Which 206 Engine?

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

My step-daughter's keen to purchase a new car soon, Pug 206. About £500 to £800 mark. Which are the best engine options, also keeping in mind cheapest poss insurance? ....specially as she's had two small claims in the past two years!!

I know the DW-8's widely regarded as a bit of a dog, but not sure how to identify it? A particular cc rating maybe?

I'm very much a diesel type myself, surely petrol's a fuel of the past; and inclined to steer her towards the 1.4HDi (is it a good 'un?) but I don't think she's fussed, petrol or diesel; as long as its silver colour !!

She's on her second TUD5 106D in 5 years while I've had two 405 n/a D estates over the past 8 years; so I know my way around the older diesels but not the newer turbocharged stuff; and I've not laid a spanner on a petrol engine in nearly 20 years.

NB: how's this for the shortest ever car viewing ever?! A 2door 206 with a NSR wing full of filler; I was there less than a minute and didn't even open the door!!

[evilally]

The DW8 is essentially an XUD with a tweaked head design to improve emissions. They only come in n/a and with a lucas pump but if you know your way around an XUD then you'll be right at home.

[spider]

1.1 is probably the cheapest to insure, closely followed (I'd assume by the DW8)

The DW8 206 is usually identified by them saying 1.8D or 1.9D , its actually 1868cc and is a more 'emission friendly' XUD unit, unfortunately (at least in my personal opinion) they went a step too far with this (I don't mean emission reduction) I suspect this was to 'encourage' people to buy the HDi units. As you've had a TUD, its not that far off in that its a 'slow but steady plodder'.

99% are Lucas pump equipped (to be honest not an issue) , very early ones (S and some T plates) have a mechanical advance pump like the early XUD's (good) later ones have an electronic advance pump. Manual adjust timing belt (like the XUD the cam and injection pulley are hubs with three bolts) . Unlike the TUD the EGR system can and likely *will* give issues due to clogging up. You can clean it out (easy to get to) or unplug its vac hose. Having seen the mess in the inlet mankifold (typo deliberate) its worth doing as they can stick slightly open sometimes resulting in poor running.

Petrol engines, well in my personal opinion the 1.1 seems to be a bit more reliable than the 1.4 (KFX) units. I don't know if its due to differing manufacturers of injection equipment (Magneti Marellli vs Bosch) or something else. The 1.6 is OK but not terrible powerful and you may find the insurance a bit high for step-daughter.

HDi units are OK, the 2.0 is about bomb proof as its based on the XUDT block (so bottom end will last for almost forever with care) , the smaller HDi units, the 1.4 and the 1.6, I'd personally if I had to have a 1.4 or 1.6 go for the 1.4 simply as 90% of them are 8v and give a lot less potential trouble than the 1.6. I think 110bhp is a lot to pull from a 1.6 diesel unit personally so its quite complex.

The 2.0 HDi can feel a bit 'heavy' in the 206 though as its quite a large unit, I never really noticed this myself but I have seen others say that it make it feel heavy. Its not overpowered as its the 90 unit and understressed in a small car.

DW8 in 206 only existed till about Y or 51 plate then it was phased out.

It depends on the price and age I guess, if you wanted a cheap diesel I'd go for the DW8 as you prefer (I guess from your post) an 'older' engine design. The smaller HDi's are OK but there is a shortage of working room around them (and the injection equipment is at the back of the head on these smaller ones too)

Hope that's a start. Others may chime in with their thoughts hopefully too. Bear in mind I (again personally) slightly prefer the older indirect injection engines, there's nothing wrong with the newer ones but there are electronics compared to the older ones, and if its not got xyz fitted it cannot break.

[spider]

The DW8 is essentially an XUD with a tweaked head design to improve emissions. They only come in n/a and with a lucas pump but if you know your way around an XUD then you'll be right at home.

I forgot to mention that, the DW8 uses the XUD block yes.

In a 206 its 99% Lucas. Very very early DW8 306's (S plate, yes I know I said 306 so not applicable here) can * sometimes * have a Bosch fuel system but that's quite rare from what I can recall.

Oh all RHD 206D's should have a hydraulic clutch if I remember correctly so its nice and light (ish)

[Peter.N.]

The most reliable diesel is undoubtedly the 2.0. 8 valve Hdi, these engines seem bombproof. I have two, one in a 406 which has covered 237k miles and still has the original clutch and DMF (I don't think the 206 has the DMF) and a C5 on 200k same situation.

Peter

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Thanks everso for your time and trouble guys, specially Spider for some really comprehensive, useful advice.

"if its not got xyz fitted it cannot break", yeh, my sentiments exactly !

I think the shortlist is the 8v 1.4HDi, the DW-8 or the 1.1 Petrol.

