Peugeot 206 GTI 1999 - 2006

Peugeot’s 206 GTi has the unenviable task of filling the shoes (should that be space in the garage?) of the 205 GTi, an acclaimed and established performer.  The 206 has a reasonably poor reliability record, it can 81st out of 100 in a 2002 autoexpress survey, but it does offer good performance for the money.  There are two engine options available, with two different levels of tune, 138 and 180 bhp.

There it little to differentiate the GTi from the rest of the 206 range as you approach the vehicle.  That will be welcomed by people who like their performance understated but not by those who like to shout about what they’ve got.  Inside the car there are good looking leather sports seats that offer an uncomfortable drive no matter how they’re set up.  The driving position is poor and if that’s not enough they also compromise the rear seating too!  Air conditioning is standard on both GTi models, as is a six disk, boot mounted CD player. The 206 is one of the roomier superminis and there's no shortage of head or legroom in the front, although the back can’t make the same boast. The boot is a reasonable size and the folding rear seats make the 206 a useful space if required

The reason that you paid the extra premium for the GTi (both on list price and insurance payments), was the performance on the road.  It takes a little getting used to and almost a sense of forgiveness, but the 206 can be made to really perform.  The controls all feel natural and are nicely weighted.  The steering offers a good sense of feedback and feeling while enabling the 206 to feel lithe and able on the road.  The gearbox requires that you’re forceful with it when making changes and will give you trouble if you’re not committed to that gearchange.  Once you’re used to making sure of the gearchanges the gearbox will give you no problems but it’s not as natural and tight as you’d expect.  The two GTi models offer 0 – 60 times of 8.0 and 7.5 seconds with top speeds of 130 and 137 mph.  They do this while returning 36 and 32 mpg, with the 180 bhp model the more thirsty.  The power is distributed evenly throughout the rev range with little in the way of surprises, again this will suite some more than others.  The 206 feels almost like an elder statesmen of a car, it’s as if Peugeot didn’t feel they had anything left to prove after the 205 GTi and felt happy to be less flashy about it’s successor.  Some will like it but hot hatch fans are likely to want more.

The 206 is like the 205 grown old.  It’s more sensible than the 205 was, but still has elements that are clawing back to it’s days of youth.  It’s got power delivery suitable for someone who likes a bit of pace but isn’t a great fan of surprises.  The seats are like someone wearing a pair of spats to an AA meeting, strangely out of place, and that’s too often how the car itself feels.  If the lion had made it’s mind up as to what it wanted to achieve we could have a cracker but there are too many gaps to contend with the pace setters.

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