Conference terri::cars_uk

    Started selling on Feb 18.
    
    The 306 is basically a bigger 205. It uses the same family of engines
    available from the PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) catalog. Strangely enough,
    while it is based on a ZX platform it has a longer wheelbase ...
    
    Petrol versions have been released. Diesel should appear by mid-year.
    A 3-door sporty version with the 2litre 16 valve engine will be
    displayed at Geneva Motor Show (4-14 March) 

        UK launch is April 22nd (a week tomorrow). The prices have
        been announced, and seem to be roughly in line with the
        equivalent ZX models -- though without knowing what options
        are included, it's difficult to tell.
        
        XR 1.4 is �10,995,
        XR 1.6    �11,695
        XT 1.8    �11,995
        
        The option list includes cruise control (�295), and the usual
        bizarre 'packages' -- e.g. Alloy wheels & front fog lamps �430,
        Air conditioning & underseat storage(??) �985.
        
        Ian.

.2�        Air conditioning & underseat storage(??) �985.

   Presumably the a/c goes in the glove-box, so you have the underseat
storage instead.

    I would say you're absolutely correct about the underseat storage with
    a/c. I've got the ZX Volcane (from the same stable) with a/c, and all
    the gubbins goes in the glovebox...
    
    Had I known this when I was choosing which car to get, I might well not
    have chosen the ZX. No storage space is a real pain (my wife's got a ZX
    Reflex, wo I know how much I'm missing!)
    
    
    
    Stephen

re: Pug 306's

Any noises in Europe about Peugeot's plans for a 4wd turbo 306? Probably
to be called the T16 (not the 405)?

With a "non" to F1, Mr Todt must be a bit idle these days. And rallying
is at it's most competitive in years.

-Dave.

    .5�Any noises in Europe about Peugeot's plans for a 4wd turbo 306? Probably
    .5�to be called the T16 (not the 405)?
    
    Nothing, so far, from this side of the channel.
    
    .5�With a "non" to F1, Mr Todt must be a bit idle these days. And rallying
    .5�is at it's most competitive in years.
    
    Well, the problem is that the negative decision came in late. The
    season has begun. I believe Peugeot will be back in the 2 litre
    category (and 2WD ?) next year, both in national rally championships as
    well as world/european.
    
    They are also present in various national touring car championship like
    the BTCC, the french one and the italian one.
    
    Finally, some members of the PTS team are leaving. Tim Wright has gone
    already (to Jordan F1). Todt is rumoured to be getting big offers from
    many manufacturers; so far he denied having any interest in leaving
    Peugeot, but who knows ?

    I have a Peugeot 306 as a hire car while my own car is in for rear-end
    repairs (the driver of the car behind the car behind me had his eyes
    closed on the M5).
    
    There's a keypad just in front of the gear lever, at floor level with
    buttons marked 0-9, D/N and C. There's also two LEDs on the same unit.
    
    Does anyone know what it's for (before I 'phone the hire company up),
    because it doesn't seem to do anything and there is no instruction book 
    in the car.
    
    Graham

    Hello Graham,
    
    Don't 306 petrol models have a hi-tech engine immobiliser ? Probably
    diabled in a hire car so they don't get nuisance calls from people who
    forgot the PIN ? (My 306 doesn't have one but there's no engine
    management to disable on a diesel 306).
    
    regards
    john

    Hmmmm.
    
    Might be...but the central locking, deadlocks and alarm/immobiliser operate
    from two buttons on the ignition key.
    
    Why do hire cars never have instruction books ? , or does that belong
    in the unanswerable questions topic in EF95.
    
    Graham

Graham, it is indeed an immobiliser.  Hire companies tend to knock them out so 
that customers don't get confused.  Don't worry about it; the car'll still go.

	I'm sort of interested in buying one of these. I much 
	enjoyed the 205 Gti I used to have, particularly the 
	way the car handles. But the drawback was the heavy 
	steering and most of all the tiring motorway cruising
	due to its small size and low gearing.

	If this car were a bit bigger and more laid back then
	it would be much better I used to think. Then out came
	the 306. There is one snag however - the price.

	I happen to want the absolute top model 1.8XT Auto and
	its a massive �14,300 on the road. A lot for an escort
	sized car. It does seem however that car prices are now 
	being hyped somewhat. The 10% car tax has been abolished 
	yet they still go up.

	I hadn't thought to get an automatic until the only
	1.8 car the dealer had for a test drive turned out to
	be one and when I tried it I was most impressed. A huge
	improvement on my previous experiences with autos. There's
	lock up on the two top gears, it can be used as a manual
	box quite effectively and the fuel consumption isn't much
	different to the manual. Just the thing for the endless
	queues of slow moving traffic that are standard nowadays.

	There must be some noters out there with experience of
	the car, perhaps even the automatic. What's the impression?.

	-John

	PS Used high spec cars are very hard to find too.

    I had the 1.9 TD for a week, and found it a brilliant car. I drove from
    Ipswich to Reading, ran around there for a week, and drove back to
    Ipswich. It had loads of power, brilliant fuel economy, and was a
    delight to drive, especially on motorways. No idea what the petrol auto
    is like though. Personally, I wouldn't buy another petrol "runabout",
    the TDs are so good I'd only consider petrol for a sporty one.
    
    Cheers, Laurie.

    I had a very basic one - 1.4 petrol XL(?) as a relief vehicle for 10
    days.
    
    I normally drive a 1.8 Mondeo. 
    
    The two differences I noticed were the interior and boot size
    (obviously) and the heavy steering. I put the heavy steering down to
    the fact that the Mondeo has PAS.
    
