activa Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 Due to my Mrs. changing her job,it looks like she's gonna be using the Golf for travelling up and down the M4 in the future,so that leaves me without transport. So what I wanna do is get a cheap diesel(has to be derv because I do a lot of miles myself and also get "a deal" on diesel from my mate),I'm talking round the 2k mark because current funds won't permit anything more expensive. After contemplating this over the weekend I only come up with one candidate,and that's a late shape(at least they look half decent imo)306 HDI. Just wondered if anyone has had any experience of these cars.I know the engine is quite well spoken of and the handling will be good,but tbh my number one priority is reliability and that is where I need your input. So am I being dumb even considering one,or are there any other contenders that I have overlooked? TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 The engines go forever. The bodywork's fine. Finish isn't that great, but you'll know that anyway. The only thing that kills them is the depreciation. If it's in your budget and you can get a much newer car for the money, I'd say go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
330dcoupe Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 I used to own a 1.9 Turbo Diesel 306 years ago - and it was great while it lasted. Mind you, I did have 200,000 miles on the clock when it finally died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 I can vouch for the fact that they are not the strongest of cars about......... Your golf could push it out the way without noticing....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted October 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 Jeez,are they really THAT flimsy? Like 205 flimsy? Beggers can't be choosers I guess,but now I'm worried whether I'd snap the seat in two with some spirited driving.After all,it's not like it'll be Twiggy driving it- I do like me grub! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapsuds Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 not a bad choice and will run forever. However, i always said if i was in the market for a c.£2k cheapo diesel again, i would go back to a Toyota Avensis. Yep, they are dull to look at, but fully loaded and they do actually drive pretty well when pushed!! I had the basic 1.8D (Turbo, but not common rail). It was great. 50 mpg all day long. You might be able to sneek into a D4D now at that price. Common rail technology. Servicing is cheap - even more so if you DIY. Worth a look Oh and if you run short of funds, you can pretend to be a Taxi driver on a Saturday night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallachie Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 I was in a similar position when I bought the CSL, I wanted another cheap car to use for work. I had thought of a 306, but having owned a 306 GTI-6 when I was younger I knew how crap the build quality was and how many things can go wrong. My Dad owns a motor factors, and he always said if it wasn't for crap French build quality he would never sell any parts. I bought a 1998 A4 TDI (110bhp), and it's bloody brilliant. I bought it for less than £2k and it hasn't let me down once in almost a year, £50 fills the tank and I get 500+ miles..... When I bought it I replaced all the suspension arms (common failure), new alternator and new shocks and brakes. The shocks and brakes weren't too bad, but as I was getting the parts from my Dad for free I replaced them anwyway. I would definitely recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 Good idea! I think the Avensis would be better for a daily grind. Stronger too. Much stronger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 The 306 Hdi is a good little car. My wife drives one and we have had it for the past 3 years. Never had any problems very cheap to service and one of the better diesel around. I would recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 Had a 306 D Turbo (with the 1.9 diesel engine) and it was great. Well chuckable and very comfortable with it having sports seats. Regarding the new engine, the 2.0ltr HDI. Well, I've got a Berlingo van now with that engine, and it's just gone over 200k miles. Had a clutch in it about 5k miles ago, and lots of other bits on the bodywork, but engine still returns 48mpg driven like a hooligan and fully loaded with boiler spares. A 2.0ltr HDI 306 D Turbo would be a fair good buy I think. Don't be tempted to try and get into a 307....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Jeez,are they really THAT flimsy? Like 205 flimsy? [/ QUOTE ] Christ no! The 306 is like a Maybach compared with the 205. The 205 really is crash and die motoring. Adds to the excitement though. The 306 on the other hand can be rolled down a mountain as infamously proven by one of mod's! Took me about four minutes to find this in the TSN archive - I'm slipping. I have it saved of course, but no point in rehosting it on TSN when it's already here somewhere!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snail Posted October 16, 2007 Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 My old man had a 306HDI for years. The only really problem is the engine will outlast the rest of the car. He offloaded it with about 120k on the clock, the engine was as sweet as the day he brought it. Whereas the interior was knackered, and the bodywork wasnt much better. For that sort of price you can get a high mileage A4/Passat, it'll be a far more comfortable car, and with a good service history will easily go on till 200k. My A4 had 227k on the clock when i sold it. It only really died because i have big wheels, and stupid suspension on it. If id have kept it standard, im sure it would have seen 300k. Theres also a number of people with the older Audi 80's, which last forever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted October 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 Blimey Ian C,that is one proper crash ain't it!!!!! Thanks for all the input guys,I kinda thought that maybe the story-engine goes on forever,everything else doesn't. However,I have now decided to get another French hack,that really is a whole lot of car for the money.Now I'm sure that nobody here is gonna be impressed with this one,BUT,I still think they are mega bargains and they seem to have all done a heap of miles so I guess can't be that unreliable. Renault Laguna. Cannot believe you can get 51/02 plate 120bhp dci for my 2k. Xenons,climate,17's,half leather,the list goes on,even a few with nav for a couple of hundred quid more. So I reckon if I get a well maintained example(of which there are loads)I