Hi all, I am 20 years old, and I am based in Brisbane, Queensland and you may recall my post a few weeks back about my “brand new condition, 54,000km” 306 GTI-6” (yes, what a posey and pretentious statement). After about 2 months of owning the car I thought I’d do a write up about it.
Disclaimer: As I am only 20 years old I have limited experience (both with life and driving) so you can rake everything I say with a pinch of salt. The car is actually older than me!
I had been on the lookout for a 306 GTi-6 for about 2 years now, but the interest in these cars started in 2011 (when I was only 11 years old), and in primary school. So after 10 years of interest and 2 years of searching, when a GTI-6 in this condition and with this mileage popped up for sale, I knew I had to have it.
The last 2 months with this car have been lovely, but I’m still getting used to it. It’s seats aren’t the best, it’s electric windows feel flimsy, it’s door trim falls off if you dare closing the doors too hard and the airbag light occasionally makes an appearance. But as soon as you stick the boot into it on a twisty back road, all those little niggles “go away”.
I was initially considering perhaps purchasing a MK5 Golf GTI if those issues bothered me. Don’t get me wrong, the GTI-6 is a rather refined car for its age, but it does feel “cheap” My grandfather owned one before swapping it for a new MK7 GTI, and as amazing as the MK5’s are as a “do it all allrounder” with German build quality to a very high standard, I don’t think it provides the same thrills as the older GTI-6 does.
Anyway, here’s the verdict so far:
The day to day:
Yes, the boring bits but I may as well cover them. Due to the mileage and condition of the car, I only use it as a weekend car. I still live at home with parents, but I’m lucky enough to have the garage. It stays there all week and comes out on weekends only. But as “normal driving” goes it has its ups and downs. As touched on above, it’s seats are firm. It’s dashboard is very utilitarian with no trip computer etc. but mechanically it’s very nice. It’s low-down torque and close ratio 6 speed box means you can “waft” the car along very effortlessly. Things like taking off from the lights, or cruising in a higher gear (I can be in 4th gear at 45km/h. You can also skip gears on the way up happily. And in 6th on the freeway, there’s plenty of torque that you don’t need to downshift passing slow traffic when you’re using the outside lane. It’s ride is on the firm side without being excessive, and at 54,000km there’s no squeaks or rattles. Everything’s still fresh.
The engine.
Even though the car is about steering and driver feel, the engine is actually my favourite thing about this car. The XU10J4RS is in my opinion Peugeot’s finest. I may go as far to say it’s one of the nicest non turbo, 2 litre 4 cylinder motors around. It has plenty of low down torque as I rambled on about above. It pulls with urgency down low (when passing traffic) and past 5,000rpm, has a lovely rush that remains linear and keeps on delivering up until the rev limiter. It sounds the part too. One of the very few engines in this class with the low-end torque and up-top pull. It’s magical. A 3rd gear (and a bit of 4th) pull out the back of Mt Mee demonstrated this perfectly. Let’s just not talk about what numbers the speedo was showing. Typical P plater!!!
The gearbox:
Another magical thing, but not too much to talk about. It’s gear shift is lovely; one of the nicest I’ve driven. It’s direct, slick and smooth but still with a mechanical feel to it. It’s close ratios really mean you can exploit and enjoy the engine more.
The steering:
Yes, maybe the only interesting part about this write up. I haven’t driven many cars seeing as I’ve only been on our roads for 4 years, but I’ve yet to drive a car with handling as good as this. Even my 80 year old grandfather’s new Golf GTI doesn’t quite cut it.
I’m running Bridgestone RE-003s on the car, and they’re the perfect tyre. The initial take up on the steering (off-centre sensitivity) is a little bit low, but once you “lean” into the steering everything changes. The car responds to your inputs with more lateral G-Force, and keeps begging for you to push harder. The steering is full of feedback and engagement, and the car can simply turn into corners at speeds I didn’t really think was possible. It’s sort of a “What corner?” philosophy. There’s no fuss, no under steer (to an extent obviously, but common sense dictates that) and no tyre noise. But due to the car’s lack of weight it feels incredibly “go-cart” and toylike, which is nice for a 20 year old mug like me. I see why it’s one of the all time greats.