    Other than that, I could not believe how good it was. I, personally
    would not have one, because of the interior size, but my wife is saving
    up to buy one for herself!
    
    Graham

	I did try the turbo diesel, and good as it was, I just
	find the rattle (OK it's very subdued) annoying. Also
	there's no diesel auto.

	There are so many models as to be confusing. Basically -

	XL - The bottom range model
	XN - A bit better has some extras
	XR - More creature comforts 
	XT - All the things you could want
	XS - A more sporty version similar to XT but not really very quick
	XSi - 16V sports model that does shift along

	-John

	Incidentally the dealer quoted me �4512pa for a 3 year
	lease on the XT auto under Peugeots new scheme. This
	is not unlike the DEC scheme, but I think you have to 
	pay for insurance and there's some doubt about the 
	all encompassing nature of the servicing scheme.

	The charge apparently varies with mileage.

	-John

    The TD I had was high-spec (XRDT I think) and has PAS.
    
    Laurie.

    The good thing about used models being in short supply is that they are
    holding their value... which will be a benefit for you when you come to
    sell yours 2nd hand!
    
    
    Xtine

I drove a 306 XR for a bit, and I was extremely impressed.  I'm used to the 
extremely heavy Golf, so driving the Pug was like driving a go-cart.  They 
corner superbly IMO.

Do they still do the Si16?

    My opted-out 306 XTDT has now done 18K miles in 12 months. I'm happy so
    far, especially as Peugeot is one of the few diesels in my market
    sector which offer aircon, so I've been driving around with the windows
    up and the thermostat down the last few weeks. Global warming,
    environmental friendliness, pah - my car is cool(er) inside.
    
    Nothing stands out as particularly good or particularly disappointing.
    It's OK, a whole lot nicer for me than any comparable Vauxhall, and a
    whole lot cheaper off the scheme than on it. 
    
    regards
    john

	There is a recall on all 306s. It seems that there is a risk, under 
	certain circumstances that your's could burst into flames.

	Contact your local Pug dealers and book a free inspection/modification.

R.

    And you're advised to book now. I've just phoned two dealers, one in
    Romsey and one in Reading. The one in Romsey is taking bookings from
    next Tuesday but have no courtesy cars so I'd have a lot of trouble
    getting back home to Southampton from Romsey (they want the car for the
    whole day, not the two hours specified in the recall letter) and no
    chance of getting to work in Reading as there's no-one available to be
    my chauffeur. The dealer in Reading hasn't got a slot until 30th July
    and if I want a courtesy car then I have to get extra insurance from my
    Insurance Company unless I want to mess around with buses in Reading in
    the rush hour. They said they prefer customers to have fully
    comprehensive insurance to drive their courtesy cars.
    
    To say I'm frustrated is an understatement!
    
    Goldy.

    Update: I've got my car booked into Wadham Kenning in Soton on 13th
    August, fortunately I'm on holiday that week so don't need a courtesy
    car but they have one available for me if I want it. I also spoke to
    Shorts of Winchester and the nice lady there said they've had a fax
    from Peugeot who've been getting a *lot* of worried calls and the
    incidences of any electrical failures and under-bonnet fires are very
    few and far between worldwide. This is just a precautionary measure
    Peugeot are taking and there is no need to worry.
    
    Goldy.
    
    PS: If anyone's not received the letter, the actual wording is:
    "Peugeot has been carrying out a continuous quality evaluation
    programme. It has been identified that there is a significant risk of a
    wiring fault on the 306 which could cause electrical failures and, in a
    limited number of cases, an under-bonnet fire."

    Applies to diesels as well as petrol (but the diesels don't explode
    quite as vigorously if they do catch fire). My local dealer is taking
    bookings for August... I'll just keep the fire extinguisher handy till
    then. 

I cannot believe that you are going to be expected to sprt out such things 
when your vehicel has been recalled by them.

Call Peugeot Customer Services - threaten legal action. They'll get moving!

Craig.

    >going to be expected to sprt out such things
    
    Huh ?
    
    Royston

It seems a bit strange to me. They say in the letter there is a 'significant 
risk' yet they tell their dealers to tell people when they call that it is 
only a 'precautionary measure'. It does not sound good at all!

It sounds like panic stations by Peugeot. First they recall all the cars and 
then change their mind when they determine the scale of the problem!

Glad I never buy them ;-)

Craig.

>going to be expected to sprt out such things
    
Huh ?
    
Sorry.   That should have read,..... sort out such things!

Craig

    I wouldn't think any "panic" was Peugeot specific. I guess the same
    "panic/don't panic" could happen with any other manufacturer.
    
    It also said in the letter that, obviously, the customer will not be
    charged for any work that may need to be done to check and if necessary
    correct this problem. Hmm, wonder if they'd pay any travelling costs if
    I had to have a taxi to work/home or pay extra insurance for a courtesy
    car!!!
    
    Goldy.

Give it a go.

I recall putting my car into a Vauxhall dealer in Edinburgh in 91 in order to 
have the petrol tank replaced. it turns out that the dealer ordered the tank 
and stuff from Vauxhall who sent the wrong items at least 3 times. They had 
already junked my old tank so they were unable to put the car back to gether.

After complaining to Vauxhall they gave me an astra thing for 6 weeks or so 
while they resolved, reimbursed my petrol costs , reimbursed my insurance 
costs and delivered the car some 200+ miles back to my home.

Impressive? Not really. Since it was all their fault in the first place. 
(Apart from me ditching the GTE in the first place - hence the reason the 
petrol tak needed replacing!)

Craig.