Buying help required

[chris]

Hello,

I really like the look of the old Peugeot 106 and have found some nearby for around £500. I'll only need the car for short journeys and as this will be the first car I have bought, I don't care if externally it's a little beaten up.

What I do care about though, is that it runs reliably and won't need much spent on it to keep it so. Can anybody tell me what to look out for on the 106 mechanics when I go to look at it? Which things go wrong and are they expensive to fix?

Thanks in advance,

Chris

[504gld]

Hi Chris!

I had a mk1, 106 for several years myself and can say it was an excellent choice. Did you have any specification in mind? petrol or diesel?

Engines started at 954cc, 1124cc, 1360cc for the basic petrols, then a 1.6 for the XS and sporty models. There was also a 1.3 Rallye version too. Diesels had the 1360 and 1527cc engines, both similar except the 1360 was alloy with wet liners and the 1527 cast iron block, alloy head.

Assuming your budget of £500 I would guess your looking at petrol engine with 100,000 miles or more on the clock. This shouldnt be too alarming providing the engine has been well serviced at the correct intervals. If there is little or no history, which could be the case in this price bracket then dont fully dismiss it. Insist on starting the car from complete cold, listen for unusal tapping knocking from the engine. Dip the oil, is it old and thick and black/brown. Look at the oil filter, does it look rusty, a Purlux brand will have come from a Peugeot dealers. Halfords and Fram etc could be DIY! Look for oil leaks, especially around the cam belt covers. Oil here could get on to the cambelt and cause it to break. Ask to see a receipt for the cambelt change, if it cant be provided then it will certainly need to be done (up to £100 ish). Older 106 petrol had manual choke, so ensure its working correctly.

If the car is diesel 1360cc, then it should start from cold instantly once the glow lights have gone out. If it churns a bit before running then it could have defective glow plugs (£30 a set), or be low on compression from either worn valve clearance shims or worn liners and pistions. Mine did 140,000 before I sold it and was like new still. Some people dont like the 1.4D but if you look after it it will go on! Coolant is an important factor on the diesel, open the header tank cap and look in. Coolant should be bright in colour, either blue or preferably green. Merky or thin looking in colour certainly will need maintenance. Also look for any signs of oil in the water, on both petrol and diesels, a sign of head gasket failure.

After the engine is hot, (after test drive), dont switch it off, let it run at tick over and wait to ensure the cooling fan comes on. It may take some time, especially with a diesel but its important to see that its not going to overheat.

Drive the car to a open area like a car park and then drive in circles on full lock, listen for knocking from the drive shafts, if any then they are worn and will need replacing. Do it on both locks. Whilst checking this, also when stationary move the steering and see if there is any play in it.

Obviously check the brakes work ok! Rear brakes on these can seize up, and sometimes the rear shoes fall to bits causing a lock up!

Clutches and Gearboxes and fairly standard, being the same as 205, Citroen AX etc. Reverse selection can sometimes be a crunch affair but that will most likey be a worn linkage. The rear suspension can get worn out, make sure the car sits level and doesn't have a tilt on. If it does it will either need new shocks or a complete new rear beam (about £300 exchange).

Interiors can be basic, from the 106 Kid to the more plushy XR. They seemed well screwed together. Check the heater fan works ok. The body was galvanised at the factory so rust shouldnt be an issue, but check the brake pipes anyway. Body panels are thin and show all the marks, so dont expect perfection here.

Finally the exhaust may need some replacement parts, check for any holes. Exhausts are fairly cheap. Security on this car is frankly crap so look for signs of previous break ins an damage.

If you finally dont find anything, also consider the 309, maybe not so rust proofed, but value for money or the sister Citroen AX, same mechanics and a newer car for the money.

Mat