Why Have I Bought Another Unreliable French Car??

[@byronmills5952]

Unreliable?... Probably one of the most durable cars of the period. I've run 306's for nearly 15 years amongst many other brands. Yes they do suffer from age related issues and Peugeots factory spares support is rubbish - but properly looked after they'll go on and on.

[@TassieLorenzo]

"Probably one of the most durable cars of the period." Interesting take! In the durability stakes it was up against the AE111 Corolla which (together with the Camry, Hilux and Land Cruiser of the same period) is arguably one of the most reliable cars of *all time*. Granted there was no hot version of that Corolla, apart from the Levin AE111 coupe with the 4AGE which was only available in Japan AFAIK. 🙂

[@Carl_Z]

The engine in this old peugeots are unbreakable,, but the electrics, trim and suspension componets like bushings are bad . on the other hand are easy to repair and cheap

[@TheMentalblockrock]

@@TassieLorenzo I think 1990's cars in general are a much better bet to keep going than more modern stuff - much simpler,and less things to break. As for Toyotas, I bought a cheap Starlet in 2008 to tide me over while my classic car was being fixed. I Still have the Starlet and apart from the cambelt going (my fault, I ran the same belt for 100,000 miles!) it has been 100% reliable, even at 185,000 miles and 26 years old.

[@byronmills5952]

@@TassieLorenzoI also own Toyota's - so Im well aware of their engineering integrity. However no Corolla of that era handles drives or has the ride quality of a 306. 90s and 00s Toyota's also have a fatal flaw and that is of structural and underbody rot. Not only of the shell but also of the suspension componentry. I own 2 306s - both now well in to 6 figure milages and over 20 years old. The undersides could be both of a car that's 4 years old - barely a hint of any rot at all - they are both regularly serviced and give little or no trouble whatsoever. I also own a Yaris and an Avensis Estate from the mid 00s, brilliant cars but their ultimate longevity will be compromised by the corrosion apparent underneath - each year it's a battle with underseal treatment and waxoil to keep the worst grot away. The Toyota's would probably tolerate abuse for a longer period before yielding - but in 15 years neither of my 306s has let me down, failed to start or left me stranded.

[@thomasheitmann1804]

Peugeot 306 Cabriolet 1,8 l from 11/1994. 👍

[@samcourt6228]

That’s lovely. I think the 306 has aged beautifully. I learned to drive in a 306 d turbo so I have a massive soft spot for them. It’s been a long time since I saw a 306 in the wild.

[@augustinf]

I honestly never liked the 306…. I’m french but I come from a Golf only family lol

[@igormac88]

and this is one of the best iterations

[@gileshalliwell3591]

Car Magazine interviewed the Peugeot suspension “genius” in charge at the time… They were all “magicians”! I’d choose the 306 all day long…

[@mitchbuchannon6637]

The Gti6 I owned was as reliable as any Toyota I have owned, never had a single problem

[@BarrySlisk]

Hard to believe :)

[@williejack3695]

I think the 306 was a lovely driving car, I have driven only a diesel but the way it held the road was quite amazing

[@samcourt6228]

That’s what I learned to drive in (my instructors car). Needless to say my 1.2, 4 speed Nova with a manual choke was massive comedown! 😂

[@steveberridge4648]

I agree. A bit like the mk1 focus on that regard. I had a 1.6 mk1 focus and it's the sweetest model in the range.

[@tomblatch1594]

@@steveberridge4648 Apparently Ford pulled apart a 306 when developing the MkI Focus to emulate the dynamics.

