RE: Peugeot Sport 308 GTI 270 | Spotted

RE: Peugeot Sport 308 GTI 270 | Spotted

Wednesday 18th September 2019

Peugeot Sport 308 GTI 270 | Spotted

Why Peugeot's forgotten hot hatch might yet make a canny used buy



On the face of it, the Peugeot 308 GTI provides a worthy alternative to so many more celebrated hot hatches. The EMP2 platform means it's genuinely light - 1,280kg at the kerb, against 1,500 for a Focus ST - so there's no need for something like four-wheel steer to contrive a sense of agility. Driving modes extend no further than a sport mode to sharpen the throttle (traction is either on or off), making it an approachable and easy car to understand. It'll blend in way better than a Civic Type R, yet is more stylish (and just as good to drive) as a Golf GTI. The 308 is manual only, comes as standard with Alcon brakes and a limited-slip diff, and it's cheaper than all of the cars listed above.

So why does nobody care? Well, though it was a welcome return to hot hatch form from Peugeot, this is no reincarnation of the 306 GTI - the class leaders weren't exactly troubled by the 308. A slightly baggy gearshift, the odd steering and the last yard of missing chassis finesse see to that. But the 308 deserves way more recognition than it receives. (As does the 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport, but maybe that's a Spotted for another day.)


Today, there's just a solitary '260' GTI on sale; at launch the range was split into a '250' and '270', the latter proving most popular thanks to the extra power and equipment for not much more money. This car from the classifieds is one those 270s, and is the cheapest we've yet seen at just £13k.

Diablo Red is a colour made famous by that old 306, and suits the 308 nicely. Frankly, after the two-tone cars, any one colour seems to work well. This 270 has covered 34,000 miles, with three services to back that up, and will be sold a warranty as well. For point of reference you'll pay £15k for a diesel Focus ST on the same mileage, a comparable Golf GTI is more expensive (with 50 less horsepower) and a Civic Type R of similar vintage - while a more powerful, more exciting hot hatch - is £17k. With twice the mileage.


Still not sold? Thought not, and perhaps the general apathy towards the 308 GTI might be its greatest drawback. That said, it should be considered that its small engine and light weight make it efficient - 39mpg and 139g/km - while nothing beyond some electrical issues have been reported as reliability woes. There really is plenty to recommend the 308 - even his mightiness Jeremy Clarkson said it was a car "you will find an excuse to drive." So there.

It's hard to imagine any more following, either, what with a glut of new hot hatches around and Peugeot's apparent unwillingness to produce anything fun any more. Maybe that's it; when Peugeot finally stops making hot hatches for a full range of hybrid SUVs, everyone will realise that really decent hot hatches were in their midst for a good few years. Hopefully some will realise right now, and snap up what looks like something of a bargain - and the rest will be none the wiser still.




SPECIFICATION - PEUGEOT SPORT 308 GTI 270
Engine:
1,598cc four-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive, LSD
Power (hp): 270@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 243@1,900-5,500rpm
MPG: 39
CO2: 139g/km
First registered: 2015
Recorded mileage: 34,000
Price new: £28,155
Yours for: £13,750

See the original advert here.

 



Author
Discussion

b14

Original Poster:

1,060 posts

187 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Probably a good buy, will be quick and reasonable fun. But, I can't get over the sheer boredom of French small car interiors, I know they do get some criticism for this but equally I think they get a pass from reviewers because "that's how this class of French car is".

For that reason, I couldn't buy one.

sideshowfred

89 posts

82 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
I'm a big fan of these from a looks perspective. They're well up on my list of future cars although it would be between this and a Golf GTI. The fact you rarely see them out on the road also appeals massively and i think it would fly under most peoples radar.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
I remember evo loved theirs after they got used to the small wheel/dash combo - LSD, great handling, plenty of power. Sounds like a bloody bargain to me.

Gameface

16,565 posts

76 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Impressed by that weight.

JLC25

572 posts

121 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
I've never see a bad review of one of these. Apparently engine is superb and also forged so has potential for even more power. I kind of like the looks too. Nice to have some subtlety in a world of splitters and spoilers.

C70R

17,596 posts

103 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
That's a lot of grunt in a modern-ish car for a reasonable amount of wedge, and the LSD is a nice touch.

