Peugeot 508

[757]

I did post within the 'French threads' but thought this deserved a wider discussion...

They have now "pinged" on my <£3k budget shed radar...and they are increasingly starting to make me think about putting to bed my obsession for constantly searching for a late model SAAB 9-3 Sport wagon as my answer to the leftfield estate choice, I need to shake this idea a SAAB is still the answer for a daily do it all family estate - but an ageing defunct brand I don't think is the answer anymore, I've scratched that itch in saloon form, so I need to stop it!

Anyway...these 508's looks very good VFM, great spec, great comfort, great engines and that panoramic roof my daughter would love in this car...so can anyone shine any light on these in 2022?

Mainly the 1.6 over the 2.0 diesel, I am leaning towards a 1.6 more so, I'm not in it for the power just want to completely clamp down on costs where I can, I just need a car that can sit there at 70mph in comfort and serenity, quite a few high milers about at this budget, so shows they can get there.

I think they are particularly handsome things.

[ZX10R NIN]

The 2.0d is the better real world option & more reliable too, the 1.6d had a few issues that did get sorted but pulling the weight of the 508 around means that they're working harder than the 2.0d.

So in the real world the fuel gain is minimal, if you like the 508 also look at the C5 it's the same car underneath:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201231...

[757]

ZX10R NIN said:

The 2.0d is the better real world option & more reliable too, the 1.6d had a few issues that did get sorted but pulling the weight of the 508 around means that they're working harder than the 2.0d.

So in the real world the fuel gain is minimal, if you like the 508 also look at the C5 it's the same car underneath:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201231...

Interesting, thanks, seem to be alot more 1.6d's about when I looks, yeah I did look at the C5 but think I prefer the 508 SW for looks over that, and £30 tax is a nice thing also, brings down the cost, not always the best thing but a nice thing when it comes around.

Reading a few reviews, they do seem so underated, and much better than their predecessor, many state they are just forgotten about, which obviously attacks the residuals which is good for cheapskates like me

[S80]

The 1.6 is the same engine as was used in the Ford/PSA share and consequently went into Volvo’s during their time under Ford.
The point is I have a 1.6D in my V60 which is nowhere near enough engine for the car, and the V60 is a smaller car than the 508.
That said, the S80 and V70 were also available with the 1.6d!! I’m not sure whether the same power output was carried across all variants but my V60 is a 115bhp version.
It’s a decent engine if you are only planning on going on a flat route, mainly on motorway/A roads. My V60 did circa 250 miles on less than half a tank when we moved, on Motorway, then A road and then Welsh B roads, so is impressive in terms of fuel consumption. But put extra people/stuff in and you have to alter the driving style, especially where hills are involved, or for example pulling off or overtaking.
I wish I’d bought a D3/D4 engined V60 but I went for minimal running cost/low insurance.
If this is going to be your only car, and you enjoy driving even remotely, don’t. I am looking for a 5 cylinder Volvo for doing EVERYTHING else apart from my commute which I will continue to use the V60 for. Because there’s no load or extra people in the car, it’s fine, and still very economical, given the price of fuel currently, I can give what I save over to my fun car

Do you really want a Peugeot? I get the value for money thing, but surely there’s something just a bit nicer or more interesting?
Renault Laguna not do anything for you? I’d rather the Renault to the Peugeot and personally, I would say the Renault 2.0 diesel would be a better engine, but I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong . Or a 2.0 petrol even, the same engine as used in Renaultsport models, but obviously massively detuned, or should I say that the RS models are massively tuned?
3k is not going to get you in a similar age premium German/Volvo/Jag, which is what one would normally recommend.

So - Hyundai I40 (cheap running maintenance)
- Toyota Avensis (strong, reliable)
- Ford Mondeo (good solid option, more refined than the Peugeot, though similar engine range)
- Skoda Octavia (reliable 2.0 TDi, cheap alternative to the VAG products with good reliability)
- SEAT Exeo (as above)

Edit to add

If you are set on a 1.6 ish in terms of engine size to get the cheaper tax and better mpg, then I’d be considering a smaller size of car, e.g the Octavia with a 1.6 diesel or an Astra 1.7 or Focus with the 1.6D (all available as estates)

Edited by S80 on Sunday 13th March 20:05

[757]

Thanks for your recommendations, all very good.

Funnily you mentioned the V60 5 cylinder, I had one of those a '13 R Design, didn't last long as it wasnt big enough for my needs, very odd shaped boot, never got on with it, terrible ride, not particularly comfortable, although that may if been down to the silly low profile tyres, but, great engine.

I need a particularly big car, not just got family duties but for my work as a photographer, my cars are usually rammed to rafters (seats down) with all sorts of stuff, so that was one reason I wanted a big car also, and these 508SW's came up on my radar as a big lump of french cathedral on wheels!!

I've the done the big engine thing and tbh I am non the wiser when I get up to 70 and engage cruise control, the V60 was fun (great engine noise) but didn't particularly do anything for power as I just sat...at 65/70 with cruise engaged

Good list you have added though, Laguna, yes that was a contender, but had a Renault few years back and it's scared me off the marque unfortunately and there not particularly clean engines when compared, the tax is little high on the Laguna's for me personally.

Avensis, yep I have also had one of these also, a D4d, nice capable car, but I don't tend to buy a car I have again, just for variety...

Hyundai i40, never considered it tbh, but not sure I would either, just not big enough again looks to have an awkward boot opening.

