PEUGEOT 306 Break 1997 test drive - 2002 hatchback

PEUGEOT 306

The autopilot evaluates cars according to five main criteria. The amount of advantages is indicated - b, the shortcomings - Ch. The next subject gained four B and one Ch. This is Peugeot 306.
EXTERIOR. After restyling conducted at the end of last year, the 306th noticeably freshened. Preserving the restrained forms of the mass model of a small middle class, he acquired grace and charm inherent in French cars in general and Peugeot in particular. First of all, new headlights with smooth glass are striking and, according to the last trends of automotive fashion, with a reflector, which is simultaneously a diffuser. The standard package now includes the fog of the tumor integrated into the bumper.
The 306th in five bodies is produced: three- and five-door hatchback, sedan, station wagon and convertible. The body has a full galvanizing, and the manufacturer gives it a guarantee from through corrosion for a period of 12 years. The cars sold in Russia are equipped with the so -called East European package: the course of the end of the shock absorbers is increased and there are more turns on the springs. From the standard 130 mm, the clearance has grown to 190 mm. 5 B.
INTERIOR. Coin, although not without conservatism. High -quality and solidly looking materials, but only the gaps in the finger between the torpedo and the adjacent parts of the doors upholstery resemble the domestic auto industry. Thank God this is the only similarity. Graceful decoration from imitation of carbon fiber panels on the dashboard and front console revives a slightly gloomy environment. The glove compartment does not fall to the passenger, but in size just a couple of gloves. The 306th generally does not indulge in the abundance of pockets and drawers, but for trifles like a mobile phone, etc. You can find a place.
You can’t call a spacious salon, its dimensions are just on the very edge where convenience ends and tightness begins. If the large riders do not feel in front, then the rear seats, especially in the three -door, will include no more than two passengers in this case, the ceiling there is also low. The rear seats fold and increase the luggage volume almost half - 340/640 liters. 4 b, 1 h
Equipment and ergonomics. Standard equipment offers the following set: air conditioning, hydraulic power pillows, two airbags with a passenger shutdown, front electric windows and central castle. Powerful and effective ventilation installation with a microfilter. Safety belts adjustable in height. Digital Watch. And, which is especially important for ladies, make -up mirrors in anti -linen visors. Information displays information on when to take place on the odometer display. Electrorets, heating the seats and the rain sensor are installed for a fee.
A small diameter steering wheel with a thick rim is convenient and has a vertical adjustment, but it suffers from a common drawback - a small sort of steering column. The seats are covered with dense velor with good antifriction properties, the presence of vertical adjustment allows you to choose the most optimal position. Aspferic side mirrors provide a wide review, almost without dead zones, but they have to get used to their oppression form for some time.
As for the governing bodies, the pedals are located excessively in heap. Calculation on an elegant female leg? Yes, and excessively shifted to the right of the clutch pedal causes inconvenience. Although the pedals themselves are light and informative. The purely French Klaron button - in the left steering wheel switch - can also cause inconvenience at first. 4 b, 1 h.
ROAD. The motor is practically not heard, at medium speeds it works quietly and softly, without irritating vibrations. A loud and distinct sound occurs only at 4500 rpm., And aerodynamic noises - after 140 km/h. The 306th super-dynamic does not shine, but both engines-and 1.4 and 1.6-have a good traction and are very elastic: their capabilities are more than enough for a normal style. They are well agreed with the checkpoint, the transmission is quite long to reduce the frequency of manipulations with a lever, and at the same time allow them to smoothly, but confidently pull it from the bottom. What can really boast of the 306th is an amazingly comfortable and energy-intensive suspension that stably holds the car on the road and provides decent smoothness and exchange rate stability even at high speed. The fundamental difference in the traction characteristics of these two engines is almost impossible to notice, except that 1.4 should be persistently promoted during active driving. Management and maneuverability are also quite adequate, the disadvantages of reactive effort on the steering wheel should be attributed to the minuses. 4 b, 1h.
Features of national operation. The warranty for the 306th in Russia is 1 year, without limiting the run. There is an interesting feature: it is the only one among classmates in Russia who has inter -service mileage installed 30 thousand km. The new machine without fail it needs to set the protection of the motor compartment from below. Otherwise, all the dirt and salt of the road are on the engine.
Structurally, the Tu series engines go back to 1993 and, despite subsequent modernization, can be considered somewhat outdated. But the design is debugged, and they are very reliable and unpretentious. Cheap in operation: such works as valves adjustment, replacement of belts, etc., are comparable to similar ones in domestic cars at a price. And in the post -warranty period, the machine can be served by any qualified automaker. With one exception: injector engines require specialized diagnostics. She is inexpensive: for the entire procedure, about $ 8. As for carburetor engines with a volume of 1.4, any specialist in eight-dressing eights will deal with them, their power system is almost similar, only executed much better.
The price of repair and maintenance work at the company service ranges from $ 22-25 per norm. Specialists of service centers recommend replacing oil and filters earlier, every 20 thousand km. Moreover, the price of consumables for this car is low: the original oil filter costs about $ 5, and the air is a little more than $ 20.
The suspension is strong-60--70 thousand. In general, without problems. Replacing the most wearing elements, such as the racks of front stabilizers or pillows of the rear beam, will not be required before 100 thousand. Original spare parts are no more expensive, and partly even cheaper than all other foreign cars of this class. Unoriginal ones, among which there can be details of both French, Italian and Polish production, cost one and a half times cheaper, but serve two to three times less. Otherwise, the typical troubles of the 306th are no different from those who experience other classmates-salt (through two winters, the handbrake is removed and require processing of electrical units under the hood) and crazy gasoline (sometimes candles will have to be changed much more often than undergoing a planned one ) .4b, 1ch.
Our sentence. The car is pleasant in many respects. Elegant, practical, but also without complaints. What is called simple, but with taste. Even with good taste. For not suffering from excess ambitions of drivers, small families and, of course, I will give. The trouble alone - its price niche is too close to the one where the more solid Peugeot 406 is located. 4B and 1h.
Text Andrey Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin

 

Source: "Autopilot"