Stylish but Expensive? (Peugeot 206 GLX 1.4 5dr)

Member Name: michelleb3210

Product:	Peugeot 206 GLX 1.4 5dr
Date:	06/03/06 (4711 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stylish, Nippy and Modern

Disadvantages: Plenty of Mechanical Faults

I have a 206 1.4 GLX which looks great,feels great and extremely comfy. It has all the mod-cons you would expect for the upgraded model. However, just because it has the name GLX which basically means it has heated seats and electric mirrors on top of the bog standard Air-con it is about £200 more to insure. I don't understand, this isn't going to be a reason why someone may steal the car, or a surely isnt a reason that would result in an accident, it's just and extra comfort thing that you will never claim as a result of having things extra bits and bobs. But thats not the peugeot's fault I suppose, that would be the insurers but still worth taking note of, do you really need heated seats which you pay extra for when buying the car from new and you pay extra again on your insurance.

Then there is also the issue of the mechanical problems of which there are loads to mention. When I bought my 206 it was second hand, so some of these could be a result of previous bad ownership.

One thing I have noticed though, the Mother of all faults and also a common one which could be deadly amongst the 206 owners, is the habit of the engine randomly cutting out at any time it chooses not to co-operate with the driver.
I have many friends who also own the same car and have agreed even if it has only happened once it has still happened. There was also a TV programme about this fault at which one woman was travelling 70mph on the motorway and it cut out, without warning and she was in third lane - no where near safety of the hard shoulder.

What tends to happen (as a warning to any new owners), with my car anyway, was the everytime I pulled it out of gear into neutral or put my foot on the clutch to change gear my engine would cut out. If I was moving when I pulled my foot off the clutch (after changing gear) my engine would start again however if I was coming to a stop I would have to turn my key again to start up the engine. It figured to be my idle control valve, that wasn't opening enough or at all and therefore, the engine was being starved of air, however, I'm sure it isn't the same fault on all 206's that suffer from engine cut out. Which could then result in panic or excess of phone calls to the AA. At which when panic occurs, especially on the motorway or other national speed limit roads this may result in some vey nasty crashes and hefty claims being filed.
There are many other faults I could mention such as, taking your key out of the ignition and the engine is still running, radios/cd player cutting out at a certain volume instead of distorting plus many more.

The question you should ask yourself is, compared to a reliable car such as; Honda, Citreon. What are the costs differences. After you have spent all that money on correting the mechanical faults, is the stylish sexy body worth paying out that much for?

I get around 38/39 MPG out of this car, not over revving it though. The handling is brilliant in all weather, obviously within reason, not if you going 60mph round a sharp country bend. It has ABS which is brilliant, the breaking system is 10 times better than my Citreon AX, but then again technology wasn't that advanced back then.

There is loads of boot space, in car-space is just as good. I have put 6x9's, sub and an amp in my boot so I can't fit much else in there. In car though I managed to fit two medium sized wardrobes on the back seats without folding them down, and without moving the front seats to effect leg room.

Anyway, as I am a 206 owner and I love my car very much for all it's faults, but I will be selling it as soon as my loan has been paid off, I still have to live with it. And if it finds out I have been giving it some grief it may fall out with me even more, so I won't go any further with the bad mouthing of the car. And there is the fact that they are extremely sexy to look at, the seats are them ones that you sink in and you know that no matter how far your journey, back ached and a square bum is something your not going to suffer from. I MUST also mention the interior design, the bubbly effect, the big dash that comes far out and the dials are simple but very very stylish and for people who like the modern but simple look, and you try to carry that out in all aspects of your life, this is a car for you.

Summary: Very nice to look at, very comfy to sit in, but too many problems.

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