bing-bonger

Folks,

My younger brother has a budget of about 4Kish and wants one of the above cars......I have no experiance of either...

Can some one please give me an idea of reliability, things to watch out for, fuel comsumption (as he does 50miles a day), handling, general problem areas and anything else you can tell me about these cars....


thanks guys/gals

Tommy 2000

Both are great fun to drive and go well but I imagine that sort of budget would get a better/lower mileage VTS than GTI-6. Check out Honest John for advice on what to look out for...

dosenöffner

I think 4K would only get a pranged and repaired GTi-6 of questionable history to be perfectly honest.

Saxo is probably cheaper insurance too.

CJB

he can only afford the saxo or a **** gti-6

LG John

Not everyone has unlimited funds FFS [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

I'd go for the VTS on that sort of a budget. You can get a very good condition VTS for that sort of money but I'd be wary of a £4k GTI-6. If his budget grows then he can maybe consider the GTI-6 which as an all round car will be better. Performance wise my MKII VTS was the same all the way down the 1/4 mile with a GTI-6, both handle well and both are lots of fun to drive. Can't vouch for the GTI but the saxo is good on fuel when not thrashed and not bad when thrashed.

At £4k he'll probably be looking at a MK1 VTS and defo a MK1 GTI-6. The MK1 version of both cars were very tail happy so make sure he totally understands the consequences of 'lift-off oversteer'

Little Miss WRX

Do either cars suffer from you know what?

LG John

Actually no, they don't. The fuel system was vastly superior on the VTS to the scooby! I used to chuck it around all over the place when running on vapour and wouldn't get so much as a splutter

Little Miss WRX

Hehehehehehe

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

stevenuk300

I have a 306 XSI for sale. 1996 with 34800 miles.
Ecosse grill, lowered, chipped and K+N induction kit. Rolling roaded at 135bhp before chipped. All original parts included.
E-mail me for full spec, pics etc if your interested.
This is in immaculate condition and I'm open to sensible offers.

Steven

ianc

Keep a look out for a ZX 16v or Xsara VTS - same engine as the GTI-6, but with a 5spd box, but he'll get more car for the money.

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

For a start, he will get a sh!tter of a GTi-6 for that sort of money, so not good. Wheras there are plenty of VTS's out there for that money, or why not get a 106 GTi instead?!

Also, they are cr@p on fuel and a LOT worse than a VTS or 106 GTi.

I am getting about 25mpg (on average) in my 306 Rallye commuting to & from work, which is pretty **** for a normally aspirated 2.0 litre engine. In my old 106 GTi I was getting high 30's and if I drove gently into the low 40's, so superb on fuel.

Worth considering a Xsara VTS, basically a cheaper 5 speed GTi-6 with cloth seats.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I use to get mid 30's out of my (2) GTi-6's but you can also look around for the S16 which the GTi-6 replaced or as has been said, a ZX 16v which has the same engine as the S16 (and 155bhp).
There wont be many GTi-6's out there for 4k unless they are ultra high miles and even the first of the 96 P models will still cost over 5k, but 9k service intervals and fairly cheap services are ok, they do have a couple of recalls out on them though, pre 98 cars are in for re-routing of fuel lines and head gaskets can be a problem (there is another recall but i cant remember it off the top of my head).
A saxo vts is probably a cheaper option though, along with cheaper insurance (the Pug is a grp 16 car) its probably more affordable.

Tony

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

my experience with saxo vt's is that if you have size 11 feet then they are a pain in the **** to drive as the pedals are so close together, i'd personally go for a citroen xsara vts or the pug or also the ZX 16v just as they are bigger cars

LG John

Rich D...predictable as ever with the 'get a 106 GTI' - you're like anikin skywalker.......you bring balance to the forum

evo stu

one question how old is your younger bruvva as the insurance on the vts and pug isnt cheap if he is under 21yrs old. just a thought

LG John

ROTFLMAO @ evo stu's post count...'120' and about '119' of those have been 'bttt'

He's right though, some of the insurance quotes for 19yo on VTS's is.......well.....scary

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

Feel the force!

Nothing wrong with suggesting the 106 over the Saxo though... they're the same, but different!

Stu_WRX

I recently got rid of a 97 P VTS.

They are sh1tty little rollerskate french crap cars, but good fun .

Don't expect too much from them and you won't be dissapointed, I loved driving mine and wasn't really in a rush to sell it. They are reasonably quick but insurance is heavy for younger drivers so harder to sell than VTR. Parts aren't cheap and I found Peugeot 106 GTi parts cheaper if you have to go main dealer.

Take time to choose it though cause there are lots of bad ones out there.

Oh and by the way if he buy's a posiedon blue one I still have the paint repair touch up kit and a set of RGM front splitters here. Also the Haynes Saxo Modding Manual.

Check out http://www.saxosportsclub.com/forum/

Everyone should have a Saxo in their life!!!!

Stu....

LG John

Quite agree

super_si

your comparing a 1.6 120bhp with 2.0 16v 167bhp.

i think you need to think realistically what you can afford to run, not just buy.

With 4k id have to say saxo, no chance you'd get a good runing Gti for that

LG John

Running costs for the two would be similar would they not?? I can't imagine it being vastly different, both French, both a hot-hatch, both FWD, both essentially from the same company, etc.

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

"Running costs for the two would be similar would they not?? I can't imagine it being vastly different, both French, both a hot-hatch, both FWD, both essentially from the same company, etc."


Think again...

The 306 is a LOT worse on fuel than the 106 or Saxo!!!

Plus, the 306 bits are more expensive, like tyres, brakes, exhausts, etc... and servicing costs are more.

Not to mention the insurance being group 16 for the 306

LG John

I stand corrected! If you drive sensibly though and make use of the 6 speed gearbox can reasonable economy not be achieved?

stevenuk300

You'd be better off going for an immaculate 306 XSI like I have for sale. Insurance group 12 and approx 150bhp with mods. Under 35k miles.

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

"I stand corrected! If you drive sensibly though and make use of the 6 speed gearbox can reasonable economy not be achieved?"


It seems not...

My last tank I made an effort to get a decent mpg figure as so far it has been poor. So I drove gently, never went above 4000rpm, mainly only on part throttle and this is going to & from work over about a week and a half. No hammering it at all.

Still only got 28mpg, which is poor.

In the 106 I was easily getting mid 30's doing the same run and I was not hanging about either. If I drove the 106 like I'd driven the 306 for that last tank I'd have been around 40mpg, so basically the 306 is much worse.

Maybe on a long, steady motorway cruise it would be low 30's in the 306, but it's still nowhere near the 106.

MooseRacer

Do you think so?


Ah, I see

stevenuk300

OK so a cheap plug, but excellent cars all the same. Not far from the power of the GTI6 and a lot cheaper to insure and buy.

Carlos The Jackel

The VTS is a great car (don't ever let anyone outside this thread see that)but the 306 GTI-6 doesn't have the very poor image saxo's have. Its all down to dance music and baseball caps I of course have both but no saxo! But most Boy Racer types move onto scoobs anyway - don't they SB They can adjust to the superior scoob power but get caught out by fuel surges from time to time!

LG John

I'm no boy racer. My saxo was standard, I don't turn it up the music too much, I don't have a cap....so

super_si

Get a Diesel turd i mean turbo