Peugeot 106 yea or nay?

"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock) 05/14/2014 at 05:36 • Filed to: None

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Found a good deal on a 2000 peugeot 106 1.1. Looks very clean in photos but will have to wait til I view it to find out for sure the condition. The thing is I was looking for a slightly bigger car but this thing will save me a ridiculous amount on insurance and tax over what I want, even when I budget for the roof box I'll need.

What say you oppo, any good experiences with these? Any bad?

CRider > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 05:39

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Can a car get any more European than that?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > CRider 05/14/2014 at 05:42

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I think this beats it

duurtlang > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 06:03

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Peugeots of that generation (106, 306, 406) tend to be great. Few problems, no rust, cheap parts. I own a 406 myself. As long as it's taken care off and you're sure you can live with the small size it's a great pick.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 06:03

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Buy it, love it, be happy. I've had mine for almost two years, and it's been pretty much perfect. They're a massive laugh to drive, fairly reliable, good on petrol, and if anything does break, parts are cheap and they're easy to work on. Honestly, if we're talking small-engined superminis from the nineties, you really can't do better so far as I'm concerned.

Also...

Seriously, I like mine enough that, for my next car, I plan to just buy another with a bigger engine. Oh, and if you're not moving picture'd out, I've got a couple of endorsements from Clarkson:

04:55

06:32

(He talks about the 106 and Saxo throughout. Admittedly, he's talking about the GTi, but as he says in the first video - and I can corroborate - they're all great fun to drive.)

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 06:04

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Double Post.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 05/14/2014 at 06:15

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Sounds good I'll definitely have to go look at it if it hasn't been sold after I finish my exams. I always was concerned with smaller cars after driving my girlfriends 2002 micra which has a terrible chassis so it doesn't really make up for the lack of power. Obviously a micra isn't representative of everything from the era though. Basically I want something with a fun chassis that wont be dull on a back road.

If you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for yours, this one is going for £500 with an MOT, seemed like a good deal to me for one with no obvious rust.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > duurtlang 05/14/2014 at 06:21

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I like the sound of no rust... Two people I know have micras of the era and they seem desperate to rust as quickly as possible.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 06:25

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Oh yeah, from what I've heard, the Micra's about as much fun as watching paint dry. Check out any forum, review, video, whatever: pretty much everyone seems to love the way the 106 drives. Peugeot were at the top of their chassis-design game back then; you definitely won't be wanting for backroad fun. Keep in mind that it's only a teeny bit smaller than the legendary 205.

I paid £950 for mine, but it's a fairly low mileage example with service history, and values have dropped quite a bit over the last two years. I wouldn't be suspicious of a decent example at £500—well, no more so than I'd be of any used car.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 05/14/2014 at 06:28

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I'll definitely give it a thorough inspection like any used car haha. It's only done 60'000 miles so it's pretty decent mileage wise, the ad doesn't mention service history though so I'd imagine it has none.

But if most people seem to like the way they drive that means a lot to me, couldn't deal with something dull.

duurtlang > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 06:32

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Obviously I can't guarantee it's got no rust, but it's not nearly as rust prone as some of its German/US and Japanese competitors like Opel, Ford and Mazda. My 14 year old 406 is absolutely rust free, with 205k km on the odometer.

Did I mention that Peugeots of that era were among the most fun to drive cars of their segment?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > duurtlang 05/14/2014 at 06:34

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It appears rust free in the pictures I'm going to give it an inspection soon. It's more the reputation. My gf got a rust free car and the arches have no paint now after two years of ownership, so if they don't have a reputation for rust it means less repairs for the future.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 06:44

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If you've got a second, take a look at a couple of those videos I posted. (I realise they're a little buried in the mess of that post.) Clarkson waxes lyrical about how great the 106's chassis is, from the most basic 1.1 through to the GTi. Obviously, Jeremy Clarkson is hardly the be all, end all of automotive good-taste, but in this particular case, he's very much representative of the general consensus.

A few review excerpts:

"It offered robust construction, excellent ride and refinement for its time, plus superb fuel economy and lots of driver satisfaction." ( Parkers )

"Tidy drive with very good handling. " ( Honest John )

"A surprisingly spacious little car that's great fun to drive. Though the 106 might be 141mm (5.5ins) shorter than its older 205 stablemate, there's almost as much room inside thanks to a long wheelbase... If you're looking for driving satisfaction in a sensible compact package, you can do no better." ( RAC Cars )

"If you're after one of the most interactive, fine-handling small cars on sale, you'd be hard-pushed to find a car to beat the 106. Even in standard 1.1-litre guise, it's a joy on twisty back roads, yet doesn't punish you in town centres... Handle superbly, despite its modest pretensions. Peugeot is renowned for its understanding of vehicle dynamics and this is clear even in its cheapest model. The steering is especially fine, and the way it involves the driver is a lesson to many other manufacturers, whose cars are dull in comparison. The ride quality is also very good, and while the engine is not the most refined in the world, it's still eager and reasonably economical. Low prices also help its cause." ( MSN Cars )

