IT WAS RED - BUT BULLS DIDN'T MIND

+ Click to Enlarge GAME FOR ANYTHING: You might like the high life but Peugeot's 308 SW also proved great for a run to a KZN game park and a run-in with some rhino. Images: Quickpic

March 9, 2009
By Peta Lee

The rhino mom and her calf gave us curious looks as we passed within a metre of them. We'd had to swerve because they were slap bang in the middle of the road and didn’t seem at all inclined to move, even though we’d sat motionless for about 10 minutes.

I was hoping the distinctive red of the Peugeot 308 SW wouldn’t evoke the same reaction from them as a red rag or a matador's cloak...

Fortunately, they were more interested in browsing the succulent grass than in charging us as we (cautiously) made our way to the exit of Karkloof Spa, passing, uneventfully, a herd of wildebeest, a dozen zebra and a family of warthogs en-route.

The drive from Durban to the Umsunduzi-based Spa was an excellent test for the 308: a long and winding gravel stretch from the N3, lots of dirt through the Spa’s amazing 3000ha reserve, and driving rain on the M13 and N3 earlier.

Through it all, the car was incredibly smooth and carefree, its fantastic suspension taking everything in its stride, and its double-length sunroof giving us even more of a great view of the sky.

The 308SW is a beaut, considering it’s a station wagon (or estate, or whatever you want to call it).Pretty nifty is the seating arrangement: at first glance it looks like a standard five-seater but wait, there’s more, as they say in the classics.

Hidden away neatly in the boot are two more seats which can give you either a six or a seven-seater. Even better, you can slip and slide the middle row forwards or backwards, or completely flatten it if you like – and even the front passenger seat as well – to transform the 308 into a minivan! Brilliant!

I also liked the fact that you can open the tail door as a whole or split the function and just pop open the window. Here, however, I took a few days to realise I should pull on the clip at the bottom of the windscreen wiper to open it instead of using my (ex) nails.

We live and learn!

The 308SW's cabin is brilliantly styled and very comfortable with everything close to hand: refrigerated cubby, rechargeable torch and auto windscreen wipers and lights. The sharply raked windscreen gives terrific visibility, there's an easy-to-see speedo and rev counter and date and distance-to-empty info.

Beneath the bonnet pumps a 1600cc engine (88kW/160Nm), same as you’ll find in the 308 sedan, and there’s a five-speed manual gearbox. Must say, though, that I would’ve liked this in an 1800 – Field’s Hill might not have seemed so daunting on hot days with the aircon flat out.

FINE FOR HOMEWORK

All in all, though, it was a fantastic car to drive: my daughter exclaimed over and over how smooth the drive was (which is what you need when you’re doing your homework in the car!) and we loved the spacious feel of it.

Despite being an estate, it handled like a sedan and there was never the feeling that it was long or unwieldy.

Oh, and I would’ve preferred leather upholstery, but that’s just me. It’s amazing how the French can make anything look stylish – even a station wagon!

Price? R240 950.

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