Just wanted to throw this one out to the Briskoda community as you appear to have owned many different marques of car in the past

 

. Ive always thought of French and Italian cars as being somewhat less reliable than the norm. I get the feeling from drivers of modern Alfa Romeos and Fiats, these tend to be getting better but I have a  couple of work colleagues and friends that have bought French and swear never too again! The problem is... and I cant believe im even going to say this... I drove a Peugeot over the weekend that I thought was really very good indeed - id go as far as suggesting top of the class for its handling/ride with a very nicely finished cabin and very comfy also with loads of standard equipment. Ideal as a spacious long distance cruiser for the family hols etc. BUT I still cant get my head around the negative reliability aspect of French cars.  

 

Have they improved? Are they now as reliable as the other marques? (hard to quantify I know). Seemingly massive discount allows for depreciation issues to a degree but this really doesnt bother me tbh.

 

The car was a Peugeot 508 GT SW 2.2 HDi btw (with a fantastic panoramic sunroof and decent JBL audio system).

If you are buying new then you will have warranty, any car can have issues.

if you like, want the car then buy it

No idea on the 2.2, but the 2.0HDi is a massively reliable engine.

 

The problem with the French is they generally try to do loads of clever electrickery, that ends up going wrong.

Pretty sure that French manufacturers are at the top of cars that fail their first MOT, so that's one reason I use to avoid them.

 

I've had a French car before, 2002 Renault Clio 1.2, did a fair amount of miles in it but had a new clutch and had electrical problems (outside temperature reading 50C in winter!) and had to get a new key due to starting problems. Was glad to get rid!

My wife had a 2000 Megane from 2002 to 2011.  Only faults were a failed battery and a failed windscreen washer pump.  No problem with any of the electrics -  sunroof, mirrors, central locking, stereo, etc. no problems at all.  Car was written off by my daughter sliding on ice and ending  upside down in a ditch - even then the car protected her so the only result was minor bruising.

 

Her current 2010 Renault Clio 1.2TCE has been owned for 2½ years and has been faultless except for a sticking rear brake shoe.

I know that Renault have come on lately and some now consider the DS3 as one of the most reliable cars to own. The latter being part of PSA it may bode well for the 508 however having owned the dog turd that was a 407 i'd never recommend a Pug to anyone. Ever, especially not with the abysmal attitude of dealerships. 

The last good car Peugeot made in my eyes was the 405.

As said before, stylish, comfortable and good ride but the electrickery in newer models are prone to ruining your experience.

Which is why I bought an Octavia estate despite the boot lip and cabin noise and tear tyre wear issue etc.

Strange that the 1.9 PD is more agricultural than the Peugeot's 1.9 XUD and I'm not at all convinced it's any more economical either.

Don't care been burned before :peek:

 

But as others have mentioned for me the oily bits were fine. Actually better than fine I found the the 1.5dCi 100hp lump in my Clio to be a very sweet and economical motor. Gearbox and suspension were also pretty good and faultless in the 4yr and 80k I had it.

 

Depreciation was even pretty good since I picked it up cheap as a pre-reg and loss less than 50% over 4yr.

 

Everything electrical or decorative was cheap crap that crumbled. Unfortunately those things made an otherwise reasonable run-around a misery to own.

Edited 16 December, 201312 yr by Aspman

I had a 406hdi for 8 months a few years back and loved it, apart from a pair of handbrake cables it didnt cost me anything apart from usual service costs.

I would probably still have it if it hadnt of been written off by a women in a clio

I've had four French cars a

2000 x reg Xantia 2.0hdi 90,

2002 laguna 1.8 petrol,

2002 C5 2.0 HDi 110

and a 2008 1.5dci laguna estate.

Only problem I had was a electric window motor in the petrol laguna, other than that they were all faultless. I would have another tomorrow and I really miss the famous citroen suspension, it is a brilliant system and nothing to be afraid of.

