Peugeot 308CC 1.6 Turbo (A) Review
28 Oct 2009|25,336 views
I like the French. No, scrap that. I LOVE THE FRENCH. I love the language, I love the food and I love their cinema (think Taxi I,II,III and Luc Besson’s Le Professional). But most of all, I love the vocals of Edith Paif, Lisa Ono and Laura Fygi belting out French Jazz classics like La Vie en rose and Le Continental.
There’s just something about the ambience that old French love songs create that English ballads just can’t match. Hearing Edith Paif’s rendition of La Vie en rose always conjures up images of driving a cabriolet along the narrow, twisty, never-ending mountain roads of the Pyrenées.
I guess that’s what designers at Peugeot envisioned when they built the first powered retractable hardtop cabriolet back in 1935 with the 402 Éclipse Décapotable. In 2000, Peugeot once again made the headlines with the highly successful 206CC. But more recently in 2003, the 307CC was unveiled to carry on the cabriolet torch.
The 307CC was supposed to be a little more ‘grown up’ than the 206CC it replaced. An overall increase in proportions meant that consumers got a bigger boot and finally some decent rear passenger comfort that was absent in the 206CC. The French designers did leave the most important aspect of the 206CC intact though. The more grown up cabriolet not only retained the same handsome styling of its slightly tinier sibling but improved on it on as well.
There’s just something about the ambience that old French love songs create that English ballads just can’t match. Hearing Edith Paif’s rendition of La Vie en rose always conjures up images of driving a cabriolet along the narrow, twisty, never-ending mountain roads of the Pyrenées.
I guess that’s what designers at Peugeot envisioned when they built the first powered retractable hardtop cabriolet back in 1935 with the 402 Éclipse Décapotable. In 2000, Peugeot once again made the headlines with the highly successful 206CC. But more recently in 2003, the 307CC was unveiled to carry on the cabriolet torch.
The 307CC was supposed to be a little more ‘grown up’ than the 206CC it replaced. An overall increase in proportions meant that consumers got a bigger boot and finally some decent rear passenger comfort that was absent in the 206CC. The French designers did leave the most important aspect of the 206CC intact though. The more grown up cabriolet not only retained the same handsome styling of its slightly tinier sibling but improved on it on as well.
 |
Perhaps the designer decided with 15 minutes left at work, a splash of simple, random lines would suffice for the rear although he did throw in a pair of oversized LED taillights for good measure.
However his efforts left the rear looking like a masked rider’s helmet that’s been squashed horizontally which ruined it for the 307CC entirely. Thankfully though, that rear ended with the 307’s production and didn’t carry on to its latest sibling, the 308CC.
 |
Bonjour chérie…
First off, I’d like to say I’m in love with the 308CC. It doesn’t matter that my girlfriend thinks the styling’s a little too effeminate for a guy. “To each his own”, I tell her. From that pronounced snout above a wide gaping intake emblazoned with the Peugeot’s lion to the F1-like creases on the hood, it’s a beautiful thing to behold.
The cabriolet is flanked by a pair of contour lines that start at the snout, continues over the roof and blends seamlessly into the boot’s outline. Come around to the boot and you’ll be happy to see that all is well in the rear after a makeover. The same contour lines from the front and vertical LED taillights have made the rear taut, giving it several curves that add to the visual symphony. Diffusers in the rear bumper combine to round off the effeminate but still somewhat masculine design of the Pug.
Interior
Congruent with recent Peugeot models, the interior is well put together with tactile plastics to give the cabriolet a solid feel. Polished aluminium on the gear console, gear knob and door handles work together with the chrome-ringed aircon vents to give this Pug a classic yet avantgarde ambience.
The driving position though sits a little too high for my tastes and with the roof retracted, the A-pillars sits perilously close to the head forcing front occupants to take extra care not to provide comic relief for passer-bys when getting in and out.
Once in the driver’s seat, you find yourself having to lean forward to operate buttons on the centre console. This can get annoying once you realise the better ergonomics found in the Volkswagen EOS.
First off, I’d like to say I’m in love with the 308CC. It doesn’t matter that my girlfriend thinks the styling’s a little too effeminate for a guy. “To each his own”, I tell her. From that pronounced snout above a wide gaping intake emblazoned with the Peugeot’s lion to the F1-like creases on the hood, it’s a beautiful thing to behold.
