| Product: |
Peugeot 206 S 1.1 3dr |
| Date: |
29.04.08 (69 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Many
Disadvantages: Surprisingly, not many
~~**~~ Peugeot 206 S 1.1. 3DR~~**~~
First of all let me explain something - I've not got a clue about cars and the lingo that is unfortunately synonymous with them, however, I do feel I'm qualified enough to talk about comfort, driveabilityness and whether the free mats were worth arguing for.
In the beginning I had a mini (a real mini) that was my pride and joy. A hand-me-down from granny who unfortunately decided to purchase it unbelievably in diarrhoea colour hence it was known as the Poomobile and the whole of the county recognised her - it was great. Regrettably, her floor fell through and she went to the great scrapheap in the sky. After a period of mourning, I had a number of small cars after that - fiesta (fell apart), 106 (brother drove it into a tree), yaris (god I hated that car) and another mini that was the death of my bank balance - two grand out of pocket, the parents stepped in and announced they were going to get me a decent car that wouldn't have me ringing to ask for the AA's number yet again (who by the way are fantastic).
After much debate about whether to buy brand new and get free insurance blah blah blah we went with second hand but not too old and from what mother announced was a 'reputable dealer' and definitely not ebay. Henceforth, with the premise of a vaguely free car (paying parents back rarely occurs though dammit he made me set up a DD), I dragged them through every dealership in the North West. I decided on the 206 after a meagre test-drive where I swung it round corners and tested the acceleration with aplomb to announce once safely back that it's a nippy bugger and I'd like it please mummy and daddy x x We got a good deal on the crusty escort (oh yeah I had one of those at the time) and I blagged free mats too and a key ring. Yep I know how to drive a hard bargain. And that was that...
Pete is brilliant. Many vehicles that I've abused over the years have not come close to having a name but he's a star. I rag him through the country lanes and he's not keeled over yet. I'll now sum him up under important (to me) headings:
Durability: "Oo you should never buy a Peugeot, it'll never last" - why do people bestow you with this information after you've made the purchase? Well, ha, he's lasted til now. Ok, it's been 4 years since his birth and only 2 since I've adopted him from the mean lady who gave him away but there's no sign of rust and the things that I've had replaced are bulbs, an exhaust (idiots at Perry's dealership broke it) and 4 tyres (but I drive like a tit so I guess that's my fault). In my eyes he's lasted well so far.
Reliability: We've had the AA out twice - Perry's are muppets - first time powersteering fluid was all gone as they'd not connected it properly after servicing, and second cos Perry's had not connected pipe properly to radiator thingy after MOT (which was free after the servicing incident) and it overheated and flashed wildly at me. Touch wood, that's it. Mother thinks it's unreliable but that's not Pete's fault really.
Attractiveness: He's a stunner. 3 Door svelte black and a twinkle in his striking headlights - he certainly turns heads. Actually he doesn't because there are billions of 206s out there but I think it's a good looking car that I'm not ashamed to be seen in. I've got the S version which I believe means 'Super interior' - red and black inside - I like it but mother thinks it's garish, bless her.
Driveability: Apart from the mini, I've never had such an easy car to park. I can even do the reverse parallel thing which impresses passengers no end (my friends don't get out much). It's nippy so I can get past tractors and infuriating Sunday drivers but there's not much go in it for the motorway, however as he's regularly on the M6 I know he can hold his own at 90mph. He does all the bends with confidence throughout the Trough of Bowland and I love rallying him home from mother's house at night (she lives in the middle of nowhere, literally).
Comfort and Space: There's plenty of room for my big ol butt and I've driven him on a few 5 hour journeys only stopping for petrol (no leg cramps unlike the crappy Yaris). Also there's loads of room for passengers and their hand-bags - mother enjoyed our trip to the midlands in it with her only comment being that it smelt - score one to Peugeot but a bit of slap for me for not spraying air freshener around after having wet dog in the boot - which by the way is roomy enough to put 3 Labradors, or by putting the seats down, a table and 4 chairs - bargain. My back seat is currently filled with rubbish but should a person want to sit there comfortably, they could - if only I had enough friends to use the back seats.
Extras: There's a flip top bit in the front for a McDonalds fund and some weird little compartments in the centre armrest that are good for nowt. The glove compartment is fairly roomy but has no lock on it but the saving grace is the side pockets which are perfect for the Maccy Ds coke containers and cans of normal sizes but not bottles of pop. I'm not saying you should base the purchase of a 206 on this information alone but I do feel it's an important aspect! There's also a cigarette lighter - essential for Tomtom and ipod use alike. The stereo system it came with is fine - it's nowt exciting, it's just fine. As I recently found out, the spare wheel is one of those pants temporary ones but I suppose they're all now these on the more modern cars. Mine has remote locking, air con (like that's needed in this country) and electric windows - the switches for these are ridiculously positioned in the middle near the armrest so that when you and your passenger both want to put the windows down you touch hands and have that awkward moment when you want to say sorry but I'm not a lesbian and a dubious silence follows, however, the saving grace is that should you forget to put the window up when you've turned off the engine, you can still close them for a while after before opening the door. Wow, I hear you cry. Yes indeed, Wow.
Overall Pete with his 04 plate cost £5000 2 years ago. I hope he'll stay with me for a lot longer but if times get tight, at least I know he'll hold his value fairly well (apparently). His tank holds £40 but I dunno how many miles it does because I'm not that organised, when he's thirsty I put petrol in, when he's full I rejoice at not having to bother again for a few days. Hope this review has been of help - I feel I've covered the aspects important to me as a car buyer. Just remembered I had a metro too - not sure the demise that befell it but it can't have been a very memorable car! Yep, the 206 is so far the best car I've had and definitely the least embarrassing. I've given it 4 stars because I don't want to jinx it!
Random Peugeot Information:
It's not bad for insurance (Group 4 according to Peugeot website or 3 according to Ciao) making it cheap(ish)
You can get Pete on ebay for £4295 - bargain.
Peugeot made one of the Pope's armoured vehicles - told you they were durable.
The 206 has consistently been the top seller in its class since 1998 - how exciting.
The free mats were average.
Thanks for reading.
May appear on other review sites if I have the energy...
Summary: Would love a CC version...maybe one day (sorry Pete)
| Processing/Quality: |
|
 |
| Reliability: |
|
|
| Driving comfort: |
|
 |
|
|
