowover, sure, but it remains very much a project based on this video and should be sold as such.

[@asimmalik6378]

Good luck finding a battery cover 👍

[@WylieCoyote45]

It was too heavy, the Peugeot Challenge cars were a pig to get the weight down in

[@mickwrinkles2318]

The lefthand version of the 206 RC is miles better than the 306 GTI. Better brakes, better steering feel, better engine, more revy, more power, much better Recaros, less weight. The UK righthand versions are horrid, but the lefthand version runs rings around the 306.

[@BionicRusty]

My mate had one of these, another mate had a Talbot Sunbeam Ti and I had a 1990 XR4i. The GTi-6 was an awesome and coveted car, as was the Sunbeam.

[@thelanehunterdevon1664]

Where can I buy those performance tyres?

[@Number27]

Hilarious! They’re Pirelli’s and this spec is the only tyre you can buy in the correct size. All the others are a lower profile which alters the way it drives from original. They are absolutely fine.

[@jakkeeurodancer7005]

did everyone forget his twin brother citroën ZX 2.0 16V ? , even a little lighter then the peugeot

[@Lotuz-mk1xv]

I had a blue one with black leather interior. Nice car, but compared to my previous cars (106 1.6 8v Rallye/106 1.6 16v Sport/Clio Williams) that were light and nimble, the ZX was rather heavy and didn't feel sporty enough to me. I would probably appreciate it more nowadays.

[@jakkeeurodancer7005]

@@Lotuz-mk1xv I came from a BX with 1.9d , so my zx was for me already more nimble but i understand what you mean

[@alfamonk]

great car, but never underrated was it? Always seems to feature in the best hot-hatch lists

[@93455Driver]

Had 306 XSi, great car 3 door...only 167hp but so much fun to drive. Totally unreliable and I forgive every issue.

[@jackfalls1722]

was that a XSi with a GTi-6 Engine swap?

[@93455Driver]

@@jackfalls1722 Do not recall, just remember it was light, great gearbox, great handling, and loads of fun on a back road. I dumbly swapped it for a Mk4 VW Golf GTI which was built like a tank but not the best handling car.

[@bingoberra18]

How many of these have been scrapped for the engine going into a 205 GTI

[@markcompton6750]

That’s Jacks old car (Number 27).

[@peugeot206rc8]

206 GTI 180 was last of the mohicans.

[@TG-pd3ft]

The ditch-finder tyres are rather incongruous

[@Number27]

Ditch finder?? They’re Pirelli’s and this spec is the only tyre you can buy in the correct size. All the others are a lower profile which alters the at it drives from original.

[@sjm.photos]

Had one was good apart from the lift off over steer. But the 206 gti180 was better

[@jryalls]

Lift off oversteer is what makes them fun

[@MrLg55555]

206 GTI was a decent car, but no way was it better than a 306 Gti6... Period As for the lift off oversteer, that was only ever an issue when the "pilot" was driving beyond their capabilities... That was the majority of those that got behind the wheel... I owned a 2000 X plate in the same China Blue and never once did it try and " bite" me in the corners... I knew how to drive, still do and on many an occasion I took great delight in leaving the likes of your 206, plus many other far more powerful cars trailing on a cross country blast... Simple to do when you know what you are doing... I later decided to turn it in to the best handling cross country car I could and spent a considerable amount on improving it, so that it was so... Over the yrs I've owned some seriously nice cars ie Carrera GT, Cayman S, Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake AMG 63, other Mercedes, a number of Bmws,Audi and so on and any number of them could outrun the 6 on top speed no problem at all, but on a twisting and demanding road, the upgraded 6 was the fastest...

[@martytdd1606]

​@@MrLg55555I'm betting a good driver in the 206 would be pushing you down the road.

[@MrLg55555]

