Peugeot 307 CC 2004 review

Sales of cute coupes are down in 2004. Even the mighty Holden Monaro isn't doing as well as it was in the early days.

But don't think that fashion-conscious shoppers have given up on their treats, because a newcomer with look-at-me attitude is always going to do well.

Drum roll, then, for the Peugeot 307CC. It has all the right stuff for a successful sales campaign in Australia, starting with a good-looking two-plus-two body and a starting price below $50,000.

Explore the 2004 Peugeot 307 range

• Peugeot 307 2004 review
• Peugeot 307 CC manual and auto 2004 Review
• Peugeot 307 CC 2004 review
• Peugeot 307 CC Dynamic 2004 review

The 307 is the second CC model from the French firm, which means it is a coupe and a convertible, complete with the same style of folding metal roof that's been a winner for Mercedes with its SL and SLK drop-tops.

The new 307 is a long way better than the baby 206, which suffered from oddball looks and a cramped and creaky cabin.

The first few boatloads of 307CCs already have deposit-paid owners waiting for the cars to be unloaded in Australia.

What they all want is a practical coupe-convertible car that is smartly priced and looks good.

Some shoppers might run the 307 up against the Mazda MX-5 SE on the convertible side of the business, or a funky Alfa 147 or affordable Hyundai Tiburon on the sports coupe side. But it is just as likely to be seen as a better-value alternative to a Saab 9-3 or Audi Cabriolet with the advantage of the metal roof.

There are two models in the 307CC range, the Dynamic and Sport, and the differences run to more than just the leather seats, alloy wheels and the rest of the finery in the Sport. There are two engine choices, the Dynamic with 100kW and the Sport with 130kW.

The CC is based on the mechanical package of the 307 hatchback, complete with a boot that runs as big as 350 litres before you fold the electro-hydraulically operated roof into it. There is even space for a full-sized spare tyre.

The body makes it a good-looking mid-sized coupe that sits in the same size class as the Holden Astra convertible, but the Peugeot is a little bigger and looks a whole lot roomier.

The roof goes up and down in less than 25 seconds.

The mechanical package is straightforward stuff, with fully independent suspension and anti-skid brakes, a choice of manual and automatic, and the 130kW four-cylinder coming with variable-valve timing.

Peugeot says the only major tuning change is re-calibration of the electro-hydraulic variable power steering.

Equipment is impressive. Even the Sport comes with twin airbags, electronic stability control, a trip computer, cruise control, electric windows and alloy wheels.

It's a good deal for a $49,990 starter price and, even if the Sport starts at $56,990, Peugeot is allowing buyers to mix-and-match from a long list of optional equipment.

On the road

We love the look of the 307CC. The design is very classy, right down to the cheese-grater effect over the tail-lights and a boot-release switch inside the zero in the 307 badge.

The car turns heads, always the best measure of a new coupe, and even more necks swivel when you fold the roof away.

But we had questions and doubts after the press preview of the CC. It felt pretty dozy, there were squeaks and rattles, and we wondered if the car was suffering from the same sort of problems as the earlier 206CC.

It is definitely not a zinger, but it was never intended to be a sports car. The 100kW engine is built for cruising, not sprinting, and will never make the car a rival for an MX-5 SE. Given the 1400kg-plus, even the 130kW motor won't be a standout.

But the 307CC is nice to drive, with a light gearbox and good steering, reasonable grip in corners – it's best to glide, not attack a turn – and a smooth ride.

It feels tight as a coupe and folding the roof away doesn't kill the enjoyment. You can feel the difference, with vibrations coming through your feet and wobbling the sunvisors, but it's not as if it has a hinge in the middle.

The coupe-to-convertible conversion also brings a change in suspension and cornering feel because the weight of the steel roof moves to the tail. It takes some adjustment, but it's not nasty. The only nasty noise in the test car was a flapping sound with the top down, which was corrected by clipping the seat belt.

The front seats are terrific, particularly with the partial leather trim, part of a deal that added parking radar and metallic paint to the test car for a price of $54,440.

The back seats are cramped, but you'd expect that.

The CC is hard to park, even with the top down, because the body falls away dramatically at each end. We would definitely invest in radar.

We'd also have liked more go, even for cruiser use, because the CC takes too long to wind up for overtaking and needs encouragement on the five-speed lever to get up hills and through corners.

We enjoyed our time with the 307CC and expect it to do well in Australia. It will put some sizzle back into the coupe scene and give more people the chance to enjoy a practical convertible at a relatively affordable price.

The bottom line

A sweet newcomer with the right combination of sunshine fun and good looks at a nice price.