Some time last year, Peugeot handed us the keys to an RCZ-R for a week. If you read the article you’ll recall the unexpected impact that car had on me (Read it here if you missed it). Long and short of it was that the RCZ-R is a whole lot of fun when, to me at least, it really shouldn’t be. Good work Peugeot.
The 208 Gti we then tested briefly at the SMMT day failed to deliver quite the same results. Owed mostly to it’s short wheelbase, the combination of sure footed-ness and playful torque band that made the RCZ-R so appealing was Missing in Action. Admittedly a different prospect to it’s more expensive sibling it still felt like a step backwards.
And now, the third character in the trilogy. (So far. We know how these things tend to go on for much longer than expected) The middle child in a famous family with a lot to live up to and an example to set. The “Empire Strikes Back”. Joaquin Phoenix. Revolver. The Peugeot 308 Gti.
I wasn’t even meant to be testing the Peugeot this time around but worse things have happened at sea and I spent a week running around in the rain without much thought of comparisons and outcomes. I did manage one dry morning’s hoon, out towards Drymen and back, letting me push the car and get to grips with it’s positives and negatives. So how much charm does the not so little Peugeot have?
The 308 has evolved into rather a grown up looking machine. It is one of the few cars which I think works better as a 5 door, matching practicality with kerb appeal. It’s no Alfa but it has a certain “I don’t know what” (Rodney) about it that had me looking back after parking it up on several occasions. The purple hue of the test car is another random success story which, on paper, sounded rather garish. I’d even go as far as to say I like the impact the alloy wheels, which adorn the Gti, have on me. What I don’t like about them I’ll come back to. Make up your own mind as per usual. The interior has a touch of hot wheels Aventador about it but you do have to love that red gear lever.
The power, again, comes from the tiny 1.6L THP engine. Matching the RCZ-R’s output of 270bhp it has a wider torque band, thanks in particular to the new direct injection system. It retains it’s older sibling’s party piece of feeling anything but turbocharged and is a decent soundtrack away from being something to write home about. Making good use of the sport button brings a helping of raspyness to the exhaust note. Some journos have slated this lack of turbo-feel and called for the days of lag and boost to return. You can keep that, thanks. To compare these engines to a turbo diesel in behaviour is almost warranted but if you must hang a hair dryer off the exhaust ports then making progress in a predictable manner is the way to go.
Now what I have to remind myself is that 90% of the time I drove the car, it was wet. At some points, wetter than an otter’s spare change holder. Coupled with the larger than average wheels and a lack of tyre side wall, grip was hard to come by. Plant your foot in anything but 4th gear and the wheels would scrabble for purchase, the LSD working left to right applying as much load as it dared. The result of this is not a million miles away from a semi automatic rifle being fired two feet in front of you. Bang, bang, bang, bang aaaaand grip. I’m amazed we didn’t drop a driveshaft cv joint at some point. It’s a rough ride when you’re attempting to show up the car next to you pulling away from the lights. Wind that back to 8/10ths and it’s a whole different story. Everything comes together nicely in a blend of torque and top end. You’ll be well into 3 figures before you’ve thought too drastically about it. Pay more attention to the ground you are covering than the perception of speed inside the car and you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised.
Comparing back to the RCZ-R, the 308 Gti’s chassis doesn’t quite measure up. Whereas before you felt low down with a wheel way out at each corner, you are now sitting a sizeable dose more upright, perched on top of the platform. Barrel into your favourite corners and you’ll feel the slight roll in the front end before the rest of the car catches up and finds it’s footing. It’s something you may well be able to drive around, given enough time to plan each apex but only by keeping that last few tenths in reserve at all times.
One particularly driech evening I found myself chasing down a Mk1 Focus RS, hoping to glide past and show him a clean pair of heels. It wasn’t to happen that night. It may have been the weight differential, a sneaky turbo upgrade or simply the size of the testes on display in the rain but as your favourite wizard might say, “None shall pass”. 5 miles later I pulled off at the roundabout to a rather confused look and a friendly thumbs up from the RS driver. Given a dry day, some more familiar roads and the use of another tenth or so it could well have been a different story. Whatever way you cut it, there were plenty of smiles to go around.
No surprises here then. The compromises that have to be made which allow 4 or 5 people to travel in comfort simply cannot be hidden. Compared to it’s German peers though the 308 Gti is well placed to make a lasting impact in the hot hatch market. My favourite Gallic manufacturer are definitely back in the game and I hope to see the Lion go from strength to strength as each new car arrives. Tres Bien Peugeot, tres bien.
PRICE: £28,155
ENGINE: 1.6Ll Turbocharged THP, 6 speed manual
POWER: 270bhp
TORQUE: 330Nm
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 155mph 0-62 mph 6.0 secs
CONSUMPTION: 47 mpg (combined)
CO2: 139 g/km
TT Rating:
