John STI 8

Been out for a test drive in a 2001MY GTi this afternoon, thought it was a nice drive, not too fast but enough to overtake and pretty comfy (though not really enough room for my feet). Anyway, now I'm thinking of buying one so would welcome advice from anyone with any experience of owning one. This one was well overpriced at a local peugeot dealer, but it looks like there are loads of reasonable low-mileage ones around.

Cheers

John

Rokerlad

Don't do it. The 206 is only a warm hatch. Peugeot's worst GTi

BlueBoy

Yeah I'd leave this alone as well - the Clio 172 is a better buy IMO for pace and perhaps a nearly new Civic Type R would suit much better for grin factor

Tractor

I agree. Although ultimately it's up to you obviously, the 206 gti and even the 180 are considered to be way off the pace dynamically. They also look awkward in my opinion and the interior is naff. A real let-down by Peugeot who used to make absolutely cracking hot hatches. If you need another reason, they will be unlikely to hold their value as well as the better cars out there..... Avoid, buy a Clio 182 with the Cup suspension.

mr flibble

sorry guys i have to disagree.........

I have had alot of experience with 'hot hatches'. Driven most of them and owned a few.

The 206 GTI is not as luke warm as most people make out. it still clocked 7.1 to 60 and would pull away from a 106gti. The handling was pretty good, although i always felt as tho i was sitting on the car rather than in it. The seating position is crap.

The 206 GTI 180 feels totally different. It has some good pace. once you have got into 2nd (1st gear is rather tall) it really pulls hard for a little hatch, and would scare my scoob once rolling. The build quality ain't that bad either and the car looks good i think. Has anyone taken a clio 172 or 182 out yet?? the interior and seating position is poor, and although it is quicker for me 0.3 of a sec to 60 (and 1.5ish secs difference to 100) isn't noticable in the real world. I also prefered it over the CTR.

The pug 206 180 is never gonna do well in the press as we all remember/owned/driven the 205 gti, and lets face it nothing compares to the rawness of an orginal 205 gti. Although if that car were released today as a hot hatch we would all laugh at it!!!

John if you liked the car go with it, at the end of the day its personal preference. The only problem you may get with the GTI is the exhaust, when the back box goes it seems to take peugeot 6 weeks to ship one from france??!!??

and just for the record i have never owned a 206!

M.

John STI 8

Cheers for all the replies, always nice to have two differening opinions to make a decision that bit harder.

I'm not really that bothered about the pace, I drive a lot of fairly fast cars for work, I just want something that handles well and is reasonably cheap to run. I can't face living with a renaults electrics, I was put off a CTR having seen how little power they actually transmit to the road, considered a 106gti but I'm a bit lardy to squeeze into one of those, which is why I was looking at the 206.

Anyway, cheers to you all for the advice, I might see if I can try out the other motors you mention before I make any decisions.

J

BlueBoy

Yes - I should have added to mine, "you've gotta go with what your comfy with". Could be the best car in the world according to everyone else, but if you can't get used to the seats or don't like the power delivery, you'll never be quite as happy.

Good luck with the purchase

Daz34

No it ain't
My 172 has a very nice interior & nowhere near as dark as a Pug. IMHO Peugeot has lost the plot with slow cars with horrible high seats & crap Halfords style fuel caps, lights etc.
They need to sort it out & start producing some proper drivers cars again.

Darren

John STI 8

What about a 306 GTi-6, it sounds as though people have better opinions of them? Anyone know what sort of fuel economy you can expect to get?

J

Tractor

The GTi-6 is a much better car than the 206 Gti. It maye be better however if you post what your requirements are. The car geeks on here (like me ) love to give advice on such matters.....

Oh, and isn't it true that Peugeot lost the plot dynamically when Ford pinched their chassis engineers (the result being the Focus)?

John STI 8

okay main requirements are:

Good handling (ideally wanted RWD, but there's just nothing out there that fits the bill)
Big enough to fit a bike in/on.
30+mpg motorway fuel economy
Max GP16 Insurance
Reasonably comfy
Must have Aircon (g/f's only criterion)
no more than 5 years old
less than 8 grand.
Enough space for my feet (size 13)
Not that fussed about performance.

That's about it, recommend away.

Cheers

J

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I agree with Mr Fibble, ive driven the 206 GTi 180, its a good car, better than the press make it out to be as they seem to be interested in 0-60 times for hot hatches and if it doesnt get under 7 secs they dismiss it in an instant. I felt that 2nd gear was the long gear though, first wasnt too bad it just seemed like ages in 2nd, after that it was pretty good
I can also vouch for the GTi-6, since ive owned 2 of these and you could possably pick up a late w reg one for under 8k with low miles, you have to be warned that they have a very big turning circle though but it should meet all the other criteria.

Tony

John STI 8

Not too worried about turning circle, I've been known to do 15 point turns in an Evo 7 from time to time.

Any idea what the fuel consumption was like when you owned your GTi, Tony?

Cheers

J

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

John,
On a long run, 35mpg wasnt uncommon, slightly more in some cases so not bad for a car with nearly 170bhp

Tony

Steve vRS

Skoda Octavia vRS.

Steve

John STI 8

Hadn't considered one of those, just prefer a NA 2wd car because of the fuel economy, had it not been for the daily commute it might have be a nice option. Cheers. J

BlueBoy

Probably way out (due to mpg & insurance), but probably fits the rest - a 200sx. RWD / Aircon (with the touring pack) / plenty of them around for <8K / quick / insurance group I'm not sure about but I think it is 17, one higher than you want!

How about a Colt a Puma or even a Seat Cupra?

John STI 8

Had considered a 200sx, but as you say, the MPG put me off. Haven't driven a cupra, but not a big fan of the golf chassis (though I must admit it works well in the TDi).

J

Scoobybits

octavia!

John STI 8

Test drove a 306 GTI-6 today, unfortunately it was a total dog (not cheap either), so going to have to try to find a decent one to have a go in. J