[@stefanhiereth2547]

You absolutely naild it! Nothing drives and feels better then a little Pug. So happy that my first car was a 205 XS. Ever since then brillant handling was a must have on any other vehicle. Guess why I had eight lions out of 10 cars (205 CTi, 206 2.0 HDi, 306 1.6 an 2.0 16V Cabriolet) In Germany ‚the Rival‘ has always been badmouthed by the press to lift up achingly boring competition on paper. But your smile proves that the 306 GTi (or S 16) reached sort of the maximum in driving pleasure. Even without hard suspension this chassis is a precition tool par excellence!Thanks for honoring this materpiece and envious congrats to that gem. (Have to go to the garage right now and pet my Cab and my 206 S 16 😆)

[@SunnyD1865]

Still think these are one of the best hot hatches of all time, absolute hoot to drive. Don’t think there will be a day I don’t want one

[@mrdainase]

You've made a excellent choice there. The 306 tends to be in the shadow of the brilliant 205/309/405 era but it was a stonking motor in its own right. I had both a D-Turbo and a GTI-6, and both in the same blue as yours. Can't say I had a problem with the steering wheel reach, though, probably me being a funny build!

[@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge]

I got both a 309 and 306. Hard to say which one I prefer, though both have the 1.4 litre and while it's a perfectly good engine for the 309 it just suffers in the 306, those 200 odd kilos on that car just make it really sluggish, and the older Pugs have much better seats and fit and finish too compared to my Phase 1 306. Parts are a whole lot easier to find for the 306 though.

[@dennisrocket]

Really love your channel! Really helped me out with some issues with my 328…In contrast to other car channels you’re a down to earth authentic enthousiast and you stick to your believes and roots! Just an example: Normal Guy which I used to love became a sort of cynical sales channel….keep it up! Looking forward to the next episode! (More influenzo please!)

[@NenadTrajkovic]

phenomenal taste in cars, I love this man… 🇮🇹🚗💨💨🇫🇷

[@gixerloon]

Congrats on the GTI-6, Jack, I owned a 2.0 306 XSI gen-1 from about 1998, sold it to a neighbour in 2003, then when he needed to sell it, bought it back in 2006/7 and had it for another couple of years, which I think speaks volumes for the performance versions of the 306 as I hardly ever keep a car more than about 2 years normally, anyhoo, my point is the 306 was one of my all-time favorite cars for the handling which was just sublime... you could steer it on/off the throttle which seems to be missing in most modern cars, I've driven.. I can highly recommend the B4's as a good fitment on these cars, you may not want to go as far as I did with mine, but I had Bilstein B4 OEM spec dampers all round and -30mm Apex front Springs, but left the rear torsion bars at standard ride height, the other thing I found helped the handling, I Polybushed the front lower arms and the rear beam void bushes, with Powerflex inserts to stop the passive rear wheel steer as I didn't much like the feel of it in corners, it was like a go-cart on the twisties, also fitted a Magnex (not available any more) cat back stainless system and a K&N panel filter, and for being only about 125-ish bhp it certainly surprised a few people around the country lanes where I use to live, not stupidly powerful or fast, but just a terrifically good fun car to cane about in back then.. how times change... I test drove a GTI-6, back then, but sadly never owned one, stupidly sold my 306 to buy an S2000, 🤨 enjoy your 306 they are amazingly good fun, and getting harder to find a nice unmolested one, it seems, especially the S16 or GTI-6. 👍

[@cornishrider]

Great choice, what a sound! I work at a Peugeot Dealership and 2 of our guys have recently bought these, one the same blue as yours and the other a silver ex demo we last sold back in the day!

[@jameshoward2738]

Replace the clutch cable. You might improve it for a while with lubrication, but it's likely the cable will break due to rust and leave you somewhere with no clutch. I had a 309GTI back in about '95 for several years. I had to drive that home with no clutch (luckily only a few miles). It had a metal lever on top of the gearbox that was actuated by the cable. The end snapped off the metal lever and cost maybe a tenner for a new one.

[@TheDarkxs]

Good choice, I had a Renault 19 16v mk1 and that was a joy to drive

[@davekennedy6315]

Very, very nice! These were the last of the true Hot Hatches that started in the 80s. Tiny, super light, good bhp per ton but also a tad fragile and certainly not the safest of things to have a crash in. That completes the package, a small car that is far too fast for its size and build. I used to have a 'F' reg (88/89) Astra GTE 16V, the very first of its type with the engine designed with help from Cosworth (mine was the earliest with Coscast heads) 156bhp 144lbft. The engine was awesome and used in Vauxhalls BTCC cars with 300bhp!

