Peugeot 106 1.6 Rallye (1996) – Enthusiast Wanted

The 80s and 90s were kind of the golden decades of the hot hatchback. At the time, France made a particularly nice contribution with the Peugeot 205 GTI, Renault 5 GT Turbo and the Renault Clio Williams, but the Citroën Saxo VTR and the Peugeot 106 GTI were also allowed to be there. The latter never became as legendary as its spiritual predecessor (the 205 GTI), although you can have a huge amount of fun with it. That certainly applies to the Rallye versions, which also remained somewhat in the shadow of d2 205. The result is that the sporty 106s are a lot more affordable, although the time when you picked them up for next to nothing is really over.

This Peugeot 106 1.6 Rallye from 1996, which should fetch €8,450, now appears in AutoWeek’s used car range. A lot of money for a 27 year old 106, but it’s no ordinary 106 and it’s only half the price of a 205 Rallye. The idea behind the 106 Rallye was the same: grab a 106 and reduce the weight as much as possible by cutting out non-essentials. Then hang a small but nicely worked-up motor in it and you are guaranteed a fun package. The eye also wanted something and so the (usually white) Rallyes got thicker sprayed bumper work, Peugeot Sport stickers and white steel wheels.

Initially, the 106 got the same 100 hp 1.3 as the 205 Rallye, but after the facelift a 103 hp 1.6 was added. The same engine as in the 106 GTI, but an eight instead of a sixteen valve. Because of its lower weight, you didn’t even notice the 17 hp difference between the Rallye and GTI that much. The GTI went from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and the 1.6 Rallye in 9.6 seconds. It also makes a relatively small difference at the top speed: 205 km / h at 195 km / h. For both the sprint and the top speed, it feels fast in a 106 anyway. The approach of the Rallye is perhaps the most fun, because it is very smooth with relatively modest power, because it is all kept so light. Just nice unadulterated steering pleasure, without electronic aids, enormous forces or a chassis that seems to come straight from racing.

This Peugeot 106 1.6 Rallye is one of the few currently for sale and also one of the cheaper ones. The second probably has to do with its mileage, because with 208,000 km it is a Rallye with a bit more experience. The car did have major maintenance at the beginning of this year, where it received a major service, new brake pads and discs at the front and rear, but also a new timing belt and water pump. The previous owner owned it from 1999 to the beginning of this year, so that’s a nice idea. Will you take care of it for the next 24 years? It will only increase in value if you keep it well, so that is already a good argument. Just don’t let it get dusty, eh, such a Rallye should occasionally get the spurs!