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Used car - What to look for
-> 206 Talk

#1: Used car - What to look for Author: DF10 PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:41 pm
    ----
Hi Guys.

Looking at buying a budget (<£1k) 206, ideally under 70k and some service history. Currently keeping an eye on auto trader etc. Looking at anything insurance group 9 and under, so basically 1.4 zest, entice, LX, fever and below. 2 questions..

1. Which of these trims offers the best...extras i guess. And is 1.1 worth looking at, or skipping and just look at 1.4's?

2. What should I be looking out for at car viewings and road test. Common faults etc

Any help appreciated

#2: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: iainlovatt PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:12 am
    ----
So i have alwasy gone by any car under £1k will have so many issues it is going to be untrue. However not everyone has thousands to spend on a car.

I had a 1.1 but would recommend a 1.4. Gives a little more power but better if you have weight in the car or are thinking of changing the wheels to anything bigger than 15"

All the trims are rubbish. But you are only going to change them probably with gti or gti 180 parts so i would just choose a trim that has digital climate and electric windows and mirrors!

#3: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: LloydPug206 PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 7:26 am
    ----
1.4

listen for a brief 'grinding' sound straight after startup (as soon as you let go of the key when it fires up). This will be faulty starter motor solenoid not pulling the gear out of the flywheel quickly enough. Apparently a very common fault on 206. That'll be £40-60 for a used one (£90 for new) and if you're good with spanners and fine with quite tight spaces job should be easy for you to do yourself tbh.

Gearboxes are crap so make sure the gears are meshing well and there's no play in the gearstick (jelly-like stick) as that'll be new connecting rods. Another thing you can do yourself (£30 for a set of the upgraded metal ones on eBay) but look at around £60-100 for a garage to fit and supply them.

Timing belt should be done if you're looking at that mileage don't forget! If it hasn't been done and it's a car you really want but it's hovering around the 50-60k mark look at getting a discount of 200-250 quid to get job done with tensioner, new water pump and fresh coolant.

Check stereo head unit as they sometimes switch off after a while if faulty. Check this during the test drive, of which you want at least 30 minutes in the car. Not too expensive for a new head unit or one off eBay but still a PITA.
Do a full steering lock in both directions and drive round in a circle, listen for any knocking when you do this as it can be new gaiters needed. Expensive and quite labour heavy job at a garage. Listen for squeaky brakes during test drive as well. Check the last MOT certificate for minors a common one to find on 206's is play in the steering rack.

Good luck with your search.

#4: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: LeeThr, Location: North West Wales PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 7:54 am
    ----
1.1 has a stronger gearbox, the 1.4 just kills the box's mine went through 3 in the space of 3 months.

#5: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: Simmo, Location: York PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:44 am
    ----
iainlovatt wrote:


All the trims are rubbish. But you are only going to change them probably with gti or gti 180 parts so i would just choose a trim that has digital climate and electric windows and mirrors!
Very true haha. My 206 is a 1.1 style yet if i told you it was a GTI you would probably almost believe me Very Happy Im almost there anyway.

#6: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: MrBSI, Location: What's it to you? ? ? PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 1:24 pm
    ----
LeeThr wrote:
1.1 has a stronger gearbox, the 1.4 just kills the box's mine went through 3 in the space of 3 months.

Total b******s, they use the same design of MA gearbox apart from the gear ratios.

To kill 3 x MA gearboxes that quickly they where either shagged to start with OR you where abusing them!

#7: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: DF10 PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:34 pm
    ----
LloydPug206 wrote:
1.4

listen for a brief 'grinding' sound straight after startup (as soon as you let go of the key when it fires up). This will be faulty starter motor solenoid not pulling the gear out of the flywheel quickly enough. Apparently a very common fault on 206. That'll be £40-60 for a used one (£90 for new) and if you're good with spanners and fine with quite tight spaces job should be easy for you to do yourself tbh.

