Owner Review: 9 years of reliable joy and counting - My 2012 Peugeot 308 1.6 THP

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Basic information about my car:

2012 Peugeot 308 1.6 THP 

Reasons why I bought this car(purpose):

I needed to replace my aging 1995 Citroen ZX and somewhat was inclined towards another French model.

Heard positive reviews from some of my then colleagues who have taken this model for a spin and they lauded the pickup , acceleration etc. Testdrove the car at Nasim's showroom in Glenmarie, and voila, had one parked in my porch after couple of weeks.

Car selection process

• I had a budget of: RM 100++
• Models that I have considered include: Mazda 3, Ford Focus

Reasons why I chose this car:

1) Price in comfortable bracket
2) Good power, plus various safety features
3) Came with 5 years warranty (and an additional 2 years thereafter)

User Experience

• I have done: 149,000 km
• My average fuel consumption is about 8 km/l

Generally the car has been fairly reliable—scheduled services were done at designated service centers for the first 7 years; now by my regular mechanic who's an expert in French makes. And it is in its original form except for 2 minor modifications: the rims been painted with a darker shade, and I've installed an open pod air filter. 

Although one can't deny the slight turbo lag during initial acceleration, however its 156 HP and 240 Nm with  6-speed Aisin gearbox makes it a sufficiently made machine. And no doubt the suspension is on the firmer side, but not  felt much at highway speeds. Handling and cornering are excellent too, as with most French cars, and it's very stable on high speeds—there's no 'floaty' sensation as one might experience with certain Japanese cars.

Truth be told, I've read about mishaps some drivers went through with this model, and thus questioning its reliability. In fact I've had my own share of adversities on three different occasions, 2 of which happened in the first 3 months of its purchase: (i) the thermostat somewhat was jammed and led to a rise in temperature, requiring towing service; (ii) the battery died. And very recently, on its 9th year, the alternator died and the car had to be towed, once again.

However, despite the above incidents, i still find the car pretty dependable, and given that it has traveled fairly well throughout Peninsular for the last 9 years i suppose the mileage can attest that the car is indeed reliable?

Speaking of which, other than the usual maintenance— which i couldn't stress enough to be done diligently—one has to watch for the carbon accumulation; de-carbonization must be performed approximately every 60k. 

Pros and Cons

Pros of my car

1. Loaded with good safety features such as 6 Airbags, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX, ESP, DSC.
2. Comes with some of the good-to-have features such as Auto-Lights Sensor, Auto-Rain Sensor, Panoramic roof, Bluetooth etc.
3. Excellent brakes
4. Good sound proofing
5. Solid handling and good acceleration

Cons

1. Wear and tear of the plastic materials used for its interior and roof lining materials are quite obvious over the years, in comparison to other cars in its range.
2. Doors are heavy, my wife complaints, due to the many accidents she has had with the doors, and the fact that it stops either in between or all the way till it opens fully makes it hazardous if one is not careful.  
3. Short battery lifespan

Total Score: 4

Performance: 4

Quality & Features: 4

Space: 3

Ride comfort: 4

Fuel Economy: 4

Price & cost: 3

Summary:

It has been 9 years of ownership, and i can't quite say for how long more I will retain this car, however it has been a reliable workhorse, and given pandemic, it runs mostly short distances, thus wear and tear pretty much contained. I would say it's a good second hand buy as very few cars come with all the loaded safety features that this model offers within the same price range.

Interesting Events:

Getting stalled on Elite Highway in the 1st month of its purchase due to overheating; didn't bode well with the missus!

Parts recall were done by Peugeot/Nasim in 2017 covering components such as Timing Chain and Tensioner, Water pump, HPFP,Fuel Pipe and Air Cond Compressor in 2019.

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