Suspension and chassis:
The suspension is just as important as the steering. It’s wonderful. Very little body roll on the car, but that would be mainly down to the sway bars. It also handles bumps in the road very well, even when driving spiritedly. It doesn’t get unsettled easily which is very nice. It’s brilliantly set up.
And the chassis is a work of art. Jeremy Clarkson once said “someone deep in Peugeot’s engineering team understood chassis technology”, and how true it is. It’s such a beautifully balanced little car. The whole car pivots around you. The front end is simply gorgeous, and the passive rear steering really aids the car in corners. It is prone lift-off oversteer, but it only bites you if you’re being a fool and asking for it. Overall the benign nature and neutrality of the car chassis really proves Peugeot could do chassis tuning. It’s chassis is just as impressive as the steering, but the two work together hand-in-hand.
To finalise:
Sure, it may not be as refined as the brand new hot hatches of today, nor is it the most well built thing in terms of build quality, but what a marvellous thing it is. It’s a car that excites me. I look forward to taking it out all week while I’m at work, and on the rare occasion I have driven it to work, it leaves me longing with excitement for the commute home. And that’s exactly what a car should do. Spirited drives for me are shared by myself as I don’t have any other friends into cars, but that’s for the better as most car guys my age are trouble to be around. Cars like this are best enjoyed alone anyway.
Despite people saying things like “You’re young, you’ll neglect and trash this car” or “you’ll end up wrecking it” I am proud to say I will look after and cherish this thing as long as I own it. It is one of the nicest cars I’ve driven and I’m extremely lucky to own an example as nice as this one.
You don’t need things like Ferraris and Porsches to achieve driving pleasure, or modern cars with all the tech. The 306 GTI-6 comes from a time where simplicity was everything, and what followed was a car that was so simple, but yet so incredible, engaging and thrilling to drive.
The Peugeot 306 GTi-6 reminds us motoring enthusiasts exactly why we fell in love with driving in the first place.
Disclaimer: As I am only 20 years old I have limited experience (both with life and driving) so you can rake everything I say with a pinch of salt. The car is actually older than me!
I had been on the lookout for a 306 GTi-6 for about 2 years now, but the interest in these cars started in 2011 (when I was only 11 years old), and in primary school. So after 10 years of interest and 2 years of searching, when a GTI-6 in this condition and with this mileage popped up for sale, I knew I had to have it.
The last 2 months with this car have been lovely, but I’m still getting used to it. It’s seats aren’t the best, it’s electric windows feel flimsy, it’s door trim falls off if you dare closing the doors too hard and the airbag light occasionally makes an appearance. But as soon as you stick the boot into it on a twisty back road, all those little niggles “go away”.
I was initially considering perhaps purchasing a MK5 Golf GTI if those issues bothered me. Don’t get me wrong, the GTI-6 is a rather refined car for its age, but it does feel “cheap” My grandfather owned one before swapping it for a new MK7 GTI, and as amazing as the MK5’s are as a “do it all allrounder” with German build quality to a very high standard, I don’t think it provides the same thrills as the older GTI-6 does.
Anyway, here’s the verdict so far:
The day to day:
Yes, the boring bits but I may as well cover them. Due to the mileage and condition of the car, I only use it as a weekend car. I still live at home with parents, but I’m lucky enough to have the garage. It stays there all week and comes out on weekends only. But as “normal driving” goes it has its ups and downs. As touched on above, it’s seats are firm. It’s dashboard is very utilitarian with no trip computer etc. but mechanically it’s very nice. It’s low-down torque and close ratio 6 speed box means you can “waft” the car along very effortlessly. Things like taking off from the lights, or cruising in a higher gear (I can be in 4th gear at 45km/h. You can also skip gears on the way up happily. And in 6th on the freeway, there’s plenty of torque that you don’t need to downshift passing slow traffic when you’re using the outside lane. It’s ride is on the firm side without being excessive, and at 54,000km there’s no squeaks or rattles. Everything’s still fresh.