The cabriolet is flanked by a pair of contour lines that start at the snout, continues over the roof and blends seamlessly into the boot’s outline. Come around to the boot and you’ll be happy to see that all is well in the rear after a makeover. The same contour lines from the front and vertical LED taillights have made the rear taut, giving it several curves that add to the visual symphony. Diffusers in the rear bumper combine to round off the effeminate but still somewhat masculine design of the Pug.
Interior
Congruent with recent Peugeot models, the interior is well put together with tactile plastics to give the cabriolet a solid feel. Polished aluminium on the gear console, gear knob and door handles work together with the chrome-ringed aircon vents to give this Pug a classic yet avantgarde ambience.
The driving position though sits a little too high for my tastes and with the roof retracted, the A-pillars sits perilously close to the head forcing front occupants to take extra care not to provide comic relief for passer-bys when getting in and out.
Once in the driver’s seat, you find yourself having to lean forward to operate buttons on the centre console. This can get annoying once you realise the better ergonomics found in the Volkswagen EOS.
The rear seats of any cabriolet / coupe have always been believed to be a long running prank amongst car manufacturers. An aesthetic fixture that’s only useful for shopping that’s spilled over from the boot, we usually wouldn’t recommend sticking anyone back there.
However in the 308CC, legroom is slightly better and you can probably seat kids in the back as long as they’re not your own, pets included (anything larger than a Chihuahua would be cruel).
The factory fitted entertainment system does pump out the tunes to a reasonable degree but an AUX-in for your iPhone/MP3 player would’ve been greatly appreciated considering that even cars a third of its price come with it as standard. Another oddity I encountered in the Pug was the awkwardly placed media controls.
Hidden just behind the steering wheel’s right spoke on a stalk, it doesn’t provide easy access to media controls as it should. Perhaps it was French flair but it would’ve been more prudent to have conventional buttons embedded into the steering wheel itself.
Peeking from behind the three spoke wheel are the familiar (as in the 307CC) chrome-ringed dials that provide sharp information on your speed and revs with its Century Gothic font and white illuminated background.
An unconventional test featured on Fifth Gear used 12-pack 500ml mineral water bottles to show which car had the greater amount of bootspace with the roof down. In this test, the Peugeot came out on top of (just barely) Volkswagen’s EOS by swallowing 14 packs of mineral water bottles compared to the EOS’s 13, showing that it does have a marginally bigger boot.
However in the 308CC, legroom is slightly better and you can probably seat kids in the back as long as they’re not your own, pets included (anything larger than a Chihuahua would be cruel).
The factory fitted entertainment system does pump out the tunes to a reasonable degree but an AUX-in for your iPhone/MP3 player would’ve been greatly appreciated considering that even cars a third of its price come with it as standard. Another oddity I encountered in the Pug was the awkwardly placed media controls.
Hidden just behind the steering wheel’s right spoke on a stalk, it doesn’t provide easy access to media controls as it should. Perhaps it was French flair but it would’ve been more prudent to have conventional buttons embedded into the steering wheel itself.
Peeking from behind the three spoke wheel are the familiar (as in the 307CC) chrome-ringed dials that provide sharp information on your speed and revs with its Century Gothic font and white illuminated background.
An unconventional test featured on Fifth Gear used 12-pack 500ml mineral water bottles to show which car had the greater amount of bootspace with the roof down. In this test, the Peugeot came out on top of (just barely) Volkswagen’s EOS by swallowing 14 packs of mineral water bottles compared to the EOS’s 13, showing that it does have a marginally bigger boot.
 |
With the roof up however, the Peugeot swallows up to 465-litres. A class leading act for a coupe convertible.
The Drive
The Pug gets its drive from a humble 1.6-litre twin scroll turbocharged inline 4 unit. At idle, the engine gives a rather loud indication of its presence due to an over exuberant cooling fan. When driving with the roof down, the car exhibits a rather peculiar trait not found in other cabriolets I’ve driven. At ever increasing speeds, the seat belt vibrates with increasing frequency. Like I said, peculiar.
On the highway the 308CC manages to sort itself out over bumps without any fuss and overtaking was a breeze although anything above 110km/h, the car starts to betray its girth.
If you’d like to amuse yourself, put the roof up and turn the radio off. Now mash the throttle and let go just as quickly to hear the mouse squeak of a turbo whine. You’ll have to listen closely though.
