Thanks God! Peugeot is a French Car

Can someone imagine "WHAT IF" Peugeot 308 THP is a Japanese car? Probably on the back or around the car one will find stickers, badges and emblems of any combination of the following letters/words...

1.6E . DOHC . 16v . VVT . Multi-Point Pgm FI . Twin-Scroll Turbo Intercooler . 4AT Adaptive . Tiptronic . ABS . EBD . ESP . ASR . DSC . 6 AirBags . Dual-Zone Digital Climate Control . Car of the Year . International Engine of the Year. bla...bla...bla...

Thanks God! Apart from the word "PEUGEOT" and the lion emblems there is only one sweet and simple looking badge, "308". Dalam pada itu pun nampak sangat tidak kena pada tempatnya apabila Nasim tampal "NAZA" dan "Turbo" berhampiran dengan "308" badge - looks too crowded there.

I think 99% of the owners have already removed or relocated them. I've relocated the "Turbo" badge on to the grille just in front of the intercooler.

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What's Next?

I will try to improve the fuel consumption for myPeugeot 308 to less than 6.0liter/100km [i.e more than 48mpg], and sustain it for at least 100km on PLUS or equivalent highways. Afterwards I'll concentrate on 'improvements' for maximum sustainable speed and 0~100kph timing. I don't need any ironing board rear spoiler and large tail pipe for the purpose though... myPeugeot 308 will remain original at least within the "warranty period". hee! heee!!

BTW, today myPeugeot 308 is celebrating its 2nd month with me and just clocked 4000km.

Was throughly inspected and cleaned inside-out...
... including undercarriage to make it sparkling new again.


Peugeot 308 Sightings
Despite 100's of unit already sold, strange enough till today I haven't see any other 308THP [or 308VTi] on the road eventhough I've travelled to more than six states in Malaya since January 29th, 2009 when the car was launched and sold - only "close-encounter of the third kind" with 206's, 307's, 405's, 406's and 407's along the 3000+km journey. Probably most Peugeot 308's are driven in large city centers where I don't normally drive.

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Words on Performance and Fuel Consumptions for Peugeot308 Turbo High Pressure [THP]

Peugeot 308 THP fuel consumption is the MOST sensitive to driving styles amongst *six [6] Peugeots I've ever owned and tested [now I only keep 4 of them].

Three in service...Another one [405GL] is kept in backyard garage for parts and as a DIY-guinea pig ... The latest is 308THP... When treated tenderly Peugeot 308THP is frugal than most 1.6-liter cars - it even consumes less fuel than Peugeot/Bestari 1.4 8v engines. However, when pushed hard its engine consumes more fuel than some cars with bigger capacity engines [1.8~2.0 liter category]. Of course the performance never come for free.

For instance, PSA-BMW EP6DT power plant under the hood of Peugeot 308 THP is able to pump out the number of horses similar to if not more than its n.a 2.0liter siblings used in CKD 407 and CBU 206GTi, while its torque even stronger than some 2.4liter n.a saloons - its handicap is only the weight [around 1.4 tonnes], but sprinting 0~100kph in just a few milli-seconds above 9sec mark and speeding around 180-190kph seems to be normal for those spirited drivers behind the steering wheels of this feline. Some are brave enough to explore 200+kph realm.

Peugeot 308THP is neither a saloon nor a hot-hatch, but it is something in between the two- a little bit from each of those.

Peugeot 308 THP can be either a frugal or a powerful 1.6 liter car - but not both at the same time. I would say it is a car with two engines in one. Just at the push of the accelerator pedal it will select which is which. Its AUTO-adaptive. I love it!

Conclusions
1. When driven 'steadily' between 75~95kph [using AutoCruise] on long distance trips Peugeot 308 THP fuel consumption can be achieved from 6.1liter to 6.7liter/100km [14~16km/liter or 42~46mpg].


2. Believe it or NOT! The range on one **full tank of RON97 fuel can be more than 1000km!
[**Note:The actual fuel tank capacity is slightly more than 60 liters when filled up to the brim]

3. The AVERAGE fuel consumption for the first 1~5km could be very high though. I've tested for the 308THP AVERAGE fuel consumption from the starting point during acceleration from 0~100kph and then kept driving at that speed beyond 10km.

first 01km: 15~25liter/100km [4~6km/liter]
first 03km: 12-15liter/100km [6~8km/liter]
first 05km: 09~12liter/100km [8~11km/liter]
first 10km: 07~09liter/100km [11~14km/liter]
beyond 10km: below 07liter/100km [more than 14km/liter]

Based on these figures I only drive myPeugeot 308 for long-distance trips - not only for the economic reasons, but also for the hi-speed fun should the need arises.

