Blame it on the short test drives
Thursday 20th March 2014
If memory serves correctly, the Peugeot RCZ R is the first car I've attended the launch of and been fortunate enough to try in the UK soon after. I thought it was great on first acquaintance, but it's been fascinating to observe how little niggles overlooked during a hoon around France have become proper gripes in Britain.
Still the RCZ's best angleThe RCZ's clutch is set absurdly high, for example. Thrashing it on the launch, firing through shifts as fast as possible, it didn't seem too significant. Now though, having crawled through traffic, it's a right PITA. The positioning of all the pedals compromises the driving position too; you must sit far back to prevent your legs splaying but then the wheel doesn't come close enough to your chest. The seat itself is excellent, which makes the bizarre location of everything else more frustrating
Here's where the problems start...I hate to criticise the RCZ R as it's genuinely a superb car to drive in my opinion. Sodden Tarmac has revealed a far more expressive dynamic character, a welcome additional layer of fun to an already excellent ride/handling balance.
It's another heart v head conundrumHave any of your cars become gradually more frustrating over time? The same actually happened with the Fiesta ST we had last year; I loved its vivacity at first, then eventually found the seats quite uncomfortable and the stupid Sync media system rather annoying. Maybe that's an unreasonable complaint, I'm not sure.
RCZ arghhhh!: PH Blog
Peugeot's fastest RCZ is a joy to drive but rather less fab to live with. Matt explains why
Still the RCZ's best angle
Don't even think about using the cup holder either. A handbrake set for LHD means any beverage will be spilled reaching across, or indeed changing gear. If it hasn't already fallen out of its very shallow holder round a corner, that is.
The infotainment system feels ancient, a feeling exacerbated by the minute, fiddly buttons and diminutive screen. The Bluetooth takes ages to sync and offers no music display. It doesn't do the day-to-day stuff very well, basically.
Here's where the problems start...
In a RHD version, changing gear with what feels like the 'right' hand (if you see what I mean) makes the shift feel even shorter and more accurate than at the launch. On narrower roads with extra traffic, that 1.6 turbo just feels even punchier, gobbling up ratios insatiably.
But eventually driving like you're back on the launch roads has to stop and then the RCZ R can grate a little. And probably the biggest issue it faces is that its main rival, the Audi TTS, is famed for being relatively painless to live with. Let's see how sales go.
It's another heart v head conundrum
In fact, just to finish on the RCZ R, a quick note to Peugeot retailers. Make sure all prospective buyers don't encounter traffic, or want to use the nav, or need to take a drink. Take them to the best road nearby and let them drive. They'll buy without a second thought.
Matt
Discussion
My Mini Countryman Cooper S all4. Thought the Mini was really fun to drive at the 5/10ths I could get away with on the test drive with the dealer sat next to me and thought the ride and seats were ok. Went on a 20min test drive.
1yr 1/2 later. The ride is dreadful even with some 16inch steels and winter tyres I have fitted at the moment. The 'boost' stereo is tinny and distorts at anything above a few clicks. The seats are not very supportive and crap over distance. It's not that fast, it rattles and drinks fuel like buggery when you want to actually 'drive' it. It hasn't got enough torque for its weight even using the overboost and unless you again banging the needle sounds flat as a fart (much more quiet than a standard Cooper S).
Good points, like the normal new BMW Mini's it really is a giggle to grab my the scruff and actually drive it. Explains my dreadful fuel economy. Find most cars I drive make me feel like I want to drive them slowly. The Mini always makes me want to drive like me balls are on fire. Does make me smile at the end of most journeys even though I could winge about it for ever.
I think though if I had had one over a weekend on an extended test drive I probably wouldn't have had it. Hindsight is a beautiful thing.
1yr 1/2 later. The ride is dreadful even with some 16inch steels and winter tyres I have fitted at the moment. The 'boost' stereo is tinny and distorts at anything above a few clicks. The seats are not very supportive and crap over distance. It's not that fast, it rattles and drinks fuel like buggery when you want to actually 'drive' it. It hasn't got enough torque for its weight even using the overboost and unless you again banging the needle sounds flat as a fart (much more quiet than a standard Cooper S).
Good points, like the normal new BMW Mini's it really is a giggle to grab my the scruff and actually drive it. Explains my dreadful fuel economy. Find most cars I drive make me feel like I want to drive them slowly. The Mini always makes me want to drive like me balls are on fire. Does make me smile at the end of most journeys even though I could winge about it for ever.
I think though if I had had one over a weekend on an extended test drive I probably wouldn't have had it. Hindsight is a beautiful thing.
Edited by dukebox9reg on Thursday 20th March 13:22
LuS1fer said:
I have no need or desire for any of this modern Sync sh*t. I just want a CD player with a multi-disc option if possible. A VW with a CD player in the glove box is not appealing.
In fact, most things that are electronic inside the car are things I don't want.
Wifes new C4 Picasso doesnt have a CD player. You can stream, DAB, IPOD etc and it has a built in 8GB hardrive. I like CD players but after spending a bit of time setting it up and uploading stuff, makes it a lot easier in the long run.In fact, most things that are electronic inside the car are things I don't want.
OpulentBob said:
Modern Peugeot? Doesn't live up to the hype? Who'd have thunk it?
Well, me, but I was flamed for saying it would be a disappointment.
