Is this a good deal (Peugeot 306, first car)

Mark A

Mark A

Mark A

Soldato
Joined
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Hi,

I'm going to be taking my driving test in a few weeks and have been looking around for a car. My dads girlfriend just put her 306 through its MOT a few days ago and it passed, she has decided to sell it though to get something smaller. Any way she asked me if i wanted to buy it for £1200 and i said I'll think about it.

It sounds a bit dear to me as she bought it second hand a few months back for £1000. She has just had a new exhaust fitted right up to the manifold that cost £200. So i guess she is just trying to get all her money back.

The car is as follows:

1996, Peugeot 306 1.6 meridian 5 door. Has central locking, electric windows, sunroof (that leaks), CD player, airbags, immobilizer, power steering. The car looks nice with metallic red paint and the back of the car is debadged, don't know why tho. It has 12 months MOT which is one reason I'm thinking of going for it.

Also id appreciate any views on the car or a better car for the £1200 I'm prepared to spend.

Edit: I got an insurance quote from Quinn direct that came out at £703 TPT&T which i dont think is too bad for a 1.6.
 
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The 306 is a good car is terms of ride and handling. Certainly as good if not better than quite a few modern day hatches. Build quality isn't particularly great and it feels a bit tinny compared to some modern cars, but if its been looked after, maintained well and serviced properly there's no reason why it shouldn't be reliable. However, no one is really going to be able to answer your question as to whether that particular car is a good deal or not, because it all depends on the mechanical condition of the car which nobody here can inspect.
 
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50988301 said:
The 306 is a good car - as good if not better than quite a few modern day hatches in terms of ride and handling. No one is really going to be able to answer your question as to whether that particular car is a good deal or not because it all depends on the mechanical condition of the car.
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It passed its MOT a few days ago and my dad said it rides well. I'll find out the milage i think but it seems pretty decent.
 
212 said:
Hes a new driver, 1.6 is plenty.

Insurance would be silly on a turbo!
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true first point, not so true second point iirc the pug dturbo is only a group 5 insurance, and therefore cheap as chips for insurance.
 
Enfield said:
The 1.6 will be pretty slow.

You could get a nice DTurbo for the same price which will be quicker.
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I think i tried a quote for a diesel turbo 3 door and it was around the £800 mark so not too bad. I think it was a 1.9 turbo diesel. But tbh I'm not going to be a boy racer, if i would have learned to drive when i was 17 it would have been a different story :D .

Edit i dont mean regarding the diesel :D , i just mean I'm not specifically looking for a fast car in general. Just something to get me from A to B until i build some NCB.
 
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I wouldn't want to really pay more than 1K.

But great choice of first car. My first proper car was a 306 1.6, a good engine, chasis and cheap insurance, not ugly. Job done. :D
 
SoliD said:
true first point, not so true second point iirc the pug dturbo is only a group 5 insurance, and therefore cheap as chips for insurance.
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Not true.

My 306 DTurbo cost me £25 p/m more than a group 8 205.
 
Enfield said:
Not true.

My 306 DTurbo cost me £25 p/m more than a group 8 205.
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ye but it is still a group 5 and pretty cheap. doesnt come with the same stigma as a petrol turbo.
 
306's are good learner cars and v.competitive on insurance. The 1.9 Turbo Diesel is the best - though the "1.6" and "1.8 16v" petrols are also very good. Ignore the underpowered 1.4 and 1.9D.

Even with a Full MOT and new exhaust, £1.2k is a little too much for a Phase 1 306.

For £1.2k it would have to be a facelift to be honest (post APR 97). Seems odd your girl is downgrading to a smaller car - the 306 is hardly big!
 
richolmes72 said:
Seems odd your girl is downgrading to a smaller car - the 306 is hardly big!
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:eek: My dads girlfriend not mine! :D . Yeah i thought it was odd as well, she had a fiesta 1.2 before it so maybe she was just used to that. I'm just going to tell her the insurance was too dear for it or something. I do like the look of it but i was only planning on spending around £800 for my first car. I would stretch to £1200 for the right car but it seems that is not the one. I saw one on auto trader going for £750 but it had 127k on the clock. I think I'll just find out the mileage before i make a decision as i think the car looks great and it would be a hassle free buy to boot.
 
Soemtimes knowing the car is worth paying a little more for. Also the association with the seller will hopefully mean she won't want to either rip you off or sell you a dodgy car.

I'd pay another £200 in that situation though i wouldn't go any higher - you could buy one for £1k and have a problem with it later that put it up to £1200.
 
richolmes72 said:
306's are good learner cars and v.competitive on insurance. The 1.9 Turbo Diesel is the best - though the "1.6" and "1.8 16v" petrols are also very good. Ignore the underpowered 1.4 and 1.9D.
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The 1.6 is an 8v (same engine as the phase 1 Saxo VTR iirc?) and produces in the region of ~90bhp?.

My Girlfriend has a 1997 306 1.6 Meridian (60,000 miles) with P/S, C/L, E/W, Air Con, etc.. which i bought for her. Cost me £600. It's been faultless in the year she has had it (touch wood), although i do all the service work on it for her so its looked after.

£1200m is VERY steep for a 1996, i would be offering her ~£700. She can't expect to recoup the money spent on parts/service work. If that was the case i would be selling my 205 Gti for £20,000 + haha.
 
I got a P Reg 306 1.6 Spinnaker for £525 and it's done me well as a first car. The 306s are great IMO for a first car, no regrets here. :D
 
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