Used Peugeot 106 review and buying guide (1991 to 2002): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Peugeot 106 should you buy?

A plain petrol 106 with a manual gearbox is the one to look at, from either the original 1991 to 1996 cars or the facelifted range from June 1996. That's not because the petrols have a clean record, it's because the specific warnings land on the diesels and the GTi 16v, so a basic petrol simply carries fewer of them.

The facelifted range includes the GTi 16v, the quick one, and it's the version that needs the hardest look, since it's the one to check for crash damage and hard use. The automatic only has three speeds, so it's a poor choice unless you can't drive a manual. Whatever you buy, the seat runners, front suspension and rear brakes are shared weak points worth checking on every 106.

There are four recalls to ask about: ignition switch wiring that could rub on the steering column on 1996 cars, a brake servo valve that could lose its assistance (recalled in 2000), a brake pedal relay lever that could snap on 2000 cars, and the airbag control unit on twin-airbag cars (recalled in 2002). Ask for proof the work's been done.

Which Peugeot 106 engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

Go for a petrol with the manual gearbox, though there isn't much on record either way about the plain petrol engines, so it's the diesels and the GTi 16v that you're steering around rather than a petrol that's proven itself. Don't read that as a guarantee: the car still has to be judged on how it's been looked after.

The 1.5 diesel needs regular servicing and regular coolant changes, and it wears front tyres quickly. What looked like worn bores on some of them turned out to be oil misting from overfilling, so it shouldn't take more than 3.5 litres, which shows about two thirds up the dipstick. One owner of the original 1.4 diesel found it ran very hot and replaced the head gasket at 60,000 miles and again at 80,000.

The GTi 16v can burn out its catalytic converter if it's been run against the rev limiter, so ask how it's been driven and whether the cat's ever been replaced. Ask too whether it's ever had accident repairs, because damage from leaving the road is the other thing to look for on a 16v, and a seller with no answers to either question has given you a reason to pass.

What should you check when viewing a used Peugeot 106?

Slide the driver's seat right back and forward and lock it in a few positions, because the runners fail a lot. One report also describes the seat mechanism rubbing through the wiring for the seatbelt pretensioners and airbag, so make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. Sit in it properly too: the pedals are offset, big feet can catch two at once, and tall drivers just won't fit.

Lift the boot floor or look underneath for the spare wheel, which lives in a cradle under the car and can easily be pinched. On the drive, listen for knocks from the front suspension over bumps. Feel for a rear wheel dragging and check the handbrake holds: the rear drum linings are only glued to the shoes, and one that comes loose can lock the whole drum.

On a GTi 16v, look along the panels and underneath for signs it's been off the road and repaired. On a diesel, ask for receipts for regular oil and coolant changes, and pull the dipstick to make sure it isn't overfilled. Then ask for paperwork for the recalls, above all the brake pedal relay lever on 2000 cars.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What do Peugeot 106 owners like about them?

Every 106 handles well, from the basic petrol to the GTi 16v, which is reckoned to handle particularly well. It's a nimble little car, and the body's stronger than its size suggests: it's actually sturdier and heavier than the bigger Peugeot 205.

A basic one can rack up big miles. One owner bought a 1995 1.1 with 40,000 miles on it and drove another 80,000 with very little going wrong and hardly any parts replaced, which is a lot of use from a small, simple hatch with a 1.1 under the bonnet.

• The Peugeot 106 offers good handling characteristics and is noted for its robust build quality.
• Revised models from June 1996, including the 120 bhp GTi 16v, are considered to have superior handling.
• A 1995 106 1.1 covered 80,000 miles with minimal issues, achieving 48 to 50 miles per gallon.