As the title suggests, I'm looking for a 106 Rally. I recently had to sell the Mk1 vRS and as well built as the Honda is, it is unbelievably boring. Now I know it's the size of a wheelie bin, noisy, underpowered and the build quality is dodgy to say the least, but I still want one.

Have any of you owned one or currently own one? I'd appreciate any views you have on them as I can't figure out which is best, the 1.3 or the 1.6. I don't want a modified one, i.e. a 1.3 shell with a GTi engine, Im looking for a standard car.

Looking forward to your viewpoints.

Cheers,

Andrew.

I prefer the S2 shape to the S1,

I have a friend who has a gti engine'd throttle bodied 106 and another that has a supercharged C2 Vts engine'd saxo running just shy of 300bhp so any advise you want just give me a shout as these lads know them inside out.

Sounds like they know their stuff then. I'm looking to do this on a budget, so super power, engine swaps and mods are out of the question in the first instance. I'd be interested to know if the prices on the 106 forum are realistic, or are they inflated because people on there are mad about that particular car?

It seems like people are asking £1500 to £2000 for cars that I would have said are worth quite a bit less. Considering I've seen the odd vRS go for £2000 recently, there's no comparison in terms of car to money ratio.

There is alot of dreamers about but finding a tidy rallye is easier said than done, alot of them have had 16v conversions or been thrashed to death

I know rear beams are a issue on 106's as seals go and they wear and start to knock, they can be repaired but not cheap,

I had an Indigo blue S2 Rallye, I had mildly modded it it had a Green Cotton induction kit, Raceland four branch manifold heat wrapped, decat, Piper Decat exhaust system, lowered on Spax springs and rear torsion bar reset to match and had White Compomotive MOs on it shod in Uniroyal Tyres.

This bearing in mind was getting on for about 8 years ago, bought from a Peugeot dealer in Redditch I was the second owner and was completely standard when bought with 35000 miles on the clock.

Yes they are underpowered and very basic and tinny inside BUT hand on heart I can say it's the best handling little car iv owned and iv owned a few. They rev quite highly for an eight valve motor and are nippy in standard form, with a few breathing mods it's a different car.

As mentioned above genuine standard, great condition ones still fetch a premium, and are few and far between tbh.

Even after all these years I still have a hankering for another myself to be honest, S1 with 16v engine conversion or a S2 with a well set up throttle bodied engine would do lovely. But I need a bigger house first but just maybe in the future you never know.

Good luck finding one and hope you enjoy it as I did.

Thanks for the post. I'm looking to own a car that can make me smile, rather than outpower people. The Skoda was amazing as a family car and in a straight line could surprise quite a few people. Looking back though, my favourite cars were the lower powered, lighter cars. My Mk1 Golf GTI was top of the list for handling and fun. Lift off oversteer was a daily event and even though it was on 185 tyres, it handled miles better than the Octavia. The Honda is now the family barge, so whatever I get next will be to have fun in on a Sunday morning. The road to Whitby is calling me as I write this and the FRV just isn't the car to take.

The search is on, but the more I look, the more I realise that an umodded version is a bit like hens teeth.

Hello Andrew,

I think I also saw a post of your on Rally Register?

I bought a S1 in Feb this year. As I wanted a car that was FUN without doing stupid speeds or even above the limit. The Rallye is that car. Yesterday me and my girlfriend went for a drive, and the Rallye is so much fun. There the engine was screaming and I was having to work the wheel, I look down and tell her "55 (mph)" from all the drama you would think you were going 100, but your still UNDER the speed limit. - The complete opposite of a GTR maybe?!

Straight roads are a bit boring, but least you can hear stuff and the wheel is moving about a bit. You certainly know you are driving compared to the vRS.

Mine is a completely standard S1 even with original stereo. Unless the engine goes pop it will be staying that way. I put a 160BHP 16V engine in a 205 GTi and it changed the car from being what Peugeot intended it to be. Also the way to keep its price will be to keep it standard. Like you say, not many around that have not been played with.

You mention prices (check out MK2 Escorts, gulp!), they seem to be realisitic. They are not a car that just anyone would buy, they are getting long in the tooth so the average owner will need to be handy with a spanner, very different NVH compared to a modern car and not that 'fast' in down the pub speak. For something that spends most of the time in the garage the cheaper TAX rate is also a bonus on the S1.

