RE: Peugeot 308 GTI: UK Review

[Escort3500]

Good review, and goes to show that a well specced car with decent power doesn't make an entertaining hot hatch. The gimmicky paintwork doesn't disguise the fact that it's a mundane design, and the price is a joke.

[NJH]

Kawasicki said:

The weight in the article is wrong.

I'd estimate 1400 kg, completely normal for the class.

This is what I don't understand about this car. If it really was just over 1200 Kg it would be lighter than the R26.R but with substantially more power. The thing should be lighting up tracks all over Europe with class leading lap times and journos raving about it being the next best thing since the R26.R.

Sadly sounds like another missed opportunity by Peugeot to make something genuinely interesting.

[Kawasicki]

NJH said:

Kawasicki said:

The weight in the article is wrong.

I'd estimate 1400 kg, completely normal for the class.

This is what I don't understand about this car. If it really was just over 1200 Kg it would be lighter than the R26.R but with substantially more power. The thing should be lighting up tracks all over Europe with class leading lap times and journos raving about it being the next best thing since the R26.R.

Sadly sounds like another missed opportunity by Peugeot to make something genuinely interesting.

Agreed

[BrownBottle]

WCZ said:

" 270hp 1.6-litre engine, six-speed manual gearbox, suitably wider, lower and stiffer chassis and - crucially - a mechanical limited-slip diff. Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres and Alcon brakes are also standard kit "

pretty good spec though!

Impressive spec, a lot better than some of its competitors.

Shame it's getting so much derision, just shows you how hard it is to shake off a bad reputation whilst trying to live up to a great one from the past.

One thing that has got me baffled is the weight, how can this thing be lighter than a GTI-6?

[C.A.R.]

Peugeot are sticking small diameter obese steering wheels in everything these days - what market research was done to support this I wonder?

The fond memories of the GTi6 will include the feel of that skinnier-than-other-306s leather-clad wheel. Certain things in life can get away with being chunky - chips, men once they become fathers etc, but this trend for fat steering wheels is sh*t.

Is everything still controlled by the big slow-to-respond touchscreen in these? (like the climate controls, fan speed etc). Isn't that going to be fun to put right when it inevitably breaks!

[Sylvaforever]

At least EVO knows what there talking about.

Not one bit of substance in that "report"

Edited by Sylvaforever on Sunday 20th March 22:37

[re33]

Sylvaforever said:

At least EVO knows what there talking about.

Not one bit of substance in that "report"

Edited by Sylvaforever on Sunday 20th March 22:37

Why what did you think of the steering feel and chassis balance? They seem to be the only negatives of review. I haven't driven the car but I liked the style of the review and areas addressed.

[sebhaque]

Having had a cooking spec 308 on works business I thought it was quite a decent little car. Nothing to set the world on fine, but certainly much more refined than the awful older-gen 308, which I hated driving around. The review does seem a little unfair, particularly in regards to the steering wheel, which is probably as much commonality as I can draw with my experience. The gauges are perfectly positioned to be over the wheel, rather than through them as is usual, and it's no more awkward to look at the gauges when the wheel is turned than any other car. I quite liked the driving position.

[the_hood]

Would agree with other posters re the steering wheel. I had read reviews saying that it was an issue, so when I was given a 308 as a hire car I was pretty sure I'd find it hard to adjust. After a few minutes it was fine. The car itself was a big step forward from Peugeots of old when it came to the interior. Overall a decent car. The GTi is in a very competitive market so it's difficult to say how successful it'll bw.

[Limpet]

"Initial understeer is to be expected but there's seemingly no option to adjust the car's attitude on the throttle as you can the best hot hatches."

Throttle adjustability and on-limit balance is what hot Peugeots were famous for. Nothing did it better than a hot 205 or 306. I can't believe they'd cock this up on a product that's being pitched as a return to form.

That said, I think it's time the world accepted that you can't build a 205 GTI in 2016. The thing was sub 900kg for heaven's sake.

[AH33]

Would I be adding anything by saying the paint is embarrassing and the car looks boring? No. But I will anyway.

[the_hood]

AH33 said:

Would I be adding anything by saying the paint is embarrassing and the car looks boring? No. But I will anyway.

I think what you're looking for is the Type R

[James Drake]

The Wookie said:

I agree, no mention of the fact that it manages to handle that well without a bone shaking ride.

Review reads like one of the previous generation when in fact they've made a huge leap forward IMHO

Really?

Article says said:

Same can be said of the chassis set-up, which is both taut and yet still comfortable too. It feels tied down without being excessively stiff for the sake of it, meaning it feels agile, well damped and fun to drive with all the enthusiasm you'd hope in a hot Peugeot.

[GTEYE]

Silly dash/steering wheel, even sillier paint and even sillier still price will take it off the lists of 99.9% of potential buyers.

It seems most 308s to be seen on the roads are in rental fleet car parks - tells you most of what you need to know.

Will Peugeot ever learn?

Its a tragedy really.

Edited by GTEYE on Monday 21st March 08:49

[GeordieInExile]

BeirutTaxi said:

£30k for a Peugeot!

Imo Peugeot should play to their strengths ie amazingly cheap price.

On which, my 306 GTi-6 was £28,995 cheaper than one of these. And it's superb.

[The Wookie]

James Drake said:

The Wookie said:

I agree, no mention of the fact that it manages to handle that well without a bone shaking ride.

Review reads like one of the previous generation when in fact they've made a huge leap forward IMHO

Really?

Article says said:

Same can be said of the chassis set-up, which is both taut and yet still comfortable too. It feels tied down without being excessively stiff for the sake of it, meaning it feels agile, well damped and fun to drive with all the enthusiasm you'd hope in a hot Peugeot.

Fair enough, I missed it, but it's still only a one liner on what is an important aspect of the car, particularly as it's one of the USP's of GTi's of old that people have been bemoaning the lack of in some previous efforts.

[James Drake]

The Wookie said:

Fair enough, I missed it, but it's still only a one liner on what is an important aspect of the car, particularly as it's one of the USP's of GTi's of old that people have been bemoaning the lack of in some previous efforts.

In my defence I wrote more about it, but the subs trimmed the article down to length and that bit is on the cutting room floor. I do like to go on a bit though.

JD

[MustardCutter]

BeirutTaxi said:

£30k for a Peugeot!

Imo Peugeot should play to their strengths ie amazingly cheap price.

Well, no one will actually pay that for it, Broadspeed has it at £24,350 for example. Though that is similar to what they have for the Megane cup with the dampers and exhaust options ticked, though they seemed to be aimed at different markets. A performance packed Golf GTI with comparable spec is a few grand more. A focus ST3 is cheaper still, but I'd argue the pug is better spec'd. I think it's priced okay after discounts relative to the competition.

[bj1aut]

Just specced a Focus ST and a 308 GTI 270 up on the respective manufacturer's websites. The 308 was approx £800 more than the Focus. For that £800 extra you get 20 more bhp, 6sec V 6.5 sec 0-60 time and a LSD. Bargain I reckon. I think a lot of people have made their minds up about the 308 before reading the reviews. Also, there is a lot of badge snobbery on here.
As for the usual moans and groans about the steering wheel, I've got a 208 GTI 30th and it took me about 2 miles to get used to it. The layout works really well, if people are struggling with it they are not adjusting the seat and the steering wheel correctly. Again, I suspect that if BMW had come up with this idea it would be labelled as brilliant and innovative.

[anonymous-user]

Complete trash