Used Peugeot 308 - new lion quality
This is not the first French car that looks and behaves like it was built by the Germans. But the second generation Peugeot 308 is the first model of the PSA concern, which should match in quality and durability not so much the generally understood competition from Germany as the products from Wolfsburg.
How to evaluate the quality of the four dream wheels we have chosen? When we go to the dealership to pick up a new car, we can look at and touch the finishing materials used, check the accuracy of the fit of the body parts, or briefly assess the reliability of the assembly. But this is not enough. We cannot be sure that in a few years, having driven several tens or several hundred thousand kilometers, our car will not look like a wrecked house in which a homeless person lived for some time.
Clients rely on intuition and a little luck to make these difficult choices. What looks good doesn't have to be permanent. Car tests in the automotive press cannot help in this matter, because journalists have the same limited verification capabilities as buyers. They don't evaluate upholstery durability or mechanical and electrical failure because they test new cars that almost always look good. Long-distance testing may provide some clues, but the cars participating in them rarely exceed 100 kilometers. km, and journalists focus on operating costs and failure rates rather than durability.
You would think that the quality of the materials used improves over the years. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. This is especially evident in models built in the 00s, it was then that many manufacturers began to look for ways to save money, and this was reflected in the products offered. This applied not only to popular brands, but also to elite ones. If, while preparing your car of those years for sale, you had to not only wash and vacuum it, but also order and replace several interior elements, such as a gear knob, a steering wheel rim, and also - it would seem - not so much mileage, then this You have experienced the savings in your own skin.
Peugeot beats its chest and admits that its products were made from materials that are not very durable and resistant to wear. This mainly concerned the models of the 7 series, i.e. the popular 307 and 407. A car that made a good - or even a very good impression in the showroom and positively stood out from the competition, after a few years turned out to be not so solid. And this, unfortunately, affects the loyalty of the buyer to the brand.
PSA has decided to change this. A new quality policy has been developed with respect not only to the materials themselves, but also to the way they are assembled, as well as a comprehensive set of tests aimed at identifying and eliminating emerging problems. The first model built according to new assumptions was the second generation Peugeot 308. It was shown in the fall of 2013. As it turns out, more than two years after its debut, this model brings a new quality to the Peugeot lineup.
Chel – Wolfsburg
When new assumptions are made, you usually need a benchmark that you intend to use or want to follow. Peugeot set itself an ambitious goal, as the 308 was intended from the outset for the car that is considered the quality leader in the C segment, the Volkswagen Golf. For this, more than 350 quality assumptions were made, which is 130% more than in the first generation of the 308.
What is the new policy? The fact is that the car should not show signs of wear throughout its entire service life. The mentioned materials are only one of the elements of quality improvement, although the most noticeable. Customers also pay attention to the fact that the machine does not make annoying sounds, at least not in the first years of operation. Consumer research shows that within the first three years, or up to 40-60 km, the car should look and behave like new. In the next two years or up to the rate of 70-308 thousand. km, only the first visible signs of wear may appear. However, the designers of the second generation 10 faced a more difficult task. The idea was to keep the car looking good and not making annoying noises throughout its life. For modern cars it ranges from 12 to 200 years - or up to a mileage of 300 km. The maximum mileage specified by Peugeot is km. km (the durability of three-cylinder PSA engines is approximately thousand km).
Key quality assumptions for the 308 II after 5 years or 70 km:
no excessive signs of wear in the interior:
steering wheel without abrasions,
gear shift knob without scuffs,
seats without extra dents,
scratch-resistant plastic elements,
the dashboard is resistant to harsh sun,
no extraneous noise while driving
no visible rust
full mechanical efficiency is maintained:
steering (no backlash, no vibrations)
brake system
exhaust system
clutch
bumper mounts are resistant to minor impacts
Qualitative Tests
To meet such stringent requirements, a special set of tests was needed, simulating many years of operation on various surfaces, since this model is sold not only in Europe, but also in the markets of Asia and South America. Of course, each model is tested before entering the market, but in this case they were selected based on quality assumptions. How did it work in practice? The compact Peugeot has been tested, in particular, on a stand that simulates driving on uneven surfaces. Usually they check the durability of the suspension on it, but, by the way, it turned out that after a while the gas tank mount begins to make unpleasant sounds. In order for the car to live up to the assumptions, the fuel tank mount has been redesigned.
Interestingly, such tests can help reduce production costs. During the tests, it turned out that the factory special care products for the leather steering wheel do not increase its wear resistance. As a result, their use was abandoned.
200 000 km
During the conference, it can be argued that the camel is a lion and growls loudly, but it is best to verify this on a live specimen. In this area, Peugeot did not disappoint. Although assumptions were made for cars with mileage up to 70 thousand. km, then the quality should be observed much longer. For test drives of Peugeot on a test track in Belshan, 308s were assembled with a range of 40 to 120 thousand kilometers. km. They came from individuals, from the PSA park, including the press, and from rental and long-term rental companies, i.e. represented a wide range of potential users. Each of them can pass a trial round with a check of the mechanical efficiency and noise produced.
y, is there a consumption of materials in the cabin.
The most interesting was the one with the highest mileage. It was provided for long-distance testing by one of the Spanish-language editions for a year, during which time it was supposed to cover 100 kilometers. km. Both parties extended the contract, and the car should recoup another 100 thousand in the hands of journalists. km, which was emphasized by the corresponding stickers. At the time of presentation, the counter showed a little more. km. What impressions did he leave?
The presented unit was a confirmation of how seriously Peugeot took the durability of the 308 model. Although the leather steering wheel shone brightly, and the interior needed ... ozonation - to get rid of odors accumulated during intensive use, it was difficult to find any serious flaws. The cabin showed typical signs of wear and tear, but during this time, no interior element was excessively worn or damaged. Track tests were also successful. As expected, the dynamics and handling were typical of a well-maintained used car.
A good start
The second generation 308 is the first Peugeot built on the modular EMP2 platform. Its use also affects the quality, because the increased rigidity of the case allows you to get rid of many unpleasant noises. New models will be created on its basis, which will have to go the same way as the 308. This process will take four years (until 2020), when almost the entire model range of this brand will be built on the basis of a modular platform. and, more importantly, new quality assumptions.
Listing Volkswagen as the leader (among popular, non-premium brands) in terms of workmanship and finish, and striving to achieve a similar level, is a good start for a French brand that has often found itself at the top in its history. leading positions in this field in Europe. At the same time, it is an acknowledgment that other models may have some quality issues in the long run because they were built before the new, more stringent assumptions were made. Volkswagen offers about a dozen models that, over the years, are less affected by time compared to competitors, and this also applies to twin models produced in the same line with other brands. Trying to catch up to this level is great news, especially for French car enthusiasts. It is a pity, however, that so far, going to the Peugeot showroom, we will find only one model built with a truly German quality factor.
