CC Review in OZ

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Sat Jan 05, 2002 11:17 pm

With the CC close to being available in Australia, there was an article in the motoring section in the weekend paper. They reviewed a 1.6 CC and weren't too positive about it. They gave it 2 stars with the Renault Megane getting three and the MX5 with four stars. The main complaints were;

* Underpowered engine and sluggish transmission. When the transmission was in sports mode it hung onto the gears too long and over revved. I can understand the complaints on power as although I was quite impressed when I drove a 1.6 auto demo I did find it quite sluggish compared to what I've been used to with my current 306 Cabriolet manual.
* They said that with the roof down or up it was noisy compared to it's hatch cousin and that the car seriously lacked rigidity
* That build quality was poor, with some ill fitting plastic panels in the interior.

All up they said the car was a good idea that hasn't really worked. That in the 2 litre the problems of gutlessness may be overcome but some reall work needs to be done on rigidity.

All in all not a very glowing review. Mind you the whole tone of the article suggested that the author had it in for the CC before even testing it. I'll try find a soft copy and sent to Lyndon for posting.

In the meantime,, I'd be most interested in any comments regarding noise and shake (from body rigidity) that owners may (or may not) have experienced. Also interested in comments on build quality in regard to both internal and external panel fit.

By the way, the article mentioned the Mercedes SLK and Peugeot having copied the retractable hard roof. My understanding is that this is an incorrect statement as Peugeot pioneered the retractable roof in the 30's. Given, Mercedes developed the folding hydraulic roof, but I really think that's more a reinement of the concept Peugeot pioneered.

Despite the article, still hoping every day for a call to say mine's arrived

Cheers

Frosty

rob · Post by **rob** » Sat Jan 05, 2002 11:29 pm

sorry what did you say.....gone a bit deaf since taking delivery of my car

Seriously though my previous car, a SOFT TOP made by RENAULT was no way better that the CC for either noise or body shake.

The CC wins hands down on both counts.

You are right about Peugeot being first with the roof, 402 Eclipse I belive it was.

As for the reviews of the MX-5, funny that in the Uk the CC has whooped its ass in reviews.

In a head to head with the MX-5 it won and also won cabrio of the year beating the Mercedes SLK.

Write to your local paper and tell them they are a bunch of muppets.

Your are right to still be looking forward to delivery - you will LOVE IT

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 12:06 am

don't worry frosty, as rob says, the reviews in the uk are completely different.

as far as quality goes i wouldn't be too harsh on it, mines has an immobiliser fault (even after my useless dealer spending 4 days repairing the fault - arnold clark edinburgh) and it also has a rattle in the rear - my dealer couldn't find the reason but i could - they are ever so competent.

apart from my dealer then making most things electric faulty when feebly and supposedly fixing the immobiliser then there are no other problems.

good luck when you get your CC.

derek

bergen · Post by **bergen** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 12:33 am

Here in Norway the cc also beat the mx when they where compared in a rewiew. The conclusions in every rewiew is that the care is pure fun and well worth the money.
I have a 1.6, and ok.. its not like a 2.0but i think it kicks surprisely well.
the only question in the rewiews about the cc is the built quality... will the roof work in about two - three years... and what about leaks... the answer i guess is in this forum... he, he... they have to read here before the next rewiew...

Post by **Lyndon** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 10:39 am

All cabrios have some shake in the body, what do you expect when they chop the roof off.

Not that i notice, too busy loving the driving experiance, like rob, derek and bergen said the reviews in this part of the world love the CC againest the MX5.

Lets just say at 70+ mph with the roof and windows down i can speak to my passenger in a normal voice not shouting at them

With the roof up it's as quiet as my old 206 roland garros, so the person that wrote the article is talking out of his/her a***.

Cheers

Lyndon

Simon (PugSport) · Post by **Simon (PugSport)** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 7:20 pm

The 1.6 IS under powered I would say, as it is heavier than the 1.6 Saloon, but for the money it is very good value... The 1.6 manual gearbox ain't that good.. An old design thats been about too long...

The 2.0 is underpowered! Just like the 206GTi but I want 180bhp+, saying that with the 2.0 engine Torque peaking around 4100 revs it is much more "drivable" compared to the Clio 172 or 306GTi-6....

Having owned a 206GT before the CC I will say the following:

1. The car is noticably heavier, and the weight distribution is totally different.. Either with the roof up or down..

2. With the roof down there is too much weight at the back and this makes "high speed" cornering a little precarious! :0)

3. The chassis is obviously not a taut as the saloon but it is a very very very big improvement over the 306 cabrio which is like driving a block of butter.. The 306Cab chassis sucks!!!

4. A Front "strut" brace helps on cornering especially with the roof down.

5. There is noticable "scuttle" shake with the roof down, but again it is not a bad as many other cabs.. From the cheap to the expensive..

