Peugeot 106 1.1 Accent (2000) – 333,333 km

Did you almost forget about it, the Peugeot 106? Built from 1991 to 2003, which is quite a long time. Almost 2.8 million units left the factory and since 1996 it was also there as Citroën Saxo. The Rally and GTI 1.6 16V (120 hp, 205 km/h) are particularly popular variants. You can buy the regular versions for next to nothing, although the supply is slowly but surely drying up. The 107 has taken its place. “I can wholeheartedly recommend this Peugeot,” says Eric van den Berg. “If someone asks me which car to buy for his son or daughter, I always recommend the 106. Cheap to buy, €19 mrb per month, extremely economical and hardly any maintenance.” Of course there is plenty to criticize, but for daily trips it is a great car according to him. “I usually go to work by bike, unless I have to take a lot of stuff with me. It is a perfect car for in and around the city and you never have to worry about a scratch or scratch, that is also an advantage of an old car. It passes the inspection every year without any significant problems and maintenance is limited to normal services and tires. The most expensive intervention to date was the replacement of the rear axle. Then I briefly considered buying another car.”

Eric likes cycling more than his 106

Cycling and skating, those are the true passions of Eric, who would have preferred to become a professional skater. It turns out to be a hobby that can cost you a lot of money, or so we hear. And as a passionate hard cyclist, Eric endorses the vision of Velomenati, an English-language collective of cycling enthusiasts, which explains exactly how you should behave as a cyclist in the book ‘The rules’. We go to rule 25: ‘The bicycles on top of your car must be more worth more than the car. Basically, if you put your Huffy on your Rolls, you’re in trouble, buddy.”

Mountain bike more expensive than his Peugeot 106

No problem for Eric, his BMC with disc brakes cost several times as much as the 106 and a new tire is probably more expensive than the Peugeot’s. “Those lines are really hilarious, that’s why you should read them. With me, the mountain bikes are regularly on the back, when we ride a tour or competition somewhere. Consumption is then slightly higher, but still low. I have the feeling that I earn with this car, that must be because I used to spend so ridiculously much on that Audi and before that the E39 BMW 5-series with six-cylinder. Always something broken, always expensive to repair, but also a joy to drive, that’s for sure. I paid just as much per year to mrb as this Peugeot cost to purchase!”

Lots of flaws on this 106

Well, we have an enthusiastic owner, but what is the opinion of Tim de Leeuw, today the inspector on duty at Carrec? In any case, it was a bit of a shock during the test drive. “I thought we got a big gust of wind on the side while merging, the Peugeot suddenly made such a pendulum. But the cause turned out to be the cameraman in the back seat. It moved very abruptly from right to left, which was clearly felt in the steering wheel. We had a good laugh about it.” Other than that, however, there was very little to laugh at for Tim, who notes one shortcoming after another during a stopover. Once in the workshop, the writing continues. Eric: “It’s like a final exam, this test. I know it is far from perfect, which is not surprising for a car that is almost 23 years old.” We see the list of defects grow longer and longer and begin to understand why Eric has spent so little on maintenance over the past eight years. Only the most necessary has been done, nothing more. “I drive it about 10,000 kilometers a year, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Actually, I should start looking for another one before it’s too late. Yes, the next one may be another 106 as far as I’m concerned, I’ve become a real fan over the years.”