Regarding the rear beam/suspension, unlike the 205 GTi the width of the rear beam is the same as a base model 1.1i etc, so you just swap over the torsion & anti-roll bars which are thicker to a base model beam. Much easier to source than 205 stuff.

Look at all the old car mag reviews and how EVO mag continue to praise it when it crops up in comparision reviews. It is highly regarded car, although one with a 'small' engine.

Sean.

I was looking recently, the GTi is much more common, and therefore prices are much better.

Really wish my garage was empty, as i'd get one as a little project car.

Hello Andrew,

I think I also saw a post of your on Rally Register?

I bought a S1 in Feb this year. As I wanted a car that was FUN without doing stupid speeds or even above the limit. The Rallye is that car.

Sean.

Yep, that was my post. It's interesting as everything you say is exactly why I'd like one. The insurance is unbelievably cheap, tax is about £135 per year and it would fit nicely in my garage if it needs ot be off the road for a bit. I found that for the vRS to get interesting, I had to be doing daft speeds and even then I was unaware of what was going on because it was so good at travelling at tripple figure speeds (on the autobahn of course).

Thanks for the info and I may have to pick your brains in future if I get one in terms of bits 'n' bobs and servicing.

I was looking recently, the GTi is much more common, and therefore prices are much better.

Really wish my garage was empty, as i'd get one as a little project car.

For some reason, the GTi doesn't appeal at all! I've no idea why as it's faster and therefore in theory better, but I've always liked the Rallye. Prices are cheaper for the GTi, but again most of them have been modded. Why people have the desire to 'slam' their cars I don't know as it doesn't always mean better handling.

I bought a S1 in Feb this year. .

Forgot to say Sean, I think you've owned it long enough now. How about you pass it on to a new owner, you know, share the love and all that.

A bit of an update.

I've been looking and looking and have decided on an Series 1 with an original engine. There's a few out there ranging from £800 up to just shy of £4000! It seems that rust is the main enemy of the 106, mainly in the boot which can be costly to fix. Also, the forums aren't as helpful as Briskoda with replies taking up to a week, or never at all. I think I've been spoiled on here with the support and advice being so good. I'm registered on a couple of Pug forums, but Briskoda takes a lot of beating for friendliness.

Also, for the money people want for their cars, it makes the Skodas for sale on here look like bloomin’ bargains. £2000 buys you a fairly decent Octavia vRS but it probably buys a whole heap of French trouble. There’s no comparison. Also, it seems that Peugeot owners are happy to stick all sorts of crap on their cars in the belief that it makes them go faster. Finding a S1 Rallye with the original air box is almost impossible, they tend to run a cone filter – mainly for the sound.

I’m learning new stuff, which is partly why I’m doing this but I’m worried I’m going to buy a money pit with a fragile gearbox, rear end that’s dissolving and a head gasket that’s going to let go at any moment.

Still, it’s all good fun and after driving an S1 the other day, I definitely want one despite all the issues it will bring. They sound fantastic, go round corners very well and it’s the sort of car I’d jump in and go for a drive just for the hell of it, which I very rarely did in the vRS.

If/when I get one, I’ll post up some pics.

it’s the sort of car I’d jump in and go for a drive just for the hell of it, which I very rarely did in the vRS.

Exactly.

I am glad you have managed to go out in one.

Regarding gearbox because it is so close; going from 3rd to 2nd is like trying to go into 1st on a normal ratio box. To add to my Rallye driving experience I have been learning to double declutch when going 3rd-2nd. When you get it just right it is so smooth. Very satifying when you have been going along in 4th in a 30 limit and you come to a 60, drop it into 2nd to around 4500-5000rpm and hear that baby rev!!

Ummmm, cone filter makes the sound even better. I must ditch my airbox. Only joking, I must resist moddifying it

The noise is quite addictive. My mate's Integra is mental, and even though it's not in the same league the 106 gets close as it's so happy to rev.

This one has cropped up and although it looks clean, I'm not sure.

Here's the spec,

- 131000 miles

- 3 months MOT and Tax

- 1.3 8v original engine (Recently had a full head rebuild with all new seals and gaskets)

- Excellent service history

- Interior is in brilliant condition (Fitted with a flocked Dash)

- new water pump and cam belt

- loads of spare parts including all new front suspension parts and pollybushed wish bones

- 4-2-1 manifold

- 2" pugsport

- b&m quickshift

- Group N gear linkages

- Powerflex lower engine mount

- 205 GTi Speedline alloys

- no rust on the sills, boot floor or inner wings

- more that i will have missed so viewing is recommended. (The car was a Cat C in 2006 and the VIC is present in the history, please dont let this put you off, the car is in overall good condition.)

