Peugeot 106 Rallye (Series 1)

Road Test: 1995 Peugeot 106 Rallye (Series 1)
Peugeot put the 106 Rallye into production in 1994. Peugeot produced a number of Rallyes so that it could enter the sub 1400cc class.
It was only available in red, white or black, all with steel wheels.
The 106 Rallye we've tested has the optional sunroof, the only other option available when new was ABS.
Looks:
First impressions are how small the Peugeot is, it makes neighbouring modern hatchbacks look like 4x4's! On this car, the racing stripes have faded to 3 shades of white but the red paint is as vivid as ever, unusual for a car of its age. The white 14" steel wheels contrast beautifully with the cherry red body.
Step inside the Rallye and you can't help but notice the red carpets. Surprisingly though they're not that offensive to the eye, they just add to the sporty and fun atmosphere. The same goes for the aftermarket OMP steering wheel, it wouldn't look out of place in a Group-B 205 T16.
The thin seats and plastic trim represent the cars very low kerb weight well, they're certainly not Mercedes quality but do their job all the same.
Driving:
At idle the 106 sounds like any other, but once the revs rise, the Rallye disappears into the distance with roars of induction noise. The car sounds pretty much the same inside, this is most probably due to the lack of sound deadening!
The gearshift could be described as sloppy but quick changes are still possible, a good job too considering it has such a low-ratio box.
Push the Pug hard round the bends and you'll start understeering, the owner hopes to solve this by fitting standard front springs (a previous owner decided the car wasn't low or stiff enough). Even with its current set-up, every bit of information is still given to the driver via the suede-lined steering wheel.
To summarise, the 106 Rallye is much like the Panda 100hp we tested a few weeks back - great fun without risking your licence.
Maybe we should arrange a head-to-head sometime soon...?
Stats:
Power: 100bhp
Weight: 825kg
0-60: 9.6secs
Top Speed: 113mph
Costs:
Very few are for sale currently, only 339 are currently registered in the UK (Series 1 and 2). For a decent example, expect to pay around £1,500.
Running costs are cheap- tyres can be picked up for £30 a corner and most spare parts are readily available.