Total Mileage - 121,050
Mileage This Month - 250
Costs This Month:
£12 (Three-quarter plate)
When you think of iconic hot hatches from the 1990's, your mind immediately conjures up images of the Renault Clio Williams with its striking gold wheels, the Peugeot 205 GTi, and of course Peugeot's other iconic 90s hot hatch - the 106 Rallye.
In S2 guise, the boxy angles of the S1 were smoothed and the body was in turn much better looking. Only 500 were brought to the UK, available in Indigo Blue and Bianca White. The 1.6 8v gave 103bhp at 7000rpm; this figure is insignificant in today's market, but when it only had 890kg to shift, the engine's a perfect match for the Rallye's small mass.
Ever since I passed my driving test in 2008, I'd always said I'd own a series 2 Rallye at some point. Browsing the classifieds on a daily basis saw me stumble on a 1998 Rallye in Bianca White. It had 120,000 miles on its clocks, but the history of the car was extensive and every single receipt had been kept. And I mean every single receipt, even something as trivial as tyre changes and car mats. It had full service history, and was largely original. For around £2000, it's very little money for something as special as a Rallye. Having had only three owners from new, this car had been garaged through the shocking winter we've had and only covered 1000 miles since its return to the roads. I saw it, I saw its history, and I wanted it straight away.
And it's that 'special' feel that you get from it as soon as you get in. Most people just see a white 106, but to those in the know, it's a very cool little car. Although not as fast as its GTi sibling, the Rallye was lighter and much more thorough in its approach to delivering its abilities to its driver.
It's quite brash in white, with its numerous decals on its 106 GTi body. Its stance is just right; on 14 inch steel wheels, it looks just right. Inside, the interior's enhanced by the additions of the tri-colour Rallye stripes on the front and rear seats, and the little 'Rallye' badge on the dashboard. There are absolutely no toys in here though, such was the severity of the weight-saving schemes saw even an airbag being an optional extra. There's no air conditioning, and even no power steering on this car.
Now, before driving this, I'd never driven a car without power steering. It's a shock to the system at first, but it's actually a beneficial thing once mastered. Sure, manoeuvring around town is met with unreal resistance through the steering wheel, but on the move the steering's perfect. Through the Sparco steering wheel on this car it's enhanced even more so, as the wheel's so small and direct. Once you're past the initial shock of the heavy steering, you marvel in the Rallye's basic set-up and the steering's the thing that impresses immediately.
Criticisms? Well, the clutch is vague and its biting point is a tad high, and the idle is a little lumpy, but it's something that a service should remedy. To be fair to it, it's a 13 year old car that's been sat on its steelies for the duration of the winter, so it's definitely a forgivable thing.
Past 4000rpm, the Rallye feels much stronger than 103bhp has any right to be. Although it doesn't feel at home on the motorway (70mph is at a buzzing 4000rpm) it'll get to 100mph in no time at all once in gear. Standard, it'll do a claimed 122mph but in truth, it never feels like it wants to be flat out in fifth. It's on tight, twisting roads where it craves to be.
Once you're on that type of road, the car comes alive through the Sparco steering wheel. It's taut, sharp, and extremely direct. On Bridgestone Potenza tyres there are huge levels of grip - turn in is instant and there's a real sense of confidence that you get from driving the Rallye.
So, as far as first impressions go, the Rallye's made a great start. It looks fantastic, it drives like nothing else I've been in, and it's got an honest feel to it. Driving it has been a privilege thus far, as I've wanted a Bianca White S2 for so long. I doubt that feeling will subside for a long time to come too, as it's up there with the very best and deserves to be grouped with the Clio Williams, Clio Trophy, Megane R26R, 205 GTi, and of course the mark two Focus RS.
In the coming month, there are a few things to do. A three quarter plate will be fitted, maybe a beneficial induction kit of some sort, a pair of Cobra buckets, and it'll have had a full service. I'm also debating whether or not to fit a Pugsport exhaust and a 106 GTi spoiler, but these aren't on the top of the agenda just yet.