Happy & Safe Motoring!

*myPEUGEOTs list
sold: 505SR, 405SRi
keep/not use: 405GL
in service: 206B, 308THP, 405SR
myNextPeugeot: 308RC-z [?]

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Is Peugeot 308 Auto with THP Power Plant a Frugal Car?

I've just returned home from 801.3km weekend trip [KL-Kelantan-KL] in myPeugeot 308 with a 60-liter fuel tank of RON97 w/o refuelling. Fuel/trip computer snapshots and manually calculated figures are available for comparison on the fuel consumptions.


1. From on-board Fuel/Trip Computer
The best average fuel consumption was 6.4liter/100km [16km/liter or 45mpg] on 307km* route from Machang to Raub.

[16km/liter or 45mpg]

[*Note: On AutoCruise without exceeding speed limits >5kph - AutoCruiser was set @ 75, 85 and 95kph wherever applicable respectively]

After Raub the traffic was no longger smooth flowing - there were 'convoys' of express buses, trailers and cars all the way prevented me from using AutoCruise. At times the speed was reduced to 50kph or less when trailing slow vehicles. It was Monday 27th around 4:00am~6:00am when I was driving from Raub to KL.

There are more accends than decends from KL to Kelantan hence more fuel consumption [6.7liter/100km] than going back to KL from Kelantan.
The average fuel consumption for the 800km drive was 6.6l/100km or thereabout as shown on the MFD .

[15.2km/liter or 43.3mpg]

Earlier, I left KL for Kelantan on Friday 24th around 4:00am. The actual KL-Kelantan[@Machang] point-to-point distance was 383km. I drove some distance further up to make it cukup2 400km [for 800km return trip]. See... after arriving @Machang, still got remaining fuel for another 500km as shown on the CDC - more than enough to burn along the way back home.


2. By Manual Calculation:
The amount I paid for the fuel used after returning from 801.3km trip was RM97.05 [i.e 53.9liter].

Hence, by calculation the average fuel consumption was 6.7liter/100km [14.9km/liter or 42.7mpg] on 801km

Since the amount of fuel used for the 800km drive was about 54liter, the expected range per full tank [60liter] will be 888.888km! While on-board fuel/trip computer tells 901.3km [801.3+100km]. "801.3km" is the distance travelled since the last refueling and "100km" is the remaining kilometer to go before 'EMPTY' as displayed on the MFD and CDC based upon the average fuel consumption for the last few kilometers sampling.

Only now, I can appreciate and enjoy steady driving on AutoCruise - not just driving w/o pumping the accelerator pedal, but most of the time I don't even need to touch it.


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Peugeot 309 ?

Peugeot 309 should be the natural successor of peugeot 308, but...
Peugeot 309 was designed and manufactured by Peugeot between 1985 and 1993, and between 1994 and 1997 in India by PAL-Peugeot Ltd. The 309 was originally intended to be badged as a Talbot and, as development progressed, to be called the Talbot Arizona; it was the replacement for the Simca-based Horizon. Obviously there will be no more the "all-new" Peugeot 309 .
As the gap between Peugeot 20-series and 30-series is getting narrower, most likely PSA will discontinue Peugeot 30-series just like what they had decided on Peugeot 40-series. Probably PSA shall only produce 20-series [super mini], 50-series [executive] , 70-series [Luxury Sedan?] in the future.

Better get Peugeot 308's NOW - while they're still red-hot!

Coming Soon! Peugeot 308 "Stop & Start"
PSA just calls it Peugeot 308 "Stop & Start". The car, which was presented at the Paris Motor Show, is powered by a standard non-turbo 1.6-liter engine. Equipped with the engine start-stop technology, which switches off the powerplant on red traffic lights and in long road jams, and mated to an electronically controlled six-speed manual gearbox, the car delivers more mileage in urban driving.
PSA says that the 308 "Stop & Start" has fuel consumption of only 4.1L/100km [24.4km/liter]. The technology will be used on real cars in year 2011.

