Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[CitroJim]

Coming up today: https://www.i-bidder.com/en-gb/auction- ... 7f00f294c6

Does it come with a free paper bag to put over your head whilst driving it?

Have you thought of a C4 Picasso Matt? Potentially ticks a lot of boxes for you...

[MattBLancs]

If you are not near any ULEZ areas then not having adblue is a bonus and if you only sometimes go into a ULEZ just pay the fee, it will be a lot cheaper.
Our 10 year old Cactus just had a urea fault - needed a new NOx sensor, exhaust pipe where it is connected and an injector. These cost £1680 at a dealer as I was unable to do the work but the parts alone were about £1200. If a copy exhaust pipe had been used it could have been around £400 less. It previously needed a new NOx sensor when almost 3 years old so they do not last, I think they suffer from water ingress to the electronics as they are underneath the car. They might also be repairable as there was a £60 surcharge noted on the bill but not paid as they kept the old one.

Not presently dipping into a ULEZ zone, Manchester's has been "under review" long enough that some of the stickers they put over the signs are peeling off! If that was to be jumped on as a good idea then there's potential I'd need to be careful not to cross it at least 3 times a week.

Previous work trips I've been to Glasgow and Bristol which both have zones. Workaround would be get a (company provided) hire car for such trips.

Yes the frailty of the adblue system is a concern! I'm not sure if my use case (other than a couple of short school runs and trips to the tip it is all motorway / A road journeys) is to the benefit of the adblue (as I'm sure it is for the DPF) or if I've just been lucky with the blue 308 SW??

[MattBLancs]

It's tricky to describe eloquently, but it's the "no to an SUV thing" really! I like a decent amount of space and the extra 2 foot in length (of an estate) gives more in my eyes than the extra foot of height of an SUV.

I enjoy driving where you are sat down in the car, most of the cross over / SUV type things feel very much more "sat on" it.

[MattBLancs]

Does it come with a free paper bag to put over your head whilst driving it?

Have you thought of a C4 Picasso Matt? Potentially ticks a lot of boxes for you...

Not given it too much thought to be honest:

A quick look: boot space similar to 308 SW (Google says 537 to 630 litres for C4 Picasso Vs 600 litres for 308 SW).

From images (not managed to find dimensional data) rear leg room in 308 SW is better.

Not really an SUV but a bit "big" for no obvious advantages to my cynical eyes!


EDIT for comparison purposes:
Parkers believe the 508 SW is 660 litres
https://www.parkers.co.uk/peugeot/508/s ... cticality/
(I thought I'd read it was smaller than 308 SW volume!?)

[RichardW]

If shopping around 2017, watch out for the 01/04/17 reg cut off date where they go onto the fixed rate tax - which is now >£200 / year.

With a growing family, more seating room is going to be a bonus - a 308 is quite small inside / in the back, whereas the Picasso is huge - I am 6ft and quite long legged so have the seat well back, but even then there is enough room in the back for me to sit behind myself. In the 3008 no chance, and I suspect 308 would be as bad or worse. The 3rd row of seats in the Grand versions are small, but it does afford a big boot! Yes you sit on it, and yes the ride is a bit wallowy, but once you get used to the space and sitting up, going back to a normal car seems like lying on the floor! The face lift versions from late 2016 are better. They need a front suspension overhaul at around 80-90k as the struts start rattling, and are prone to rotting out the wires on the rear ABS sensors, but otherwise seem OK.

[mickthemaverick]

I've cracked it for you this time Matt, just needs a bit of fettling

Spoiler: show

https://www.i-bidder.com/en-gb/auction- ... 7f010a330e

[MattBLancs]

If shopping around 2017, watch out for the 01/04/17 reg cut off date where they go onto the fixed rate tax - which is now >£200 / year.

Yes, very much so! Earlier ones (pre 2014) seem to be £170 / year,
2015-2016 = £20 or £35
2017 onwards = £200

Very tight little "sweet spot!"

With a growing family, more seating room is going to be a bonus - a 308 is quite small inside / in the back, whereas the Picasso is huge - I am 6ft and quite long legged so have the seat well back, but even then there is enough room in the back for me to sit behind myself. In the 3008 no chance, and I suspect 308 would be as bad or worse.

So my understanding is the 308 SW is longer wheelbase than the 308 hatchback, and rear legroom on my 308 SW seems to be where some of that length went = seems pretty good.

Not sure about the 3008 (either research its wheelbase when get a mo)

The 3rd row of seats in the Grand versions are small, but it does afford a big boot!

Yes, I've ridden in the 3rd row of my Dad's previous Grand Picasso - ok for short trips for 5' 10" me, but a big boot with them down flat.

Yes you sit on it, and yes the ride is a bit wallowy,

I'm out!

but once you get used to the space and sitting up, going back to a normal car seems like lying on the floor!

A few (generally several hundred mile round trip each one) works trips over day last decade have had me behind the wheel of:
Renault Kaptur, Nissan Qashqai 1st generation, Hyundai Tuscan, Hyundai Santa Fe, Vauxhall Vivaro (yes I know it's not a car, couldn't believe how high it was though! Look down on the Range Rovers!), Hyundai IX30. Passenger in a Mokka, Nissan Pathfinder. And obviously currently in the 74 plate Qashqai too.

None of them converted me to the high up lifestyle, sorry!

Put me down for the lie on the floor options please!

The face lift versions from late 2016 are better. They need a front suspension overhaul at around 80-90k as the struts start rattling, and are prone to rotting out the wires on the rear ABS sensors, but otherwise seem OK.

Is that strut problem shared with the 308? My understanding is 3008 and 308 (and 5008) have similar underpinnings - would guess Picasso does too??

[MattBLancs]

I've cracked it for you this time Matt, just needs a bit of fettling

Spoiler: show

https://www.i-bidder.com/en-gb/auction- ... 7f010a330e

Nice in the current hot weather but a chilly breeze up/down the M6 come winter in that!

[MattBLancs]

Wheelbase comparisons just for interest, all 2016 models:
308 hatch 2620mm

308 SW 2730mm (+110mm)

3008 mpv 2675mm (+75mm on 308 hatch)

508 SW 2817mm

And Overall length too

308 hatch 4235mm

308 SW 4585mm (+350mm on hatch)

3008 mpv 4365mm (+130mm on 308 hatch)

508 SW 4829mm

[Rp0thejester]

So are they following the current trend of SUV's on being big on the outside but smaller inside or old school as in big outside means big inside?

[CitroJim]

If shopping around 2017, watch out for the 01/04/17 reg cut off date where they go onto the fixed rate tax - which is now >£200 / year.

Yes, very much so! Earlier ones (pre 2014) seem to be £170 / year,
2015-2016 = £20 or £35
2017 onwards = £200

Very tight little "sweet spot!"

I'm very pleased my van falls into this 'sweet spot' At least for now. Not so long ago it fell onto an even sweeter spot - a free one!

Makes me think it's a vehicle worth hanging on to.

So are they following the current trend of SUV's on being big on the outside but smaller inside?

In the few I've experienced, this seems to be so. Inverted TARDIS syndrome. Certainly the case with daughter's Renault Captcha. Unlike my van. Now that is a proper TARDIS