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) 

    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.

    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 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

    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.