| First Drive | Hertfordshire, England | PGO Cevennes |

Classic cars might be beautiful, but for all but the most dedicated motorist they can be a nightmare to maintain and drive. The obvious solution is to have a classic looking car with modern underpinnings. PGO's Cevennes is exactly that: a Porsche 356 Speedster aping shape that uses Peugeot mechanicals to deliver a usable, enjoyable 'classic' driving experience.

In the Metal

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then Porsche should be very flattered indeed. The Cevennes' shape, with the exception of a few details, echoes the iconic 356 Speedster. The flush fitted lights add a touch of modernity to the Cevennes' nose, though the air intakes at the front and under the doors upset the purity of the original's lines. The replica is not unattractive though, just different, the overall effect representing an up-to-date representation of a classic shape. If you prefer cleaner, less fussy lines then PGO also offer the Speedster II, which does without the scoops and vents of the Cevennes.

The interior follows the exterior's classic and contemporary mix. The red leather covered seats and dash top are a real retro nod, but modern backlit instrumentation and controls underline that this is a car built now rather than 50 years ago. Some of the pieces are recognisably Peugeot sourced - hardly surprising given PGO's choice of a Peugeot 2.0-litre engine to power the Cevennes.

What you get for your Money

The Cevennes might look like classic but underneath those retro lines lies a rather modern structure. The chassis is a multi-tubular assembly - which has been crash tested - while the powertrain is borrowed from Peugeot. Like the car its shape echoes the PGO is a powered by a four-cylinder engine, but it's an in-line rather than a boxer unit. It's 2.0-litres in capacity and delivers 138bhp to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The interior underlines the Cevennes' modernity with the door windows and mirrors being electrically operated, and there's decent ventilation - including air conditioning - and heating. Add central locking and a CD/MP3 player and the Cevennes has everything you could possibly need. It's not that cheap though at just £1 shy of £30k. That is rather too close to the Porsche Boxster for comfort.

Driving it

Turning the key in the PGO is either disappointing or brilliant depending on your viewpoint. If you're used to classics then the tangible relief that something has actually happened with that key turn will fill you with joy, but if you're after a rousing tuneful engine note you'll be left wanting. Peugeot's 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit was never the most characterful powerplant in its 206 GTI installation and it's lacking in charisma in the Cevennes too. The engine note is a bit flat and 138bhp is hardly in the big league for output. It's not shifting too much weight though, the Cevennes weighing in at only 980kg.

That low weight allows the 2.0-litre unit to power the pretty little roadster to 62mph in 6.8 seconds and onto a 124mph maximum. Wind noise over anything else will reign in your enthusiasm for high speed runs, but there's no denying that the Cevennes is a very enjoyable car to drive. The gearshift is a little imprecise, but get it right and the Cevennes accelerates with vigour through the gears. Where it really excels though is in ride and handling. The steering is unassisted and although it's a touch heavy at parking speeds it's full of feel and nicely accurate on the move.

Grip levels are high too, the front turning in faithfully while the rear can be coaxed out under power if you're feeling brave in the wet. It all feels very controllable and stable, the feedback it gives goading you to push it harder and harder. Riding well despite its 17-inch alloy wheels, the Cevennes' agility and control impresses, though the uninspiring engine does little for the overall package - we can't help thinking that a Subaru flat-four engine would give the Cevennes the fire under its engine cover that the chassis clearly deserves.

Worth Noting

Given its light weight and relatively unstressed engine it's surprising that the Cevennes doesn't return even more impressive consumption figures than its quoted 34mpg. Being a roadster styled in the shape of an older model the hood feels a touch rudimentary and severely limits your view out when raised too.

Summary

PGO's Cevennes is an enjoyable alternative to the norm for those who dare to be different. Being a little bit individual doesn't come cheap though - the PGO's £30,000 price tag is a touch hard to swallow when there are so many impressive alternatives from mainstream makers out there for less. Mazda's MX-5 will provide all the driving thrills and more with greater comfort for significantly less money. PGO's Speedster II is also the prettier of the two models the company offers, doing without the air scoops and showy trim of the Cevennes. The Peugeot unit powering both lets the overall package down as underneath those old lines is a very enjoyable chassis begging for a more inspired choice of powerplant.