Sunday, November 30, 2008

Peugeot 308 GT Test Drive, The 206 New Family Members.



Last Saturday Andy and I (Eugene) were at BlueBox Glenmarie to get our 206 some check up. But to our surprise, we were offered to test drive the 308 GT which was the crown car there; Andy got so excited that he looked/acted like a small kid jumping up and down, OK, maybe not that far, hehe. But the service manager said that he is too short for the car, LoL~ and suspect he might stall the engine due to the "long" clutch. Luckily, he didn't do stall the car, haha, else the video would be funny.
If those who went to the 407 test drive before they will know that you only can touch and sit inside the 308GT ONLY... but now we had actually 'been there, done that'. It's just so nice and unbelievable experience, and we're so thankful to the person who offered us the test drive; and it's quite lucky that Andy requested me to bring my video camera because we were also planning to do some "Top Secret Movie Project", OK, I was just exaggerating, we're actually planning to shoot some video for the "Air Filter" upgrade article.

As I am kinda more into automatic transmission car, so I didnt actually drove the car myself. I leave it to Andy to give his reviews on this car as a manual transmisson *cought* *cough* "GTi" driver/owner.

For my part you can check it out on my own blog. NO ?DEA

Andy, I pass to you.... catch!

Andy: Ok, thank you so much Eugene for such nice video editing and the person who offered the Test Drive; Very very grateful, really~ Thank you so much!

First of all, as usual, in a test drive, I would first like to apologize for causing "fear/scary" moments; Hope you guys still can take it; I really didn't "overdo" or "drive without anticipation", as you can see from the video itself too, I didn't go full on the corners, and for the famous "corner of death" from Eugene 407 Test Drive video, you can actually see I downshift very early and didn't enter very fast, and for those 2 way road/corner, you can see I don't drive onto oncoming car lane, and I only fully throttle when I got a better view of the road.
The scary/dangerous part to know is; Actually, it was my first time driving on the "corner of death" and also the other corners (where in the video you can hear someone saying the Porshe Cayman crashed). I knew about the corner is from the tyre shop guy who drove me there when he was checking my alignment issues, but I never driven there before nor actually remember the road inside.
So hope the news above doesn't scare those in the car...

Next, let's talk about the car; As mentioned by Eugene, I was told I'm short and not suit to drive the car >.<, also, was told that I might stall the car (due to the "long" clutch)
Luckily, the "long" clutch issue is the same with my 206 GTi, so, I have no problems with it; in fact, it is better than my 206 GTi, and the gear throw was shorter and just nice and much smoother; Love it~
I also love the way it engage to "Reverse" gear and also the "behaviour" of the car before and after you engage into "Reverse" gear =)

Due to the "long" clutch, many people might have trouble getting smooth gear change and "fast" response; If you press the clutch fully during gear change, you would have "jerks" or "pull" when you let off the clutch after engaging the next gear, which will result to "loss" or power. It will be most obvious if you're "sprinting". 
If it is done correctly, you can get smooth gear change and smooth acceleration.
Another way is by installing "Clutch Stopper"; but I heard from the Service Manager that the clutch can be "adjusted". Cool!
By the way, sorry for those inside the car feeling uncomfortable during those "poor" shifting moments, especially during 1st and 2nd gear.

Oh, by the way, the brake and gas pedal are quite far apart, so I'm having some problem with heel-toe downshift; or maybe it could simply because my foot is not long enough? LoL, but I have no such problems with the 206 GTi.

In regards to power of this car; It's superb! And the engine is so much quieter compared to my GTi; You can easily OVER-REV this car, as you can see in the video below, I actually OVER-REV few times without noticing it; the RPM goes up way fast and the engine is still so quiet. So sorry for doing the "damages" >.<

There's one part I mentioned about "Blow-Off" which I heard, I don't remember this car having blow-off valve but somehow I heard it that time; When talk to someone in Nasim, he said it was actually not a blow-off valve, so I have no idea where the sound came from~ But it's really nice to hear~

Next, we talk about handling of this car; Despite being a Sports car, the suspension setup is very comfortable and absorbs bump well unlike my GTi which you can feel every bump pretty bad. Anyway, here's a good news for 206 owners (I think); I feel the 206 actually handles better! I didn't know it until after this test drive, I took my 206 GTi for a spin with the same route (my 1st time with 206 GTi on that route too), and actually felt more confident and felt it handles better~
I don't know, maybe the 308 GT was higher? Or maybe the tyre pressure was too high? Or maybe I'm not used to the car yet? (Actually, I didn't really had a chance to sit "properly" yet, too excited!)
Hmm... but anyhow, it's a happy news for 206 owners "lah", hehe~
But that day was also another day which the 206 amazes me "once" again with it's handling~

Ok, I know, I talk too much, hehe, anyway, all I can say is, the car is totally superb! And once again, I would like to say a million thanks for the Test Drive offer, plus, the petrol; We're really really grateful for the offer and I hope the passengers are also "erm" having a great time despite the "thrilling" moments.
Enjoy the video below~

SHINE!!!!

