I'm Bad at Choices: Fiesta vs 306 Edition

"KirkyV" (KirkyV) 01/12/2015 at 15:11 • Filed to: None

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Oppo, I have a decision to make, with three possible options to choose between. I could do with some advice.

I'm thinking of getting a new car, and the two front-runners are, as you can probably imagine, a Fiesta and a 306. Here are the AutoTrader ads for the both of them:

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http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv…

Now, I have a third choice, in that I could just carry on driving my old 106 for a while longer, until I can afford to insure something particularly spicy, like an EP3 Type R, or 106 GTi. The only issue is... Well, I'm impatient, and I want some new shiny-ness in my life. I suspect I'd be fairly satisfied with either car, and I plan to, at the very least, go and have a look at the 306 - it's only 28 miles away from home - but I thought I'd fish for some Oppo opinions, and perhaps - if I'm lucky - even experiences, from any European Oppos who might have driven either.

MultiplaOrgasms > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:13

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Don't Euro Fords from that era have slight rust issues?

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:14

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Well.. the 306 is the sexy new girl, the Fiesta is the librarian.. but I'd keep the 106 though. (Eurobloke, have driven them all.)

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > MultiplaOrgasms 01/12/2015 at 15:16

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ALL Fords have that issue. But yes, you are right. Not that any french car would do better :)

Klaus Schmoll > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:16

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306 all day long. It had pretty decent handling at that time. The Fiesta is basically a much older car underneath. Not much of an uprgade from a 106.

MonkeePuzzle > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:18

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306, all the way, love the look

KirkyV > MultiplaOrgasms 01/12/2015 at 15:19

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That they do—it's one of the Fiesta's key downsides. The rust is manageable - it's probably slightly less severe than what you tend to see on NA MX-5s, and this Fiesta's quite a bit younger than any NA - but it's definitely something I'd have to pay close attention to, both before and after buying the car.

The 306, on the other hand, should be fairly trouble-free in that department. My 106 is completely rust-free at fifteen years old, and from what I understand, it's much the same for most Peugeots built since the 205. You get the occasional anomaly, of course, but they're generally pretty solid in that regard.

MultiplaOrgasms > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/12/2015 at 15:21

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Well 90s PSAs are less rust-prone than most Mercedes from that same era.

Tipo Stradale Fever > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:21

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The Fiesta is awesome and durable, if it´s anything like my 1998 fiesta classic then it has a cast iron block which is indestructable. However, its super easy to steal. And therefore very popular among thieves.

Like, you can literally steal it with a flat screwdriver in about 2 minutes. If it has that familiar lollypop car key than thats the case. I had to sell mine because (I kid you not) people tried to steal it 3 g*ddamn times...when I asked a cop why it was so popular among thieves he showed me exactly how they do it. It´s so easy a kid can do it. But I digress...

MultiplaOrgasms > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:24

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I'd lean towards the 306, but ofc I'm biased because my family owned french cars for decades. On the other hand I wouldn't be writing this if it hadn't been for a white Mk.II Fiesta Diesel, but thats a story for another day.

KirkyV > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 01/12/2015 at 15:24

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Cheers, man. I definitely prefer the 306 to look at, and I'd like to get another Peugeot - I love my 106 - but the Fiesta's smaller - a plus, for me - and I love that shade of blue.

There's a decent chance I'll stick with my 106... I just want to weigh my options. I'm getting some damage done by a daft Volvo driver backing into me fixed soon - a new bonnet, some panel beating and paintwork on the driver-side wing - and the expense - £220, which isn't a lot, in the grand scheme of car maintenance, but still - has me considering whether or not I'd rather just get something new.

BATC42 > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:27

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If you really want to change, I'd go for the 306. Why? Because passive rear wheel steering. I have a Xsara, which is build on the same chassis, and it's a blast to drive. (Too bad the 306 is not a 2000 XS or XSi, 'cause it would probably rock the same chassis their big brother, the GTI had).

KirkyV > Tipo Stradale Fever 01/12/2015 at 15:28

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I suppose that could be an issue. I doubt the 106 I'm driving now's any more secure, but it's not really desirable in the same way that a Fiesta with boy-racer-ish pretensions would be.

KirkyV > Klaus Schmoll 01/12/2015 at 15:30

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I'm leaning towards the 306, but I hear very good things about the engine in the Fiesta, I like the colour, and it's a bit smaller - a plus, for me - too. I suspect my 106 has the better chassis - honestly, I'd love a 106 GTi if I could afford one, and I'm semi-considering the Saxo VTR - but, in the end, it's a 1.1 with 59HP.

KirkyV > BATC42 01/12/2015 at 15:32

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I didn't realise they made significant changes to the chassis between the 1999 XS and the 2000 XS.... Hmm. I am leaning towards the 306, regardless, though.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > MultiplaOrgasms 01/12/2015 at 15:32

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Hmm.. My experience say the complete opposite, but who cares :) Awesome cars nonetheless.

Tipo Stradale Fever > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:33

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Yeah, it absolutely shouldn´t be the defining argument in your decision. I was really really fond of that car (she was my first). But I just wanted to share my experiences with a Fiesta.

Ilike_cougars > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:34

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Have to go with the Ford..it still looks good after all these years, Thats all.

KirkyV > MultiplaOrgasms 01/12/2015 at 15:35

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My family's quite similar, actually. The first car I ever 'drove' - that is, I turned the steering wheel while sitting on my Grandad's lap - was an S1 106. There's a decent chance that same 106 was the car I was driven home from hospital in, too.

