Peugeot places emphasis on the functional

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 38

Peugeot places emphasis on the functional

t From previous page' The stability is impressive. During a run over the regular, test route, crosswinds 'were quite strong, but insufficient to move the car off its gpath. I liked the sureness of the disc brakes and the flat cornering ability that was always evident. Anyone who appreciates function rather than fancy will be at home in the GTI. There are no concessions to frivolity. Everything that is needed is in its place, and there is really nothing else to say. The instrument panel, with its centre console, could possibly be described as overbearingly plastic, but it is practical. All the controls fall readily to hand, and there is no need for the stranger to refer constantly to the instruction book to find out where things are and how they operate. Apart from the location of the ignition/starter keyhole, which is so cunningly concealed that it is

difficult to find in broad daylight — we won’t talk about the dead of night, when the intensity of the general illumination leaves a lot to be desired — there is really nothing to complain about Certainly the speedometer dial is a bit of a hotchpotch, the m.p.h. figures lording it over the km/h figures, but the rest is easy reading. • 1 ' I liked the ribbed velour upholstery and the form-hugging individual front seats, tastefully finished with discreet red piping, and the trim and carpets were of quality beyond reproach. The front seats can be moved forward bodily without physical effort to enable rear seat passengers to get in and out comfortably. They have ample leg and headroom and two adults should not feel too cramped if there is a child sitting between them. The luggage boot is large for a car of this type

and size and as the rear seat back is split 50/50, allowing the whole or half the seat to be folded away >to provide extra storage space, the carrying capa-' city is quite formidable. Unfortunately the 309 GTI is not yet built in Britain, so, unlike the other variants, does not qualify in New Zealand for the preferential tariff rate. For this reason its price tag is high when compared with the other British-built 309 s which, while displaying most of the features of the GTI, but perhaps not so strikingly, are better than average hatchbacks. They should sell very competively in the current market. Before tramping around the usual run of car retailers, it could be quite rewarding to have a demonstration run in a Peugeot 309. That should at least let shoppers for new cars know what they should be getting for their money.