There is a video on Youtube that Jeremey Clarkson trashed the 306 Tried to download it but too much text came on the download. He has realised this was a biggest mistake.

Best built ones were from the late 80s and 90s, now most smaller cars have cheap trailing beam rear suspensions instead of a fully independent set-up (like mine was), cheap re-cycleable plastic interiors, (not much vinyl seen any more, and certainly no wood- safety hazard), sensitive overcomplicated electronics, and engines which need more expensive oils and fluids to stop them wearing out (RAV 4 Automatics for eg use a special Toyota trans oil which costs a spleen). I used all sorts of basic oils/grades in my corolla and ran it on 91 fuel (said to use 98) and it had no effect on it whatsoever,

My mazda 3 needs an expensive oil to keep the VVTI system working properly, - Castrol GTX 30-40 is out of the question now.☹️ My 1990 Toyota Cressida MX83 3L twin cam 24v 6 cyl with 300,00 ks is not so fussy, and uses std oils. Top model in its' day and still a beautiful quiet, smooth powerful car to drive.

JB

At the time I though the early Toyotas were a good car.

Just sold my 1988 Toyota Corolla 1600 LB after 20 yrs and trouble free 218,000km . Wasn't going to, but a young guy asked if I wanted to sell it and the price was right. Got $850 for it and worked out that it's cost me a pie and a coffee a week over the 20yrs. Bought it at 80,000 km and still running perfectly at 218,000. Never changed the gearbox oil once, and syncros still 90% and the clutch still original. Just looked after the motor (oil/filter changes etc).

JB

Just having a look through my other old computer and came across this last photograph of my Peugeot 306. Washed for the last time just the bumpers to blacken up. It came back to me that the car on its way to the museum got a lot of looks from passing cars. Nice one I'll get up there in the Spring to see the car and possibly pop along to the local model boat club. Anybody else got an old car they have for over 20 years there treasure ?

Yeah, they're a damn good engine.
I had 3x 205 with the XUD7 engine and they were fantastic.
The 1st one had 124,000 on the clock when I bought it and 18 months later had 220,000 on the clock. Being in my early 20's, those were mainly hard driven miles, spending much of it's time with the revs near or on the governor, but like yours, never used oil or water and come MOT time, it flew through the emissions test every year. Truly great engines.

It was the XUD diesel non turbo never burnt any oil nor needed top up constantly with summer coolant /winter anti freeze Slow from start but use to that as a truck driver. Sit all day on the motorway at 70. My garage say If I wanted another one get over to south France there immaculate there. He'll change to right hand👍 drive. At 189,000 blew a head gasket easy fixed.

I have owned a few Peugeots, 205, 306, 405. Most of them have been diesel, both Turbo and normally aspirated.
Whilst Peugeots XUD7 and XUD9/9T may not the most refined of engines, mainly at tickover, they were most certainly reliable and willing.
You had to keep an eye on oil and coolant with them though, as if they overheated due to either or both being too low, they could be really problematic from there on.
Otherwise, fantastic engines and great, super comfy cars.