For my latest trip to the Canaries, I decided to book a hire car in advance online. As I am traveling alone I only needed a small car that preferably had air con and not the family sized car I usually opted for. I was faced with a selection of cars, all the same rental price, which in turn set alarm bells ringing as this sounded like a lucky dip competition to me! The cars of choice were VW Polo, Peugeot 208, Citroen C3, Seat Ibiza, Nissan Micra, Hyundai i10 and, strangely, the i20.
As I have lost out on sales to VWs long-standing Polo in the past, I opted for that one to see why people bought it. On arrival at the airport I made my way through the crowds of travel agent arranged transfers and up into the car park, where the hire car centre was. Going through the paperwork with the heavily tanned Spanish guy who never removed his sunglasses, (even though he was inside) he wrote in the top corner of the Paperwork P.208. This made me laugh as either he couldn’t spell Peugeot 208 or he was hiding the fact that it wasn’t the desired Polo. To be honest (and I’m sure those of you who are in the motor trade will agree) I have had, and driven that many cars now, that so long as it looks half decent and the interior colour doesn’t make you feel sick every time you get in it, I am no longer really that bothered what I drive any more.
So as the señor scurried off to fetch my car, I was watching what other people were jumping into: Quite a few Fiat 500s, a Fiat Panda, Astra Estate and the most amusing was a couple with a very small child in a pushchair, 3 suitcases and hand luggage who had hired a Seat Arosa – Ooooops, big mistake.
On arrival of the P.208 I jumped in, and as everyone who drives a lot of cars, just slid the seat back, turned the air con on and was away. The rest of the adjustments would be made while driving – I know that this is probably dangerous but there’s nothing more boring than sat there altering everything, especially when you have been traveling for the best part of 7 hours.
I feel it would be quite rude not to review the P.208 as I have got it for the week. Although I am not 100% sure what model it is, with it being left hand drive and not in the UK – it could be anything. The overall look of Peugeot’s supermini is actually quite eye-catching. All French small cars have all looked quite cute (except the Citroen C3 of course). Nice little finishing details set it off, like the small Peugeot badge just above the grille, nice big headlights, sculptured grooves in the bonnet and great looking taillights that allow the rear wing to intrude into them. All-in-all a very good looking car even though it’s obviously a base model with no front fog lights, non-colour coded mirrors or door handles and of course the standard hire car 15” steel wheels (without wheel trims).
Inside the car can only be described as odd, you can see where they have tried to make the car feel plush but failed quite dramatically! Lots of Piano black trims which do look good in certain cars but in the 208 it’s everywhere it shouldn’t be so it just shows up all the dust and greasy fingerprints. The stereo surround looks like it’s from the 80’s. Those of you who can remember cars from that era will recall that most cars came with a radio cassette player then a big black blanking panel underneath where an optional CD player could be fitted; this is how the 208 looks. Peugeot, WHY?!
The speedo binnacle just looks like it was an afterthought, plonked on top of the dash and surrounded in… yes you’ve guessed it, piano black plastic with greasy finger prints as standard. The specification is a little peculiar but not bad really: it has air con, trip computer, electric front windows, power steering, CD Player with steering wheel controls, traction control and airbags. Oddly it doesn’t have electric mirrors but does have cruise control! Why?
Setting off and you instantly know that it’s a 3 cylinder. With the thrum from the engine and distinct lack of power, it screams 1 litre. To give this car its dues, once up to speed and traveling at normal speed it does drive well. I just don’t understand why people buy such low-powered cars, I’m pretty sure a 1.2 4 cylinder will be as economical if driven properly and you have such a nicer, smoother and enriched car.
The biggest bugbear I have with this car is probably going to make you laugh. I can put up with the thrum from the engine, the odd specification and the fact it’s French but just look how small the steering wheel is! Trying to park this car going from lock to lock gets your arms in a twist and you miss the steering wheel so end up looking like you have parked the car like you have stolen it!
All-in-all I kinda understand why Peugeot do sell so many. The looks, pricing and finance packages available make it very appealing, which massively outweighs the oddness of the rest of the car.
The most wi
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