Conference terri::cars_uk

    I've also been awaiting a test in one of these.  I'll have to chase the
    dealers again now that I know they are actually available.
    
    re the high speed performance - does anyone know what the Cd is?  It
    could be worse than the 405 and drag becomes much more significant at
    high speed.
    
    Is the 806 all metal,  or does it have plastic panels like the Espase?
    
    Jc
    

    They yet aren't freely available, AFAIK; my dealer has been after one
    for a long time. I suspect the one he has is now his as a demonstrator
    as it had an Ipswich registration. If you want to try it, you'll need
    to go to Ipswich. His name is Stuart Patience, 01473-720101
    
    I have no technical data at all, but I may well have some stuff in
    French at home; possibly the Cd will be in there. I'll look tonight.
    What I do have is prices, standard equipment and extras etc.
    
    As for plastic panels, I don't know, but I'd suspect so. Even the 405
    has some smaller panels in plastic. Given the construction, I'd be
    surprised if any other than valences and grills etc. are plastic.
    Certainly, no parts of the doors, bonnet, sills etc seemed to be in
    plastic, and the vehicle felt very solid.
    
    Cheers, Laurie.

    Ta Laurie,
    
    I only asked about the plastic cause I have this little extra wire
    sticking out the top,  held on with a bloody big magnet.  Wouldn't want
    to get a car and find its plastic :-)  Apart from that,  its properties
    as a ground plane would be useless.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Jc
    

    I borrowed the same 805 this weekend, at the insistence of the dealer,
    Stuart Patience. He said that now that it'd done over 2000 miles, it
    was a different car, and had loosened up considerably. Aside from the
    fact that I'm predisposed to be convinced, and the fact that I really
    like this car, and wasn't at all averse to driving one again, I readily
    agreed.
    
    This time, we did only a little town work, and mostly main-road
    driving. We drove up from Ipswich to Oundle to see my son George who's
    at school there, thence to Stamford for an early dinner, then Ipswich
    via Oundle again; a round trip of some 280 miles. What a difference!
    
    It took me a little time to get used to the different feel of it, to
    remember the handbrake is on the "wrong" side, and to remember that the
    gear lever is in a different place. It's taller than the 405, and
    handles differently. It's not van-like by any means, but it isn't a
    well run-in brilliantly-handling car like the 405. It doesn't even roll
    and pitch that much, although of course it does a little more than the
    405, but it does handle, well, just differently.
    
    Anyway, it was soon apparent that Stuart was correct, it *is* a
    different car. This time, there was real surge at motorway speeds in
    5th, and no sense of struggling on long hills. It reached 85 easily,
    with no fuss, and just for one quick burst I took it up to 100, where
    it was still pulling happily. It cruised at 80-odd at just over
    3000RPM, and that left bags of oomph to pull out of trouble. All my
    earlier reservations about performance have gone. It's true that it
    isn't as quick as my 405, but it's easy to accept that it's just a
    different sort of car, and therefore, as long as performance is
    adequate and reasonable, that's enough. It is both of those.
    
    I found the clutch was still a little light, but there was more feel to
    it, and the engine, being looser I suppose, never stalled once.
    Five-up, from Oundle to Stamford, with coats, some luggage and a
    computer on-board, it still pulled well; I doubt a full load will phase
    it. I didn't measure the fuel consumption accurately, but judging by
    the gauge, and the miles done, it was very reasonable, easily within
    10% of my 405. I'd expect that to improve with time and as the engine
    beds in.
    
    Later this week I should have an idea from the Peugeot export
    department of when they can provide my car, and I look forward to
    driving my own 806. Again I have to say, anyone who is thinking of
    getting one of these MPV things, dash down and organise a test drive.
    If you have a problem with the thought of a Peugeot, then try the
    Citroen or the Fiat. Really, it's a gem.
    
    Laurie.

    Just a quick update: I've ordered one of these, a 7-seater, Royal Blue
    one, due for delivery in March.
    
    Laurie.

    Well, March has been and gone, as have April and May. June's well on
    its way, and still no car. I've just spoken to the dealer, and
    apparently, my car has now been made (What again? How many times do
    they want to make my car?), and will be delivered nearer the end of
    June, something like the 21st. I'll believe it when I see it.
    
    The reason for the delay is, allegedly, higher demand in LHD flavour,
    so RHD cars are being given second priority. As a result, what was a 6
    week delivery, is becoming more like 6 months. The dealer says this is
    hurting him, so more people buy cars like the smaller Ford, and so it
    cycles on...
    
    Still, I mustn't complain too much, because, some 10 weeks ago, when my
    car was "due in next week", the dealer lent me a brand new 806 (46
    miles on the clock) to use in the meantime. It's not as good as mine,
    no air-con, no ABS, and only manual windows in the back, but it does
    have the twin sunroof option, thank goodness, and it is a turbo diesel.
    In view of the delays, he's since said that I can keep it until mine
    arrives.. I've just passed 5600 miles in it, and next weekend, it's in
    for its first service! Ya can't knock free motoring, and now I've run
    it in, it runs a treat...
    
    As for what I think of the car after all this time, well, it's great. I
    have no regrets whatsoever, and I wonder how I managed without it
    before. I just wish I had mine for the air-con and the electric windows
    in the back. I want the latter, because at more than 70mph, with the
    large roof open, the air buffets inside a lot. When the side-hinged
    rear vents are open, the air can escape, and the through-draft is most
    pleasant. The manual ones have two main problems. Firstly, they're a
    pain to remember to open and close, and a bloody long way from the
    driver's seat, and secondly, at speed, the wind shuts them! The
    electric ones don't suffer from these problems, and are therefore, IMO
    essential for an 806 with the twin sunroof option.
    
    Cheers, Laurie.

    Another update, for those of you interested... My car has arrived; it's
    here in Belgium! It's a higher spec one than the loaner I just gave
    back (7300 miles!), and it's markedly different. The seats are far more
    comfortable, the trim spec is much higher, and everything just seems to
    be better quality; switches, knobs, etc. It's quieter, and doesn't roll
    as much on fast cornering. I'm surprised at the difference actually.
    
    Anyway, not much to add; the digital air-con is magic, dial a
    temperature, and it maintains it, controlling flow, distribution etc,
    to maintain a steady temp. all over the car. The stereo has 8 speakers
    instead of the 4 on the lower level car, and the rear seats recline as
    well as the front ones. I'll try to remember to report back in a few
    months...
    
    Cheers, Laurie$much_poorer!