@@martytdd1606 😂... Nice try 👍... Let me fill you in on how I improved the 6 and created my favourite b road car... Suspension first... Replaced the front shocks and springs with Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs and rear shocks with Bilsteins that lowers the car by 30mm... Later replaced with front coilovers and rear adjustable shocks... Roller bearings on the wishbones to remove any flex and therefore improve steering feel and grip... Droplinks replaced with bespoke adjustable ones... Top and bottom strut braces to reduce if not totally eliminate front end flex... 20mm rear ARB replaced with a 30mm one and the rear beam machined accordingly... This was done to eradicate whats known as roll oversteer and keep the car flat through the bends... No dramas or sliding around, just the rear of the car staying planted... Plus the regular beam mounts replaced with solid metal ones to again eliminate any rear suspension sideways movement and therefore improving tyre grip... Standard front brakes replaced with Peugeot 406 Coupe Brembo calipers and Citroën Zantia V6 discs... These to were replaced, this time by Megane R26 Brembo calipers and separate Bells And Rotors for ultimate stopping power... Rears were left as standard apart from upgraded brake pads... Engine and box was left standard apart from a lightened Billet steel flywheel, 40% lighter than standard, and 2 lightened pulleys... Finally, a set of Team Dynamics Pro 1.2 16" wheels shod with Toyo T1S tyres on the front and Kumho Ecsta on the rears... Perfect combination for grip and comfort in all weather conditions... As for a 206 "pushing me down the road", I could have driven at 4 or 5 tenths and still be out of sight very quickly, no matter who the 206 pilot was... Nearly forgot, I would be driving in the left hand lane on a single carriageway at all times... No cutting corners like I'm on a race circuit... Doubt very much the 206 driver would be doing the same... Just saying...

[@intunewithcars9484]

205 gti 1.9 for me

[@shad3xwinnie362]

There is probably less convertible models than the gti's

[@DuelingPeaks]

208 GTi by Peugeot Sport is a great hatchback, so no.

[@philiphawkins4684]

*Was the

[@fastlapper_456]

Silly reason for not driving it to be honest. Could’ve just said, “tired of it have something else coming”.

[@AlexanderKlimovic]

Really 😂😂😂😂

[@olliet2977]

The last great GTi is the 308 GTi.

[@johndrake2147]

Looks like Harry's test road

[@gerardbooth40]

Harry, Jack and now PH all filming there. Aren't there any other roads with bends in that part of Oxfordshire?

[@Birmingham_racing]

I'm sure there was a 307 gti with 150bhp

[@mattyjamess7818]

Was called a feline 180hp

[@Hello-ww5bi]

I’d still take a 182 over any pug 🤣

[@madanto2394]

Think the xsi was better

[@bigalalbig]

The Xsara VTS was really the underrated cousin of the GTi6 and all the better for it. Even more adjustable chassis, decent steering lock, more modern interior with a/c and dare I say it, rally heritage, *ahem*.

[@pixelbarnstudios2451]

+1 - I had a Xsara VTR (basically a VTS but with the 1.6 Saxo VTS engine) and that was such an underrated car. I'd have a Xsara VTS if I could find a decent one as I couldn't afford the insurance when I had mine...

[@rockyroad1780]

I’ve just bought a Xsara, mega cars!

[@Sc086]

Wasn't uncommon to "upgrade" the 306 GTi 20mm torsion bars with the 21mm ones from the Xsara VTS. Or to pinch the Xsara steering rack for a better lock to lock ratio

[@Carrera-gp9od]

I had a VTS , had a full devil exhaust on it de -catted . Great car .

[@friendlybucket7268]

dont find any on the DE market, sadge

[@simonbarrett5624]

Did you see Harry going the other way?

[@ess6387]

Where?

[@snbala]

Not a Peugeot fan but these have aged well, they look great. Compared to the 207/307/407 that came years after, these were night and day in looks.

[@drewwagar]

I think most petrol heads are well aware of the Peugeot 306 GTI-6. :)

[@valhakun]

Well, 206 RC was really good, too 😐

[@stevenhearnden6103]

I had a 306 Rallye. Even purer than the GTI. Had a 1.3 106 Rallye too.

[@craigy87]

Loved my diablo red 306 Gti-6 was my second ever car following a saxo VTR. Never let me down, it ended up staying at my parents after I had left home and they sold it on for peanuts 😢

[@czeckson74]

205 GTI

[@rhybo]

I had a 306 Rallye. Still regret selling it. Was a complete hoot to drive.

[@polopowered]

It isn't a hot hatch. It's a Motorway Mile Muncher. Just like a Mazda 3 2.0L Skyactiv G is today. Except the Mazda can achieve 55+mpg and render a Diesel useless...

[@JohnyMcNeal]

Peugeot went god knows where after that ear. Nowdays and actually since mid 2000s or even before it's just dead compared to what it was.

[@sullivan79]

Had a 208 GTI and it was great.

[@robinmarples5198]

The design, the size. Spot on. Made just right.

[@rambosausage8881]

Cant believe he did all that work but still used the rusty wheel bolts.