Used Peugeot 307 CC review and buying guide (2003 to 2008): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Peugeot 307 CC should you buy?

Buy a manual 307 CC. The AL4 four-speed automatic is the one part of this car with a known, recurring weakness, so it's the version to pass on. There's only one generation, sold from 2003 to 2008, and beyond the gearbox there's little evidence either way, which means the condition of the car in front of you counts for more than its year.

There's no sign that a later car is better built than an early one, so don't hold out for a 2008 car expecting fewer faults. Judge the car itself instead: the right one has a roof, windows and heater fan that all work, nothing to suggest it's been through flood water, and paperwork for the October 2005 power steering recall.

Which 307 CC engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The manual's the gearbox to have. The AL4 automatic (also called the DPO) wears out the solenoids that regulate its pressure when its fluid's been dirty, overheated or never changed, and the trouble shows up between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. It's a disappointing version even when it's healthy, so you don't lose much by skipping it.

If you're set on an automatic, ask for receipts showing the gearbox fluid's been changed and give it a long test drive. A failing AL4 thumps or bangs into gear, shifts harshly, flashes a gearbox fault warning alongside the Sport and Snow lights, or sticks in third. Any of those means the fault's already started, so leave that car where it is.

Neither the petrol nor the diesel engines has a known fault against it, so there's nothing to choose between them on reliability. What they share is a low air intake: drive either through deep flood water and it can suck water in and hydraulically lock. Whichever fuel you pick, flood damage is the thing to rule out.

What should you check when viewing a used 307 CC?

Put the roof through a full open and close cycle at least twice, watching that it folds and locks without stalling or needing a hand. Roof mechanism faults do happen, though they're rare. Then work every electric window up and down: one owner found the front and rear windows failed again and again, roughly every four years.

Open each door and watch the glass drop by 10 to 12mm as you pull the handle, which lets it clear the seal. It can also drop while you're driving, so ask the seller whether it's ever done that. Try the heater fan on every speed too, as a wiring harness fault can make the fan resistors fail.

Look hard for flood damage: tide marks, silt or rust low in the engine bay and damp carpets all point to a car that's been through deep water. In October 2005, 307 owners were recalled to have the power steering's electrical connection better sealed against salt water, which could short it and, at worst, start a fire under the bonnet. Ask for proof it was done.

If the dash sounds a gong, one owner found it meant the battery wasn't holding enough charge and needed replacing. A single report claims at least 10 cars built from 2003 to 2006 had their seatbelt pretensioners fire without warning, with the pop-up roll bars going up at the same time. It's one report rather than a known fault, but on a car from those years ask whether the belts or roll bars have ever been replaced.

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 does a used Peugeot 307 CC cost to run?