Peugeot 308 Gti Ownership experiences please

Peugeot 308 Gti Ownership experiences please

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Discussion

OppoLocksmith

Original Poster:

105 posts

131 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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Hi all

I've searched and I can't find much in the way of ownership experiences with this car. I've had my fiesta st 180 for 4 years now and need something with 5 doors and high on the agenda is a bit of stealth as car crime is at unbelievable levels in the West Mids.

Really intrigued by the Gti but very little info on them. Would be interested to hear experiences with the car?

Thanks in advance

Oppo

Burgerbob

485 posts

77 months

Sunday 2nd December 2018
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Mine was a year old when I bought it with 8000 miles and was a bargain. I've had it for 20 months and it's now done 24000 miles. In 20 years of diving, this is the longest I've had a car without getting itchy feet and fancying a change.

It's had a new ac compressor under warranty and general service costs. And apart from fuel and a self induced issue with the brakes, that's all I've spent on it. If buying used, pay careful attention to the condition of the front brakes as they are very expensive.

It's a great jack off all days car. Mine has been used for track days, tip runs, family duties and my daily commute. I think this is why I like it. It flies under the radar but can really do everything you ask of it. Round a track it is probably the fastest in its class, but it tends to get forgotten about by the journalists.

The ride is on the hard side but not uncomfortable. I really enjoy mine as it's fun when I want it to be but comfy too. Make sure you have a decent test drive, some people don't get on with the driving position and the small steering wheel that you look over, but it works well for me. Back seat space isn't best in class and it needs another cup holder in the front. Plus the glove box is a joke. But the interior is pleasant, and the seats are great. Some people moan about the touchscreen but I find it works well. Reviewers object to the heating controls being embedded in the touchscreens menus, but as an owner, how often do you change the climate settings?

It's quite a rare car and you will be best asking for thoughts on the Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/116145985598090/



OppoLocksmith

Original Poster:

105 posts

131 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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Thanks Burgerbob really insightful and just the kind of information I was after. It sounds like it could be just what I'm after, I understand the facelift cars have a few desirable tweaks but as you say it seems to be a very capable car that flies under the radar. I need to visit the Pug garage to have a mooch.

Cheers

Oppo

LuS1fer

41,135 posts

245 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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Burgerbob said:

It's a great jack off all days car.
Wow, where do I sign? wink

OppoLocksmith

Original Poster:

105 posts

131 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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clap luckily I got the jist

daimatt

799 posts

235 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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As above. Had mine for almost 2 years and 15K miles, so far no issues.

Regularly does 40MPG on my commute, is comfortable and can be very fun when you want it to be. The boot is big but this, along with the front seats makes rear leg room small. I get on really well with the driving position, I've found getting the steering wheel set so you can see the clocks and then just getting used to it has worked well. It's best not to fight it as it seems lots do and try to lift it to a regular position. As with everything you adapt, and I now find other cars odd to drive for the first few seconds.

The touch screen works well, as above I tend to set a temperature and leave it, so it doesn't bother me but I can see how it would be annoying if you fiddle a lot. The stereo isn't great, and the menu system for the iPod and any phone is st if you are looking for a specific song or contact.

Servicing can be a bit expensive as the spark plugs should be changed every service so the major/minor service's aren't much different in price (around £340 I think)

Overall, it's the best car I've owned. Nice and understated to look at, but a handsome car. Brakes are awesome, and the acceleration is staggering considering it's a 1.6.

OppoLocksmith

Original Poster:

105 posts

131 months

Wednesday 5th December 2018
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Cheers @Daimatt super helpful and consolidating my thoughts that I need to go and have a proper look. The rarity unfortunately means that they can be difficult to track down!

The other thing that seems to be lacking in information is tuning potential, is that because the 1.6 is highly stressed I wonder?

Thanks again

Burgerbob

485 posts

77 months

Wednesday 5th December 2018
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daimatt said:
The stereo isn't great.
Have you tried setting the balance to "driver only"? I found it made a massive difference. The sound is a lot more punchy and focused, it turns an average stereo into quite a good one. Of course YMMV and I suspect that it makes it sound worse for anyone else in the car!

GTID

146 posts

118 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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Looking into these at the moment as well, really like the looks and can't complain with the spec for the price. Evo ran a long termer and they absolutely loved it which is what drew my attention to these in the first place as they'd gone completely under my radar.

Do have a few concerns with the driving position and the interior in general but want to test drive one properly and make my own mind up. Replacement front discs and pads are crazy money which is something else that needs taking into consideration, but it seems to tick an awful lot of boxes and lightly used examples are very reasonably priced now.

