A car for all seasons
Is this four seater hard-top convertible the best of both worlds? Capt Val Kim gets behind the wheel.
Volume 11, No. 51, September 07, 2006

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Quick spins by ADF drivers EWL Greer Hase Currently drives: Holden Astra Hatch. Likes: Leather interior and appointment, convertible roof. Dislikes: Sluggish in first gear, low seat for short folks. WO2 Greg Herdson Currently drives: Toyota Prada GX. Likes: Smooth engine, trip computer, clear dash, good suspension and smooth gear change. Dislikes: Slow pick-up, difficult to view the car’s nose. Flg-Off Emma Brown Currently drives: Hyundai Accent. Likes: Comfortable interior, great stereo, a good cruiser. Dislikes: Slow pick-up.

Today’s topless drivers (not referring to lack of upper body clothing) have high demands including folding hard-tops, luxury features and interior space. A player in this market is the Peugeot 307CC, a cabriolet based on the popular 307 platform.

The 307CC is a sleek and aerodynamic machine, especially with the top down. It certainly attracted plenty of attention during our test run. The interior is plush and well appointed.

Impressive automatic features include auto-folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights that allow you to concentrate more on driving.

The fully automatic hard-top provides added safety and security, as well as good insulation against the weather and noise – handy for cold postings. When not in use, the hard-top folds into the upper half of the boot.

The rear passenger space is limited when the roof is up, however, the extra interior space is very handy for everyday items such as uniforms.

The windscreen sweeps way back, making it difficult to enter the vehicle without bumping your head into the top corners (OK, I did it twice), but its aerodynamic performance is impressive when cruising at high speeds.

The steering wheel column supports an octopus of control columns that operate literally everything. The digital cruise control is an outstanding feature that allows you to accurately set the target cruising speed.

Unfortunately, the 2.0L 130kW engine’s main shortcoming is the pick-up. The engine may be a good performer but the heavily reinforced body weighs down the vital power-to-weight ratio. Once under way, driving it is sheer fun. The engine responds well above 3000rpm and cruises comfortably. The five-speed manual gearbox and the clutch are smooth. The suspension is touch-soft, but the body roll is very acceptable.

Like most Europeans, the 307CC has a handy turning circle and the rear parking sensor makes reverse parking a breeze. Sensible driving should return 10-11L/100km. I managed about 7L/100km on highway and about 11L/100km in Sydney traffic. The good economy makes up for some of the shortfall in performance.

There are other choices for sharper performance. But the 307CC certainly delivers on the fun and driveability front. Besides, it makes you feel like a million bucks.