The engine.
Even though the car is about steering and driver feel, the engine is actually my favourite thing about this car. The XU10J4RS is in my opinion Peugeot’s finest. I may go as far to say it’s one of the nicest non turbo, 2 litre 4 cylinder motors around. It has plenty of low down torque as I rambled on about above. It pulls with urgency down low (when passing traffic) and past 5,000rpm, has a lovely rush that remains linear and keeps on delivering up until the rev limiter. It sounds the part too. One of the very few engines in this class with the low-end torque and up-top pull. It’s magical. A 3rd gear (and a bit of 4th) pull out the back of Mt Mee demonstrated this perfectly. Let’s just not talk about what numbers the speedo was showing. Typical P plater!!!
The gearbox:
Another magical thing, but not too much to talk about. It’s gear shift is lovely; one of the nicest I’ve driven. It’s direct, slick and smooth but still with a mechanical feel to it. It’s close ratios really mean you can exploit and enjoy the engine more.
The steering:
Yes, maybe the only interesting part about this write up. I haven’t driven many cars seeing as I’ve only been on our roads for 4 years, but I’ve yet to drive a car with handling as good as this. Even my 80 year old grandfather’s new Golf GTI doesn’t quite cut it.
I’m running Bridgestone RE-003s on the car, and they’re the perfect tyre. The initial take up on the steering (off-centre sensitivity) is a little bit low, but once you “lean” into the steering everything changes. The car responds to your inputs with more lateral G-Force, and keeps begging for you to push harder. The steering is full of feedback and engagement, and the car can simply turn into corners at speeds I didn’t really think was possible. It’s sort of a “What corner?” philosophy. There’s no fuss, no under steer (to an extent obviously, but common sense dictates that) and no tyre noise. But due to the car’s lack of weight it feels incredibly “go-cart” and toylike, which is nice for a 20 year old mug like me. I see why it’s one of the all time greats.
Suspension and chassis:
The suspension is just as important as the steering. It’s wonderful. Very little body roll on the car, but that would be mainly down to the sway bars. It also handles bumps in the road very well, even when driving spiritedly. It doesn’t get unsettled easily which is very nice. It’s brilliantly set up.
And the chassis is a work of art. Jeremy Clarkson once said “someone deep in Peugeot’s engineering team understood chassis technology”, and how true it is. It’s such a beautifully balanced little car. The whole car pivots around you. The front end is simply gorgeous, and the passive rear steering really aids the car in corners. It is prone lift-off oversteer, but it only bites you if you’re being a fool and asking for it. Overall the benign nature and neutrality of the car chassis really proves Peugeot could do chassis tuning. It’s chassis is just as impressive as the steering, but the two work together hand-in-hand.
To finalise:
Sure, it may not be as refined as the brand new hot hatches of today, nor is it the most well built thing in terms of build quality, but what a marvellous thing it is. It’s a car that excites me. I look forward to taking it out all week while I’m at work, and on the rare occasion I have driven it to work, it leaves me longing with excitement for the commute home. And that’s exactly what a car should do. Spirited drives for me are shared by myself as I don’t have any other friends into cars, but that’s for the better as most car guys my age are trouble to be around. Cars like this are best enjoyed alone anyway.
Despite people saying things like “You’re young, you’ll neglect and trash this car” or “you’ll end up wrecking it” I am proud to say I will look after and cherish this thing as long as I own it. It is one of the nicest cars I’ve driven and I’m extremely lucky to own an example as nice as this one.
You don’t need things like Ferraris and Porsches to achieve driving pleasure, or modern cars with all the tech. The 306 GTI-6 comes from a time where simplicity was everything, and what followed was a car that was so simple, but yet so incredible, engaging and thrilling to drive.
The Peugeot 306 GTi-6 reminds us motoring enthusiasts exactly why we fell in love with driving in the first place.
