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Week at the Wheel: Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.

Week at the Wheel: Peugeot 207 CC
The CC version of Peugeot's 207 proves to be the pick of the range - regardless of your career choice or sexual persuasion.

   



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| Week at the Wheel | Peugeot 207 CC |

Inside & Out: star star star star star

Great trousers, those hot pants. Gone to the hairdresser's party. Given to the haute persuasion. Girlfriend, that thing's hip - pow!

These are just a few of the phrases that the 'GT THP' part of this Peugeot 207 convertible's name could be an acronym of. Obviously we'd never perpetuate offensive stereotypes, so they're purely ironic and we didn't laugh once while we were making them up. The point is that, no matter how open-minded and contemporary you are, Peugeot's small convertible is absolutely synonymous with a certain type of motoring.

And that's a real shame, because we think the CC is the best variant of the 207 range. Where the standard hatchback is an also-ran supermini in a talented segment, and the SW estate is useful but dull, the CC makes perfectly bizarre sense. It's completely impractical because it has no boot space to speak of and the rear seats are useless; it's compromised as a driver's car because the folding metal roof makes it so lardy; and it's quite expensive. But it's still, somehow, an appealing little mite.

The gaping-mouthed styling of the 207 suits the CC treatment well, giving the car a far more aggressive, stylish gait than its 206-based predecessor. The roof is of major interest, obviously, which, despite being a development of the mechanism in the 206 CC, is both quicker and easier to use. Fully electric, the whole opening/closing operation is done with in 25 seconds.

Engine & Transmission: star star star star star

You can have three engines in the CC, all of a sportier persuasion: an HDI 110 diesel, a 1.6-litre petrol unit with 120bhp and the 150bhp THP engine of our test car topping the range. The 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol option is punchy in the mid range, but always feels blighted by the weight of the car, and if you want to wring the best from it you'll need to be changing gears quite frequently. Having only five cogs on the manual gearbox (and four on the auto) makes it feel a little outmoded, and as you might expect, it could do with a sixth - which would aid economy and make it a more settled cruiser. It could do with more solidity in the change from cog-to-cog too.

Its fifth gear acceleration is impressive (8.6 seconds from 50-75mph compared to 16.2 seconds for the non-turbo petrol), though reaching for a non-existent sixth gear is easily done. You'll also struggle to match the 39.2mpg combined economy figure; in the real world, these THP engines are quite thirsty in our experience. Still, its 8.6-second 0-62mph sprint time tells you it's no slouch.

Ride & Handling: star star star star star

You know, it's not as inept as you might expect. It's set up on the side of sponginess so that it doesn't shake your medallion off its hairy perch, and it also vibrates a little with the roof down, but it's also a very decent thing to drive enthusiastically. In fact, during a long drive from Scotland to Newcastle we were chased by a man in an Audi RS4 for miles. Sure, he was probably toying with the CC like a cat playing with a slightly effeminate mouse, but it was well over an hour before he saw fit to overtake. That's testament to the surprising amount of fun that can be had in the CC - and its cornering ability.

The CC is also good at keeping noise at bay with the roof up, although why would you want to have the roof up? How are you supposed to jump directly into the driver's seat like The Fonz then?

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money: star star star star star

Peugeot has made the wise decision to make all the versions racy, so the two trim levels are Sport and GT and neither of them feature plastic wheel trims or wind-down windows. Inside, the option of trimming some of the surfaces in interesting palettes lifts the ambience no end. It's a fancy, well specced, but otherwise unchanged 207 hatchback interior, basically - apart from lowered seats to create a sportier vibe.

From a driving perspective the GT THP is the one to go for, but it's questionable that someone whose highest priority is driving dynamics will be sniffing about the 207 CC in the first place - so to be honest we'd prompt a look at the diesels first. They're a bit grumbly, sure, but if it's the combo of open air and image you're after, why not do it with 56.4mpg? A diesel in GT spec will cost £200 more than the £19,045 the THP petrol commands. That's expensive, yes, but consider that a VW Eos prices start where the 207 GT's ends. The German is a bigger car, sure, but how many of these things are used for anything other than transport for one or two carrying nothing but a Louis Vuitton wash bag?

Overall: star star star star star

We like the 207 CC far more than we thought we would. Where the 206 CC was small, cramped and obviously compromised, the 207 feels spacious (from the front), looks great and is surprisingly entertaining behind the wheel. It rides well too, and is a great way to enjoy the UK's four days per year of sun without spending too much money. Don't expect the boot or back seats to work too hard and you'll find plenty to like here. In fact, until the tasty RCZ coupé arrives, not much in Peugeot's portfolio is as alluring as this.

Mark Nichol - 25 Nov 2009



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2009 Peugeot 207 CC specifications: (GT THP 150)
Price: £19,045 on-the-road.
0-62mph: 8.6 seconds
Top speed: 129mph
Combined economy: 39.2mpg
Emissions: 171g/km
Kerb weight: 1485kg

2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.

2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.



2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.
 

2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.
 

2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.
 

2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.
 

2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.
 

2009 Peugeot 207 CC. Image by Peugeot.
 






 

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