Peugeot 306 2001 News

Looking for a safe used car? Think German. The 2007 Used Car Safety Ratings suggest that German-designed cars are among the best choices.Volkswagen's Golf and Bora, Holden's German-sourced Astra TS and Mercedes-Benz's C-Class all rated well for occupant protection and safety for other road-users.With improvements to occupant safety, coupled with reduced risk to other road-users, smaller cars have replaced large family cars as the pick of the litter.In previous years the BMW 3 Series and the family-friendly Holden Commodores and Ford Falcon have been the star performers.This year the researchers highlighted the Golf, Bora, Astra TS, C-Class, Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord.The ratings show that if you make the wrong choice of used car, you could be up to 26 times more likely to be killed or seriously hurt in an accident.The research, by Monash University with the RACV, TAC and VicRoads, shows a staggering difference between used cars.As new-car safety has improved, it has widened the gap between the safest cars on the road and the most dangerous.The latest data shows that a Daihatsu Hi-Jet made from 1982-1990 is 26 times more likely to leave occupants dead or seriously injured than a Volkswagen Passat built from 1998-2005.Two criteria were used: crashworthiness, which is the car's ability to keep its occupants safe; and aggressiveness, which is the likelihood of injury or death to unprotected road-users.TAC senior manager of road safety David Healy says the ratings will play a crucial role in reducing the road toll.“It's going to make a huge difference” Healy says. “We know that by producing safer vehicles we can reduce the road toll by up to a third."“It is another piece of the jigsaw puzzle fitting into place. We now have reliable information on 279 second-hand models on the Australian market."“That means we have real-world data to tell the consumer the car to buy that's safer in a crash as well as safer for other road-users involved in the crash.”Of the 279 models covered by the study, 48 were rated “significantly worse than average” for crashworthiness. Another 29 were rated “worse than average”.On the flip side, 38 models performed “significantly better than average”. Another 48 recorded “better than average”.It means plenty of safe models are available. You just have to pick the right one.Australian New Car Assessment Program chairman Ross McArthur: says: “That, for me, is an important bit of information.“People need to know that picking a car that meets the minimum standard is not enough. You have to be more careful.”Buying a used car often means there are budget considerations, but that shouldn't rule out safety.McArthur says the study highlights affordable models and consumer should arm themselves with that knowledge.“You can get safe cars that are cheaper, and more expensive cars that don't perform as well,” McArthur says. “The key is to be selective. Look around. Don't make the decision on the first vehicle you see.”And don't always trust used-car salesmen.“You need to be properly informed. If you are informed, you are in a much better position to make a decision.”Small cars such as the well-performing 1994-2001 model Peugeot 306 start at $7000.Family cars such as the Holden Commodore VT-VX and Ford Falcon AU also score well and start at reasonable prices.The study clearly shows advances in car safety, with newer models being progressively better.For example, the Holden Commodore VN-VP series received a “worse than average” crashworthiness rating; the later VT-VZ range scored “significantly better than average”.With stricter safety standards and improved crash-test ratings, McArthur is looking forward to a time when all cars are as safe as they can be.Until then the Used Car Safety Ratings is a crucial tool to protect drivers.“I hope we get to the point where every car is a five-star rated car,” McArthur says.“But as a general rule, the newer the car, the better it performs."“But that's not always the case, so you need to look at the Used Car Safety Ratings.” The hit listHow the cars performed in both criteria - crashworthiness (occupant protection) and aggressiveness (risk to pedestrians). Best performersVolkswagen Golf (1999-2004, below)Volkswagen Passat (1999-05)Holden Astra TS (1998-05)Toyota Corolla (1998-01)Honda Accord (1991-93)Mercedes C-Class (1995-00)Peugeot 405 (1989-97) Worst performersMitsubishi Cordia (1983-87)Ford Falcon XE/XF (1982-88)Mitsubishi Starwagon/Delica (1983-93/1987-93)Toyota Tarago (1983-89)Toyota Hiace/Liteace (1982-95) Crash course in car safetySmall carsBest performersVolkswagen Golf (1994-2004)Volkswagen Bora (1999-04)Peugeot 306 (1994-01)Toyota Corolla (1998-01)Holden Astra TS (1998-05, below) Worst performersVolkswagen Golf (1982-94)Toyota MR2 (1987-90)Mitsubishi Cordia (1983-87)Nissan Gazelle/Silvia (1984-86)Nissan Exa (1983-86) Medium carsBest performersBMW 3 Series E46 (1999-04)BMW 5 Series E39 (1996-03)Ford Mondeo (1995-01)Holden Vectra (1997-03)Peugeot 406 (1996-04) Worst performers Nissan Bluebird (1982-86)Mitsubishi Starion (1982-87)Holden Camira (1982-89)Daewoo Espero (1995-97)Toyota Corona (1982-88) Large carsBest performersFord Falcon AU (1998-02)Ford Falcon BA/BF (2002-05)Holden Commodore VT/VX (1997-02)Holden Commodore VY/VZ (2002-05)Toyota Camry (2002-05) Worst