Past Masters

Notes on a selection of previously owned long-term vehicles:

1992 Peugeot 106 XN Graduate 1.0

Colour: White with grey and green pinstriping!

Test Period: Oct 1997 - Sept 1998

Test Mileage: 17,000 miles covered

Tester’s notes: valve bounce and that huge hill on the M62 resulted in an indicated and hugely optimistic 112mph showing up on the speedo.

1993 Peugeot 106 XT 1.1

Colour: Champagne Silver (also known as beige)

Test Mileage: 35,000 miles covered

Test Period: Sept 1998 - Feb 2001

Tester’s notes: Surprisingly sprightly, subtle handing numbed half way through test by fitment of wider 185 rubber.

1994 Peugeot 106 Rallye 1.3

Colour: Red, with Rallye decals

Test Mileage: 9,000 miles covered

Test Period: Feb 2001 - March 2002

Tester’s notes: Not the mintest example, and very tinny inside, but sublime handling and that cammy 1300cc raced all the way to the 7200rpm red line with gusto

2001 BMW 325ti (E46)

Colour: Metallic dark blue

Test Mileage: 48,000 miles covered

Test Period: Nov 2001 - July 2003

Tester’s notes: Creamy straight six, excellent handling, silly 18″ alloys ruined the ride.

1999 Peugeot 306 HDi

Colour: British Racing Green

Test Mileage: 12,000 miles coverd

Test Period: March 2004 - Feb 2005

Tester’s notes: Classic 306 chassis, ultimately solid once the diesel engine has vibrated off all extraneous bits of interior trim.

2001 Seat Leon Cupra

Colour: Dark metallic blue

Test Mileage: 18,000 miles covered

Test Period: Feb 2005 - Late 2006

Tester’s notes: Nice electric leather chairs, cheeky turbo’d engine felt stronger than claimed 180bhp, slick 6 speed manual, much cheaper to buy, better looking and faster than Mk4 Golf GTI

1996 Alfa 155 Sport

Colour: Champagne Silver - with a twist (beige with a twist)

Test Mileage: 10,000 miles covered

Test Period: Late 2006 - Feb 2007

Tester’s notes: Bonkers 217bhp touring car engine, Fiat Tipo chassis and characteristically poor build quality. Looked fantastic though.

1999 Mercedes C43 AMG

Colour: Merc Silver

Test Mileage: 12,000 miles covered

Test Period: Feb 2007 - Jan 2008

Tester’s notes: Frightening fuel consumption, but almost comical pull of the V8 above 100mph more than made up for it. As did listening to Classic FM whilst lapping donnington as quick as a Caterham Academy Car.

1996 BMW 328i Auto Coupe

Colour: Purple

Test Mileage: 5,000 miles covered

Test Period: Jan 2008 - May 2008

Tester’s notes: Dubious addition of a M-Sport bodykit at some point in its life, likable enough but poor drug dealer image.