RE: Peugeot 308 GTI: Review

[1Rb]

With French residuals should be a cracking used buy further down the line. If anyone buys them initially.

[Atmospheric]

Is that price fully loaded?

[Hub]

1Rb said:

With French residuals should be a cracking used buy further down the line. If anyone buys them initially.

Big if! I suspect it will be quite a rare sight (even with discounts).

Edited by Hub on Thursday 1st October 18:43

[BrownBottle]

That weight figure is impressive.

I'm sure that's round about the same or possibly even lighter than the 306 Gti-6 was if memory serves me right.

[Kawasicki]

BrownBottle said:

That weight figure is impressive.

I'm sure that's round about the same or possibly even lighter than the 306 Gti-6 was if memory serves me right.

So, impossible then, given it is a much larger car, with more equipment and still made of steel.

I think PH should check their figures.

[Tuvra]

dukebox9reg said:

So with that thinking the Golf GTI is too expensive and everyone should buy an R??

Have to say I agree with the pedal placement. Seems 1-2 inches too far over to the left for starters. Shame as the GT line is pretty nice inside.

In my opinion, yes.

Some people prefer the GTI so that's their choice, choosing this over a GTI or an R though? Your braver than me. Residuals alone would scare me off.

[Pebbles167]

I really like it, and i think that peugeot have really got back into the swing of things on recent years.

That said, i can't help think this won't sell for various reasons. Hopefully peugeot will stick with it though as I'd hate to see them pull out of the hot hatch segment.

[tonyb1968]

Kawasicki said:

So, impossible then, given it is a much larger car, with more equipment and still made of steel.

I think PH should check their figures.

Why is it impossible?
Engineering and design techniques have come on leaps and bounds from the 1990's, use of different materials also mean you can save weight.
Dont dismiss a cars weight compared to older vehicles, you can still have safety (normally better than older cars) and be lighter.

[tonyb1968]

Atmospheric said:

Is that price fully loaded?

Going by what Peugeot has been bringing out af late, it probably will be, unlike the competition which will actually cost considerably more to spec up.

[BrownBottle]

Kawasicki said:

BrownBottle said:

That weight figure is impressive.

I'm sure that's round about the same or possibly even lighter than the 306 Gti-6 was if memory serves me right.

So, impossible then, given it is a much larger car, with more equipment and still made of steel.

I think PH should check their figures.

You could be right I did find it surprising tbh, I imagine the 1.6 is a lot lighter than the old 2L unit which could explain some of it?

[Gatefold]

BrownBottle said:

Kawasicki said:

BrownBottle said:

That weight figure is impressive.

I'm sure that's round about the same or possibly even lighter than the 306 Gti-6 was if memory serves me right.

So, impossible then, given it is a much larger car, with more equipment and still made of steel.

I think PH should check their figures.

You could be right I did find it surprising tbh, I imagine the 1.6 is a lot lighter than the old 2L unit which could explain some of it?

According to Peugeot's own website it is 4.82kg/hp, which for the 250bhp version works out as 1205kg.

I am really impressed by this, with this and the facelift 508, Peugeot have actually started making understated, handsome cars with no weird detailing to ruin the lines. Certainly closer to the fond 1983-1998 Pininfarina era.


ETA - 306 GTi-6/Rallye was 1215/1163kg respectively.

Edited by Gatefold on Thursday 1st October 20:27

[AlexC1981]

It's always the medium-large cars that get the decent engines. Why not put it in a 108 or a 208? A 108 only weighs 865kg

[rb5er]

AlexC1981 said:

It's always the medium-large cars that get the decent engines. Why not put it in a 108 or a 208? A 108 only weighs 865kg

Very true.

A tiny car with 270bhp would be much more fun and at a price to compete with the Fiesta ST it would sell loads where this 308 blob will hardly sell at all.

[mnx42]

I like it...

[Selmer Mk6]

The 308 is likely to be discounted, so I think it will be a lot cheaper than the equivalent VAG Golf or M135i. Anyway most people appear to lease their Golf and M135i, so list is irrelevant.

[big_rob_sydney]

I dont care about the engine size. I dont really care much about its fuel economy either.

What matters to me, is if its meant to be a hot hatch, then how does it execute against that brief? Acceleration, handling, and braking.

Some slight interest in load carrying (otherwise I might be looking at a 2 seater), and I must admit, I'm very interested in the depreciation discussion. I have been told French cars go down faster than 2 dollar hookers.

[jjr1]

I drove a 308 diesel hire car recently and absolutely loved it. Very comfortable and reasonable fun for a basic low powered hatch.

The only weird thing about it was the impossibly small steering wheel? It really is the strangest thing !

So one of these 308's with a decent hot engine sounds brill !!!

[Axionknight]

Tuvra said:

In my opinion, yes.

Some people prefer the GTI so that's their choice, choosing this over a GTI or an R though? Your braver than me. Residuals alone would scare me off.

If I really liked it (and it does sound pretty good) I'd take the hit on the money personally - a bit of extra cash to have the car I really wanted seems like a good deal to me.

BUT, I don't believe for a minute this would be a better buy in any fashion than a MK7 Golf GTI (stick the R up your arse). I had a drive of the Golf (3 door, manual, performance diff pack thingy) and it was a great car. I know it's a cliche but it did everything well, everything I would want a car to do any way - the skeptical part of me doesn't believe that this Peugeot, as good as it may be, will be as good as the Golf, so I know where my money would be heading.

A Focus or Civic,

[BrownBottle]

Gatefold said:

According to Peugeot's own website it is 4.82kg/hp, which for the 250bhp version works out as 1205kg.

I am really impressed by this, with this and the facelift 508, Peugeot have actually started making understated, handsome cars with no weird detailing to ruin the lines. Certainly closer to the fond 1983-1998 Pininfarina era.


ETA - 306 GTi-6/Rallye was 1215/1163kg respectively.

If that's correct and it is lighter than a 306 I'll be very impressed.

The one thing that was putting me off was the small engine capacity but if that is one of the major contributors to the light weight then it can only be a good thing particularly for the handling, especially in a FWD car with most of the weight at the front.

[jontbone]

Kawasicki said:

BrownBottle said:

That weight figure is impressive.

I'm sure that's round about the same or possibly even lighter than the 306 Gti-6 was if memory serves me right.

So, impossible then, given it is a much larger car, with more equipment and still made of steel.

I think PH should check their figures.

I think the numbers could be wrong too, the 0-60 calculator I use has been pretty accurate to date and with the stats suggested by PH the 308 should be doing 0-60 in the low 5s not the low 6s. I have a GTi-6 and its weight is listed at 1214kg, it's tiny by today's standards and I'd be very surprised if the 308 GTi was even less than the 306!!