Test drove an i30N a few weeks ago and whilst I enjoyed it as it felt focused and sharp it didn't feel anywhere near as quick as the numbers suggest.

Tallow

1,624 posts

161 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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Burgerbob said:
Reviewers object to the heating controls being embedded in the touchscreens menus, but as an owner, how often do you change the climate settings?
I drove a 3008 in the summer with that same interface. Dear god, it was awful. Whilst you don't often change the climate control, it certainly doesn't feel particularly safe trying to do it whilst in motion.

768

13,680 posts

96 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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Saw one of these on the M5 yesterday, hadn't heard of them before. Quite a nice looking, understated car.

Apparently they're a bit quicker than the older 5 cylinder Focus ST in a straight line too. irked

greenarrow

3,592 posts

117 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Just found this thread.

If I was buying a hot hatch now, this would be my first choice. I like the fact that its lighter than every other class rival (about 175KG lighter than the Hyundai) and only has a 1.6.

The Civic Type R is too big and too garrish. I dont want to be an Audi or BMW driver and the Golf GTI is too much like the GTD. The Hyundai i30N is the only other one I really fancy. These totally fly under the radar. One was parked next to a Civic Type R yesterday in the train station car park and was totally anonymous.

Edited by greenarrow on Wednesday 20th March 16:12

Johnnyboylard

8 posts

109 months

Sunday 31st March 2019
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Had mine since August 2017. Bought with 13k on the clock now has 40k on it. It really is a brilliant car to drive and serves well as a family car as long as your kids aren't 6 footers. Docile enough for Mrs Lard to drive it around town ( she's not a confident driver) but very quick and great grip on my 88 mile a day commute. Computer says 39mpg average so knock a bit off that. But I don't hang around so happy with economy.
There aren't many on the roads and this is nice in some ways but not in others. A moments inattention in October meant I put mine into the back of a peoplecarrier at a roundabout. Only doing about 25ish mph but resulted in £7k of damage. The main problem was scarcity of parts, a lot are very specific to the GTI. As a result I was without my car for 3 months and had to have some very stern words with Peugeot UK to get them to source parts.
Having said that I love the car but do check the driving position and look at front brakes (as mentioned above), discs are at least £600 EACH!

amoeba

200 posts

166 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
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Surely you can get some non OEM discs for reasonable money?

Burgerbob

485 posts

77 months

Saturday 18th May 2019
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amoeba said:
Surely you can get some non OEM discs...
Yes, there are a couple of options now (Tarox, Mtec)

amoeba said:
... for reasonable money?
the standard discs are 380mm floating discs, made by alcon but only available from Peugeot. The non-OEM discs that are available cost only a little less, but generally are two piece discs, so at least the next replacement can just be the rotors.

https://www.tarox.co.uk/product/front-tarox-brake-...

slopes

38,818 posts

187 months

Saturday 22nd June 2019
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768 said:
Saw one of these on the M5 yesterday, hadn't heard of them before. Quite a nice looking, understated car.

Apparently they're a bit quicker than the older 5 cylinder Focus ST in a straight line too. irked
Yes they are.

Great cars, good at surprising people who think their car is fast - VW Scirocco and Fiesta ST Owners i'm looking at you - reasonably economical or at least mine was, if you get the 270 bhp version the brakes are ridiculously powerful and the pads and discs can be changed reasonably cheaply but the calipers are yikes if you get them from the main dealers.
Body panels are fairly flimsy but then it does only weigh 1200kg kerb weight, 19 alloys are ok and don't jar during driving. The sterring wheel thing is just people not being prepared to spend time adjusting to it.....but by far the biggest issue is, the lack of rear leg room if you are over say 5' 10", there will be no room behind for anyone but kids.

Why do i not have mine anymore? Changed it in for a new 508.

DCerebrate

341 posts

110 months

Tuesday 13th August 2019
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Had mine just over 1 year. Big discount on retail price from dealer although depreciation is still a consideration. Luxury kit is mostly standard - many makers would charge an arm and leg for apple interface, cruise, LED lights etc. Only extras were the Denon sound - best system I have ever heard in a car - pearl paint and dealers 3y servicing package - combined price of around £1100. Suspension and brakes and general feeling of solidity are amazing. Just been to the Ardennes and back - 1200 miles. Good performance on demand, plenty of space and 44mpg overall. Its not a pure lightweight sports car and it's too quiet for me, but it is the best compromise car that I can imagine. I call it the Flying Brick.