Thanks also to Evilally, hows the 'Top Secret Project' going? would luv to see it next time we're in Scotland (expected summer 2016) with our old girl.

and to Peter, clearly sound advice also but a little too big for insurance purposes

PS: hope this is ok, mods; a link to my Public Techno-Classica 2015 gallery (Facebook page); which will be added to soon-ish. My name and location on Fb are deliberately incorrect by the way.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 0b039a511a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Posting this more so for others' potential info than mine, as a list of comparitive 206 insurances quotes:
All based upon ….

10,000miles a year
Kept on the Public Road at GL7
Value £1,000
Driver Joan Smith
Female
DOB 28/03/1989
Works at Café staff in Retailing
No Convictions, Claims or Penalties
Insurance to Start 01/07/2015
Full car Licence for 3 years
No NCD
No medical issues
No access to other cars

Using a popular comparison site today
The two prices are annual payment and monthly payment in that order

£685. £863. 1.1 Zest 3
£753. £855 1.4 Zest 3
£746 £890 1.4HDi Zest 3
£848 £1,000 1560cc (1.6) HDi Verve
£729 £947 1868cc DW8 Style

an actual quote for my step-daughter would be more complicated than this due to her claims and also a health issue, but this information was I felt sufficient for comparitive purposes

[Peter.N.]

Ah right. I'm old and live in the country, the insurance on my 406 and C5 is about £150.00.

Peter

[daviemck2006]

My fiesta 1.4 tdci is the 1.4 hdi 8v. It's phenomenal on fuel £40 does 500 miles. However it's not been the most reliable, had injector seals, an ecu, engine wiring loom and away to get the fuel lines on top of the engine. That's in 4 months and 3500 miles. I would change it but can't afford to with having this much changed. The ecu and wiring loom were off a breaker other parts new. I'm not saying all 1.4 hdi would need all this, I think i have been unlucky buying a dog, but they do have a reputation for leaking injectors.
I have had two 1.4, one a 16v and one an 8v. They were both ok, but need revving. Nippy enough. The 8v had an oil leak, from the head gasket, but it only leaked the oil out, not into the water so I just topped it up in the short time i had it and did not park on my lock block drive lol

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

nice part of the world that Peter.

I was concerned this year coz my insurers, Co-Op, were advertising premiums from £150 on the telly; but mine was only £137; thankfully they were competitive again this year, and still below £150 so after a quick shop around they got my custom again. I could've saved £7 but it didn't seem worth the agro, not even to a tight-wad like me.

I remember your area as pretty much where I thought my legs had given out on my longest ever solo bicycle ride, Bournemouth to Exeter. I was at the half way point of Bournemouth to Torquay (intended destination) and didn't seem to be able to get up speed. After stopping, resting, re-commencing, stopping again and fretting somewhat I eventually noticed that I was going up a long slow climb. Chideock hill was easy in comparison!

Thanks also Davie

[Peter.N.]

Chideock hill is steep! That's where our mobile phone signal comes from. We live about 3 miles inland from Charmouth on Wootton Hill, we are still looking out into Lyme bay though.

My insurance went up about £20 when I corrected my birth date, they had my wifes in there, seems it starts to increase after 76.

Peter

[chinkostu]

The dw8 aint too bad if cared for. Our 206 is at 137k, of which about 30k is us driving it. The cambelt slipping due to the aux belt shredding turned it into a rattly beast though, it wakes the dead on a cold start.

Endlessly economical though, if very lethargic. The xudT in the xant feels like a rocket in comparison, in a heavier car with only 15 more hp!

Can't go wrong with the 1.1 if it isnt a boy racer special

[Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur]

Thanks Stu. See you've got a Xantia in the family, always luved the styling of them but frightened by the suspension. I'm inclined towards the DW8 as its diesel and it'll be fairly familiar to me, running a 405. There haven't been any further viewings yet after the [probably] repaired write-off incredibly short viewing mentioned.

Talking of economy, I was amazed by a recent convo with a friend in which he told me that his 64 plate Punto 1.3 D averages 58mpg..... so that's 20years newer than my 405 est and only half the size, but only a meagre 20% (9mpg) better economy!!

[chinkostu]

The Xantia was a real suprise to me too. Sat down and basically crammed as much about the system as I could. Its far from perfect but I love driving it!


The HDI unit is just as economical as the old XUD and the DW8 but theres the issues that come with it. Although the older 2l 8v units are pretty sturdy! As far as the punto goes, its bad that they only make 58mpg when AX diesels were touching 70 or more on a good run. If i drive the Xant economically it'll do 50 and its weighs a lot!

[Peter.N.]

The Hdi unit should be better than the XUD, my 406 will easily exceed 60mpg driven gently. My XMs with the 2.1 XUD were about the most efficient version and would do 50+ mpg on out annual trip to Scotland, the 406 managed 62mpg this year.

Peter