Advice needed for buying a 306

[pickle]

Hiya , I'm a 19 year old girl and I'm looking at getting a 306 but before i did thought I'd get some advice from you guys on whats the good and bad bits with these, what to look out for and things like that.
I don't mind if its a petrol or Diesel but the Turbo Diesel is going to be £150 more to insure .
I'm looking at spending about £3,000 and want something that will last so any helpful advice and recommendations would be great, along with any helpful things to look out for and problems to steer clear of. Also any warning of unreliable bits on these would be amazing.

Thank you
Lou

[Admin]

The 306: great to drive and cheap! Some Peugeot 306s can be as much as 14-years-old, surprising given that the design still looks fresh and modern today. But it isn’t just the styling that’s great. The handling is very sharp, with very little body roll, precise steering allows the nose to lock onto bends superbly, and the ride is very agile for a car that is so outwardly sporting, especially the turbodiesel or hot hatch models.

The oily bits
The Peugeot 306 is a hardy little car that can cope well with high mileages so long as you regularly keep it topped up with the necessary fluids and treat it to a good wash every so often. The turbodiesels are the pick of the bunch for their relative refinement, surging performance and mid-40mpg fuel economy, but there’s a range of economical and sporty engines to suit most budgets, from 1.4 to 2.0-litre petrols. If you can live without five-doors, then the three-door 306 is a good pick for its sporty styling. There is also saloon, estate and convertible options. According to Warranty Direct’s Reliability Index, the Peugeot 306 of above average reliability.

What isn’t so good
These cars are getting on a bit and like most older cars they are prone to their fair share of problems. The electric windows often jam or need new motors so power them up and down a few times to make sure they’re working as they should. Check the front tyres, too, because the 306 has an appetite for rubber and tends to go through them voraciously.

The 306's interior is smart and modern
Other problems to be on your guard for include the engine’s ignition coils which often need replacing every 70,000 miles, so ask when these were last done, and stick your head round the back to see if there’s smoke from the exhaust on the diesel models. If there is, this is a sign the car is burning oil. The turbodiesel is the best model to go for but beware you don’t buy a non-turbo 1.9, which is generally a few hundred quid cheaper and is noisier and much less refined than its turbocharged counterpart. According to the Reliability Index the average repair cost for a 306 is £249, with most problems resulting from the electrical system.

Hope this helps

[205tastic]

Hii there!
i've got a 306 1.9 diesel...
from an insurance point of view (being a 20 year old girl) i've found the car to be comparable in price with say a moderatley fast fiesta of similar age ( i paid £750 fully comprehensive with a claim and 10,000 miles)
i would say however that the Turbo diesels will hit harder on the old insurance because they have greater chav appeal (not unlike the GTI!!!) the XSi model is a decent and reletavley entertaining petrol engine but the standard 1.4s are also cool for 'round town...

make sure if especially with a diesel that you've got a good idea of the history and one made after about S reg (post face lifts...)

as for parts and running, i've never had a problem with mine and i've found it easy to keep serviced and parts or styling bits and bobs (like an original CD changer for example...) can still be got from places like halfords, peugeot dealers and my personal favourite EBAY!!

hoe thats of some use!
marie