Did consider a V70 but they seem to be a little on the fence reliability with the 2.0d, unless you go 2.4

I just thought the big Peugeot was a little different tbh, gets great reviews for just being a big comfortable car, no aires or graces no image attached to them, kind of a classless car I thought, and it think they have a few nice quirks, which I get from being a SAAB fan

Edited by 757 on Sunday 13th March 20:21

[S80]

A bit off topic but, here goes….

I get what you’re saying with the V60. I don’t love mine but I’d does what I need as mentioned. In relation to the 5 cylinder Volvo, I’m looking for V70/XC70 D5, the second generation which was developed just before Ford took over (and in my opinion spoilt Volvo), with the D5 engine as developed by Volvo. It has to be one of the top 5 best Diesel engines in terms of reliability (especially the earlier ones without the DPFs), and not bad performance
I’m sure there’s plenty of people who will be queued up to disagree, and especially disagree with diesel in general. But when you go on the classifieds, what are the cars that are there again and again over 200k miles? Old Mercs, VAG TDi, particularly the old PD engines and Volvo 5 6 cylinder-engined cars, with the odd BMW 6 cylinder.

The point I’m leading to is, I have toyed with many ideas in regards to finding the right type of car for my needs, as you are. My search, inevitably lead me to newer cars on HP, or funded through savings & PX, then I thought, given prices at the moment too, why the fk would I spend 20k for something which will cost a tonne in depreciation, probably the same in maintenance and fuel as any other age of car bar brand new, and has even more irritating electronics (I only use the radio and the rapid warm function in winter in my V60 now!) so why would I need more? In an age where everyone wants newer, reliable cars, I have decided that I ought to spend up to £3k on a V70/XC70 (have loved this era of V70 for ages anyway) and then spend a bit more on an overhaul of the car, major service, any consumables etc it needs and then take on any more work as it comes. And literally keep it forever, as I know that with the right care it is a car that ought to go on till there is no more oil on the forecourts (that could be sooner than we’d like to think ). Obviously, I will be looking for history with the car to see things have been done as and when they should have previously, which is a big contributor to vehicle longevity no matter how hard some might disagree… “oh it’s only missed the odd service” - engine oil like bloody Lyles Black Treacle, “the timing belt is only overdue by a year but it’s only covered half the recommended mileage” - there’s a reason it’s X amount of miles OR years! .

I get that this approach won’t be for everyone, especially those who aren’t massively keen/experienced in DIY mechanics, but I feel that it is the best way now for me to find the right “centre of the Venn Diagram” car for me.
I guess if you have the right set of circumstances (I.e you have another car whilst you ‘renovate’ the other) it could work, and you have to have your head screwed on the right way as there are plenty of cars that I’ve seen that would not be worth taking on. In this budget, on the retail market at the moment, there are more than enough people trying to shift some absolute dogst cars that would have been sold as PX clearance cars for up to 1k now trying to eek as much out as they can. On an ad for an 18 year old car the other day, “pervious lady owner since 2018” - yeah great but what about the 14 years before that

[valiant]

Bloke at work has a 508. 2.0d version I think.

He got it brand new for bonkers cheap (they were practically giving them away as Brits tend to shy away from big French stuff) with the intention of running it into the ground and his is now on something near 200k miles and doing circa 150 mile commute daily and he really rates it. Reliable, comfy and now owes him nothing.

Think it’s finally been relegated to tip duties now but he’s always singing its praises.

[ATG]

We picked up a secondhand 508 RXH a few years ago and use it as our long distance driver. It's been reliable. It's comfortable, pretty civilised, not desperately exciting. Boot space is not that huge due to its battery pack, but that's specific to its hybrid system. The gearbox takes a typically Gallic attitude to instructions; maybe it'll respond to your right foot, maybe it won't. It'll certainly think about it for a while before deciding. Certainly represented good value for money when we bought it. The heads-up display is good when it works, but my son has a habit of posting one pound coins and lego into it.

[OutInTheShed]

I drove a relative's C5 quite a bit. That particular example was worn out, 190k miles, seemed to have lost most of its power, but still gave me the feeling that it must have been really nice when new. You can get a stupidly large amount of stuff in one. Smooth and quiet at 70, 45mpg from 2ltr HDi. Would be on my list, but just too big for me. Would have thought modern Mondeo was obvious low-risk bargain option in this size of vehicle?

[757]

Thanks for your replies, all very interesting.

I will go take a look at one if one pops up locally. Looks to be a perfect fit for me at moment, modern/safe and by all means rather dependable by all accounts.

One feature I do like is the panoramic roof some of the models have, my daughter would seriously love this feature, let alone me and my wife.

I've always fancied a big Peugeot, and they do seem ridiculously good value for money.

Currently borrowing my wife's 2012 E91 318d estate for work duties, which gets stonkingly good economy, even in this high fuel crisis, I have just done 250 miles up to Edinburgh on £30!

I can use this on the off chance for work, but I do need to think about a bigger car for myself so we can retire the E91 to smaller hauling duties, I will then p/x my MINI I use as a run about, it's quite a cramped setup the BMW when fully loaded with kids stuff, we do have a roofbox we can deploy if I need too, but even then it's a squeeze.

I will take a look at these 508SW's in the next few weeks

Edit: another question, within my budget, I am seeing Pugs with 150k+ miles (seems they can do it), seem reasonably well looked after aswell by all accounts most of them, but then I suppose this kind of car doesn't really attract neglectful owners I suspect, anything to look out for here, or is it just normal high mileage diesel issues on all marques to look out for.

Thanks all

Edited by 757 on Tuesday 15th March 07:03