A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

+ Click to Enlarge PRODUCTION SPORTS CAR: The Peugeot RCZ is based on the 308 platform - but you'd never say it.

July 28, 2010
By James Martin

Three years I've been doing this column and I've never once mentioned traffic officers. To be fair, I've been lucky - the boys in blue have mostly left me alone.

Oh, I've been caught a few times in London, like the time I parked outside Jamie Oliver's restaurant so I could nip in to use the lav and got talking to Gennaro Contaldo. That cost me £40 (R450).

Then there was the time I went out for the night and left the car on a meter, intending to drive home in the morning before it needed feeding. Of course I overslept and the bloody thing got towed away.

Has that ever happened to you? It's a bit of a shocker, isn't it? Half an hour I walked up and down, going, "I'm sure I parked it here", thinking I was going senile, before deciding my car had been stolen.

It's only when you report it to the police that they tell you it's been towed, and which godforsaken car pound you've got to hike to - and by the way, you'd best visit an ATM on the way and take out a few hundred pounds.

But the best one was when I woke up one morning and looked out of the window to see a traffic cop making his way towards my car. I slung my clothes on, dashed on to the street and leapt into the driver's seat just as he was getting ready to take his stupid Polaroid.

It started first time, I gunned the engine, whacked it into first and screeched away... or would have, but the car didn't move. It just sat there, revving away uselessly. As the warden licked his pencil I leapt out and popped the bonnet. I couldn't see anything wrong and went to get back in - which was when I looked down.

My wheels were gone - all four of them. Some joker had jacked up the car and replaced them with neatly stacked breeze blocks - which would have been great if I'd wanted to start the footings on an outside loo, but on balance wasn't the most helpful development.

I went back to the hotel to see if they'd seen anything during the night, but no. I came back outside to call the AA, and - would you believe it? - found a big yellow parking ticket stuck to my windscreen. The bloke must have been in and out quicker than a thief in the night.

None of that nonsense happens in an underground car park. I've learnt it's the safest place to put your pride and joy. Not all the cars I've tested would fit - you'd be mad to try to get a Rolls-Royce down here - but this little beauty was made for it.

It's a Peugeot RCZ, the first production sports car the French company has done since, well, forever and due in South Africa in the third quarter of 2010.

Peugeot has always been a top contender in racing but until 2009 year its business plan was to grow market share in the safe family-car sector.

GREAT-LOOKING CAR

Now, though, it has a new CEO and is branching out into more exciting things. In March 2010 it showed a hybrid concept car called the SR1 that, believe it or not, looked like an Aston Martin.

Dare it build it? I hope so. For the time being we've got the RCZ. Slightly disappointingly, it's based on the existing 308 platform, but I soon forgave that. This is a great-looking car.

Just look at the roof for a start. You've got those two aluminium roof arches, and between them a glassy "double bubble" that flows down into the rear windscreen. It's a tricky, costly shape to make, but it improves airflow and, most importantly, looks cool.

Combined with the bulging rear wheel arches, it gives the RCZ an expensive look - you'd never believe it's only around £23 000 (R260 000).

LARGE BOOT

Recent Peugeots have been less than inspiring on the inside, with a lot of grey plastic, but this one has broken the mould. There are heatable leather sports seats - you have to buy the GT model for this - and some nice chrome-rimmed dials on the dash, including a big analogue clock.

The rear seats fold down to give you a large boot, and the storage net is a good idea, but if you're thinking four adults can get in, you'll be lucky.

I had the manual 1.6. There's also a 150kW version of the same engine and a two-litre diesel. Driving it, the gear changes were quick and slick with a nicely balanced clutch and brilliant brakes.

It's faster and feels lighter than a 308 - apparently it's not, but the track is wider, the wheels bigger and the centre of gravity lower.

There's an active rear spoiler that pops up at 85km/h and a bit more at 155km/h. It's nicely balanced, visibility is good, parking was simple and speed bumps were no problem when I took it for a spin around London.

TEST CIRCUIT

On the open road it was stable and quiet. I was really starting to enjoy this little car. The series of traffic circles on my way home showed how good the chassis really is. But it can't be good at everything.

On the twisty roads near my home I use as a test circuit, I found the front tyres struggled to find grip. It didn't jump around like most in this class when pushed, but the front did fall away, which left me being overcautious on some of the corners.

And it doesn't make a proper sports-car sound - although, to be honest, I'm nit-picking now. The fact is, this is a great little coupé. It's not going to change the way we drive like the original 205 GTI, but it's a huge step in the right direction for Peugeot.

And at this price, you can afford to put it in a nicer car park. I'd recommend it. - Daily Mail

TECH SPEC

UK Price: £22 750 (R260 000).
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo.
Power: 115kW.
Torque: 240Nm at 1400rpm.
Top speed: 212km/h.
Transmission: Six-speed manual.
Fuel consumption: 6.8 litres/100km.
CO2 emissions: 155g/km.

Standard equipment:
19" alloys, anti-lock braking with electronic brake pressure distribution and hill hold, stability control with traction control and anti-skid regulation, auto lights and wipers, auto reverse-dipping door mirrors, leather upholstery, power-adjustable, heatable sports front seats, six-speaker radio/CD/MP3 sound system with USB input and Bluetooth, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone auto aircon, locking wheel bolts, active rear spoiler, twin sports exhaust.

Extra-cost options:
Six-speed automatic transmission, JBL sound system, directional, self-levelling xenon headlamps, 225mm satnav, sportpack (smaller steering wheel, short-throw gearstick, improved engine sound), carbon-fibre roof panel, decals, different-coloured alloys, brake calipers, bumper and door mirrors.

Read more James Martin columns.