[@karlos543]

Dave Kennedy : Astra was a great lane car.👍

[@davekennedy6315]

@@karlos543 yeah, I used to do 130+mph every single day that I owned it due to having a great, recently built A road near where I lived. It also didn't have cameras back in the 90s haha!

[@yeahno....]

Did a track day/ teaching day in one of these (think it was a GTI6) in the late 90s at silverstone, they were bloody quick of their time and the instructor made it do things I didn’t think possible in a hot hatch

[@B_Road_Machines]

Great cars! I had a 309 Goodwood gti, still the most beautifully balanced front wheel drive car I’ve owned. Never managed to find a good gti6 though.

[@dan3092]

Coz they are the most beautifully balanced front wheel drive car and with an LSD better than an Teg R Type and an Elise

[@shoominati23]

I drove a well sorted Saab 9-5 turbo trackday car and didn't go in with huge expectations, but was hugely surprised that you hardly sensed it was FWD, unless you really tried to be stupid on the corners and then it would remind you by digging in a little. But if you executed corners with a little strategy it went around them as if on rails, a Super 7 4 wheel drift monster it was not. But hardly anyone knows they existed nowadays which is a shame.

[@jamesstanley7263]

I’ve owned an accord type R and GTI-6. Both amazing but I’d have the Accord again just for the driving position and seats. Less steering feel, but still way better than anything modern

[@rashdecisions523]

Had a GTi6 and a hdi and a 1.6 version of the Peugeot 306. Great looking cars and the best handling, from the factory cars, I've ever driven. A close contender was my Primera GT. 😻

[@tommerjai1067]

Congrats Jack! I will never forget mine, was the same colour as yours. Had so much fun with it, back then it blew the Golf 4 GTI away in many ways. It still happens from time to time me dreaming I would still have it in my garage

[@promerops]

Peugeot have always had an excellent understanding of suspension. Going back into the dim and distant past, my 404 had excellent ride and handling. The 504 SW that was a pool car on a civil engineering project site I worked on was quite remarkable.

[@bogged2theeyeballs695]

Showing my age also. As a young boy we had a Peugeot 404 SW that took us everywhere ( including lots of very rough roads in outback Australia ) and never broke down. My late Father sold it with just over 600K miles on it and it was still going strong. My first car was a 1976 Peugeot 504 which I rolled over down an embankment and still drove away with only minor panel damage.

[@G58]

I used to hire 306s around 1993 when they were new. Nice drive. Good motorway car, and fun on the tight lanes in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Always booked a basic car, but they were always short of them, so I got a free upgrade every time. Call it Le Peuge

[@dungareesareforfools]

I believe that the secret to the great handling of these cars was passive rear wheel steering. The Focus was another renowned car for handling that employed this a few years later.

[@eefneleman9564]

Ford also looked at the 406 rear suspension for the Mondeo.

[@tomblatch1594]

Inspired choice Jack. I enjoyed mine hugely! I agree about avoiding dicking around with the suspension too much, as the ride/feel compromise is pretty much perfect - I did upgrade to group N PeugeotSport front bushes however. The gear linkage is a weak point - I upgraded to a stainless steel replacement when mine failed completely, unsure if these are still available. This was a few years ago! Being young and into these scene, I also upgraded with an induction kit and miltek SS exhaust (the last one on the shelf apparently). I miss that car so much - will be following your journey with this car closely and will pitch in with advice when required - enjoy 🙂

[@ihaveacoolhat1]

I love these, especially the close-ratio gearing and the noise. Also watching Gilles Panizzi hammer the 306 Maxis around tiny French mountain roads on TV when I was a kid sealed the deal for me. Peugeot were on a totally different vibe compared to now. Love it.

