Pug 508 5-series beater?

[hotmelt]

"These new 508s are desirable cars which make a nonsense of the "premium" obsession. More than that, the GT in particular is as good as the much-praised Ford Mondeo in its driving dynamics and it stands comparison with a BMW or a Mercedes. Don't believe me? Then try one." j.Simister

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/r...

5-series beater? judging by mixed reviews of new 5-er , 508 GT could be very good alternative.

[stewjohnst]

Cant see it myself, the Citroen C6 was also an excellent alternative but the company types who drive diesel BMW's or Audi's now are going to pay the premium for their preferred brands regardless.

If it isn't a company motor, would you be willing to take the likely massive depreciation on the chin?

It might be viable to coax a few peeps out of the blandorama that is the new Passat but thats about it imo.

Interesting but doomed...

[hotmelt]

You are comparing Citroen C6 with 100 times sportier 508?

[stewjohnst]

hotmelt said:

You are comparing Citroen C6 with 100 times sportier 508?

I was just using the C6 to illustrate that competent doesn't equal success in this category.

Plus, I'm not sure how sporty the 508 is going to feel with front wheel drive and a 1.6 156bhp or 200bhp diesel compared to a RWD 5 series.

I tested the new five in 530d spec and whilst it looks a lot blander than the old E60, its still a very good drive imo.

ETA: big hands and iphone = typos

[hotmelt]

New 5-series 530 d got 3 stars in Evo, and 508 GT holds the road probably better than that.

[davepoth]

It's still going to have cliff-like depreciation. But I suppose they could do something a bit sportier this time round now that Citroen make the state limo.

[stewjohnst]

hotmelt said:

New 5-series 530 d got 3 stars in Evo, and 508 GT holds the road probably better than that.

I tend not to let magazines tell me what to think, if I want a car I'm going to test drive it first whether it got one star, two stars of the Victoria Cross. Beemer I drove had the sport auto and in Sport+ mode was great fun until the dealer realised sport+ turned off the DSC and made me put it to normal again

Had a shufty at the Evo review out of curiosity, a lot if the comments seem to think evo were hard on it but then these things are always subjective.

[morgrp]

hotmelt said:

You are comparing Citroen C6 with 100 times sportier 508?

Shame it doesn't look like the c6 - that is pig ugly in the pictures but then again, so is the latest 5 series

[Hairspray]

The first thing I noticed was the lack of a MASSIVE grill on the front. That makes me happy. If they do a facelift RCZ with that grill, then it would look fantastic from every angle, rather than a total Bobfoc of a coupe.

[Motorrad]

Amusingly described as 'good looking', mind you if it really does drive better than a fiver who cares?

edit to add: with FWD I can't imagine this being the case......

[Baryonyx]

stewjohnst said:

Cant see it myself, the Citroen C6 was also an excellent alternative but the company types who drive diesel BMW's or Audi's now are going to pay the premium for their preferred brands regardless.

To me the C6 was always the beret wearing, be-bop listeners choice. The interior was fantastic but it never struck me as a driving machine, more as an interesting place to sit whilst you listened to jazz music.

I'm not sure this Peugeot will be a bahnstormer, afterall, it is FWD. But it looks competant, which is a compliment the last generation of Pug luxo-barges deserve.

[aberdeeneuan]

I think it looks great for a big pug, it'll be interesting to watch the depreciation on it though.

I know it's said a lot that nobody touches the Germans for these things, but that does look well designed inside and miles better than the old 407 my old man had a few years ago.

[thinfourth2]

BMW could produce a FWD car with 4 different springs and no dampers and it would still sell as the ultimate driving machine.

No matter how good a french car is it will still be crap.

[va1o]

I'd imagine they will really struggle to shift these at the prices they are asking, and will end up having heavy depreciation and been quietly discontinued a couple of years down the line.

[kambites]

Just too much badge snobbery in this market for it to sell, however good it is.

[hotmelt]

4 stars in Evo for a diesel, not bad at all. And peugeot has some reputation in chassis expertise(remember 405 mi16 etc.), it is not exactly newcomer so that cannot compete against "premium" brands.
"How does it compare?

Against mainstream rivals, it's the best – in GT form at least. There's no real reason why it can't also be considered against an Audi A4 (it's better), a Mercedes C-class (on a par) or a BMW 3-series (roomier, as good at perceived quality, not quite as driver-enthusing but in with a shout)."

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2626...

[volvoforlife]

The car magazine programmes have always complained that large French cars don't do well.

Even Saab's new 95 is not good enough and neither is Volvo's S80.

I think other than the Germans, only Jaguar and possibly Lexus seem to do well in this segment. The rest don't have a chance.

[Bill]

davepoth said:

It's still going to have cliff-like depreciation.

So it's actually cheaper to buy a BM or Audi as they actually have residual value after three years.

[LuS1fer]

It's not the looks or the cars though, it's the potential reliability and the lacklustre dealers (not that I have any experience of dealers generally within the last decade or so).

[confused_buyer]

The mainstrean 2.0 litre diesel ones start at £20k, almost identically priced to the Mondeo.

Remember most of the 508 range replaces the 407 and is priced accordingly - only the upper end models start to reach into old 607 territory.

The old depreciation argument whilst valid isn't as important as most people think. Most of these cars (Mondeo, 508 etc.) get sold with big discounts so the real new price is a lot lower than list and the depreciation on a new 5-series, A6 etc. is still pretty horrendous. The actual bottom line losses over 3-years/60k is about the same.

That said, of course, the best value 508 will be a 4-year old one....