I travel to Europe a lot for work, and read a lot of British car mags. I think some of the Top Gear criteria are overly harsh. Jeremy Clarkson, while highly entertaining, is very biased.

I think UK drivers are much more critical than US drivers of their cars. French cars are known to have rattles, and recent new models suffered from electronic issues. BUT, so did Mercedes C and E class, and BMW suffered due to iDrive hatred. It's not like you see Peugeot/Renault/Citroen cars broken down everywhere...'cause you don't. To be honest, when I'm in Britain, the car that is most often on the side of the road with the AA van behind it? The Land Rover Discovery!! One 60 drive from London to Cambridge on the M11 and I saw THREE of them broken down...NO JOKE!!!

As for not renting a car in France, you'll miss out on some of the nicest kept roads in the world (thanks to government taxes) and high speed limits. Honestly, Peugeot now has some of the nicest driving/handling cars on the road. As a 17 year old 405 Mi16 owner, I've always tried to get French cars as rentals when I travel. I've had 406 turbo diesels in the UK, a 307CC (folding hardtop convertible)in Nice last spring, and the odd 206. Peugeot's HDi turbo diesel is one of the BEST engines for Europe...fantastic torque and almost an 800 mile range per tank of diesel. (I wish Saab would bring the 150hp 1.9TiD to the States in the 9-3!)

You don't necessarily get a French car in France anyway...they rent Opels (Astras, Vectras and Merivas), VWs (Golfs, Polo's, etc.), etc.

Renting cars in Europe gives you a taste of what we're missing in the States!! And it makes you realize that the US is missing out on some really great cars (put me in a Peugeot 407 over a Buick LaCrosse or a Toyota Camry any day of the week!!!).

I say, rent away and enjoy!!!

Cheers,
Paul H.
'03 9-5 Aero wagon
'91 900TC
'89 Peugeot 405 Mi16





posted by 194.200.208...

• We're spoiled with regards to reliability., J, Thu, 3 Nov 2005 09:27:47
  • Renting in France... You can rent lots of things, Noel, Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:16:18
  • BBC Top Gear can be particularly harsh...., Paul H, Fri, 4 Nov 2005 09:16:37 <-- Viewing This Message
    • I almost bought a 405 Mi16, BrianG, Fri, 4 Nov 2005 11:28:30
  • Hmmm... some thinking about reader surveys, LeoNL, Thu, 3 Nov 2005 18:21:15
  • American cars in question not sold in US, awldune, Thu, 3 Nov 2005 14:33:56
    • And what's more..., LeoNL, Thu, 3 Nov 2005 18:27:45

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