[@leeh9420]

Love the new daily! I have loved the Koni Special Active shocks. Have them in my Mini Clubman and just finishing putting them in the family Mazda 3. They're 2-stage - gentle over bumps in regular driving, and then firm up nicely for more spirited stuff.

[@MrBrianc1975]

congratulations on the new car. I had the rare 306 S16 which was basically the same as the GTI6 but with a 5 speed box and 155bhp, great car but fragile and this was back in 1999!

[@michaelarchangel1163]

Change the rear engine mount for a Vibra Technics one. My 306 TD had a kangaroo clutch until I had a complete set of engine mounts done, not to mention having had a propensity for the clutch pedal to stick to the floor !. Being petrol, rather than diesel, you'd only get a touch more vibration but the gearchange also improved massively for me. I since went the whole hog and got a full polybush suspension kit as well, which cured the 306 tendency for rear axle sag and made the steering even more pin sharp. Good luck with the car, seems like you found a pretty good one. Most GTi's have had 9 or more owners. I have H&R front coilovers and B8 Bilsteins on the rear, the front turned down by about 2 threads and the rear axle lowered by 40mm to match. The ride is stiffer but far from harsh. Also have 17 inch alloys with 205/40 profile tyres. Depends on how much you want to spend or compromise a bit on ride plushness really.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Fun car. Looking forward to the video series. Keep up the good work.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

The ratio between the wheel base and track is spot on hence part of the driving experience. You need to find new old stock of OEM shocks for replacements to keep it happy. French cars are great, I have a C5 which my daughter-in-law borrowed and still has nearly a year on, I have her Honda which doesn't ride like the C5 but is good non-the-less.

[@watchmrcontent]

Errrrr, you've got something to answer for! Last week I bought a 306 GTI6, to some extent spurred on by your previous video on the model. Also W reg, also china blue - so I'll be counter bidding you for spares. I had a 306 Rallye from new, so harboured fond memories. Which were reinforced when I drove the Pug home - as you say, suspension is magic, gearbox too, and going round roundabouts, it's just so planted. Like you, will be spending the next few spare days putting the jobs list together......

[@kidoctane]

A while back a bestie had a 306, but not a GTi, just a cooking 2.0i 16V. She had it new since 1996 and its still in the family as a banger for the various nieces and nephews - currently in a very sad state During her ownership we minded it at our house quite a few times while she was overseas. I drove it many times in my usual enthusiastic manner. Without a shadow of a doubt it was the sweetest handing car I have ever driven - way better than my usual Italian stable. The way the steering/ride/roadholding comes together is just alchemy. Never understand why the handling of post 306 Pugs has gone from sublime to bog ordinary

[@richardharrold9736]

Definitely worth getting it restored before it deteriorates too far!

[@derekgb3780]

Intermittent pulling to the left when braking combined with intermittent vibration at certain higher speeds - I've have a bet on a slightly sticking brake caliper. Suggest keeping an eye on the alloy wheels to see it one side is dusting-up more than the other, or if one wheel feels hotter/warmer after some vigorous braking.

[@thatsthis753]

really good choice Jack! The 306 GTI is just so great.

[@zaneclone]

I remember the first time I drove a 306 XRDT - pulled like a storm and handled incredibly well. I literally felt like NOTHING on earth would out-handle it !!! Sounds mad, I know- for a diesel hatch lol !!

[@adamf8335]

I would like to see you take this to a Dyno and see how much power it now has and a general look over by a mechanic so see what issues there might be underneath. Would be a good informative episode. looks like a lovely car. I have similar backroads so went for an EP3 type R, pre facelift because I like the original looks. I've been restoring it to as close as to new but within my tastes as possible. I love a hot hatch, never super fast but such a hoot to drive and fun to extract every last horsepower. Enjoy your new car my good man.

[@aKenich]

Great choice, can see the logic for sure. Bland looks suit the daily well also!

