Our mileage and time is nearly complete with the long-term Peugeot 508 1,6 THP Allure. We all know how quickly a year goes by and another thing we often observe is how a car grows on us over a year, to the extent that we wish we could keep it longer.
We drive numerous model ranges, especially from the German manufacturers, to the extent that it becomes difficult to notice their myriad subtle differences. It was therefore refreshing to drive something niche, a stand-alone model like the 508. It has to compete with the mainstream leaders in this segment, of course, or it will be ignored by buyers. The 508 performs as expected and delivers loads of comfort. The only drawback from acquiring such a vehicle is that resale value is not going to compete with the best. The trade will always favour the likes of Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and Honda, to be followed by the other volume sellers. This has to be factored into your financing decisions and some may see opportunities to purchase used vehicles for good prices further down the line.
The only glitches we have had were a couple of engine warning-light indications on the 508 to let down the side a bit, but these required only checking, resetting and a couple of software upgrades according to technical service bulletins for the first appearance. The second checked and reset itself after a day. Nothing needed replacement under warranty (remember that the maintenance plan has been stretched to five years or 100 000 km and includes wear and tear items). Our average fuel consumption has been just under 10,0 litres/100 km, which is acceptable considering it’s a large family sedan.
What has been the most impressive? I would say the well-designed powertrain, especially the conventional but clever gearbox with sport and manual functions with paddles. Then there is the array of creature comforts too long to list. While some criticised the firm ride, it also aided handling on the mountain passes where manual mode and turbo boost slotted in perfectly with the low stance and lack of body roll. We were rather surprised to see the price of replacement tyres – a new Michelin Primacy HP costs R3 759, so go easy on those twisty roads!
Mileage now: 20 450 km
Fuel consumption: 9,96 L/100 km
