adminInfrastructural Development has drawn mixed reactions.
There are so many opinions and views, but who cares as long as there is some benefit to the average Zimbabwean at the moment and for our revenue streams too.
I mean let’s face it, you bring in your older vehicle, you know you will pay heavily duty-wise but also when you look at what you can afford you might find that you may never be able to buy a car made after 2007.
So my advice is: please look for a vehicle that is not so old, hasn’t done much in terms of mileage and has a good service history.
This helps because you might find that in the long run you didn’t save but you spent all your savings on fixing broken down parts.
Personally I am looking at buying a vehicle made in 2005 so I will be doing serious research before I commit my money towards buying a car.
That said I want to turn to my focus for this week that is taking you on a journey of unpacking a coupe, the Peugeot 307 cc.
This little beauty let’s you enjoy your ride because it’s a convertible. This is an affordable coupe-cabriolet with a fancy folding glass and metal roof.
Imagine one moment you are cruising along in a stunning weatherproof coupe then, with the touch of a button, 25 seconds later you will have the wind in your hair in a stylish cabriolet.
The downside is that the extra weight of that roof takes its toll on performance and handling but who cares as long as I am enjoying the fresh air and sun, right?
Packed with advanced technology and comfortable seating for four adults, the Peugeot 307 cc let’s you lead a double life.
Today, Peugeots are sensible and practical, which makes them large and lumpen and lead-footed.
It is, however, good value for money and good looking, but it can be unreliable a little so I would urge you to go for the diesel one and stay away from the sticky1,6-litre automatic.
Generally, you will enjoy power at 138bhp at 6 000rpm, Torque of 143 lb ft at 4 100rpm.
It’s fitted with a sexy transmission of five-speed manual, front-wheel drive and the cherry on top is the fact that the suspension is (front) reversed Macpherson struts with anti-roll bar (rear) deformable crossmember, hydraulic dampers.
There are less emissions too and acceleration is 0 to 100kmph in 10,3sec with a top speed of 200kmph and a price of plus or minus US$60 000, but you can get a good used one for way less than that.
While the car drives well enough and can be quite good fun, it’s more of a cruiser than a racer.
To its credit, even with the roof down, the body is fairly stiff and there’s minimum wind noise. But, with the roof up, road and engine noise are noticeable.
Unlike some coupe-cabrios, the 307 CC has four usable seats, and adults can fit into the rear seats, but the legroom is limited if there are tall occupants sitting up front.
Like all cars of its type, though, boot space is reduced when the roof is down, but the 307’s is not unreasonable.
Generally, build quality is good and the materials feel sturdy and well assembled.
Most importantly, the range received some minor alterations is 2005, designed to improve reliability, so go for one of those if you can afford it.
There are four engines to choose from, starting off with a 110bhp 1.6-litre petrol unit, and including two 2.0-litre petrols (with 138bhp and 180bhp). Then, from 2005 a 136bhp 2.0-litre diesel option is also available.
In reality, the 1.6 petrol engine is not really up to pulling such a heavy car, and even the 2.0-litre petrols don’t feel particularly quick, especially with the automatic gearbox, which is available with the 138bhp petrol only.
As a result, the diesel, which has the most pulling power, is best suited to the CC’s more laid back driving style.
Equipment levels are good, and all models come with alloy wheels, climate control and a CD player, as well as electric operation for the roof, windows and mirrors.
The most powerful model has part-leather trim and a CD multi-changer. Desirable options to look out for include full leather trim and satellite navigation.
Fuel economy isn’t bad: even the most powerful petrol is not much worse than the smallest, but the diesel is the best.
However, some owners complain of not being able to get near the official figures.
Servicing and maintenance costs are roughly the same as the rest of the 307 family, but you can save a considerable amount by going to an independent garage.
The 307 has not been as reliable as Peugeot intended it to be and that includes the CC model.
There are lots of little faults, mainly electric-related. The folding roof mechanism comes in with its fair share of criticism, and the interior trim can also has issues.
This is a car that makes sense to buy from dealerships before the original warranty period has expired.
That way you can get them to fix any problems before you take delivery.
Most alarming are the number of recalls on the 307. Some are very serious, including one concerning potential fires in the engine bay.
Make sure that all recalls have been carried out. The newer face-lifted cars from 2005 appear to be more reliable.
Service history is always important, especially on the diesel cars, so make sure a potential purchase has stamps at the correct intervals.
Till next week, enjoy.
- Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended auto shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected]
Online Reporter