The Drive
The Pug gets its drive from a humble 1.6-litre twin scroll turbocharged inline 4 unit. At idle, the engine gives a rather loud indication of its presence due to an over exuberant cooling fan. When driving with the roof down, the car exhibits a rather peculiar trait not found in other cabriolets I’ve driven. At ever increasing speeds, the seat belt vibrates with increasing frequency. Like I said, peculiar.
On the highway the 308CC manages to sort itself out over bumps without any fuss and overtaking was a breeze although anything above 110km/h, the car starts to betray its girth.
If you’d like to amuse yourself, put the roof up and turn the radio off. Now mash the throttle and let go just as quickly to hear the mouse squeak of a turbo whine. You’ll have to listen closely though.
Chuck the Pug into a corner and you’ll realise it goes round the bends rather nicely without any drama (which takes the fun out the attempt) despite its weight, an improvement over the 307CC. We wouldn’t recommend submitting the chassis to such punishment too often though.
Conclusion
Can I imagine myself driving the 308CC through the French Riviera with the top down and wind in my hair? Of course, under the gentle serenade of Edith Paif no less.
I’m still infatuated with the smooth flowing lines that trace the length of this beauty. Despite not being an engaging drive, the car does live up to its status as a lifestyle product with its gorgeous looks that’s sure to compliment any driver pulling up in it.
Having an NCAP 5 star rating doesn’t hurt its rep either. Yes, owners of this French beauty would be bathed in hues of pink but only if they forget their sunscreen.
Conclusion
Can I imagine myself driving the 308CC through the French Riviera with the top down and wind in my hair? Of course, under the gentle serenade of Edith Paif no less.
I’m still infatuated with the smooth flowing lines that trace the length of this beauty. Despite not being an engaging drive, the car does live up to its status as a lifestyle product with its gorgeous looks that’s sure to compliment any driver pulling up in it.
Having an NCAP 5 star rating doesn’t hurt its rep either. Yes, owners of this French beauty would be bathed in hues of pink but only if they forget their sunscreen.
I like the French. No, scrap that. I LOVE THE FRENCH. I love the language, I love the food and I love their cinema (think Taxi I,II,III and Luc Besson’s Le Professional). But most of all, I love the vocals of Edith Paif, Lisa Ono and Laura Fygi belting out French Jazz classics like La Vie en rose and Le Continental.
There’s just something about the ambience that old French love songs create that English ballads just can’t match. Hearing Edith Paif’s rendition of La Vie en rose always conjures up images of driving a cabriolet along the narrow, twisty, never-ending mountain roads of the Pyrenées.
I guess that’s what designers at Peugeot envisioned when they built the first powered retractable hardtop cabriolet back in 1935 with the 402 Éclipse Décapotable. In 2000, Peugeot once again made the headlines with the highly successful 206CC. But more recently in 2003, the 307CC was unveiled to carry on the cabriolet torch.
The 307CC was supposed to be a little more ‘grown up’ than the 206CC it replaced. An overall increase in proportions meant that consumers got a bigger boot and finally some decent rear passenger comfort that was absent in the 206CC. The French designers did leave the most important aspect of the 206CC intact though. The more grown up cabriolet not only retained the same handsome styling of its slightly tinier sibling but improved on it on as well.
There’s just something about the ambience that old French love songs create that English ballads just can’t match. Hearing Edith Paif’s rendition of La Vie en rose always conjures up images of driving a cabriolet along the narrow, twisty, never-ending mountain roads of the Pyrenées.
I guess that’s what designers at Peugeot envisioned when they built the first powered retractable hardtop cabriolet back in 1935 with the 402 Éclipse Décapotable. In 2000, Peugeot once again made the headlines with the highly successful 206CC. But more recently in 2003, the 307CC was unveiled to carry on the cabriolet torch.
The 307CC was supposed to be a little more ‘grown up’ than the 206CC it replaced. An overall increase in proportions meant that consumers got a bigger boot and finally some decent rear passenger comfort that was absent in the 206CC. The French designers did leave the most important aspect of the 206CC intact though. The more grown up cabriolet not only retained the same handsome styling of its slightly tinier sibling but improved on it on as well.
|
Perhaps the designer decided with 15 minutes left at work, a splash of simple, random lines would suffice for the rear although he did throw in a pair of oversized LED taillights for good measure.
