Great Economic Tortoise (Peugeot 106 XL)

Member Name: leatherpatches

Product:	Peugeot 106 XL
Date:	11/05/02 (2531 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, Reliable, Fun to drive

Disadvantages: A bit slow

I have had a 106 XLD for 2 years now and cannot recommend it enough, even though I have spent some considerable time trying to get a speeding ticket in it and not yet succeeded.

The 1.5 diesel engine develops about 50bhp, which propels this beastly machine from 0 to 60 in an amazing 16 seconds.

In all seriousness though, the diesel 106 achieves a consistent 60mpg however it is driven. Taking the car on at 36k miles I was prepared for things to start going wrong, but at 80k now I have had to do the following:

1) New starter motor (£60)
2) 4 new tyres (£120 total)
3) That's it...really!

The 106 has a well reknowned 'big car' feel, and this has not been exaggerated. Handling and cornering are excellent and remeniscent of it's bigger cousin, the 306. Drum brakes front and back are more than adequate to stop the car in time and servicing is simplicity itself, with fuel and oil filters easily accesible and seemingly built for the DIYer!

Insurance group 2/3 mean those monthly bills are peanuts and I can even afford to insure my student 21 year old g'friend without too much pain in the wallet.

If you are a traffic light freak or high speed merchant, forget it. This car will build speed steadily and maintain it, but hills prove a challenge. Having said that, 85mph is comfortable on the motorway, which puts the diesel ahead of it's 1.1i alternatives, which buzz like hairdryers at this speed.

We took the car to the South of France and back last year with no worries about breaking down (it simply doesn't) and I reckon it will be good for 200k miles, given proper servicing.

I do all the small services myself and take it in for the big ones. Between this, the excellent fuel use, the cheap parts and insurance, the refusal to go wrong, and the minimal depreciation, I reckon this car costs an incredible 3 or 4p a mile to run. Safety features, including standard drivers
side airbag are good and room is suprisingly ample for this class of vehicle.

Can't recommend it enough...

Summary: