Celebrate the 4th Of July With A Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkey Hot Hatch
Here’s to all my American friends and readers; your glorious country is 236 years old, still the land of opportunity, where immigrants from all over the world flock to make their dreams come true. But you must wait an absurdly long time to import clapped-out world-market hot hatches, like this Peugeot 106 GTI. Soviet Canuckistan isn’t so bad now, is it?
The 106 GTI doesn’t have the name recognition of say, a 205 GTI, but it’s regarded as one of the best handling cars of all-time by many European mags. 120 horsepower isn’t too impressive, until you consider that it weighs 2090 lbs, less than a first-generation 1.6L Miata. The one seen above is a Japanese import, which means it was likely well cared for due to the rigorous vehicle inspection process. Only 7500 miles are on the clock, but I’m not brave enough to risk a French hot hatch orphan, as awesome as it is.
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The odo reading is 121 000 km (and change), which does not translate to 7500 miles.
I once had a 106 1.4 5-door as rental and it was a terrific car! Ride and handling were extremely good, among the best I have ever tried. Roomy, practical, economical. And a lot of fun! The steering was full of feedback and very, very accurate.
Having looked at the ad... 15-year old, 121Kkm, go-faster-ish mods, MT, probably Grade 3-3.5 max at the auction. Will be surprised the guy paid more than 700-900 CAD. If any accident history at the time of bidding, then 300-500 or less. 4 Grand max to bring it and legalize in ON. Account for (non-)availability of ANY parts (all on order from EU) and problems finding a mechanic familiar with Pugs - and the best the seller could hope for will be around 3K Max, IMO.
What's with the color scheme, hood and fenders being matte black? Looks like it's 2 different cars spliced together.