Well its always been the hype of how it drives for hot modern Pugs, I think it by the sound of it, it has answered it critics quite well, foibles are the interior layout mainly to his personal preference. All RCZ's are going to be exactly the same and its been the same for many years now (When did the RCZ come out)Well, me, but I was flamed for saying it would be a disappointment.
So I still flame you. Your wrong. Its definitely lived up to its hype, now whats the ring time (tongue in cheek if you dont pick up on that)?
This is why you have to take magazine reviews with a pinch of salt too, and why joining a geeky car forum pays off!
I remember being really underwhelmed with the 997 Carrera S i had on a day to day level. Jittery ride, noisy interior (could hardly a hold a conversation at speed), absolutely rubbish xenons, a stereo that would blare out music when you started the car and the sat nav didn't allow for full UK postcodes, rendering it largely useless.
I remember being really underwhelmed with the 997 Carrera S i had on a day to day level. Jittery ride, noisy interior (could hardly a hold a conversation at speed), absolutely rubbish xenons, a stereo that would blare out music when you started the car and the sat nav didn't allow for full UK postcodes, rendering it largely useless.
LuS1fer said:
I have no need or desire for any of this modern Sync sh*t. I just want a CD player with a multi-disc option if possible. A VW with a CD player in the glove box is not appealing.
In fact, most things that are electronic inside the car are things I don't want.
To add some balance - I think a CD player in a modern car is fairly old hat now. Seems irreleveant when there are a thousand different ways of getting music, none of which involve the trouble of finding space for the player itself, as well as the hole in the dash etc.In fact, most things that are electronic inside the car are things I don't want.
hondansx said:
This is why you have to take magazine reviews with a pinch of salt too, and why joining a geeky car forum pays off!
I remember being really underwhelmed with the 997 Carrera S i had on a day to day level. Jittery ride, noisy interior (could hardly a hold a conversation at speed), absolutely rubbish xenons, a stereo that would blare out music when you started the car and the sat nav didn't allow for full UK postcodes, rendering it largely useless.
I agree completely. Its like the whole Jorno write up on the Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost. Yeah on a quick test drive it's an absolute blast but in the long run they are dreadful on fuel and have alloys made of plasticine which isn't exactly great for the UK roads.I remember being really underwhelmed with the 997 Carrera S i had on a day to day level. Jittery ride, noisy interior (could hardly a hold a conversation at speed), absolutely rubbish xenons, a stereo that would blare out music when you started the car and the sat nav didn't allow for full UK postcodes, rendering it largely useless.
Also always waxing lyrical about German cars. Yes the perceived quality is up with some of the best and the Jornos tell the world they are really well made when in fact German cars in recent years have been slipping behind the French in reliability polls. Don't get me wrong i'm not anti-German car but there is a big difference between perceived quality and how well made something is. Can wash a tramp and put him in a suit but he's still a tramp with a drinking habit whos probably only got a few years left in him before he breaks down needing a triple bypass heart replacement.
So the Pug RCZ-R is amazing to drive on a blast and can highly recommend. After a few weeks, a blast to drive but has many compromises.
Always quite interesting reading a magazines long term tests (Evo etc) against the first impressions on the same car. Hardly ever the same.
My old Mk4 cupra i grew tired of the stiff almost wooden suspension where i'm surrounded by roads that look like they've had a B52 on a bombing run pass overhead. I now regret trading it in and want another Cupra. Flaws make character I've since realized with my highly 'livable' Octavia.
Well I like much of the new tech but I also want a CD player. Unless you upscale all your music files, CDs sound better.
I rarely play them now as all my music is on a USB stick but sometimes I want to stick a CD in and blast it out.
Some tech now is just a laughable attempt at rinsing customers. Oh sir would like a slightly bigger screen and a bit more software? Cost to us, around £50 but let's charge an extra grand for it. Our customers want the best so won't question it at all...
I rarely play them now as all my music is on a USB stick but sometimes I want to stick a CD in and blast it out.
Some tech now is just a laughable attempt at rinsing customers. Oh sir would like a slightly bigger screen and a bit more software? Cost to us, around £50 but let's charge an extra grand for it. Our customers want the best so won't question it at all...
Vladimir said:
Well I like much of the new tech but I also want a CD player. Unless you upscale all your music files, CDs sound better.
I rarely play them now as all my music is on a USB stick but sometimes I want to stick a CD in and blast it out.
Some tech now is just a laughable attempt at rinsing customers. Oh sir would like a slightly bigger screen and a bit more software? Cost to us, around £50 but let's charge an extra grand for it. Our customers want the best so won't question it at all...
Like having to op for a crap built in Sat Nav to get better speakers fitted.I rarely play them now as all my music is on a USB stick but sometimes I want to stick a CD in and blast it out.
Some tech now is just a laughable attempt at rinsing customers. Oh sir would like a slightly bigger screen and a bit more software? Cost to us, around £50 but let's charge an extra grand for it. Our customers want the best so won't question it at all...
HighwayStar said:
Could you elaborate on this please? As a TTS owner I'd be interesting to hear your opinion. Genuine question, not simply so I can disagree with you.
HighwayStar sorry ,TTs i know are a good car but just a little bland for me even the new one looks more or less the same. This Pug just looks a little more interesting imo.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff