Peugeot 307 Hatchback (2001 - 2007) 1.6 HDi SE (110bhp) 5d (AC) (2005/54) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Independent thinker; looks at and evaluates cars before buying, rather than simply following the sheep.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Love it; mates rate the car's surprising aggression, especially after tuning; fuel economy is beyond the wildest dreams of my Type-R owning colleagues; family love its looks and comfort. My mum and auntie both bought one!

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes, the 140bhp 2.0HDi or possibly the rare-as-rocking-horse-poo 180bhp petrol GT version. I just love everything about the 307. No wonder it's so popular.

What are you likely to buy next?

Either a 406 V6 twin-turbo HDi or possibly a Honda Integra type-R; I can only take so much sensible-ness.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£3,995

When did you buy the car?

November 2011

Did you get a good deal and why?

Decent price for the model, considerably cheaper than the other cars I looked at (Civic 2.2 diesel, Peugeot 407 HDi). Car has been extremely reliable so yes, a very good deal.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Loved the looks, needed a cheaper and more practical car than my previous ones (Peugeot 406 V6 estate and MG ZS 2.5 V6), never owned a small hatchback, Peugeot diesel engines are quite simply outstanding.

What was the dealer like?

Friendly but incompetent in my opinion; the person who dealt with it didn't tax it as promised (and lost my MOT certificate) and then left the dealership before I realised and complained.

What's it like to drive?

A beauty to drive with tons of grip, far less body roll than the first-generation 307 and some other modern Peugeots. Massive turbo lag, but a kick in the kidneys when it comes in. Responds very well to tuning. I've got a K&N filter, stage 1 remap and a stage 3 organic competition clutch. Currently running 145bhp and about 250lb/ft from 110bhp and about 200lb/ft standard, with more mods planned. In-gear acceleration is ferocious after the remap, amusingly much quicker than a modern Mondeo ST220 on the motorway. A KW shocks and springs kit has noticeably increased the car's capability and it feels very confident in all situations including rain and high winds.

What's it like to park?

Easy; doesn't need parking sensors. Wing mirrors fold in when car is locked which should also be standard equipment for every modern car.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Windscreen wipers have a mind of their own; emission system fault light shows intermittently after being remapped (a known issue after performance remapping); be very wary about modifying, as the standard clutch cannot take the massive slew of torque unleashed with even cheap and easy tweaks.

What's most practical about your car?

Fuel economy. The economy just wants to improve all the time even after spirited driving - it visibly "regenerates" all the way up to 40-46mpg depending on driving style. Also the car is the perfect size for today's world.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Automatic headlights; should be standard on all cars. I love all the gadgets though. Steering-column stereo controls rock.