Hi all,
I've always a soft spot for the 126. I first thought about getting one in the late 90's but didn't get around to it.
My brother is 6ft2 and I thought it would be funny seeing him trying to get in and out of the car.
I'm not sure which model to go for. Originally I was thinking about going for the BIS as I like the idea of it being liquid cooled and the hatchback to the boot but then I like the look of the little flip down cover for the air cooled version and the way the engine looks in the bay.
Does the hatchback reduce the rigidness of body at all?
I'm pretty mechanically minded so most things won't phase me but I've not much experience with bodywork and keeping rust at bay.
Are there any recommendations you guys would suggest after owner one of these cars?
My car history isn't that great.
Mid 90's I bought an Escort mk3 1.1 before I passed my test to learn to drive in but someone crashed in to my mom when she borrowed it.
My next car was my dads 405, I'd borrowed it while he was away. The water pumped seized which snapped the belt, the pistons hit valves and broke the camshaft in to four pieces. It was just my luck as it was Friday the 13th. On my dads return he said I could have the car if I put a replacement engine in.
The 405 was my introduction to Peugeots. After the 405 died again from another cambelt failure I decided I'd like a 306. I ended up buying new in 2000 and I've done 352k miles in the HDI Dturbo since.
2014 I bought another 306, this time an estate version (2002) as I race karts and use this car only for transporting me, my kart and everything needed for a race weekend. Before buying it I asked a friend who had one if there was enough room with the seats down to sleep in the back and when he said yes I thought it would be ideal to sleep in it at the circuit to save on accommodation costs.
In 2016 I saw a spare repair MOT failure 306 GTI6 come up for sale. I've always wanted one since buying my first 306. I thought it would be fun to fix and could be an opportunity for it to be an investment seeing the way the 205 gti have gone with value.
2018 I decided I should replace my first 306 (the Dturbo) to get something better on fuel for the commute to work so I bought Citroen DS3 but I couldn't bare to sell on my Dturbo so the last couple of years I've been using GTI in the summer, the Dturbo in the winter and DS3 most of the time to go to work. Oh and the estate around once a month when going racing.
I have to keep the estate at work and one of the 306's at my parents when it's off the road. I don't think I'd be allowed another car without selling one of the others so I think the GTI might have to go. I think my friends are going to think I've gone replacing the GTI with the 126.
Anyway I hope I haven't bored you guys too much with my waffle.