508

[turbolag]

I prefer saloons in that body shape - an enormous hatch compromises the handling and they're always rattlier and noisier. If I want a hatch, i'll buy a proper hatch - if I want serious carrying capacity, i'll buy an estate - I can't dither around with some halfway high-lipped-booted-hatch halfway house.

It's been criticised from some quarters for looking a bit Audi-ish from some angles, but then Audio pinched their current corporate front end from the facelifted Rover 75, so that seems an odd thing to worry about.

If it drives halfway decent at those prices, I'll have one. A base Fucus' RRP isn't far shy of £20k, so an alleged £24k for the top one seems pretty reasonable value.

[sirwiggum]

Preview on the Auto Express site gives a few more details, including interior and boot shots

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoe ... t_508.html

Prices start at 19k, a hybrid is planned, and it has a iDrive style system that will make COM2000 failures look like a walk in the park.

[CountryPug]

I'm not so sure about 'elegant' as they put it. Compared to a 406 its an ugly ugly car However the estate version looks alot better and would be my choice of the pair. Otherwise this car looks like it may just be the dogs dangly's especially with the 4 wheel drive version and some decent hp. And a top spec GT price of £24000!!!! We could be looking at the new rep mobile for the masses

[rwb]

My first thought is that it looks too much like the C5, and will PSA risk simply cannibalising their own market?

I think the problem here is that the C5 is too sensible: Peugeot are supposed to be the sensible ones and Citroen are supposed to be French. (I want the C5 to be a smaller C6 with a smaller engine and that I can actually justify seriously owning.)

Nevertheless, looking at the performance and economy numbers, the C5 160 HDi looks pretty good -- they're starting to catch up with BMW who have been ahead of the game here for years now.

So: I'm underwhelmed, and I think the 508 has a lot to do to leapfrog the C5. (But I hope it does.)

[steve_earwig]

Holy thread resurrections Batman!

I just had the latest flier through from Pug for the 508, with pics of the estate version (it looks like a Passat. No, a C5. No, it's a Mondeo etc.) and I couldn't help noticing this:


Is this some gimmick from Pug to stop French guys driving the car with no trousers on??

[Doggy]

I had a quick look at the Pug 508 site and concluded they're too dangerous - If you want a diesel, manual, estate, you have a choice of two 1.6 HDi engines.

How on earth are you gonna stay awake with either of them?

[steve_earwig]

I see what you mean, the higher output diesels are all coupled to automatic transmissions (is it me or is this mad?)

[Doggy]

mad

[FarmerPug]

its not all that good looking.

[sirwiggum]

There are rumours that the new Bertone Jag coupe concept is really testing the water for a 508 coupe....

[CountryPug]

I see what you mean, the higher output diesels are all coupled to automatic transmissions (is it me or is this mad?)

Autobots are the future, unless your buying a serious performance car. Auto's have come a long way and I wouldn't be against owning one anymore.

[Doggy]

I have yet to be convinced of the merits of increased cost, complexity, and fuel consumption, coupled with lack of control and poorer performance.

[Busman]

I have yet to be convinced of the merits of increased cost, complexity, and fuel consumption, coupled with lack of control and poorer performance.

Most new coaches and trucks are autos, and they do more mpg than the manuals, if you can get one. When they go wrong, its normally the mutiplexed wiring which is comon to both. Autos are the future.

[steve_earwig]

Apparently the VAdGe DSGs increase economy too (when they aint broke...). I guess if they can make auto boxes that don't waste power then no fuel is wasted changing gear (and being in the wrong gear and over-revving and whatever else we're meant to be guilty of driving manuals), with the added bonus that it's one less thing for the driver to worry about and they can pay more attention to hazards on the roads, like speeding cameras and bored coppers.

[FarmerPug]

i find driving an auto more relaxing, but especially in tight corners you have you hands on the wheel and your in the right gear without a worry about being in the right gear, you swoop into the corner full of confidence, then go up the gentle hill and if its a toyota previa all the power dissappears because its an old fashoned auto and you want the ability to change gear but cant do it, you then use kickdown which really is what it says it is, a huge uncomfortable jolt forward lots of noise and still in the wrong gear.
They are good for cruising in, but for the enthusiastic driver you need a manual. Also if you want to tow start a car, a relativley common thing if you live on a farm, an auto isnt looked at with much favour, tankfully its never needed it since its a toyota.
My merc automatic was a better gearbox, there was a delay between moving it into D and it going into gear, which meant in N you could floor the throttle, put it into D and get some lovely wheelspin and at times sidewaysness. Although it was also flawed on the open road because 3rd gear didnt engage correctly.