BTW "Stop & Start" technology is NOT the same as "Hybrid".
The 308 "Hybrid" is powered by a 1.6-liter HDi engine assisted by a 22bhp electric motor mated to a six-speed electronically-controlled manual gearbox. Together, these motors provide the car with 132hp of peak power, almost comparable to that of the Peugeot 308 140THP but more than 50% efficient. Replacing the traditional gasoline engine with diesel in a hybrid powertrain - increases fuel efficiency of a hybrid drive to an outstanding fuel economy of 3.4liter/100km [almost 30km/liter!]
Peugeot 308 Hybrid LCD Multi-function Display panel

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myPeugeot 308 Acceleration

April 17th was a bright day - clear blue sky with little isolated clouds. For Southern Klang Valley it was the best late afternoon weather in more than one month. On every Friday as usual I left my office early. The traffic was clear and I decided to test myPeugeot 308 for an acceleration from the last traffic light before reaching my home.I had with me a GPS datalogger. There is a 500m-straight for a quick sprint for 20 seconds up to 150kph before slowing down for a left-hand curve - there is also a gradual sloping up with approx. 50:1 gradient as a slight impediment for the test as shown below. [note: the gradient illustration is exergerated by using different scales for x-axis and y-axis. click on the image to enlarge]

This is part of the logged data. The car hit 100kph just after 9th second from standstill. However based on the car speedometer it took just 8.75secs to hit 100kph. The speedometer of my car probably reads 2-3% higher as I mentioned in earlier post.

Based on conservative figures from logged data, I plotted a chart using Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet as shown below and I can conclude that myPeugeot 308 can sprint from 0 to 100kph in 9.25seconds on normal AUTO mode. Prabably less than 9.1 sec if it was tested on level road by deploying tiptronic. I will find a better place to test how fast [or slow] for the 308 THP to reach from 0-160kph later...[already done, click [HERE] ]I'm quite certain by the time other 1.6~1.8liter N.A automatic tx cars reach 100kph, Peugeot 308THP Auto already hitting 120kph or more!

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the All-New Peugeot 408 ?

Peugeot will replace in two years [y2011?] its current generation of its mid-size class (D-segment) sedan with the new 408. The French magazine AutoPlus revealed a few renderings that show how the car might look like.the 'actual' Peugeot 408 - more or less looks like a facelift 308 with a boot...Peugeot 308

The future 408 will also, in a way keep the same shape as the current 407, the company wanted to suggest the car is indeed a Peugeot, but will also get design elements from the current 308.

Peugeot 208 set to launch in 2012
Meanwhile according to various press reports , Peugeot is expected to launch the all-new 208 hatchback in the autumn of 2012. The newcomer will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, the 207, which currently ranks among Europe’s top-selling models.

Industry sources claim that although Peugeot designers have not finished work on the 208 yet, the car will offer sporty, dynamic looks, but its grill will be toned down somewhat, adding to the product’s distinctive quality and elegance.

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Peugeot 308 is not a small car!

All the while I had been thinking that the size difference between my405 and my308 doesn't matter me at all. Both cars have ample interior spaces. In fact in the backseat it seems that 405 has more room than the 308.


However when both cars are placed side by side, surprisingly the difference is very clear. Not an optical illusion. 308 is a quantum leap edges up against its sibling 405 in term of size!

Peugeot 308 is even as large if not larger than some executive cars?
Everybody thinks that Peugeot308 is a compact car. Take a look again... Peugeot 308 does not look like a small car at all even compared to Merc E-Class W211 and BMW 7-Series.

[click on the image to enlarge]
[308 vs BMW 740i]

[308 vs Proton Perdana Executive - the later looks like a sub-compact car]

Being a hatchback, Peugeot308 is of course shorter but is actually larger in all other dimensions even compared to Mercedes E-Class W124 and all generations of Mercedes C-Class !
[308 vs E-class W124]

[308 vs C-class W202]

[308 vs C-class W203]

[308 vs V50]

[308 vs Camry]

3o8 has grown up significantly compared to its own brother, 3o6!
[306 vs 308]

How much can the 308 boot actually take?

Look at the 'mountain' of luggage to be thrown into the boot.
Can the 'small' boot take all of them?

Sure it does WITHOUT folding down rear seat! Don't think even Peugeot 407 boot can swallow all these.


Believe it or NOT!
To be honest, I bought 308 because I'm a family man... 308 does things that my old Merc and Peugeot 405 can't do and perform!


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Blessing-in-Disguise

I didn't know it was the last time I cleaned the rear windscreen of this antique Peugeot405 this morning...
...but, I was 'lucky' for not driving myPeugeot308 to myOffice today. Anyway the grass-cutting contractor paid everyting, including a free-lunch! "Thanks"

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Wraped Up

After the first 2500km inspection myPeugeot 308 is now 'wraped up' and well kept. The Custom made dust cover keeps away stray cats, etc... even parked next to the oldest Peugeot in pocession in DIY-garage behind the house.