Svend > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:38

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Friend had a 306 diesel (still on original car battery) and it only died after 11 years when an idiot hit her car head on, granted it did a great job of protecting her but the not too serious damage made it a right off as the cost of repairs were more than the car was worth. Parts though not rare are harder to come by than Ford Fiesta mk5 parts as many mk4 and Mazda 121 parts are interchangeable.

I'd go for the Ford Fiesta as it's cheap to run and maintain, parts readily available and plentiful though I'd get my monies worth out of the 106 first.

KirkyV > Svend 01/12/2015 at 15:42

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That is a good argument in favour of the Fiesta—one of the things I like about my 106 is that parts are easy to find, and generally really cheap. I've been driving it for two years now, and it's served me very well in that time - it's fun, it never seems to break, and it sips petrol - but I fancy a change, and I'm about to spend £220 getting some damage done by a Volvo backing into me at speed fixed.

BATC42 > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:46

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That's what I got from a quick Internet search. Frankly, I thought only sport models had the rear wheel steering, not the whole range.

Saoul-Virage > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:48

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Totally agree with BATC42. The 306 has a pretty good rear chassis and the front is awesome too (very grippy and nice steering). The only thing to be careful with this car is the condition of the rear chassis : if the rear wheel have a camber like Alpine Berlinette, that means it needs a rebuild or a replacement.

Evil-B > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 15:59

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Any other Gen of fiesta and I would go fiesta but I loath the headlights on that Gen. 306 all day.

MultiplaOrgasms > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 16:08

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My connection to that Fiesta is quite a bit more dramatic than that. With explosions and all.

KirkyV > MultiplaOrgasms 01/12/2015 at 16:16

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Well, now I'm intrigued...

Svend > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 16:35

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I hope your car left some damage to the Volvo.

The fiesta is a good Lego car with cheap parts and a large array of aftermarket add ons just please don't make it a chav/ned machine.

bingham123 > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 16:49

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I had a 306 a while back, one if the best cars iv owned. I had a 1.8 phase1, the best looking. The up side is you can convert the newer ones to the ph1 front end so you get newer tech with the older better looks.

the 306 is a really surprisingly good fun car. You get lots of fairly controllable lift off oversteer if you want it. I had so much fin keeping up with bmw's and such in the corners. Did a track day and overtook a few porches in the corners and then got blasted past on the straight.

if I were you I would choose the 306 for the fun factor, the little fiesta is a good car but not the one I would have.

KirkyV > Svend 01/12/2015 at 17:26

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It suffered a small scrape to the paintwork, and that's pretty much it. Tin-foil French superminis can only do so much.

There's no danger of that, I assure you—my 106 is actually closer to standard now than it was when I got it. The last owner had cut two honking great speaker holes in the parcel shelf, but never gotten around to actually hooking the speakers up. I gave the speakers themselves to a friend, to use in his Hyundai Coupe, and replaced the parcel shelf itself.

KirkyV > bingham123 01/12/2015 at 17:28

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I'm gonna call the place with the 306 tomorrow, and arrange a test drive. Luckily for me, I actually prefer the phase 2 front, so I should be set, assuming it's a decent example. China Blue's my favourite 306 colour, too.

bingham123 > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 18:10

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definitely test drive. China blue is a really nice colour, mine had horrible red faded paint.

id love another one but it would have to be a turbo diesel next time.

Svend > KirkyV 01/12/2015 at 18:48

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Is the scrape bad? Is it in the clearcoat, through it or through the paint down to the mtal?

bingham123 > KirkyV 01/14/2015 at 12:53

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any news? Did you get a test drive?

KirkyV > bingham123 01/14/2015 at 13:21

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Unfortunately, no—I called, but the car had already been sold. I suppose I'll have to keep my eye out for another decent example close-by.

bingham123 > KirkyV 01/14/2015 at 16:00

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shame, hopefully you will find a clean example soon. I will keep my eye on the 306oc if you want. Where in the country are you?

KirkyV > bingham123 01/14/2015 at 16:02

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Cheers, I'd appreciate it! I'm down at the very bottom of Kent, in Folkestone. We're typically signposted 'Channel Tunnel', these days.

bingham123 > KirkyV 01/14/2015 at 16:10

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not a problem pal. what are you looking for? Petrol or diesel (hdi or xud if you want diesel) Hatchback or estate? Engine size? And finally is there any colour you really do or don't want.

sorry for all the questions just saves me keep sending you a million wrong cars lol

KirkyV > bingham123 01/14/2015 at 16:24

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No worries! I'm after a 1.8 petrol hatch, with sporty - XS, I suppose - trim if possible, and ideally, three doors. Colour-wise, I'm not too fussed, though I do really like that shade of blue, and would prefer to avoid anything that's going to be an arse to keep clean, like black or pure white.

Don't go out of your way, or anything—I check AutoTrader, Gumtree and so on often enough that I'll probably spot something eventually.

bingham123 > KirkyV 01/14/2015 at 17:01

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cool will see if I can find anything for you. "don't go out of your way or anything" don't worry about that, I'm usually on 306oc lurking and seeing what other things people are doing, and the fact im not able to work atm, so im usually looking for cool cars that i want to own one day so i might just come across the car of your dreams in my searches.

KirkyV > bingham123 01/14/2015 at 17:03

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Thanks, man.