Gearboxes are crap so make sure the gears are meshing well and there's no play in the gearstick (jelly-like stick) as that'll be new connecting rods. Another thing you can do yourself (£30 for a set of the upgraded metal ones on eBay) but look at around £60-100 for a garage to fit and supply them.

Timing belt should be done if you're looking at that mileage don't forget! If it hasn't been done and it's a car you really want but it's hovering around the 50-60k mark look at getting a discount of 200-250 quid to get job done with tensioner, new water pump and fresh coolant.

Check stereo head unit as they sometimes switch off after a while if faulty. Check this during the test drive, of which you want at least 30 minutes in the car. Not too expensive for a new head unit or one off eBay but still a PITA.
Do a full steering lock in both directions and drive round in a circle, listen for any knocking when you do this as it can be new gaiters needed. Expensive and quite labour heavy job at a garage. Listen for squeaky brakes during test drive as well. Check the last MOT certificate for minors a common one to find on 206's is play in the steering rack.

Good luck with your search.

Very Helpful, Thank you.

Looking at a 1.1 and 1.4 tomorrow, cant find any decent 1.4's around my area..so hopefully something pops up soon as need something asap (Short version:Focus was dying so changed at insurance renewal, Bought a punto, missed a few thing at inspection, symptoms of worn piston rings after 2 days so rejected it for refund (long winded) and now only have a few days insurance cooling off left so want to change whilst I can still cancel in case they try to re-charge deposit etc (likely!)

Really hoping to pick up a nice example as there are some really nice looking cars on here which shows the potential.

#8: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: DF10 PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:39 pm
    ----
Simmo wrote:
iainlovatt wrote:


All the trims are rubbish. But you are only going to change them probably with gti or gti 180 parts so i would just choose a trim that has digital climate and electric windows and mirrors!
Very true haha. My 206 is a 1.1 style yet if i told you it was a GTI you would probably almost believe me Very Happy Im almost there anyway.

How is your 1.1 at getting up to 60 (my everyday journey is 30-60-30-60 for 30 miles!) and maintaining motorway speed? I drove a friends 1.1 polo the other week and found it can go ok if you push the revs and gets to speed but clearing whilst cruising at higher speeds (say 60-70) is lame! haha
This similar?

#9: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: Mr-Tigger, Location: Essex PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:57 pm
    ----
can honestly say even the 1.4's can be rather sluggish but if you're not in a hurry then they fun to just throw at the corners.....just get momentum and dont lose it lol. def check for pulling when accelerating/braking beyond what you would expect for road surface etc. as above,at that mileage DEFINATELY check for timing belt,but tbh be surprised if you can get a good nick,low mileage example that had this done for sub £1000. just sold mine that had had all major work done for 900 but had 141k on the clock.........and shitloads spent making it silly loud and low haha Smile good luck though.

#10: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: DF10 PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:00 pm
    ----
Mr-Tigger wrote:
can honestly say even the 1.4's can be rather sluggish but if you're not in a hurry then they fun to just throw at the corners.....just get momentum and dont lose it lol. def check for pulling when accelerating/braking beyond what you would expect for road surface etc. as above,at that mileage DEFINATELY check for timing belt,but tbh be surprised if you can get a good nick,low mileage example that had this done for sub £1000. just sold mine that had had all major work done for 900 but had 141k on the clock.........and shitloads spent making it silly loud and low haha Smile good luck though.

Thanks. Will do.

If no timing belt Im going to try and knock the price down by £50, can get the kit for £35 and its an easy job.. Its hard as 1k is no chuck on the floor money, especially for me, but also its no price for a 'perfect' car.. catch 22!

#11: Re: Used car - What to look for Author: chief93, Location: United Kingdom PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:20 am
    ----
Don't think that price is for the full kit though mate? I'd suggest having your water pump done at the same time too as more often than not once the cam-belt has been done these tend to go not long after and you'd be gutted if that went after just forking out money on having the belt done!



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