Daughter has an electric 2008 and son a petrol 208.

As a long term owner of Peugeot and Citroen vehicles myself I think the 'French Car' reliability thing is massively over done. Not fault free of course but 2 got well beyond 100k miles before having issues. After that one was clutch the other a fuel injector.

As regards the wet belt engine the issue and symptoms are well covered on the 'net.

Thoughts? Any of you own a 2008?

At least one (though I think it is actually his wife's) and he is constantly singing its praises!. That is the last of the previous shape as opposed to the current one (mechanically the same though)

Is it new?, if not, how old is it?

If new or nearly new, you will have a warranty or part of a warranty to fall back on if the worst comes to the worst (not that I think it would). Otherwise, well yes the 1.2 Puretech did have some issues early on surrounding the "wet belt". But anything from within the last 4 or 5 years should be fine. Gearbox wise, no problems, it is a reliable torque converter auto which personally I'd have a lot more faith in than the DCT types favoured by most makes (and the old automated manuals Peugeot used in the past)

I also wouldn't pay much attention to folk making comments about it, it's your car, and you love it.

Thats all that matters!

Edited by badbusdriver on 24/03/2024 at 18:15

Having said that, I'm still dealing with comments like - 'what, you bought a French car? You're crazy.....' Am I simply in denial, or are reliability/quality issues still an issue with French cars.

It's a common form of prejudice or auto-racism, usually from the kind of person who says 'I had a French car once, a load of junk, I'll never have another'. Others will only consider German cars, some are happy in a Golf or a Passat but will not be seen dead in a Skoda, quite likely the same thing under the skin.

French cars have a reputation for electrical problems, but having owned about 75% Peugeots for the last 40 years I haven't experienced any snags except some caused by old age. Just base your opinions on your own experience, not other people's. And remember that some of those opinions are often based on a statistical sample of one. There have always been 'Friday' cars from all makers.

Since about 2022 1.2 has been a cam chain so no belt issue - avoid long life oil intervals though. Gearbox is torque converter auto - so all good!

www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/188362/what-are-...e-

My partners Captur with the 1.3 engine has been mechanically faultless and apart from the occasional infotainment screen freezing it has changed my opinion of French cars. I would happily buy one.

How things have changed since Honest John almost caused a diplomatic incident in Bali for the launch of the Megane mk1 , when asked by the French Ambassador s wife, who was aware he was a motoring journalist , what he thought of French cars .

I think the anti French car thing is overdone. Brother in Law has a 2015 Scenic and it's been fine. You see lots of old Citroen's etc around but still they have a stigma.