However his efforts left the rear looking like a masked rider’s helmet that’s been squashed horizontally which ruined it for the 307CC entirely. Thankfully though, that rear ended with the 307’s production and didn’t carry on to its latest sibling, the 308CC.
|
Bonjour chérie…
First off, I’d like to say I’m in love with the 308CC. It doesn’t matter that my girlfriend thinks the styling’s a little too effeminate for a guy. “To each his own”, I tell her. From that pronounced snout above a wide gaping intake emblazoned with the Peugeot’s lion to the F1-like creases on the hood, it’s a beautiful thing to behold.
The cabriolet is flanked by a pair of contour lines that start at the snout, continues over the roof and blends seamlessly into the boot’s outline. Come around to the boot and you’ll be happy to see that all is well in the rear after a makeover. The same contour lines from the front and vertical LED taillights have made the rear taut, giving it several curves that add to the visual symphony. Diffusers in the rear bumper combine to round off the effeminate but still somewhat masculine design of the Pug.
Interior
Congruent with recent Peugeot models, the interior is well put together with tactile plastics to give the cabriolet a solid feel. Polished aluminium on the gear console, gear knob and door handles work together with the chrome-ringed aircon vents to give this Pug a classic yet avantgarde ambience.
The driving position though sits a little too high for my tastes and with the roof retracted, the A-pillars sits perilously close to the head forcing front occupants to take extra care not to provide comic relief for passer-bys when getting in and out.
Once in the driver’s seat, you find yourself having to lean forward to operate buttons on the centre console. This can get annoying once you realise the better ergonomics found in the Volkswagen EOS.
First off, I’d like to say I’m in love with the 308CC. It doesn’t matter that my girlfriend thinks the styling’s a little too effeminate for a guy. “To each his own”, I tell her. From that pronounced snout above a wide gaping intake emblazoned with the Peugeot’s lion to the F1-like creases on the hood, it’s a beautiful thing to behold.
The cabriolet is flanked by a pair of contour lines that start at the snout, continues over the roof and blends seamlessly into the boot’s outline. Come around to the boot and you’ll be happy to see that all is well in the rear after a makeover. The same contour lines from the front and vertical LED taillights have made the rear taut, giving it several curves that add to the visual symphony. Diffusers in the rear bumper combine to round off the effeminate but still somewhat masculine design of the Pug.
Interior
Congruent with recent Peugeot models, the interior is well put together with tactile plastics to give the cabriolet a solid feel. Polished aluminium on the gear console, gear knob and door handles work together with the chrome-ringed aircon vents to give this Pug a classic yet avantgarde ambience.
The driving position though sits a little too high for my tastes and with the roof retracted, the A-pillars sits perilously close to the head forcing front occupants to take extra care not to provide comic relief for passer-bys when getting in and out.
Once in the driver’s seat, you find yourself having to lean forward to operate buttons on the centre console. This can get annoying once you realise the better ergonomics found in the Volkswagen EOS.
The rear seats of any cabriolet / coupe have always been believed to be a long running prank amongst car manufacturers. An aesthetic fixture that’s only useful for shopping that’s spilled over from the boot, we usually wouldn’t recommend sticking anyone back there.
However in the 308CC, legroom is slightly better and you can probably seat kids in the back as long as they’re not your own, pets included (anything larger than a Chihuahua would be cruel).
The factory fitted entertainment system does pump out the tunes to a reasonable degree but an AUX-in for your iPhone/MP3 player would’ve been greatly appreciated considering that even cars a third of its price come with it as standard. Another oddity I encountered in the Pug was the awkwardly placed media controls.
Hidden just behind the steering wheel’s right spoke on a stalk, it doesn’t provide easy access to media controls as it should. Perhaps it was French flair but it would’ve been more prudent to have conventional buttons embedded into the steering wheel itself.
Peeking from behind the three spoke wheel are the familiar (as in the 307CC) chrome-ringed dials that provide sharp information on your speed and revs with its Century Gothic font and white illuminated background.
An unconventional test featured on Fifth Gear used 12-pack 500ml mineral water bottles to show which car had the greater amount of bootspace with the roof down. In this test, the Peugeot came out on top of (just barely) Volkswagen’s EOS by swallowing 14 packs of mineral water bottles compared to the EOS’s 13, showing that it does have a marginally bigger boot.