[@crissavill7823]

My folks had a blue 306 with standard petrol engine. It drove beautifully and steered so well. They bought it 8 years old and had it for 15:years. Comfortable and reliable. A joy to drive!

[@helencooper785]

Really looking forward to seeing what you do with this one Jack and I’m very envious!!I I drive a 2001 2 litre hdi every day which we has been family owned from new. More recently we found a 2001 Dturbo 2 door for our 18 year old son who absolutely loves it. Since buying the Dturbo, we have done lots of maintenance including a replacement refurbished rear axle beam from a firm in Nottinghamshire for not a lot of money. I’m biased, but brilliant cars that we get lots of positive comments on. I can’t ever remember anyone telling me how bad these were, just people happy to see another one still on the road.

[@jasonrussell3325]

Great to meet you at Scramle today Jack, nice to have a chat in the sunshine. Keep up the great content mate as you are a normal person we can all relate to!

[@bombakdik]

Yes yes yes yes yes! So glad to see you being so enthusiastic. I really like your videos. I managed to devote a bit more of my time to your channel! Is this car “still” on “old” type of UK license plates? The system ever so gets me confused all the time. Greetings from Belgium!

[@Number27]

Hey.. no I think there are fairly modern plates.. from year 2000..

[@Rob.Coleman]

Would love to see more videos of you working on your cars and fixing/upgrading all the bits you mention 👍👍.

[@thilomarioth]

I’ve moved the original steering wheel closer to the driver in my 206 CC from 2001. I just bolted an aftermarket steering wheel hub on the backside of the original. It made it about 3cm closer which was perfect in my case.

[@MrLekatt]

My Citroën 1987 BX16V had the 1.9 l engine with very similar configuration technically (without the catalytic converter) To achieve the full potential - around 167 hp rolling road dyno - of that engine you should never fill more oil than halfway up on the dipstick. That was standard advice from people who raced them. Had something to do with crankcase compression frequencies. You could easily feel that extra power.. really fun. Perhaps worth trying..

[@MrLekatt]

Regarding the coming and going vibration, could it be a 'tripod' needle fail in one of the inner joints? That would cause the driveshaft to become unbalanced depending on how the remaining needles position themselve. Just a thought... good luck with this lovely car 😎

[@littlepippin8445]

Jack. I just bought an RCZ Peogeot. Blinking brilliant little car, get one !! You won't be dissapointed and they are cheap as chips.

[@hansc8433]

Great car and an excellent choice! I almost bought a 306 GTi here in NL, but decided to get a Spider 916 with a leaky roof instead 😃 Looking forward to your next videos!

[@paulriggers1558]

daily-ing a fast crisp packet over those roads, brave man... if that paintwork is original, a full respray will probably de-value it, yes to the roof repair, but are we sure about the full shoot... you need a new cable, + re-route/fasten it so that it curves gently specialist adapter to balance those wheels [no centre caps], so probably not done... keep it up young man

[@Ralph2]

I reckon at 4:29 you hit 88mph, the sun suddenly set and it was early evening. My son bought at G Ti-6, and on the drive home I couldn't shake him off in a Stilo Abarth. Then we stopped for a chat and he told me he had a bad misfire 😂Great car.

[@olivers.6420]

Congrats Jack!! I prefer the Peugeot any time over a Honda!! I will never forget my 406 Coupe. The 306 GTI is super cool. Cordon Blue 🙂

[@christopherwright1795]

I’ve always wanted a 306 rallye just couldn’t find a good one , I’ve had a few 306’s and 405’s (includimg a phase 2 405 mi16 have I absolutely loved ) the 306’s seem to rot in the engine bay / bulkhead badly , hope youres is ok , looks lovely

[@beatglauser9444]

I knew you would choose the Peugeot! It fits guys like me and you more. The 306 was one of the Peugeots I always regarded it as very good looking. Probably the best looking one since the 404 and the 405 convertible. I always thought I would stumble upon a cheap and good example to buy. But it never happened. Maybe my older cars would last so long that they outlived most 306es.

