Automatic Vs Manual (Peugeot 307cc)

A9TNX

Hi all,

I'm looking to purchase a Peugeot 307cc and viewed one yesterday that seems great. it's 2007, 2.0L 16v 61,000 miles on the clock. Full service history, Electric folding wing mirrors, electric roof, Bluetooth sound system and alloy wheels, for £2,000 looks great condition and felt really nice to test drive...

The only ? for me is that it's an Automatic... Well Semi-Auto with sport setting.... I have nothing against driving them, but from searching online, it seems that the motoring community is divided...

The main points seem to be around:

Fuel consumption
Reliability
Maintenance Cost

Those who are pro-auto, often refer to that fact that newer Auto's have much better fuel consumption than older ones as they have more gears to use and these are selected at the best time. They also state that repairs are not much more than for manuals....

The trouble is, I don't know where this particular vehicle stands in terms of being 'newer' or 'older' and what it might be like in terms of reliability / repair costs Vs a standard manual 307cc...

Any advice would be very much appreciated :-)

DragonQ

Depends what kind of auto it is. If it's a DCT then it is basically a manual gearbox with two clutches and a computer doing the gear changes. This results in more optimal gear selection and much faster gear changes than a human could manage, hence improved fuel consumption compared to manuals. More traditional automatic transmissions with a torque converter are usually less efficient due to fluid coupling and having fewer gears.

Not really sure about reliability. I guess it's an extra thing to go wrong but that's also true of electrically folding door mirrors. Depends how you feel about potential repair costs down the road. It's probably worth searching for reliability figures for the particular engine you're after.

Personally I don't see myself buying a manual again. Unless you're really into driving and want full control on your joy rides, automatics are just far nicer to drive IMO.

A9TNX

Okay - Thanks for the info so far. How might I find out if it's a DCT? The only info I have at present is:
2007 Peugeot 307 CC 2.0 16v S (Sport) 2dr

AdrianC

It's not a double-clutch - PSA haven't used them.

It's unlikely to be a "traditional" automatic, either. It'll almost certainly be some variant on the basic concept of a manual box with electronics wrapped around it to automate the change - there've been several used over the years.

To be honest, if you're considering a 9yo 307 folding-tintop, then I'd guess you're not too easily scared by stories of electronic unreliability, so go with your opinion from test-driving it. I wouldn't get too hung up on official fuel consumption either way. Get a good one, it'll be reliable. Get a bad one, it'll be expensive. Do you feel lucky?

forgotmyname

Do they have any paperwork for servicing the gearbox?

daveyjp

Regardless of the gearbox, which will be an automated manual with a chequered history of reliability, also check absolutely everywhere for signs of water ingress.

Once these roofs start leaking plugging the leaks can prove impossible.

One of those cars to go and view when it is raining.

A9TNX

Hi all,

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Paperwork shows "Gearbox Repair" approx 5,000 miles ago at a nearby garage costing £700...

Not sure if that's a good sign it's been done recently or bad that it went wrong in the first place... Any thoughts?

Rain_Shadow

As an aside on the reliability of ageing 307s, my son has done about 25,000 miles in his 06 reg 307 hatch (1.6 petrol manual) and it has been very reliable indeed.


I know that doesn't address the auto or the possibility of leaking roof but thought I'd say it before too many of the 'don't buy French' brigade turned up.;)