However in the 308CC, legroom is slightly better and you can probably seat kids in the back as long as they’re not your own, pets included (anything larger than a Chihuahua would be cruel).
The factory fitted entertainment system does pump out the tunes to a reasonable degree but an AUX-in for your iPhone/MP3 player would’ve been greatly appreciated considering that even cars a third of its price come with it as standard. Another oddity I encountered in the Pug was the awkwardly placed media controls.
Hidden just behind the steering wheel’s right spoke on a stalk, it doesn’t provide easy access to media controls as it should. Perhaps it was French flair but it would’ve been more prudent to have conventional buttons embedded into the steering wheel itself.
Peeking from behind the three spoke wheel are the familiar (as in the 307CC) chrome-ringed dials that provide sharp information on your speed and revs with its Century Gothic font and white illuminated background.
An unconventional test featured on Fifth Gear used 12-pack 500ml mineral water bottles to show which car had the greater amount of bootspace with the roof down. In this test, the Peugeot came out on top of (just barely) Volkswagen’s EOS by swallowing 14 packs of mineral water bottles compared to the EOS’s 13, showing that it does have a marginally bigger boot.
|
With the roof up however, the Peugeot swallows up to 465-litres. A class leading act for a coupe convertible.
The Drive
The Pug gets its drive from a humble 1.6-litre twin scroll turbocharged inline 4 unit. At idle, the engine gives a rather loud indication of its presence due to an over exuberant cooling fan. When driving with the roof down, the car exhibits a rather peculiar trait not found in other cabriolets I’ve driven. At ever increasing speeds, the seat belt vibrates with increasing frequency. Like I said, peculiar.
On the highway the 308CC manages to sort itself out over bumps without any fuss and overtaking was a breeze although anything above 110km/h, the car starts to betray its girth.
If you’d like to amuse yourself, put the roof up and turn the radio off. Now mash the throttle and let go just as quickly to hear the mouse squeak of a turbo whine. You’ll have to listen closely though.
The Drive
The Pug gets its drive from a humble 1.6-litre twin scroll turbocharged inline 4 unit. At idle, the engine gives a rather loud indication of its presence due to an over exuberant cooling fan. When driving with the roof down, the car exhibits a rather peculiar trait not found in other cabriolets I’ve driven. At ever increasing speeds, the seat belt vibrates with increasing frequency. Like I said, peculiar.
On the highway the 308CC manages to sort itself out over bumps without any fuss and overtaking was a breeze although anything above 110km/h, the car starts to betray its girth.
If you’d like to amuse yourself, put the roof up and turn the radio off. Now mash the throttle and let go just as quickly to hear the mouse squeak of a turbo whine. You’ll have to listen closely though.
Chuck the Pug into a corner and you’ll realise it goes round the bends rather nicely without any drama (which takes the fun out the attempt) despite its weight, an improvement over the 307CC. We wouldn’t recommend submitting the chassis to such punishment too often though.
Conclusion
Can I imagine myself driving the 308CC through the French Riviera with the top down and wind in my hair? Of course, under the gentle serenade of Edith Paif no less.
I’m still infatuated with the smooth flowing lines that trace the length of this beauty. Despite not being an engaging drive, the car does live up to its status as a lifestyle product with its gorgeous looks that’s sure to compliment any driver pulling up in it.
Having an NCAP 5 star rating doesn’t hurt its rep either. Yes, owners of this French beauty would be bathed in hues of pink but only if they forget their sunscreen.
Conclusion
Can I imagine myself driving the 308CC through the French Riviera with the top down and wind in my hair? Of course, under the gentle serenade of Edith Paif no less.
I’m still infatuated with the smooth flowing lines that trace the length of this beauty. Despite not being an engaging drive, the car does live up to its status as a lifestyle product with its gorgeous looks that’s sure to compliment any driver pulling up in it.
Having an NCAP 5 star rating doesn’t hurt its rep either. Yes, owners of this French beauty would be bathed in hues of pink but only if they forget their sunscreen.
Photos by Benjamin G, Kline
Car Information
Peugeot 308CC 1.6 Turbo Sport (A)
CAT B|Petrol|12.9km/L
Horsepower
116kW (156 bhp)
Torque
240 Nm
Acceleration
9.5sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Peugeot 308CC
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