What do you think? It's up for £1750.

It looks nice and smart, and like you say (and I know) finding an original spec Rallye is very difficult. What you really want is to be out there enjoying it!

Mine is also CAT C, it had a minor front end needing a bonnet, headlights & indicators, which easily 'wrote it off'. It still has the original bumper and if you look closely you can see crazing in the paint but no metal has bent. I have been all over (and under!) my car.

205 GTi 1.9 alloys are a classic design. But you could keep your eye out for some steelies. Most likely to come from the later S2 Rallye.

I expect getting hold of a red bonnet would be quite easy if you wanted to get a more standard external look. The ride height looks sensible. I like the PTS stickers above the side wing indicators.

I'm not too worried about the Cat C issue, as I know of people who have had cars written off for minor damage on older cars. I'd like the original wheels, bonnet and air box to make it look more OEM, bur as you say they can be bought later. Getting the car and driving it would be the main priority, it's finding the time to get to see them before they sell.

As for your Cat C damage, does the insurer know and how does it affect the premium?

Looks like it has all the right bits on it, find out why it was a cat c and then have a check round damaged area

I like the red rallyes aswells

Looks like it has all the right bits on it, find out why it was a cat c and then have a check round damaged area

I like the red rallyes aswells

I'm going to try to see it this week, so I'll post up how the viewing goes if I get there.

The damage was apparently was 'to the offside front corner, as a result it ended up needing a new inner wing welding on, new slam panel, bonnet, wing, bumper and head light.' The bloke selling has been very honest and doesn't seem to be hiding anything.

The only concern I have is if I'm in a crash, will the repairs be a weak point? But then I think, if I'm in a crash I'm in trouble anyway as it's a 106.

Red is my favourite colour too.

Well, I've gone and done it. I'm now the proud owner of this.

It's loud, unrefined, it pops and bangs on the overun and is an absolute hoot to drive. It really takes me back to my early days of driving and is a real tonic after having had so many 'grown up' cars. I'll update later when I've got to know it a bit better.

As for mods, I'm looking to put an original bonnet back on, some original steelies and raise the front by putting the suspension back to original spec. It's got a full stailnless cat free system and a Group N manifold on and it's SO LOUD! I may put the original system back on, but I'll run it for a bit before I decide.

Cheers for the info from people on this as it helped me decide what to do.

Old skool at it's finest, except maybe a 205 1.9 GTi

I did consider one as they are about half the price. I know it sounds daft, but they are too big for my needs and the smaller engine with cheap tax and insurance on the 106 appealed too. You're right though, it's very Old Skool, I have to wind the windows up and dwon by hand!

Nice buy! I'd keep the bonnet and suspension and exhaust, just change the wheels. That's just me though everyone's different.

I know exactly what you mean about the VRS not being a car you just want to jump in and drive for the hell of it. Having had an MX5, an MR2 and a golf MK1 they are cars you get in and just love driving. Well done for getting the rallye, keep an eye on the rust and the mechanicals and should be okay:)

Edited 18 August, 201213 yr by Blanes

Nice one on buying the Rallye. If you get any questions then ask.

I need to MOT mine, this weather is crying out to go out for an evening thrash.

I fitted a CAT on mine ready for the MOT. It made a slight difference in noise but not much, but then I still have centre and back silencers. I prefer less boom as bass wears my ears out. I just get noise of the little 1.3 screaming

Now enjoy the fun of driving without speeding! Arrhhh I need to drive it.

I've got a full OEM exhaust come MOT time so passing on emissions shouldn’t be an issue. As for going out for a blast, I’m itching to go out all the time! Also, there’s a bit of a cruizin’ scene down the seafront here in Scarborough and I know that It’d cause a bit of a stir with the Saxo boys. Trouble is, by the time the kids have gone to bed, I’ve done the washing up and tidied all the toys away, it’s too late to get down with my homies. I’m just too old for this boy racer malarkey.

As for asking you questions, I may have a few when I’ve given the car a service and replaced the grumbling wheel bearing.