performersMazda 929/Luce (1982-90)Holden Commodore VN/VP (1989-93)Toyota Lexcen (1989-93)Holden Commodore VB-VL (1982-88)Mitsubishi Magna TM/TN/TP/ Sigma/V3000 (1985-90, below) People moversBest performersKia Carnival (1999-05)Mazda MPV (1994-99) Worst performersToyota Tarago (1983-89)Mitsubishi Starwagon/L300 (1983-86) Light carsBest performers Daewoo Cielo (1995-97)Daihatsu Sirion (1998-04)Holden Barina XC (2001-05) Worst performers Daewoo Kalos (2003-04)Hyundai Getz (2002-05)Suzuki Alto (1985-00) Compact 4-wheel drives Best performers Honda CR-V (1997-01)Subaru Forester (2002-05) Worst performers Holden Drover/Suzuki Sierra (1982-99)Daihatsu Rocky/Rugger (1985-98) Large 4-wheel drives Best performers Ford Explorer (2001-05)Nissan Patrol/Safari (1998/04) Worst performers Nissan Patrol (1982-87)Toyota Landcruiser (1982-89) 

In recent times the carmaker has had a more chequered time. At times its vehicles were assembled here, but that was some years ago and they have been imported for many years now. In recent years the brand hasn't always been well supported and it has lost some of the lustre it once had as a consequence. Build quality has always been an issue with French cars and Peugeot has suffered from inconsistent quality, which wasn't always helped by a lack of support from the brand's dealers or importers. MODEL WATCH The 307 replaced the 306 in 2001 and came well credentialled having been voted European Car of the Year for 2002. While it replaced the 306 it was significantly larger than the 306. Whereas the 306 was regarded as a small car, the 307 was a size larger, almost a mid-sized model. But along with the extra size came an airy and roomy interior, which provided comfortable accommodation for four, and five at a pinch. While French cars are usually renowned for their comfortable, absorbent ride, the 307 didn't fit the mould. Peugeots have always been regarded as having a supple suspension that has delivered a most comfortable ride, without having a negative effect on the handling, but the 307 ride was more nervous and without the absorbency of other Peugeots. On the road it showed a nice balance with good grip and communicative steering, and a solid braking feel. Overall it was a nice package. There were two petrol engines and a diesel offered in the 307. The petrol engines consisted of a 1.6-litre double overhead cam four that produced 80kW and 147Nm and a 2.0-litre DOHC four that produced 100kW and 190Nm; the 2.0-litre single overhead cam diesel boasted 66kW and 206Nm. The transmission choices were a five-speed manual, which had a rather imprecise shift, and a four-speed auto, a limiting factor when it came time to get up and go. In auto form the 1.6-litre 307 was best described as lethargic. Even with the right foot buried deep in the carpet and the air turned off, the acceleration could be measured using the progress of the sun. In manual form it was a different story. With relatively short gearing the five-speed manual car got off the line quickly and with a good torque spread it was a nice easy car to drive. It took 11 seconds or so to reach 100km/h from a standstill, with another 7.5 seconds needed to cover the standing 400m dash. Top speed was 190km/h. The 2.0-litre was clearly quicker and quite a nice little performer, while the turbo diesel delivered at the pump. The 307 came in hatchback form initially, but a wagon and a convertible were added to the range in 2003. The XS 1.6 five-door was the mainstay of the range and came with a host of standard equipment, including front and side airbags, ABS with brake-force distribution, cloth trim, power windows, remote central locking, airconditioning, immobiliser, and CD player. The XS model was also available with the diesel engine. In addition, there was the XSE five-door, which had the 2.0-litre engine plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and five-stacker CD system. Atop the range sat the XSi three-door that also had the 2.0-litre engine plus leather trim and 17-inch alloy wheels. IN THE SHOP Build quality was inconsistent at first and there were a few problems as a result. The 307 seems to be plagued by electrical gremlins that can be frustrating to sort out. Some owners complain about the rate of brake wear that has them replacing pads and discs quite frequently. There is also some complaint about the brake dust that builds up on wheels. Seats tend to collapse at low kilometres when the cushion material breaks down. Paint quality is also an issue so keep a careful watch for blotchy marks and faded areas on exposed surfaces. It seems that most owners rate the 307 quite highly when all goes well, but quickly become frustrated when problems develop. It's a good idea to find a dealer with experience working on Peugeots, as some dealers appear to struggle to diagnose and fix faults when they occur, while others appear to be on top of things and fix problems quickly. CRUNCH TIME The 307 boasted an impressive array of airbags that provided a comprehensive package of protection when things turned nasty. All models had front airbags for the driver and passenger, plus front side airbags and front and rear curtain airbags. With anti-skid braking, electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist, along with good chassis fundamentals, the 307 makes an attractive buy on safety grounds.