However, having used the mother-in-law's 308 hire car (after an accident) recently, the inside is just a hateful place to be. How can a company that's been building cars for so long make such basic mistakes in ergonomics and usability?

By contrast, even though they come in for some criticism, jumping into a modern VAG car (I've had a few Polos and Golfs via Zipcar in recent years) is like putting on your favourite pair of trainers.

When similar money gets you into 2015 Golf GTi (or a 2014 Golf R!), I can imagine this is only going to appeal to people who want something 'different'.

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 18th September 10:06

rider73

2,993 posts

76 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
IMHO Peugeot interiors cabins are a horrid place to be, cheap, basic,uncomfortable and not greatly laid out, and outside of the engine, not very reliable in my experience as well.

dirty doug

483 posts

194 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Rev counter goes the 'wrong' way...

Turbobanana

6,160 posts

200 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
C70R said:
When similar money gets you into 2015 Golf GTi (or a 2014 Golf R!), I can imagine this is only going to appeal to people who want something 'different'.

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 18th September 10:06
Did you miss this part?

Article said:
...a comparable Golf GTI is more expensive (with 50 less horsepower)...

Turbobanana

6,160 posts

200 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
dirty doug said:
Rev counter goes the 'wrong' way...
It has a very high idle smile

Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
I think it's main problem is a lack of image and too subtle styling. Power is good but its also only a 1.6

Mike1990

962 posts

130 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Evo timed there’s at 13s dead to 100mph so quick, the weight does play a massive difference, the i30 N was around 14.5s iirc.

Fantastic car though from all the reviews i’ve read and watched and massively overlooked in that segment.


1974foggy

669 posts

143 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Quite like these, but just cant get on with the Peugeot "I cockpit" steering wheel on the lap layout thing - as a tall person it feels very unnatural to me.
An answer to a question nobody asked, surely? Shame, the interiors Ive seen in Peugeots look great, apart from this fundamental flaw IMHO.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Mike1990 said:
Evo timed there’s at 13s dead to 100mph so quick, the weight does play a massive difference, the i30 N was around 14.5s iirc.
I think the actual timing was13.8 to the ton ( i30 14.9, Golf Gti 14.6, Focus ST 14.1 ) - although yes, it is light by modern hot hatch standards - 1318kg as weighed in that test so about 100kg lighter than the new Focus ST, like for like

cerb4.5lee

30,190 posts

179 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
I've always liked how quick these are yet they still offer decent economy. A very good value Hot Hatch for sure.

Jon_S_Rally

3,385 posts

87 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
A lot of car for the money that. Photos don't really seem to do them justice either. They look much better in the metal.

The interior is a bit of an issue for me. The dial/wheel arrangement is a bit odd, but the fact that so much is controlled through the touchscreen is also irritating. A friend had a lower spec one as a rental and the lack of proper buttons/knobs doesn't do much for me.

A shame Peugeot are moving away from hot hatches though. This and the 208 seemed to be a return to form.

boozyjay

171 posts

65 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
I bought a used one about a year and half ago as a second runaround, I only paid £16500 it and it wasn't yet 2 years old. It's a vastly underrated hot hatch. It's light, quick, economical, well equipt and the interior is surprisingly well put together.

The downside is the infotainment is dreadful, it's actually bordering on dangerous when you have to mess about with certain menus while driving, so I tend to leave it alone. And the Alcon brake pads for the front cost me nearly £500. But apart from that I'd definitely recommend one and at these used prices it's a bargain. In fact I was going to change it but I'm so pleased with it I'm going to keep it another 12 / 18 months.

Mr-B

3,766 posts

193 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Didn't realise these had that much power seems good value £/bhp. Only Pug I have driven was a 406 many years ago and the gearshift was pure guesswork as to which gear it was in, hope they have improved on that. Reverse rev counter - no, just no.

Augustus Windsock

3,340 posts

154 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
I think it's main problem is a lack of image and too subtle styling. Power is good but its also only a 1.6
I get what you’re saying but we laugh at Yank Tanks with 6.0 engines that struggle to get 50bhp/litre yet criticise something that exceeds 100/bhp/litre from a puny 1.6. Which has forged internals if the article is t be believed.
As others opine, the steering wheel looks set way too low for any normal human being, I’m sure I could things of other things I would like in my lap whilst... no, leave it there...

DanielSan

18,748 posts

166 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
quotequote all
Great looking car these, and I've yet to see a bad review of one.