There is no better time than summer to consider the merits of the latest addition to Peugeot's coupe-convertible ranks. David Thomson delivers his verdict on the new 308CC.
If imitation is, indeed, the sincerest form of flattery, then Peugeot should be basking in the admiration signalled by the current world enthusiasm for cars with folding metal roofs.
Mercedes-Benz was the pioneer of this revival for two-seaters, but Peugeot took up the challenge of extending the same approach to volume-production
four-seaters, starting a decade ago ago with the Coupe Cabriolet (CC) version of the 206. This was followed by CC versions of that car's successor - the 207 - and of the larger 307.
To date, Peugeot has produced some 700,000 CC vehicles, but in recent years several key rivals - notably Renault with its Megane CC and VW with the Eos - have muscled in on the coupe-convertible segment.
The new 308 CC, which was launched at the Paris Motor show last year, will play a central part in Peugeot's bid to regain the coupe-convertible edge.
The car has been launched internationally with several engine and transmission configurations, but New Zealand sees just one variant, the top-flight 100kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel HDI six-speed automatic.
Priced at $59,990, the HDI boasts an equipment list that includes cruise control, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wiper and automatic headlights, an MP3-compatible sound system and 17-inch alloys. Six airbags, electronic stability programming and pop-up roll bars that deploy in a roll-over, are standard on a vehicle that holds the maximum 5-star occupant protection rating in the European NCAP crash-test regime.
The test car also featured an extra-cost upgrade pack that adds leather trim, a rear windbreak, heated front seats, and Peugeot's version of the Mercedes air-scarf system, which pipes warm air through vents in the head restraint to warm the back of the neck.
While no conventional beauty, the 308 CC has a rakish, contemporary look that turns heads. If anything, it is better looking with the roof up than down.
Early examples of the 307 CC were susceptible to a range of problems with the folding roof mechanism. Only time will tell how successful Peugeot has been in improving matters with the 308 CC, but initial impressions are encouraging. The roof mechanism behaved faultlessly on test, smoothly lowering the roof into the boot cavity at a push of a button in around 20 seconds, and raising it again in a similar time.
The top fits so snugly, and is so well sealed, that roof-up, the 308 CC feels no different on the move from a regular coupe. Roof-down, front-seat occupants are also very well protected from the elements. If anything, there is insufficient exposure to the open air for true roadster enthusiasts, due to the manner in which the large windscreen arcs up over the front seats.
The driving position worked well for tall and short drivers alike on test, and for those who wish it, the driver's seat can be set very low to give a roadster feel. Tall folk with large feet would probably prefer more space in a footwell, though this is far less an issue with the automatic than it would be with the manual. Conversely, smaller folk would find a number of controls easier to access if the centre console was angled more towards the driver.
Peugeot's claim that the 308 CC will seat four adults is ambitious; even the family 10-year-old, who is no more than average in height for his age, complained about a lack of legroom when asked to sit behind Dad on test. And even if you do haul the front seats forward to liberate space between the front and rear seats, headroom will become an issue for all but kids when the roof is up.
As with other four-seater coupe-convertibles, boot space suffers once the roof is down, dropping in the 308 CC's case from a useful 465 litres to just 266 litres.
It is still worth making the effort to pack light to allow for roof-down motoring though, as the cosseting feel of the cabin in open-top mode comes into its own on extended highway jaunts. So too does the easy-going combination of the generously torquey diesel - which delivers 320Nm
at just 2000rpm - and a smooth six-speed automatic transmission.
While not especially brisk off the mark, in-gear responsiveness and acceleration is strong. There is also a sport-mode in the transmission that is moderately useful, but I found little use for the Tiptronic manual shift gate.
Because the engine's performance sweet-spot is at moderate revs, engine noise is low. So too is wind roar, both roof-up and in topless mode. Road noise is generally well contained, although more noticeable when running roof-up over coarse-chip back roads.
The standard 308 is a very tidy handler, but the extra weight - both in the roof and underlying structural stiffening - and the manner of its distribution, which inevitably raises the centre of gravity, make the 308 CC a less-agile performer. Encouragingly, running with the roof down does not dull the precision of the car's handling, suggesting the car's underlying structures are pretty rigid.
When pressed, the test car steered lightly and precisely, turned in sweetly, and gripped strongly. Compared to a regular 308, though, understeer builds early, and the CC was notably less composed when called on to change direction suddenly.
Disappointingly in this tester's view, Peugeot has sought to combat these inclinations in part by furnishing the 308 CC with fairly firm suspension settings.
My preference would be for a softer, more supple, set-up. As well as being in keeping with Peugeot traditions, this would add value to a car that in all other key respects, is more accomplished as a touring convertible than a sports convertible.
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