Peugeot 608: Could Peugeot Challenge BMW If They Were Sold In The USA?

You're joking, right? Peugeot's image in the U.S., at least among us who can remember Peugeot, is that of a French Volvo. The Peugeot 608 might very well be all you claim, but changing that staid image will take a long time.

— Audiphile (View Profile)

Posted on 6/16/2008 10:03:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Agent001, what's with all the Peugeot stuff? Interesting, considering no posts here regarding Le Mans.

— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 6/16/2008 10:32:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Peugeot has great diesel engines. Now is the time to make a comeback. Marketingwise.

— woood (View Profile)

Posted on 6/16/2008 10:36:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

I dont trust the reliability of Peugeot. There have been a couple of nightmare stories about them and a relative of mine rented a new 307 for about a month. It had a transmission failure.

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 6/16/2008 10:51:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I like the look of this car, want to see it in person to really get a sense of the presence I think it has. Peugeot would be a great addition to American soil again, they truly have some cars that simply don't look like everything else on the roads.

-00J

— Agent00J (View Profile)

Posted on 6/16/2008 11:03:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

With a nose like that i would rather drive a Scion xA.

— Rennsport (View Profile)

Posted on 6/16/2008 11:46:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Peugeot and BMW are not exactly close rivals.

Especially when you consider Peugeot does not make many large cars, their 407 (their largest mass-seller) is squarely aimed at the Mondeo crowd, while the 607, although a bigger car, was seen as a cheaper 5-series rival but missed the mark completely.

It sold in low numbers, even in Europe, due to the fact no one wants a large French car. The French do small cars very well, but in recent times their larger efforts have not seen much sales success, and only moderate critical acclaim.

The Renault Val Satis, Avantime, Peugeot 607 and Citroen C6 have always been seen as 'left-field', often characterised by daring styling, supremely comfortable to drive but not exactly dynamically well-endowed.

Perhaps this suits the typical American buyer better than the average European? Although I can't see many Americans warming to the daring designs of the French.

I guess the Peugeot 607 could be compared to the Volvo S80, although you'd never hear 001 call the S80 a BMW rival, even though its a great car.

So this entire thread puzzles me. How can you make a claim like in the title with no actual experience with the cars in question, just a rough-guess photoshop image and some hazy journalistic licence?

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 12:06:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

And just to note, I love French cars, however I can just see them put up to the ridiculous scrutiny and close-mindedness of many a Autospies reader, so I can assume my voice will be a lone one.

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 12:11:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

woo thats a sexy Peugeot
PUEGEOT POWER!
lmaooo

— eric452 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 1:03:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

many Americans know what peugoet is
since they are from South America, Europe, Asia and middle east!
where Peugeot's are sold.

— eric452 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 1:06:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Are these the knowledgeable Autospies readers you talk about, 001? These obvious trolls?

Ban him, and perhaps he can find a new direction in life.

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 4:03:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

They are very much in business and doing very well in the volume sector around the world. Just go to Africa or the Middle East to see tons of them. They are actually quite reliable and very solid cars. Crawl out of your hole already.

— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 6:53:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

In Europe Peugeot is seen as a Ford or Volkswagen rival, infact VW would have a much higher brand cache here than Peugeot would. They are making some nice products at the moment, but i can't see this 608 selling any better than any other large French car here in Europe, and will largely be seen as nothing more than a rival to the Citroën C6.

— Kinger (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 4:41:41 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The 607 was only bought by taxi drivers and the French government - nobody else wants a big non-premium French car. This 608 is more of a Camry rival in the US, but we don't get any large non-premium cars in Europe (bar this and the C6). Plus Peugeot's reliability isn't that great, lots of electrical problems.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 6:11:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Just because something's European doesn't make it a BMW rival. Citroen, Renault, Peugeot, VW, Seat, Fiat, Skoda...they don't rival BMW, they're cheap, mass market cars. Some are good, some aren't, and many have no place in the US market as you would find them slow, small and far too fuel efficient.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 6:16:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

bmw has spent years and millions to make everyone believe its the "ultimate driving machine" whether it is or isnt can be debated, but i don't its possible for a company like Peugeot to make an impact of the American market that quickly.

i do agree that alot of their designs are great

— DROOPYSAKK (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 8:15:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Every "next" big Peugeot has been touted as "finally" being able to rival the premium makes - and they never do. This one will be no different - another slow selling big French car. From what we can see from this picture, it at least looks good, with the MAJOR exception of the hideous front end, which rivals only the ugliness of other current Peugeots.

Now this is all coming from someone who has always, or at least until recently, loved Peugeots. I loved the big old 504's and the later 505's, and even the 604's, plus all the great small models like the 205's and 405's and 406's. Even the 607 was nice looking, but bland. French cars were different than their German counterparts - they rode really softly and I never sat in a seat more comfortable than a Peugeot's 505's.

If they brought this over and priced it against a BMW, they'd sell 10 cars. Someone put it best - at least here in the US, they're probably thought of as French Volvos, which is no bad thing. Regardless, I don't think this would sell.

— Hachee2001 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 8:44:11 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

5 series competitor? With those engine choices??? One Word... LAME!!!

— DexDiamonds (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 8:56:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Peugeot is certainly not a BMW competitor but I would surely pick one over the Toyotas or Hondas sold in US.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 10:07:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Peugeot is closer to VW.

— MZauto (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 11:59:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I've always loved French cars. There has always been an element of quirkiness to them. Also they ride exceptionaly well. All cars today are better made then they were 25 yrs ago. The market demands it.Peugeot should come back to the US but with small economical cars first to compete with VW and Mini etc.I also hope the Citroen returns. I would love a C6!

— mini22 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 12:08:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Peugeot DOES make the '07 to present MINI COOPER turbo charged engine for BMW and it is sweet. Rivals? never.

— BimmerFan (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 2:15:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

BMW has legions of marketing geniuses to overcharge for their products... don't know if Peugeot's marketing would be as skillful :)

— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 4:30:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hope the 608 has better performance than the 2003 607, that car's 0-60 and mileage numbers were definitely less than impressive.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/17/2008 11:56:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Star,
No, I'm sure he was referring to BMW.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 12:01:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Agent001- Peugeot 608: Could Peugeot Challenge BMW If They Were Sold In The USA? That is not the title of the article I just read. Agent001, are you insane? It was asking if Peugeot's interiors can compete with BMW, etc... Did anyone else happen to notice this?

— stevenv1999 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/18/2008 1:31:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Other than the behemoth sized badges they're nice cars. I had the 1.9gti back in the 80's smoking car. They may to have to rebadge for the US market as the french here are not exactly popular a bit like Renault's Nissan relationship!

— dr1v3r (View Profile)

Posted on 6/19/2008 1:53:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1