[@Lot76CARS]

Excellent purchase Jack, a worthy replacement for the 106 and probably better to lie with day to day... are you bringing it to Bicester this coming weekend??

[@ThriftMachine]

The clutch cable filled with a graphite grease will help. I had a rusty one in Cleveland and that thing became butter smooth

[@phil920]

Very good choice, one of the best GTI of its period. Superior chassis and the 167bhp engine is cool. In France it was called S16 and not GTI because French government was against the GTIs at that time. You can call it "Peejoe" which is "Peugeot" nickname phonetically. The color is maybe "bleu de Chanel" in French.

[@AUcairns]

Is'nt the s16 a different model? with a different engine similar to that of one in the 405 mi-16

[@andersnielsen6044]

@@AUcairns True.

[@Carrera-gp9od]

I had the xsara vts with this engine , I thought it was rapid back in the day I’d imagine it would feel rather pedestrian nowadays 😂

[@johnkiprov7210]

Ya gotta love Peugeots.A pothole near my place makes my LS 430 shudder when I hit it -if traffic's coming the other way you can't avoid it -but my 505 GTI sails over the same piece of road and you can't even tell there's a hole there.Absolutely amazing for a car 37 years old.

[@rubenshuff]

Such brilliant driving cars! Had a Honda Prelude afterwards actually and missed the handling of the Pug - recon you chose well!

[@frenchbred2081]

To be honest my French cars have been the most reliable I have owned! It’s been the Japanese and Germans that broke around me, and the Ferrari but that’s another story.. The 306 is one of the best hatchbacks of all time, it handles great, parts are pretty cheap and they are going up ok value what’s not to like. I had a gti6 and a lovely white Rallye a few years ago and now the king of them all the Maxi although not really comparable with a road car. Enjoy your purchase and I look forward to seeing more updates. 👍

[@henrikrudehvid3067]

I had a Peugeot 106 Rally 1,5 Magnum special edition (it was a 1,3 that Peugeot bored to a 1,5 engine). It had 139 hp. It was by no comparison the most fun car I have ever had. I never had any problems with it. Loved that car.🥰😎

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

Good choice. The right balance in as much as it's a car you can really enjoy from the get go and yet it has enough jobs that need doing to provide some interesting content.

[@richcoleman469]

Just saw your 306 in the Rover review so looked up to see if you did one on this. Great little car. I had 3 Peugeots over the years in Argentina. A 505 sedan, then a 504 Rural (SW) and then a 505 Rural. Great road cars with good suspension, not too fast. A friend had a new106 that we took a trip in and was nice.

[@marky9117]

Nice one Jack! I’ve had two GTi6’s. One road and one track. Amazing fun and they steer from the rear just the right amount when on the limit. Get it to Cadwell Park. Brilliant around there. Have fun!

[@BM_PAZ]

Glad I managed to own one of these years ago. If I remember these were quite an expensive car in the 90’s so they only sold around 5k of them I think.

[@ApothecaryTerry]

You made the right choice. This is still my dream car. By the time I could afford one, I couldn't convince myself to daily drive something of that age since I don't have the facilities to work on it. Perhaps if I'm rich enough in a few years I'll still get one...

[@Adam2050]

I loved my HDi 306, the price of them now is mental. I paid £400 for mine.

[@matthewrees4449]

Wonderful choice with just the right level of fettling needs. They do look fabulous - that era of Peugeots had such clean, unfussy lines. As for a name: Cyrano de Peugeotrac

[@steffydog]

Pierre the Pug? Always good to see a video from you Jack, keep well

[@shoominati23]

A friend of a friend had a 205 GTi back in my University days, I was always jealous of it and thought it gave him an air of sophistication, but he wasnt really a car guy and it was bought as an enrolment gift by his parents.. Last I saw it was about a decade ago he'd gone off and got married and it was still sitting outside his parent's place with a couple of flat tyres, peeling trim and encroaching surface rust where the problematic clear coat had flaked off the bonnet and rear quarter panels

[@paulb4uk]

Still a great looking car, and getting rarer so great time to pick one up before prices start to rise sharply .Great to see an engine with no silly pointless plastic cover .