"... the steering gives good feedback, and the car corners with gusto. Refinement isn't great, but for low-cost excitement the Peugeot takes some beating." ( Auto Express )

Peugeot used to be very, very good at building ordinary cars that didn't skimp on fun. It's a skill they've since lost, but the 106 is one of the last - and finest - examples of the breed.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 05/14/2014 at 06:50

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Sounds good, going to give the car a look over now, will give the vids a watch when I get back. If it's in good condition it looks like I'll have to change my display name... Thanks for the info, helped convince me to go have a look haha.

Alex87f > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 07:15

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It looks nice, but you'd be better served with a 1.4.

The 1.1 is OK (I've owned one, albeit not in a 106), but it won't be enthusiastic in any way.

The 1.4 give you an appreciable power bump (+15hp / 25%), as 0-62 drops from 14.9s to 12.7s. It doesn't weigh more, costs the exact same to maintain and barely uses any more fuel. And I believe it has a longer final gear, which you'll be thankful for on the highway. And it might also get better brakes and chassis components (not sure here, but it was the case on 206's on which the 1.4 got front sway bars and ventilated disks).

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 08:13

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I hope it's in good shape. Let us know!

My hovercraft is full of eels > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/14/2014 at 08:24

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I love the look, but the 1.1 is the least desirable engine they fitted the 106/Saxo with (still not bad, but it's neither powerful nor economic). I'm not a big diesel guy, but I'd get a 1.5D. If you're not a leadfoot that'll do as much as 60 miles to the gallon.

Also, check the rear suspension thoroughly, that's the Achilles' heel of these cars.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 05/14/2014 at 08:51

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I posted on oppo about the car, it was a bit of a dog so i walked away. Found another at an okay price nearby though so ill have to check it out soon.

KirkyV > Alex87f 05/14/2014 at 10:25

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I'm fairly sure the 1.4 106s had the same suspension set up as the 1.1s; they only made substantial changes for the GTi. If you want a 106 with uprated suspension, and more power, but can't spring for a GTi - insurance, and the car's increasing rarity being substantial barriers - then get a Saxo VTR. They're not as nice to look at, and they've got a rather ratty image, but it's a great mid-step. I'm planning to replace my 106 1.1 with one, if I have to get a new car before I can really afford to insure a GTi.

Still, I reckon he'd be perfectly happy with a 1.1; they're not nearly as anemic as some of their contemporaries, and they still handle like, well, a 106. There aren't nearly as many 1.4s running around, so he'll probably have a much easier time finding a decent example of a 1.1.

Alex87f > KirkyV 05/14/2014 at 10:59

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Well the 1.1's OK in the small 106, but it's far from quick. From my experience (albeit in a larger car), I often finished highway uphill sections at 55mph standing on the throttle because the car wouldn't go any faster.

The added 15hp are more than welcome. That being said there are a lot of other nice cars out there, but the Saxo / 106 are probably so cheap by now that they're a good deal.

KirkyV > Alex87f 05/14/2014 at 11:05

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I've never had that problem in my 106. It's not brilliant up really steep hills with no run-up, but it's never struggled to maintain 70-80 on any stretch of motorway or A-road, no matter how hilly. Keep in mind that the 1.1 only weighs 740kg.

They're very cheap, and widely seen as some of the most fun you can have in the segment. Based on my nearly two years of ownership, I'd happily recommend one to anyone looking for a cheap, practical car that can still put a smile on your face. About the only contemporary equivalent I'd consider is a Mk 5 Fiesta, but they're not quite as good to drive - or so I've heard - and are pretty much universally rusty by now, while there are still plenty of rust-free 106s about.

Alex87f > KirkyV 05/14/2014 at 13:23

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Yeah, my 206 weighed 170kg more, and maybe the highways are steeper here.

Skinny tires help make it more alive. The combination of "power" understeer and lift-off oversteer can make hooning in the rain rather... interesting!

That being said, there are other nice cars out there. I've driven a Twingo I 1.2 16v and it's a great car. Easy to live with, fun, peppy, I'd really recommend it!

KirkyV > Alex87f 05/15/2014 at 00:32

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The 206 and 106 aren't all that closely related, chassis-wise. The 106 was introduced around eight years before the 206, and was itself based on the even older Citroen AX platform—they're completely different generations of car. Driving one wouldn't give you all that good an idea of what driving the other might be like.

The Twingo I was never sold in the UK, so he'd probably have trouble getting hold of one. And it'd definitely be LHD. They are nice little cars, though.