French cars: are they finally on the up?

[LotusOmega375D]

Maybe it's just me, but I'm starting to really notice new small French cars again. After a decade or so of dross and decline, it seems the French are now manufacturing attractive products which the public is prepared to pay for.

Vive la difference! Vive la France!

[vtecyo]

Bit ironic that Renault went after the electric market I thought...

[mike-r]

Keep seeing DS3s and think they're an attractive design. If I were in the market for a cheapo hatchback I'd probably go French.

[IanCress]

The 208 and new 308 look like genuinely good cars, with the 308 claiming some very good economy figures, and a sporty 'R' veresion on the way. However, I still can't see the 308 being anything but an 'also ran' when up against the Focus and Golf.

Citroen continue their slightly strange two pronged approach, with the DS3 doing well. I can't remember the last time I saw a C3 though. New Cactus looks promising though, with its lightweight construction and simple interior.

I don't seem to see as many new Clio's as I thought I would. It's a good looking car with a fancy stereo that links up to your phone, which I would think would appeal to the younger buyers. The Twingo doesn't appeal at all for some reason.

Long may the French continue to make cars. The world would be a dull place if everyone drove a Corsa.

Edit: I can't help but think the French manufacturers need their own 'MINI' or '500'. A modern 2CV or 205GTi perhaps.

Edited by IanCress on Wednesday 1st October 14:46

[shoestring7]

Good point. I glanced at the new Citroen Cactus at Goodwood and wondered what they had been smoking, but then I read the CAR article and saw the thinking that had gone into it, and that they'd got some versions down to 960kgs. Lovely to see Citroen back to their strengths, an intelligent medium sized car that is designed for comfortable family transport on UK roads, not fecking 'Ring times. 'What Car' gave it the nod too, lets just hope Citroen have managed to screw the bloody thing together.

SS7

[Snowman23]

I went to the Geneva Motorshow back in March (as French as you can get without being in France), and one of my musings from the day was that the French manufacturers have got their groove back.

I liked a lot of the cars on display

Peugeot 108/C1 - Lovely little cars, perfect runaround for most people
308R - Looked very purposeful,albeit with the silly paint job
RCZ R - I liked the RCZ when it came out, even with the silly mouth, now they've sorted that, and done an R version, what's not too like
Twizy F1 - Mad as a box of frogs (pun very much intended)
Twingo - Rear engined, RWD, supermini!
C4 Cactus - Just so different, i think 'blandness'is the biggest crime in car design/manufacturing
The DS range - great looking cars, they should be commended for making them, even though nobody buys anything other than the DS3

Not forgetting, the seemingly endless suply of beutiful French women working on their stands

On the downside, how the 308 won car of the year is beyond me...ooh it's got a small steering wheel...

[Prawnboy]

i agree, the most attractive 'run of the mill' cars are French at the moment. If i wanted a mid sized hatchback i would be all over the DS4.

[LotusOmega375D]

IanCress said:

I can't help but think the French manufacturers need their own 'MINI' or '500'.

I disagree: I think it's the very fact that they are looking forward and not backwards which is so appealing.

[GrumpyTwig]

IanCress said:

Edit: I can't help but think the French manufacturers need their own 'MINI' or '500'. A modern 2CV or 205GTi perhaps.

Edited by IanCress on Wednesday 1st October 14:46

The new Renault Twingo is more 500 than the modern 500.

Rwd, rear engined, the only problem is Renault dealers ability to sell them, as the vast majority are not great at that....

[IN51GHT]

IMO only Citroen. The other look like ste