206 Gti 180 advice needed

[bones33]

Going to see a 2003 53 Reg PEUGEOT 206 2.0 GTi 180 on saturday morning and need some advice.

Ok what problems to look for?
Anything that I should expect in the future?
Is it ok to run normal unleaded or will it be better off with super?
Running costs?

This will if purchased be my daily runner.

Thanks very much for your time and comments.

[Jaguar steve]

Mrs JS has a '04 206 GTI (138hp), with very low miles.

Three things come to mind:

1. Don't expect it to drive and feel like a 205 GTI replacement - it's not.

2. Don't expect to see any evidence that it's well made with good quality components.

3. I hope you know a good Osteopath - the driving position is terrible.

Baby JS's Fiesta Zetec 1.6 is a lot more fun and far better made - I'm not joking.

[screwloose]

don't buy one

[Polarbert]

Go and look at a Clio 182 instead.

[andy118run]

I had an onyx black 04 reg GTI 180 about 2-3 years ago. I kept it for about 6 months before trading it for a civic type r and i now have an 03 reg impreza wrx.

Looking back and comparing all 3, the GTI 180 was a decent car IMO. Never had any mechanical trouble with it (though it was nearly new and I didn't have it too long) and it always ran nicely. Performance was decent and I wouldn't say the civic or the impreza feel loads faster. After all, if you stick a 2 litre 180bhp engine in a peugeot 206 it's going to feel fairly swift. Of the 3 I certainly enjoyed traveling distances in the 206 more than the other 2. The seats are great (never had a problem with the driving position), climate control first class and even the multi stack CD player was a godsend at times!. Fuel economy was what you would expect of a 2 litre hot hatch but if you drive sensibly around 35-45mpg on the motorway and pressing on a bit nearer 25-30mpg. Of course, the 206 has always been a fairly nice looking car and the 180 even more so with the twin exhaust, spoiler and alloys.

Of course, the 180 has plenty of critics and I rarely read a good review of it so maybe I'm missing something. Perhaps like me, if you do get one you may get itchy feet after a few months when you see a type R or a clio 182 or Leon Cupra and start wondering what might have been. I don't regret getting a GTI 180 but as other poster(s) suggest there are plenty of hot hatches out there for similar money which get far more respect. The Clio 182 being the obvious example. Depending how far the budget stretches there's the Mini cooper S, Civic Type R, Megane 225/230, Leon Cupra R, Astra/Corsa vxr. I could go on...

[cannock172]

When I bought my Clio 172 I was also looking at GTi 180. Clio was cheaper and I am glad I had it, its great.

I also has a 02 plate Fiesta Zetec S and I agree, it was a fantastic car, like a go kart it was such fun to drive and had plenty of go for a 1.6


Get a Renaultsport Clio ahead of a Peugeot 180Gti for what my advice is worth

[Jaguar steve]

The 180 has different seats, so maybe there's no problems with driving position.

Mrs JS usually struggles to get more than 32MPG - but will manage up to 38 (on the computer) if you drive like a real pussy.

Incedentally the gearchange is really horrible too....

[loftylad]

JS

We've been here before! The 180 is totally different to the 138. Totally.

To the OP. Well, you'll either have the car or not now, I suppose, but FWIW I had one from new for three and a half years (just sold it 3 weeks ago for no reason other than I fancy a change) It's a great car to run on a daily basis. Yes, there are other cars that will be better on a track, but the 180 is great in the real world.

The seats in the 180 are superb. Im 6' 5" and they're supportive and comfortable. I can be in the car all day and get out fresh as I got in.

I always ran mine on normal unleaded with absolutely no problems. They're a group 17 insurance, so depending on your age might be expensive, but no moreso than other comparable "hot hatch"

You'll get 32ish mpg driving "spiritedly" along "b" roads. Less for town driving and 40+ on long trips.

It's got all the toys and they're not a common sight (unlike the CTR's 182's etc)

Love the "don't buy one" advice from a beemer 1 series owner. priceless. Baaaaaa

[Jaguar steve]

Indeedy we have, and I'd agree the 180 is a different car - because - well it is.

Still suggest 'tho the poor quality and build problems are common to the whole 206 range, which is OK if you're buying a cheap one for running about in, but take the same shabby build over to a high performance car that costs a lot and will be driven hard and you're asking for trouble in the long run.

Mrs JS has a bit of a thing with the 206 and ruled out the usual candidates for a quick hatch. We looked at quite a few Pugs before we bought her one, and found that every one older or with high miles was in a poor way, often with things gone wrong you wouldn't have expected, such as oil leaks, whining gearboxes, broken trim and electrics not working.

Mrs JS loves hers, and is, ahem.. not very demanding on the matter of quick hatchbacks, which is the main thing, it's her car after all.

But to drive the Pug, and then get into Baby JS's Zetec really highlights the difference.

[bones33]

Thanks all for the comments.

In the end went for a Black 51 plate Clio 172 with cup pack pictures to come once i have got it shinny

[boobles]

bones33 said:

Thanks all for the comments.

In the end went for a Black 51 plate Clio 172 with cup pack pictures to come once i have got it shinny

Good choice..

[bob 180]

i know this topic is old but i cant understand why the 180 is hated so much ive had mine for over a year now and its done 30k since i bought it its done 50k in total. i drive the car very hard have done since the day i bought it and its stil tight as drum my mates got a 182 clio which ive driven a few times thats done 60k and its crap you sit inside it and all the panels feel like they have been made from thin plastic there is fake alloy bits added here and there and it rattles like theres screws messing the engine sounds tired and the keys are a joke cos they wont let you start the car sometimes.where as mine hasnt missed a beat since ive had it i know it hasnt got the magic that the 205 gti had but its still a good car when the 205 was made there was less restrictions pugeot had a hard job trying follow the 205 i think they didnt do to badly myself.the magic is stil there its just harder to see thats all.

[boobles]

bob 180 said:

i know this topic is old but i cant understand why the 180 is hated so much ive had mine for over a year now and its done 30k since i bought it its done 50k in total. i drive the car very hard have done since the day i bought it and its stil tight as drum my mates got a 182 clio which ive driven a few times thats done 60k and its crap you sit inside it and all the panels feel like they have been made from thin plastic there is fake alloy bits added here and there and it rattles like theres screws messing the engine sounds tired and the keys are a joke cos they wont let you start the car sometimes.where as mine hasnt missed a beat since ive had it i know it hasnt got the magic that the 205 gti had but its still a good car when the 205 was made there was less restrictions pugeot had a hard job trying follow the 205 i think they didnt do to badly myself.the magic is stil there its just harder to see thats all.

Completely agree with the rattles etc, but other than that, the Clio is far better than any pug i have ever owned! The 182 is quicker, handles better & looks better than the pug!

[hammertime]

i think it looking better is definately a cause for debate, i think the clios look awful and the pug looks much better and less feminine.

[Polarbert]

hammertime said:

i think it looking better is definately a cause for debate, i think the clios look awful and the pug looks much better and less feminine.

Not really. The 206 looks very feminine and the Clio less so. They are both womens cars.

[bullies180]

come on the 180 doesn't look that feminine. Honestly the only reason that stopped me getting a 182 was the looks. Now the 197 R27, now i like the look of that car! still best looking car out there at the moment is the new CTR, in my humble opinion anyhow