I have owned about half-a-dozen French cars (Citroen & Renault) over the years and I can't say that any of them been unreliable. I once owned a Fiat from new and would NEVER again buy an Italian car - it was a piece of junk.  I would love to own a Ducati but I gather that they aren't very reliable either :(

More reliable than the VAG stuff.

Strange that the 1.9 PD is more agricultural than the Peugeot's 1.9 XUD and I'm not at all convinced it's any more economical either.

 

I inherited a 1999 (V) Peugeot 306 with the 70bhp 1.9 XUD engine.

 

I ended up running it for 12 years and 170,000 miles with only a perished radiator hose to attribute fault with.

 

It's main advantage was no electrical components to fail, it had electric front windows - that was it.

 

Despite this one being bomb proof I still wouldn't spend my own hard-earned on a modern Peugeot for their dodgy reliability for all things electrical.

 

This is what it looked like when I sold it, safe to say I was sad to see it go. It's amazing how attached you can get to an old car...

 

 

Not a hint of rust anywhere...

 

Edited 16 December, 201312 yr by silver1011

I wish the sills on my Octy looked like that :(

Thanks for all the input guys, its seems like quite a mix of experiences. Friends that have had issues have mainly had electrical issues and I remember being a passenger in a 405 (a tweaked Mi-16) some years back and it went very nicely indeed in terms of handling for a biggish car. The bigger French cars haven't really done it for me since although I love the idea of them - smooth riding, spacious as an estate and loaded with kit, oh and slightly left field. After driving lots of vag cars lately, octy vrs, superb, audi A4, A6, vw passat, jaguar xf, Merc c class etc I was just gob smacked how well this thing handled and rode. It had plenty of guts where needed too and was quiet and refined. The interior quality was well into the junior exec class IMO, the auto box was better than expected too. All round I was not expecting it to be much cop, let alone one of the best things I've driven in the last couple of years! As to whether I'd put my own 20 odd k into one I'm still unsure and yes, it would be under warranty but I've been lucky where reliability is concerned on my previous cars and the thought of having to do repeat dealer visits (to a Peugeot dealer!) doesn't appeal but who knows if they'd even be required!

I cannot for love nor money kill my berlingo works van

142k and it just wont die, bounced off the limiter everywhere and smashed through the gears. Yet it keeps on breathing

Edited 16 December, 201312 yr by BigJase88

Sounds like our old ones at a former job. All 1.6 HDI's, all ragged to death up and down the country, often didn't get serviced until they were due the one after, and they were all totally reliable. From that, I formed the opinion that 1.6 HDI's are only unreliable if looked after. 

I have the old 1.9 flat diesel!

And mine hasn't had an oil change for 70k miles!

Wooohoooo

Edited 16 December, 201312 yr by BigJase88

Fiat is Italian they have improved tremendously. The Panda is as good as anything out there.

Peugeot/Citroen I have owned two very thin body shells crap brakes and cheap interiors. Engines/Gearboxes vey good.

Citroen BX and Alfa 156 amongst the most reliable car severe owned.

We have a Citroen DS3 1.6 Turbo 155 we bought in exchange for the Fabia II vRS

Very well built, innovative/retro and a joy to drive..no rattles, no faults....doesn't use any oil and no new engine fitted either

Are French cars still unreliable?

 

 

Oui     :think:

Are French cars still unreliable?

 

 

Oui     :think:

 

Non........Ils ont utilisé pour être. Mais pas plus

My brother had a brand new 206 in 2005 which he didn't have much luck with. The passenger door blew itself open while he was going down a motorway (it was closed properly before hand) and the catch on the passenger seat slider broke so the seat wouldn't stay in place. This happened within a year of him owning it and the dealer didn't want to get involved in trying to fix it

Non........Ils ont utilisé pour être. Mais pas plus

 

Ma Schitroen était merde.  

 

French cars must be more reliable these days - but I would never buy another.