January 2003

Taking over from the Peugeot 306 was never going to be an easy task. After all, the French manufacturer's Ford Escort rival was a fine-handling and well packaged machine. A perennially popular offering, it rolled off the production line between 1993 and 2001.
However its successor, the 307, has proved that it is up to the challenge. Although the newer model is not as pretty as the 306, nor quite as driver-oriented, it offers an excellent blend of refinement, comfort and value for money which few rivals can match.
Now that the 307 has been on the market for nearly two years, it's starting to filter through to the used forecourts, where initial residual values are strong, especially among the excellent diesel models. There have been one or two reliability worries, though, particularly on early examples.
Checklist
* The most common fault with 307s is a breakdown in communication between the ignition module and the starter motor, which causes the starter to jam. Peugeot recalled 6,800 cars to rectify the problem. If yours is a Y or 51-registered model, call Peugeot Customer Services on 02476 884000 to see if it is among those affected.
* Quite a few owners have reported problems with indicator stalks, which either won't stay on or refuse to self-cancel. Examples built from mid-2002 onward have better switchgear.
* Door handles and boot latches stick occasionally. When inspecting, open and close them a few times.
* Groaning from beneath the car is common, especially at speed. It's nothing to worry about and is caused by the anti-roll bars shifting in their mountings.
* Check for injector problems on diesel models, signified by large clouds of black smoke which appear from the exhaust when the throttle is pressed.
Glass's View
AS with the 306, the 307 is a popular used choice, and that is reflected in its residual values, says Glass's Guide. At present, numbers are limited, and second-hand examples are snapped up eagerly. Wait, instead, for the arrival of the 03 plate in March, when there will be a wider choice of trade-ins at better prices. Go for a diesel and avoid low-spec models - they are harder to sell on.
My Peugeot 307...
Steve Rimmer thought long and hard about what to buy as a replacement for his trusty Peugeot 406, and even worked out and compared the running costs of his favourites on computer.
In the end, it was down to a Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra or Peugeot 307. At that point, the decision depended on the actions of staff at the respective showrooms. "The Ford lost my vote straight away as the dealer was useless," said Steve, 66, from Colne in Lancashire. "The chap from Vauxhall was very good, but Peugeot loaned me a 307 for a couple of days to see if I liked it - and gave me a better deal on my 406. I was so impressed that I was happy to stay with the brand."
That was 15 months ago, and Steve still enjoys his 307 2.0 GLX - particularly its performance, comfort and cabin trim. But it hasn't been an outright success - he finds the brake and clutch pedals too close together and was suspicious of the build quality at first. "There were big lumps of wax under the paint," he explained. "But the dealer sorted that and, since then, I haven't had any trouble."

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