6. The suspension is tooooo soft as standard(To combat the creaking and scuttle shake etc)..
The front & rear dampers need to be stiffer and the Rear Antiroll bar & Torsion bars are far too thin!! :0((

7. The road noise with the roof up is almost the same as the saloon...

8. The build quality is a tad "plasticy" but for Â£14,500 - Â£16,000 what do you expect... Live with it and enjoy the looks

In summary the CC creaks and groans etc etc but it is a Cabriolet after all, and all Cabrios leak and creak and groan!!

The Metal roof makes it very special and if you hav'nt had one before (with a fabric roof) then think yourself lucky...

_________________
Simon
MoonStone 206CC SE
simon@pugsport-gti.com

PugSport-GTi Performance Tuning & Performance 206 Group

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Simon (PugSport) on 2002-01-06 18:28 ]</font>

markfc · Post by **markfc** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 8:36 pm

Hey Lyndon

I didn't know you used to have a Roland Garros. I've got one at the moment, although it's disappearing in may to make way for 206cc SE 2.0l

Post by **Lyndon** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 8:49 pm

Hi Mark,

Yep i had one of the first the 206 roland garros' in the country

(only a l.4 on a 'T' plate)

B4 that i had a mkII 106 roland garros with white leather seats (Standard), i was told that only 400 of these were made so thats way i got a 206 roland garros thinking these would be limited editions as well how wrong i was.

Cheers

Lyndon

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 6:49 am

Just got told of another review in Wheels Magazine which is the major selling auto review magazine in Australia. I haven't read the article but they have bagged it big time for similar reasons, lack of rigitity, leaks, etc. I'll try to get a copy of the article and send to Lyndon for posting.

Cheers

Frosty

gordonbc · Post by **gordonbc** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 7:38 am

Yeah.. I read the article, it said the 206CC had a major leaking problem on the driver side, engine is unresponsive, poor build quality etc.

The only good point it mentioned was the cute look...

The overall impression was the car is not worth buying unless u wanted a cute looking car

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Mon Jan 07, 2002 10:29 am

Thanks for the comment Gordon - did you think as I, that the article(s) seem to have a pre-determined outcome to the review? I am obviously not being objective here, but have the sense that the industry is looking to take a shot a Peugeot regardless of what they do. Pug have made a statement - almost like in the world of Art - and critics are making their voice heard. Doesn't that say something about this car - breaking the mould of conformity?

Cheers for now

Frosty

nx · Post by nx » Mon Jan 07, 2002 1:57 pm

My 206CC (2.0) replaced a MKII MX5 that I had for 2.5 years. My thoughts:

Speed - I love the 206 but to be fair the MX-5 (1800cc) felt quicker, in acceleration terms at least - it was the same bhp and it weighed less so its what you would expect.

Practicality - The day after I got the 206 4 of us (adults) went to the Lake District for the weekend - couldn't do that in the MX-5!

Wind Noise - I found this quite significant in the Mazda on the motorway - the 206 is a great improvement.

Security - Someone slashed the roof on my MX-5 but there was nothing in the car to steal and they made no attempt to steal the car itself?!?. A slashed roof is not a concern with the 206 - someone did set fire to it though when it was 2 weeks old!!!!

Economy - Both cars were driven equally hard and mpg is fairly similar at just over 30

Build - Only ever had one problem with the Mazda, they forgot to connect up the heated rear screen. The Mazda didn't have central locking or aircon or a cd player though. The 206 has these

but I have also had the following probs - new aircon screen, leaks, door alignments, central locking, rattles.....

Overall - I'm glad I had the chance (no kids etc) to drive around in a 2 seater sports car but now I am happy with and prefer the 206 - you need to get the 2.0 though if you can!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: nx on 2002-01-07 13:00 ]</font>

Frosty · Post by **Frosty** » Tue Jan 08, 2002 12:37 am

Thanks for the reply with your experience NX. Yes, I am going to get the 2.0. My main concern with the CC is the ongoing issues that many seem to be raising regarding leaks. What's your experience been? By the number of problems in this forum and it being reiterated in the Wheels article I am concerned it's a real design fault.

nx · Post by nx » Tue Jan 08, 2002 9:59 am

Frosty - check out the Leaks/Water Sports discussion thread for my comments on leaks and the (potential) fix that my dealer applied last week.

The leaks are disappointing especially when they are caused simply by normal rain. I used to Jet Wash the MX5 including the soft top and yet it only ever leaked once when the door hadn't shut properly over the seal!!

I wouldn't let it put you off though - there are many more positives to the car and I still think it is great value for what you are getting.

HK206cc · Post by **HK206cc** » Wed Jan 09, 2002 5:18 pm

frosty

when i was holidaying in oz at new year i went into a dealer in sydney to check out the specs on the local version. ironically the dealer does not maintain a 206cc on the floor on the weekend. the dealer told me that they get too many customers crowding around the vehicle(obviously to the detriment of the rest of the pug range in the showroom, including the recently released 307) and they do not have enough sales people to tend to all the enquiries. strange way of trying to get customers to part with their deposit ! seems that the 206cc is selling well in oz as the wait list is about 9 months ....

cheers