One of the stray cats has been 'domesticated' by my kids. This feline with a pair of beautiful eyes is well behaved now, kecuali apabila di cucuk - samalah dengan 308!

Driven to myOffice only once or a couple of times in a week, mostly used on weekends and on holiday-trips - last trip was to Bukit Tinggi on April 12th...


...and the next trip will be to Kelantan on April 24th, "just to keep the motor running while getting rid of the 'old stock' fuel".

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myPeugeot 308 Dynamic Stability Control

Peugeot 308THP comes with Dynamic Stability Control, but what actually it does, and how is it different from ABS, EBD and traction control?
Dynamic Stability Control helps keep the car in control during a skid or slide. It uses sensors to determine when the vehicle starts to veer off its path by looking at the steering input from the driver and the actual path of the vehicle. After sensing a skid, the onboard computer can apply the ABS and EBD to one or all of the wheels to keep the car pointed in the intended direction. It may also cut engine power if the computer determines it will keep the vehicle in control. In other words the Dynamic Stability Control enhances the ABS and EBD.
myPeugeot 308 has Traction Control as well. In contrast to Dynamic Stability Control, Traction Control limits wheelspin during acceleration - in a way it behaves like limited slip differential, but at an expense of loosing some bhp because the former is applying the antilock brakes reversal to the drive wheels when slip is detected. Just like stability control, it cuts engine power if driver gets spirited or overzealous with the throttle on slippery surface.

myPeugeot 308 also has EBA. EBA stands for Emergency Brake Assist. EBA technology is different from an ABS or EBD. EBA recognizes when a panic braking is applied (a quick shift from accelerator to brake pedal) and will apply additional brake pressure to help shorten the stopping distance. It may also work in conjunction Dynamic Stability Control system if it senses a potential collision.

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What is the most powerful street car?

Sometimes I wonder what is the most powerful road running car, even Formula-1 racing cars can not match. 15 yrs ago I visited McLaren F1 "ultra-sports" car [not Mclaren Formula-1 car] showroom not far from Marble Arch, near speakers' corner at Hyde Park in London. I thought it was going to be the most powerful car already.
The McLaren F1 is a sports car designed and manufactured by Gordon Murray and McLaren Automotive, powered by 6.1liter V12 BMW S70 engine and uses gold foil as a heat shield in the exhaust compartment. On March 31, 1998, it set the record for the fastest production car in the world at 386.7 km/h ! 0–60 mph in 3.2 s

Only 106 cars were manufactured, 64 of those were street versions (McLaren F1), 5 were LMs, 3 were longtail roadcars (GT), 5 prototypes (XP), 28 racecars (GTR), and 1 LM prototype (XP LM). Production began in 1992 and ended in 1998. According to an article by Motor Authority, the Sultan of Brunei owns a total of 9 McLaren F1s. This includes a GTR race car, a GT "longtail," 3 LMs, and 4 road cars, making him the only person in the world to own at least one of every variant of the F1 ever produced by McLaren.

In 2005 Bugatti Veyron took over the title.*
Powered by the mid-mounted 8 litre W16 engine pumping out 1001 PS (736 kW) at 6000 rpm and 1250 Nm of torque between 2200 and 5500 rpm. Has 4 turbochargers. The gearbox is a seven speed sequential with a fully automatic mode channeling that power to all four wheels.
Bugatti claims a top speed of 407 km/h and the 0-100 km/h sprint under 2.7 seconds!
The probability of anyone having a Bugatti Veyron in Malaysia [costs 3x more expensive than McLaren F1] is less than one-in-a million.

There will be poor man's Bugattis though. One of them is Peugeot 308 RC-z, and that will be the most logical candidate for my neXt Peugeot, and that is the answer why I didn't buy a 308GT.... just dreaming on.

I'm pretty sure the 308 RCz will be one of if not the fastest affordable car [below RM175k] on local roads.


*[Note: In y2006 Hennessey Venom Twin Turbo SRT Coupe claimed to be the fastest [410kph] and the most powerful car in the world but arguable due to its limited edition]
The shape of this car reminds me of a Jaguar E-type with registration number T2 and probably it was the only one of its kind in this country - belonged to [just] an A.D.O @ Machang. I was still a primary school kid at then.[Jaguar E-type]

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