Peugeot 206 GTi - The Drive of Your Life? (Peugeot 206 GTi)

Member Name: Big Blue

Product:	Peugeot 206 GTi
Date:	14/07/00 (2173 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Handling, Equipment

Disadvantages: How long have you got?

The Peugeot 206 GTi looks pretty good (especially with Sports Pack) and performs as you would expect but I am disappointed to say that I achieved superior build quality with stickle bricks and Lego during my pre-school years (no apologies for the exaggeration).

Purchased as an ex-demonstrator in Sept. 99 I naively expected that any niggles would have been ironed out - not so. To date I have covered 24,000 miles and this vehicle has already been into 4 main Dealerships on more than 10 occasions for remedial work to be carried out. After it's seventh visit to a Dealership the Finance Company sent out an Independent Inspector - his opinion was that all the faults should be easily remedied with a professional service - I pointed out that it had already had seven - there have been more since and the car is still not right.

The list of faults is vast so I shall only cover the major recurring problems that still remain;

· Fault with drivers seat - Peugeot are aware but cannot fix (creaking and movement)
· Leather trim loose on driver's seat exposing rather attractive foam filling
· Radio fault - known to Peugeot - for no apparent reason it cuts out and then demands the Security Code - which is not something you keep in the car for obvious reasons
· Water pours from the boot lid onto the CD changer and rear seats
· Driver's door periodically drops on hinges and then needs to be slammed shut due to incorrect alignment
· Incessant rattles from rear seats and dash
· Remote control key works intermittently - unfortunately you can't open the car it using the traditional key and lock method without setting off the alarm - which is nice

I shan't go on.

There are also a couple of really irritating design issues;
Why are the wipers the wrong way round? Does the passenger really need a better view than the driver? The cyni
c in me would suggest that it was a cost down exercise from Peugeot and they just left the continental mechanism on the UK model - which is criminal considering it is built in Coventry.

There is not enough room between the seat and door for the seatbelt to pass easily and the automatic wipers are great at times and then for no apparent reason decide that you actually don't really need to see after all - bizarre to say the least.

The level of after sales service from the Dealerships has been poor (for the most part), Peugeot themsleves would struggle to show less interest and the Finance Company - well as they continually point out they aren't Peugeot why would they care?

My recommendation - read the JD Power Survey before buying a car and never ever buy Peugeot unless you are convinced that you will never require any form of after sales service that extends beyond an oil and filter change.

As I am not one of those awkward customers who takes delight in moaning I am actually disappointed to find myself writing this - but it has been an expensive nightmare. I'm off to import something German.

Summary: