A photographer’s real beloved car
On October 8, 2023, the “Rally Fan Meeting” was held at the Fuji Speedway. On the day of the event, various models that conjured up images of success in the rally scene were gathered, but it was not only the participants who rode such models. Mr. Keigo, who was also the official photographer, came to the event in his own Peugeot 106 Rallye. Let’s take a closer look.
Been on 106 for over 20 years
Mr. Keigo, who learned about the 106 Rallye from a car magazine he read as a young man and admired its fun driving feel, says he loves the design of the early 106 models and has owned a 106s for more than 20 years, counting from the first 106 (XSi) he owned. There is no doubt that he is a considerable 106 freak.
“I really wanted to go to the 30th-anniversary event of the 106 in France with my car, but it didn’t happen due to the Corona and my schedule.”
He said. The 106 Rallye he was driving on the day of the interview was inherited from a friend with whom he used to enjoy circuit driving. On the inside of the passenger side door was a sticker of a circuit event called the French Cup, which was mainly for French cars, that he and his friend used to enjoy together.
Tail happy despite being a FWD car
What is it about the Peugeot 106 that makes it so appealing? He likes the design of the early model, but his favorite point is the shape of the rear tail lamps. The genuine sticker on the tail lamps is still in good condition, indicating that the car has been driven with great care. The Devil muffler is also from that era.
He also likes the driving feel of the 106 Rallye, saying that even though it is an FWD car, it is very tail-happy and easy to swing its hip. He used to enjoy driving in the snow in Hokkaido with another 106 Rallye.
Keigo told us that this unit is fast for a 106. He also said that the exterior of the car was in beautiful condition, which was also a deciding factor in his decision to purchase it. Incidentally, the roll bar, full bucket seats, etc. are installed, and the interior of the car is filled with a sense of excitement, but these were installed by the previous owner.
As-is and clean exterior
It was raining at Fuji Speedway on the day of the interview, and although it had been “hot” just a short while ago, it had suddenly started to cool down. Keigo had obtained an inspection for this 106 in April 2023, but from then on, he had been unable to drive it due to the heat. He happily told us that now that the weather has finally cooled down, it is time to get this 106 up and running again.
Unfortunately, he said that it is difficult to ride in the summer due to the environment. From now on, he would like to ride this 106 Rally from time to time, while keeping the exterior clean as it is now.
