ZX16V v 306 GTi-6

[Crashy]

Previously had a ZX16V. Loved every minute of it, was one of the most surprising cars I ever owned. Sadly had to sell due to financial problems.

Been looking at a few but good ones seem to be commanding good money (compared to my wages lol).

So, I've been swayed towards the 306 GTi-6. There seem to be a lot going for good money. £1.5k would pick up a decent one. I've have 306 D-Turbos before, know all the usual problems, P-bushings, radius arm bearings etc. All wee things in the grand scale of things, easy fixes.

Which would you have and why?

[Swervin_Mervin]

Xsara VTS. Cheaper. Better (imo) as it doesn't have the stupid 6spd box. 5sp suits that engine so much better.

[S10GTA]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Xsara VTS. Cheaper. Better (imo) as it doesn't have the stupid 6spd box. 5sp suits that engine so much better.

What he said. Bit ugly, but you don't have to look at it from the inside.

[Swervin_Mervin]

The mk1 isn't a bad looker. The mk2 though....!

[Crashy]

Is the 6 speed box really that bad?

From experience working on them, I don't want a Xsara. Apart from them being ugly, they're shoddily built from cheap ste. I've never sat in a Xsara that the heater vents haven't been broken in.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Wife had a 1998 mk1 for several years, and sold it 2011. It was pretty faultless tbh.

It's not that the 6spd box is bad, it's just that the 5spd really suits the superb engine so much better. It's a torquey lump that pulls hard from low right through to 7800rpm, so it doesn't need shorter ratios.

[steve954]

I've had a xsara vts and a gti6 IMO the xsara is better due to being slightly lower with bigger torsion bars to suit and also a quick rack all of which the gti owners fit to the 306 however you will not find the gti lacking in fun.