can't go too far wrong,but we will see. If six months down the line I'm regretting it then so be it,but at this moment in time that looks like a very modern car for very old fashioned dough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 16, 2007 Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 Hopefully, by the time you buy it, everything that could have gone wrong, WILL have gone wrong and been replaced. The tyre pressure gauge monitors will always lie to you, so best check the tyres yourself. Just don't forget to carry that key card thing about with you. The Dci engines are fine. The Laguna's are really massive inside!!! Estates are like Wooky Hole, ie cavernous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzbitt Posted October 16, 2007 Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 had a 306 HDi for 6 months even though i had planned on owning it for longer due to the build quality (or lack of) and the fact the kill switch problem which mine appeared to have stopping the fuel pump so i couldnt start the engine!! I was told that it was a common fault on the car but my god it was annoying as hell! Good little car but i wont ever go back to a French car ever again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted October 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 Well I have had a French car before for about 18 months and tbh that one didn't really give me problems apart from the turbo breaking at about 110k-but the turbo unit wasn't even French. I'm hoping it will be like Cruiser says,someones company has spent all the money and I'm left with trouble free motoring.Worse comes to the worse I can sell it on anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 16, 2007 Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 I think, M8CKN had a Laguna, you might want to ask him about one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted October 16, 2007 Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 Avoid the Laguna II - the last of the line MkI would be a better buy. Better still, go for a April 99 onwards 406 facelift. Agree with Snail - if looked after, the PSA 2.0 litre HDi plants are very strong. My dads workhorse Xantia has just ticked over to 150k. Whilst some of the servicing costs a fair amount, there are other areas where you save. Low tax. Still gives 50 mpg. 15" tyres - £108 last month for a pair. The key are regular oil changes, letting the turbo warm before stretching it, never breaching 4k (pointless with the non-intercooled 90 as all the torque is at the bottom) and letting it idle after a hot run before switching off. He doesn't wash it as often nowdays, but this was taken when it hit six figures - May 2005 - back when I still lived with my parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted October 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2007 What's up with the MK2 Laguna? I wouldn't even contemplate the old shape,I only looked at the MK2 cos I thought it looked like quite a newish motor and had good equipment levels. Are they really that bad? If so I will be happy to take your advice and steer clear. I did think about a Xantia,having owned an Activa for quite a while,but tbh I just couldn't be arsed with maintaining that suspension all over again,however well they ride.Shocks and springs really do appeal to me more nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted October 17, 2007 Report Share Posted October 17, 2007 The Pug in general but also 306 is a much better car in many ways than both of the above. But what ever you do don't go for the Renault. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted October 17, 2007 Report Share Posted October 17, 2007 306 is good, but don't ignore the 406. Model for model, spec for spec, mileage for mileage, 406 HDis are generally cheaper than 306s. If you are set on a 306, I'd aim for either of the last-of-the-line top spec models - a Meridian or a D Turbo, both with the 1997 cc HDi 90 bhp engine. Quite why Peugeot picked the later as a trim level I have no idea: people quite innocently - or completely on purpose - advertise their poverty spec 1.9 TD L 306s as 'D Turbos'. Anyway, the Meridian gets air, fogs, alloys, CD and half leather. The D Turbo trim level gets the GTi-6 alloys, bumpers and fogs, meaning if you buy a 3 door, you have a lovely GTi-6 / Rallye lookalike. China blue is the best colour, although if you want to pretend you are a Rallye, they only came in flat white, black or red. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D1MAC Posted October 17, 2007 Report Share Posted October 17, 2007 [ QUOTE ] What's up with the MK2 Laguna? [/ QUOTE ] Aren't the electrics a serious issue IIRC, enough for La Regie to pass comment on the car's ordinary reliability. Still always looked ok and a bloke at work has hammered one without too many issues so they can't all be bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted October 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2007 Well it looks like the Renault is a no no.I always knew they didn't make cars that well,but thought that once we got past y2k it must have all been sorted,obviously not. So now I've gone off on a completely different tangent. What I'm gonna do is get a petrol motor to use for a while,and save until after Christmas so I can get a decent German diesel like Passat/A4 or similar. In the meantime,I've spotted a lovely Saab 9000 Aero that looks like it could be a decent(thirsty)hack for a few months.At least if nothing else it should be reliable and quick aswell if the figures are to be believed. Cheers again guys for putting me off the Renault,you've all potentially saved me a whole load of hassle!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 Don't completely rule out another Frenchie! 99 facelift Peugeot 406 HDi 90s can be had for a bag of sand. Just make sure it has the cambelt stamp at 100k. Otherwise stupidly cheap motoring. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted October 18, 2007 Report Share Posted October 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] What I'm gonna do is get a petrol motor to use for a while,and save until after Christmas so I can get a decent German diesel like Passat/A4 or similar. [/ QUOTE ] They are not all that great. I have the 530d its pretty sweet, the 1.9tdi's are not much cop and get very loud when there old and have been hammered by the nouveau-TD generation. High out put 1.9s have traction issues, low output seem to get extra noisy. Audi/VW build and components mean plenty of things to break on aging models. Just a few thoughts. Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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