What is it?
It’s the Peugeot 308 CC, fresh from its midlife upgrade and resplendent with a new 508-style front end, LED daytime running lights and, in the case of the top-level GT trim car driven here, the 1.6-litre, 197bhp THP 200 engine we’ve previously warmed to in the firm’s likeable RCZ coupé.
What’s it like?
Put aside for one moment the usual list of folding hard-top compromises (tiny boot, scuttle shake and reduced rear passenger space all present and correct), and what we have here is a smart and surprisingly entertaining sub-premium coupé cabriolet. That said, don’t expect too much in the way of dynamic ability. While the CC feels reasonably well composed in both its ride and handling, with nicely damped suspension keeping the limitations of the roofless chassis in check, it’s what happens when you press down with your right foot that raises a smile. A 0-62mph time of 8.3sec and a 149mph top speed are both on tap if needed, but the rest of time you can sit back and enjoy a smooth, responsive delivery with plenty of poke for overtakes and rapid motorway cruising.
In GT trim the 308 CC comes impressively well-specced with an all-leather interior and comfortable, supportive seats fitted with effective neck-warming air vents, dubbed Airwave Scarf. With the roof up the cabin is cosy and devoid of squeaks and rattles; with it down there’s a touch of buffeting between the front seats at motorway speeds, but it’s otherwise a pleasant and relaxed environment, plus you get the added benefit of being able to hear a quite pleasing rasp from the exhaust.
Should I buy one?
If you’re in the market for a folding hard-top then quite possibly, yes, if only for the really quite entertaining performance on offer from the THP 200 motor. The addition of an extra 40bhp or so over the next model down in the line-up really does give the 308 CC fresh appeal.
However, there is one stumbling block, and that’s price. In this spec Peugeot’s coupé cabriolet doesn’t come cheap, and for this kind of money a more premium, if slower, roofless offering from Audi or BMW could well beckon.
Peugeot 308 CC GT THP200
Price: £25,845; Price as tested: £25,845; 0-62mph: 8.3sec; Top speed: 149mph; Kerb weight: 1535kg; Economy: 40.3mpg (combined); CO2: 162g/km; Engine: 4 cyls in line, 1598cc, petrol; Max power: 197bhp at 5500 to 6800rpm; Max torque: 203lb ft at 1700rpm
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Re: Peugeot 308 GT CC
Re: Peugeot 308 GT CC
Sorry for the delay in posting, but I have only just gained Autocar membership.
The wife has had one of these for about a year now (156 THP SE spec) & she loves it.
We got the car for £14000 when it was a year old with 8000 miles & for that price it is a great car. The new price is a bit scary, but at the time £14000 would buy nothing else that interested the OH, as she was trading in a 18 month old Yaris she didn't want a car older than 2 years.
I will state that it is not a car I would have bought as my car as I find the steering a bit light & the clutch without feel, both features the wife prefers to the weightier items on my Mondeo. However driven sensibly it can do 40 mpg and has enough go for our needs & the turbo gives great flexibility. The dashboard is well trimed & the CC models had the piano black console pre the facelift that lifts the interior ambiance.
Rear space is limited, however with the roof down I can fit in the back if the front passenger is not too greedy (I am 6' tall & not as trim as I was in my earlier years). In roof up mode the boot is huge so it is a practical car for going away for a short break for 3 of us & a Cocker Spaniel as once you arrive at your destination you can ditch your cases & then enjoy roof down use.
As the car is parked at a station car park every day I am glad it has a solid roof & the visibility is far better than most soft tops with their letter box rear windows & arrow slit side windows.
Granted it is not a car to appeal to people whose be all & end all in life is a B road blast, but I don't feel it deserves all the comments here.
Re: Peugeot 308 GT CC
If you care to read the fine print then you'll see that it does the standing kilometre in an impressive figure for a 1.6. Whatever it lacks in the 100kph dash, is made up for in abundance in the subsequent milestone.