[@patrickfarrell4751]

Fantastic cars...I had mine for 3 years before a family came along and something more practical was needed. I'd have another tomorrow if I could!

[@garygritter5701]

I think I would’ve gone with the accord as I love that generation but the 306’s are an absolutely fantastic car imo. They’re a dying breed aswell so it’s good to see them.

[@MrCarrera28]

Neat looking car that has clearly captured your heart and ultimately that's what makes a car great and the right choice for you!! Alain would be suggestion in honour of the great French racing driver who was small and delivered more than the sum of his parts. Plus the Prost F1 Team ran Peugeot motors in a not too dissimilar shade of blue so there is a link there.

[@Number27]

Like it!! Pierre also a contender.. and Gary.. just because it would be SO stupid to call it that

[@MrCarrera28]

@@Number27 Gary would be hilarious!!

[@DavidR_192]

Brilliant car, and great choice. I adore Honda (petrol) engines but the 306 is just a better all round package.

[@thomasknafve4309]

Good choice! Congrats! Do check L Aventure Peugeot for parts! Had a 306 Xsi back in the 90'ies really liked it, fantastic handling!

[@notroll1279]

Thank you for the vid! Good ones with mileages under 100000 mls have become very rare now - even in France. 😕

[@gerbenyedema2039]

Hi, Jack! As your new car is blue and you are astonished by its incredible ride, handling and steering feel, why not call it “Sacre Bleu”?

[@freaknoutful]

Love it! Great memories of the poverty spec 306XSi we had in London circa 1996.

[@Ridley2907]

Looks like you've got yourself a straight, honest car there. Enjoy it!

[@martinhogg5337]

Good choice of car for you as it is a fun daily driver. Also just the right amount of work needing done for you to make more of your interesting videos. Enjoy! I know we will!

[@markdempsey4763]

Great video Jack enjoy the car, you need to get a Renault 5 Gt Turbo, I scratched a 30 year itch and bought one last year, so much fun.

[@timgass5426]

Will follow this with interest. Recently back in a 306 with a 306 rallye. It's on its original suspension which is getting tired at 100k. Also want it to ride like it did when new and not sure what the best option is. I also replaced the exhaust but no new oe available. I'm not happy with the stainless piper I ended up fitting so be interested if you have a better solution.

[@pauln0371]

Should've bought a straight Ford Focus MK1 1.6 Zetec. Absolutely the best everyday Front Wheel Drive Hatchback. Lift off over steer for days. I loved all mine to bits..

[@davidpalin1790]

the early focuses drove like rally cars 🚗

[@steveberridge4648]

Agree, have owned a zetec and ghia mk1. I keep telling people that now is the time to buy a tidy zetec and store it away before they all disappear.

[@HB-Productions]

Do love a good ol' 306! Grew up with them as a kid. In my local town we've got one going around in the bright red!

[@timothylanders3189]

Absolutely love the time & effort you put into your clips & you are always having fun ;) The pulling to the left sounds to me that your inner or outer control arm bushes are worn. My Aussie Commodore wagon I had years back used to dive hard & want to put me into a tree when I pulled round a tight 3/4-hairpin left turn. Was frightening & it was a reasonably heavy car on the road. Ended up taking it to a front end/suspension specialist who replaced all bushes with neoprene ones & told me that a shop had only changed the outer bushes & not the inner, as these were harder to do requiring more time so, was a common bodgy fix workshops did. Fixed the problem. Btw, I simply love these 80's underpowered little hatches. You have to give them stick but boy, that's their inherent character that makes them so much fun. You enjoy them revving up slower than modern maniac 0-60 fire breathers. I miss my Mazda MX5 NA. 1.6L stock lightened flywheel twin cam. Bit unruly in the rear end in the wet if they had low profile tyres like mine did. I loved the tight gear changes :) On a totally different level is my current Audi S3 8p. Too easy to drive really as it has electric assisted steering & ESP traction control bla bla. I can disable it with push of a button but, really? I love it to death & prefer it than my previous E36 M3 that suspension was set up for track work & button clutch etc. I apologise for the long post but I'm just enthrawled by these old hot hatches & so glad I found your site :)

[@jimmer1976]

Nice choice 👍 wouldn’t mind one of these myself if I could find one. Think you should call it Dave..