19 comments:

Ethan said...

One cool car that I cannot afford to buy yet.

Love the engine sound in the video.

intermilan said...

andy,

you have test drive almost all 206 different variants.

when you mentioned that 206 'might' (?) handle better than the 308GT, which 206 are you referring too?

and what exactly made the 206 'handling' got rated above the 308gt. maybe u can share an example or two..

come on bro... more details!

My206GTi said...

intermilan,

I have tested the Bestari only, not yet tested any 1.6L;
The Bestari is more of the soft side, comfort; Plus, the rims is only 14" with 175 profile tyre, but it handles very well I must say.

In regards to 308GT, let's compare "performance" with "performance; 308GT vs 206GTi (not the GTi180 which is even better!).
When I took the corner, the 308 feels, erm... more floaty? compared to my 206 which I tried after that. I feel my 206 sticks on the road much better and gives more confidence; or maybe because I'm not used to the 308GT yet, or not sitting properly? It could also be due to the car being higher?
I don't know, unless I own the car and test it properly.
I think Eugene can try comment as he sit on both the cars when I took the same route and corners; but in terms of comfort, the 308GT win hands down anytime.

Then again, the 308GT comes with ESP~ (I'm not sure if it's turned ON that time, but I'm pretty sure it didn't kick in at all).

TitanRev said...

Andy, I found the 308 very bulky. I saw the car myself and it's a very fat and quite a big car for a 2 door hatchback. Unlike the GTi and RC which looks small compare to 308GT. What is the weight of the 308GT. If you see those EP3, EK9...they are even smaller. Is the 308GT nimble? I would like to test it out hard. Maybe thrash it around. Count me in if there's another test drive chance.

My206GTi said...

Titan,

Yea, the 308 is a much bigger car; I guess you can say it's between performance and comfort; I like the interior very very much.

In terms of weight, I guess we have to look at chassis strength and rigidity; This car comes with 5 Star EURO NCAP, for that, weights has to be traded off unless lighter weight material with similar/better strength are used, but might cost even more; I guess for European cars, they usually weight much more due to this reason.
I don't mind it weight more actually as long as the power is adequate and the chassis is strong; The feeling is totally different, I love that feeling especially obvious when taking corners at high speed.

Anyway, it depends on each person preference; To me, this car is simply great~ Although I would prefer a smaller size, but the interior and space in this car is very tempting too... arghhh....

TitanRev said...

Any chance of another test drive? Andy

My206GTi said...

Joe,

Maybe you can try asking? Then we go join you and take video~ haha

Eugene said...

As passanger la.. i felt 206GTi more solid maybe lower also... on the corner i can felt the tyre/suspension really at the lowest point (stick to the road). thus more stable.
But when goin thru pothole/bumpy road, you can really felt it hit hard.. tum tum tum..

As for 308GT, its more higher.. abit bouncy, softer suspension maybe? when goin thru pothole, bumpy road you bare felt anything.. also maybe coz inside the car u also felt higher..as for cornering not as solid as the GTi does bounce abit esp the road is not so good condition. can really feel the roll?..

Maybe if can, we need to shoot the car from outside while it takes a corner then you might see whats how the react at corners.

Eugene said...

But one thing la, Andy looks really small in the car :P lol

My206GTi said...

Eugene,

You remind me again of what Mr Hin told me, >.<

TitanRev said...

Eugene, let me be the test pilot, can? is the SA following you guys for the drive also? Hopes he don't follow so I can try some crazy stuff.

Eugene said...

Crazy stuff? err i better hide then of if anything happen to the car.. i got no face to go back there... ever.. again lol

My206GTi said...

TitanRev,

LoL, you think we own the car? It's a test drive, how can the SA not follow?

Ethan said...

And I guess the SA will have to take the front passenger seat.

Arg... :-/

TitanRev said...

Nvm Andy, we drive half way and stop at road side and kick the SA out. Then we sped away...

TitanRev said...

When we finish testing the car, we pick him back from the place...Muahahaha

Alan Wong said...

booked my 308 gt yesterday. tq for the review! hope to get it b4 CNY!

Eugene said...

Alan Wong,

cool and congratulation on getting the 308GT.

Alan Wong said...

ya lor... cannot tahan mah...