Newbie after a 3 door HDI

[partybish]

Hi all,

I'm new to the site as I'm currently on the hunt for a 3 door hdi or d turbo in Astor grey or china blue. I will consider other colours if any of you have or know of any. 

I'm based in Surrey but happy to travel for the right car. 


Cheers,
Matt

[Blaze Addict]

Hello and welcome

Good luck with your search 306's are getting a bit thin on the ground and Astor was a bit rocking horse to begin with even though it suited 3dr nicely. They are still out there just might take a bit of time for a good one to crop up

[Mattcheese31]

Welcome, as said Astor is pretty rare but good luck in your search

[partybish]

Thanks for the welcomes guys, I'm probably being overly fussy about the colour but I do enjoy hunting down rarer cars.

I've just managed to source some Wheelmania Lions in anthracite so they'd probably suit a lighter colour like Moonstone, Blaze or Diablo anyway. If anyone hears of a three door up for sale do let me know, in the meantime I'll start brushing up my knowledge of them - is it really true that and HDI will do 700 miles to a tank or is that a myth?

[Mattcheese31]

Thanks for the welcomes guys, I'm probably being overly fussy about the colour but I do enjoy hunting down rarer cars.  

I've just managed to source some Wheelmania Lions in anthracite so they'd probably suit a lighter colour like Moonstone, Blaze or Diablo anyway.  If anyone hears of a three door up for sale do let me know, in the meantime I'll start brushing up my knowledge of them - is it really true that and HDI will do 700 miles to a tank or is that a myth?

if it's in good fettle and on a run they will yes, i've had over 600 out of a tank in my older XUD9te on long runs

[Blaze Addict]

Thanks for the welcomes guys, I'm probably being overly fussy about the colour but I do enjoy hunting down rarer cars.

I've just managed to source some Wheelmania Lions in anthracite so they'd probably suit a lighter colour like Moonstone, Blaze or Diablo anyway. If anyone hears of a three door up for sale do let me know, in the meantime I'll start brushing up my knowledge of them - is it really true that and HDI will do 700 miles to a tank or is that a myth?

Although not the same car admittedly I've once had 910 miles out of a tank in a 406 HDi which I believe only held 10 litres more than a 306. I've managed 600 miles a couple of times in my XUD too

[bashbarnard]

Lions? Arent they the 17s that look like clones


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[Mattcheese31]

Lions? Arent they the 17s that look like clones


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that's the ones

[partybish]

Yeah, I've been after a set for a while, just need a car to fit them onto now 

Even 600 miles to a tank is epic.  I'm lucky if I can get 280 miles to a tank in my current car.  

Just looking on ebay and gumtree even 3 doors seem rare to come by in any colour.

[MY95]

Had my 306 HDI over 3 years now, lowest ive had out of a tank was 508 which equated to 45mpg, highest ive had was 625 at 52.26 mpg, lowest mpg has been 43.1 (with binding brakes) and highest ive had was Pugfest last year including hill runs which equated to 52.6 mpg, reckon now without binding brakes I could easily manage 650 miles/55mpg on a run! Although I do mixed journeys so wont see 50mpg usually, unless I do a big trip on one tank.
Really are good on fuel if you can resist the loud pedal (which I unfortunately never can haha) and drive on the right roads.
Youd have to drive like a granny to get 700+ out of a tank though, 600 is easily possible.

RE buying a 306 HDI, id buy the best condition/most looked after one you can find, even if its 5dr, as most will have problems as they will have been abused and not maintained properly due to how cheap you can buy them for now, real gem to drive though when you get one properly sorted with a few upgrades!

[partybish]

Thanks MY95, that's sound advice and I really should take that approach. If I was to go the other way, take a risk and buy something cheap (£5-600) with little or no records, what would you budget and do to it first as a precaution e.g. cambelt, aux belts, water pumps etc etc. I guess there could be untold wear to the engine but I've seen people pay for strip downs and rebuilds for around £1500.

Also any recommendations for good HDI specialists in the South (Surrey/Hants)?

[MY95]

Thanks MY95, that's sound advice and I really should take that approach.  If I was to go the other way, take a risk and buy something cheap (£5-600) with little or no records, what would you budget and do to it first as a precaution e.g. cambelt, aux belts, water pumps etc etc.  I guess there could be untold wear to the engine but I've seen people pay for strip downs and rebuilds for around £1500.

Also any recommendations for good HDI specialists in the South (Surrey/Hants)?

No worries, id seriously advise against that - these cars need a lot of work with the age they are at already, and buying a one that hasn't been looked after will have a lot more problems.

Touch wood I haven't had any engine problems in the last 50k other than changing the Aux belt twice and cambelt once. Find a bad one though and you'll be constantly fixing the engine for various error codes. You wouldn't pay for a strip down, youd just get another engine fitted as they are cheap anyway.

If you were to buy a cheap one make sure its got some service history at least, the rear axle will most definitely need doing, alongside some other suspension components. Pretty hardy cars if looked after, mine gets used daily and its been really really good to me, took my parents to the garage the three times their 308 1.6 HDI Estate broke down when the AA came and towed it, just shows older cars can be more reliable if looked after and you have a good one.

RE HDI specialists, they are a very easy engine to work on and any garage/decent mechanic could work on them, the only HDI specialists are the forum tuners i.e. HDI-Tuning.

My advice is to buy on condition not model, you can put all the GTI6/HDI D Turbo bits into a 5dr anyway, bought mine because I knew it had been looked after since new, if you only wanted the looks of the GTI/HDI DT you'd only need to add the spoilers and wheels which can be had for under £100, more tricky is finding the 5dr HDI DT seats but that's possible as ive done it. You may as well buy a refurbed axle and some new uprated shocks/springs and refresh all the bushes if your planning on keeping it a while as they drive so well after.

As an example go for a car like these two that have had the last owner who has had the car for as long as possible, Y plates are cheaper for tax too (around £140 vs £230)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/a...asc&page=2

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/a...306&page=4

Inbox me if you want to ask anything.

[Matt-Rallye]

Hello and welcome

To echo what has been said already and add some pointers:

A Y reg hdi is cheaper to tax per annum
Give Derv-Developments (Users Poodle & Jonny81191 on here) a shout. What they don't know about HDi engines & 306's probably isn't worth knowing

Another thing to look for with ANY 306 is rust. few good buying guides on here and even the best looked after examples have been driven in the winter salt at some point. Don't be afraid to give a car a damn good look over when viewing as it may save you alot of hassle and money in the long term.

[Annjoe]

Hi all,

I'm new to the site as I'm currently on the hunt for a 3 door hdi or d turbo in Astor grey or china blue. I will consider other colours if any of you have or know of any. 

I'm based in Surrey but happy to travel for the right car. 


Cheers,
Matt

Hi thought y reg or r reg were all one tax price

---

Hi thought y rg or r reg were all one tax price

[Matt-Rallye]

Hi all,

I'm new to the site as I'm currently on the hunt for a 3 door hdi or d turbo in Astor grey or china blue. I will consider other colours if any of you have or know of any. 

I'm based in Surrey but happy to travel for the right car. 


Cheers,
Matt

Hi thought y reg or r reg were all one tax price

---

Hi thought y rg or r reg were all one tax price

Y reg is 2001 onwards so is taxed by the emissions rating not the engine size

[bashbarnard]

Yeah so y is £145 for a year we have one of both


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[Annjoe]

Yeah so y is £145 for a year we have one of both


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Yes that's right

[Annjoe]

My email is bona.jones@blueyonder.co.uk