[@huwdavies6650]

China Blue is the best colour on a 306. There are companies that supply spacers for OEM steering wheels. Had a Diesel 306 and it was a brilliant car to drive.

[@catcaptain6023]

Sundance Yellow 😉

[@Derek-i8y]

With your gear change, often there will be a little plastic donut shaped bush under the lever and sometimes one at the gearbox end as well. These wear and then disintegrate leaving you stuck with half your gears, or worse, no gears. Even automatics have them. Not hard to replace.

[@stopneverstop]

great choice, i had the xsara vts which also had the gti6 engine, but with a wider beam at the rear, later worked on by cituning in nottingham

[@adambcvg]

Same beam width, 21mm torsion bars instead of 20 and slightly different toe/camber depending on the age.

[@stopneverstop]

@@adambcvg phase one, sold for £750, which I deeply regret

[@jackthebassman1]

I have a 2019 Peugeot 3008 diesel, it’s perfectly reliable and extremely economical as well as being very well appointed - I have no hesitation in having another one.

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

Francois! I'd get the engine bay dry ice cleaned. Make sure you get the front end PPFd once repainted.

[@anesujuniorkusangaya6538]

Had the 306 XT and the handling was honestly unreal, especially once I rebuilt the rear beam and understood the limits of the rear wheel steering. Every bit as engaging in the twisty stuff compared to my 206 GTI180, 180 is more fun when you rev it out though courtesy of that tuned intake. Perhaps I should sell the 180 for a GTI6?

[@colinmorand129]

They are great handling cars, i remember doing an experience day at silverstone and loved it

[@mrrocknroll84]

The gearbox is generally the bushings and the linkages. Very easy to fix. I'm not sure if the steering wheel is telescopic. I never drive one with the original shocks, mine were worm so i replace them with the bilstein b4 shocks. They were good but the ride height was a little high. I would go with the sachs shocks. The vibration could be from the wheels as you need a special hub to balance the original wheels. Comes at certain speeds. Also get your engine mounts done. The torque Bush is very hard to find

[@mrrocknroll84]

Sorry about the spelling. My autocorrect was set to Croatian. Congratulations btw

[@mariopizzamanmario8563]

Congrats! I had a 1.6 break (110HP) and transplanted the suspension & wheels from a Gti... went like stink and great drive - and good comfort, too. What change really made it great were the tires, I put Falken ZI-EXE on the car and man it was quiet... you may want to do that too. It really helps. Could not get those tires for my Jag, so put Yokohama Advan FLEVA on it. Also really really quiet, finally I hear the engine... My Pug 306 break was more quiet than my mates Volvo V70. Unless you hit the trottle... 😆it outran many VW Gtis...

[@2008tourer]

What a lovely car! Unfortunately I know what you feel about driving position, I have the same issue in my 156, though I also have a problem to fit my right foot somewhere... Maybe try to find some steering wheel spacers?

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

31 years later, a 306 3 door still looks magnificient. ❤

[@ulrichr.487]

The 306 was, is, and will always be a good looking car! Well done, Peugeot!

[@colintitterington144]

I had a sherwood green 1.8 16v meridian, Smashing car to drive, Fairly nippy and stuck to the road like glue👍👍👍

[@Captain_Scarlet_SIG]

The early hot hatches are in Vogue at the moment so a good choice, they are just fun little cars to own and use I look forward to you getting this one in fine fettle.