Peugeot 306 Meridian

...... Terrible customer support at Peugeot - After 4 attempts to fob me off with poor excuses at the dealership for the car cutting out, I was loosing my trust in them. They were rude, and refused to phone me to let me know what was going on when I took my car in. I had to make /every/ phone call.
* Their warranty means bugger-all. I'm telling you that now. The only thing that was ever covered by the warranty in the 7 times I've taken my car ...
...car cut out the first time. It wasn't that, because it cut out a further 3 time. So either 1. the pump has died again or 2. the pump never died and it's something else, or 3. the pump died but the didn't replace it. I've had problems with my tyres which also 'wasnt covered'...
* Problem with tyres (or something else related) - I am on my fourth set of front tyres and only my second back set (it's a front wheel drive). I've done about 14,000 ... more

I bought my V-reg Pug 306 Meridian about 15 months ago. It was 3 months old at the time of buying, and although it's generally an all round good car, I would not go as far as giving it full marks. I have a habit of waffling, so I'll get to the point, the pro's and con's! :

Pro's -

• Not a bad looking car - Although mine is a 5 door, it still looks nice, even though I haven't cleaned it for a while! It has a reasonable body kit, but not too sporty. Even though the 306 hasn't changed much over the years.
• Power steering - A must, and it's not really loose like some cars like some Rover's I've been in!
• Dual airbags - Better safety, and with the option to turn off the passenger side airbag for having a baby seat.
• Half leather interior - Nice, and not as cold as full leather, when it's winter!
• Brushed aluminium look dash and gearnob - Makes it stand apart from most other 306's.
• Air con (in my model) - Nice on a hot summers day, when everyone else is roasting to death on a long journey, you'll be sure to step out the car and be glad to warm up a bit :-)
• ABS - Excellent. One of the best ABS systems I've had to test out. Although I've only tested about 5 others!
• Brakes - Okay, probably should be in the above option, but hey, I really must say that the brakes themselves in this car are brill. They definately stop you well!
• Heated wingmirrors - Handy when it's frozen up!
• Comfortable - The seats are great and have a lumber suport adjustment. The drivers seat can also be height adjusted and so can the steering wheel.
• Stereo controls on the steering column - Need I say more! Handy!
• Engine immobiliser - Handy, as there isn't much in the way of an alarm.

Cons (which I'm afraid, in my option, outway the pro's) -

• Poor reliability - I've had problems with tyres, and the car has cut out 4 times when I've been going over 50 on a dual-carridgeway, loosing power steering and power assisted braking. Now that /isn't/ fun, I can tell you. In fact it's blimin dangerous. Not only that, but they have yet to fix it properly, which leads to my next con...
• ... Terrible customer support at Peugeot - After 4 attempts to fob me off with poor excuses at the dealership for the car cutting out, I was loosing my trust in them. They were rude, and refused to phone me to let me know what was going on when I took my car in. I had to make /every/ phone call.
• Their warranty means bugger-all. I'm telling you that now. The only thing that was ever covered by the warranty in the 7 times I've taken my car in, is the fuel pumps, which were replaced when the car cut out the first time. It wasn't that, because it cut out a further 3 time. So either 1. the pump has died again or 2. the pump never died and it's something else, or 3. the pump died but the didn't replace it. I've had problems with my tyres which also 'wasnt covered'...
• Problem with tyres (or something else related) - I am on my fourth set of front tyres and only my second back set (it's a front wheel drive). I've done about 14,000 miles, and although this is a lot, I'm anoyed because I've discovered that the 306's have a /known/ flaw that tey wear tyres on the outside edge a lot quicker that the inside edge. 'ahh, that'll be the tracking or the wheel balancing' I hear you cry, but no. I know of 3 other people with the same problem, and although I can't get my dealership to admit there's a flaw, their dealers have. So be aware, you'll have nice tread on the centre of the tyre, but within a few months of normal driving the tyres will be illegal on the outside edge. <breaths>
• Not very quick - I believe my car is getting slower, but that may be just me, but ever since I took the car in and had it looked at, the turdo (oops, turbo) has never been the same. This aside, the car, in my opinion is not as nippy as the older 1.9 turbo diesel. The 2.0 HDi version seams a little sluggish to me.
• Poor turning circle - Picky, I know. But some people would expect a small front wheel drive like this to turn okay. But I don't think it does. I had an old VW golf before this, and it was comparable - even without power steering!
• Skitso automatic windscreen wipers - Although they are handy, after they've been turned on for a while, they throw a wobbly and go into hypo-mode even when it's hardly raining!
• Poor leather steering wheel - The coating on the wheel comes off within seconds. Now I know they wear quickly, but I could actually see the difference day-by-day!
• Slow response power steering - Altough its a pro above, it's not all that responsive when compared to some.
• For a diesel car, it's not too economical. Okay it is a 2 litre car I hear you say, but still it stuggles to do 400 miles to a tank - and its a big tank, able to take 50 quids worth.
• Generally poor build quality - Plasticy. Bad steering wheel. Aluminium effect on gear knob is breaking off. Stitching on the seats coming out.
• Mud flaps are anoying - Petty I know, but you drive this car for a day and you'll be ripping the blimin things off! They scrape when you go round every corner or go over the slightest bump!
• Lockable wheel nuts are a pain - I had a flat tyre and needed to change it, but got stuck for 2 days until I could get someone to help me undo the wheelnuts using the loose key that they supply to do so.
• Interior and exterior is the same as all other 306's! - Over the past 10 years, hardly anything has changed in the 306. The inside looks exactly the same, except for the fabrics used on the seats and the aluminium effect in my model.
• Alarm - I don't think it has one. But don't quote me on that!

All in all, it isn't a bad car, and the problems I've had and have known others to have may be slightly isolated, but still they are still my problems, so it might be worth taking them into account when thinking of buying one. In my opinion it's a boring and dated car with no fancy added extras that you can't get from another make of car - more reliably.
I bought the car as I needed something that was reliable and cheap to maintain. It's been neither to me so far. But feel free to let me know your opinions! 

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