USED Peugeot 308 Hatchback (07 - )

My car

Have recently had this car on a 24hour test drive as I am wanting to reduce my day to day running costs. Overall impressions have been very positive, strange looks aside.

First off the driving experience is significantly better than I expected. I have read the reviews saying that the ride quality is quite poor, but this does not square with my own experience of the car. The ride quality is better than my current Astra, and certainly much better than a Focus. The handling is decent enough, although there is a bit of body roll, and when you press on it can get a little bumpy over bad road surfaces. The steering is generally precise and gives decent feedback.

The fuel economy seemed pretty good, having got somewhere in the region of 200 miles out of about £15 of diesel. The £35 road tax would also help.

The interior is very spacious and well laid out, and the quality of materials seems pretty high and durable. No rattles from the 12000 mile car I drove. The boot, however, has an awkwardly high lip and isn't particularly big, which is a shame.

My car

I have been on a test drive on the new Peugeot 308 1.6 110 bhp diesel. I own a Honda Civic 2.2 cdti and was planning to part exchange it for the Peugeot.

My opinion... The engine is not as responsive as the Honda and you get more equipment like sat nav and HFT with Honda than the Peugeot. Also being a Peugeot driver in the past one thing does scare me which is R for Reliability. I have owned the Honda for over a year and it have been a very solid car.

My car

The main feature of this model 308 is it's glass roof. With the internal headlining / blind fully retracked, the entire glass roof panel is revealed. The only snag is it gives the feeling you're driving around in a mobile greenhouse / conservatory, and with blazing sunshine coming into the cabin means the air conditioning needs to be on 'cool' to prevent the occupants from baking alive. Don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful experience - the illusion of open air motoring without the breeze through your barnet, just it seems a shame some extra petrol has to be burnt to get this sensation to feel comfortable. The 308 is a competent car in modern traffic, sufficient space in the rear for adults to sit in for short journeys, but the boot lip seems excessively high to load luggage over (compared to over cars in this class). Infact, that's the 308's main problem, the competition is so strong (that's probably why the glass roof was added to this model as a 'Unique Selling Point'). The only thing I feel lets this motor down is the design of it's front end, it's definite in the 'marmite syndrome' - you'll either love it or hate it. Sadly, I hate it! Shame really, the glass roof was a great gimmick my young sons would love.

My car

It has taken me a while to make my mind up, but at last i have purchased a 308 se. I owned a 307 estate for six years. It was ok but nothing special. That is something i cant say about the new 308, peugeot,its a great car to drive i have done 1000 miles in two weeks and cannot fault the car. The interior is superb,i think they might have copied a audi dash as it looks the same. If your thinking of buying one make sure you get front and rear parking sensors on, their really handy. I also upgraded to babylon red, it's stunning.I have bought my first ever diesel, its so quiet and even though its only a 1.6 its still very quick. The after sales service has also improved, i bought mine from Robins and Day, and for the first time ever a sales assistant rang me a home to ask how i was getting on with the car,'so if your thiking of buying a new car you must check out the new 308,it's superb.