Peugeot 207 CC 1.6 SportThe new 207cc means the identity crisis is over, writes Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor
There's sexism at play in the motor world. It's hardly a revelation that will shake you to the core, but one that continues to annoy me. You see, I have an aversion to simplistic stereotypes.
The most prominent one at present is generated by the anti-SUV lobby. The established stereotype is that all SUVs are gas-guzzling behemoths. That is the consensus opinion of the experts who fly halfway around the world to attend conferences eschewing the rising CO2 levels.
Another stereotype that's less prominent but no less galling is the idea that women choose their cars based on colour and cuteness. It's true that, just as the anti-SUV lobby can highlight Hummers as the epitome of gas guzzlers, there are women out there who seek out brightly coloured cars with large vanity mirrors. But also there are men who choose cars for the badge and what it says about their wallet.
For every stupid stereotype there's always some example out there that seemingly wets the wide brush used to tar the entire world.
Let's get one thing straight from the outset: there's no such thing as a "woman's car". Of course there are cars designed to accommodate the unique difficulties women face in the motoring world, from driving in stilettos to fiddling with tiny radio buttons without breaking their nails. Yet ask any car engineers and they'll tell you they take these issues into consideration on every car they put on the market.
What such simplistic stereotypes ignore is that there are plenty of women with more motoring knowledge than any pint-swilling boy racer and they could probably put them to shame on the racetrack as well. I've come across men who would happily choose a Micra over a Maserati and women who would trade in their Jimmy Choos for the chance to own a 911.
At the root of much of this stupid prejudice is the idea that women can't drive as well as men and that women should drive small cars and leave the real motors to men. Even the most occasional motorist will notice the flaws in this belief. Take for example the average "school-run mum" whose daily drive involves fighting through rush-hour traffic in the equivalent of a seven-seater minibus.
The stereotyping of male and female motorists came to mind recently when we collected the latest coupé cabriolet from Peugeot. The simple fact is that the previous 206cc was a firm favourite among female motorists. That can't be denied and by the very fact it was popular with women, it seemed to deter male motorists from owning one.
Admittedly, the male motoring world didn't miss out on much with the 206cc, a car that was never as good as its hatchback equivalent, and suffered several teething problems - particularly with the roof - in the early days.
Similarly with the rest of the first-generation hard-topped coupé cabriolets, many lost their potency due to the extra weight they were carrying in all those extra motors to fold and flip the metal cover. So, regardless of the reasons, their decisions to pass on these cars were probably right. If these were "women-only" motors then they were welcome to them.
The same, however, cannot be said of the 207cc. Here we have a car that's actually more fun to drive than its hatchback sibling.
True, it offers none of the family-friendly flexibility of the regular 207, with a back row of seats that are only suitable for luggage and a boot that's seriously compromised when the roof is down.
And yet, taking all these extra limitations into account, it actually fulfils some of the sports car criteria that supposedly appeal to the male motorist.
Peugeot was aware that the softer lines of the 206 range were judged to be a turn-off to many of the male petrolheads who adored the previous 205. In an attempt to win them back, the French marque opted for a new front-end look.
The end result is a front grille that wouldn't look out of place on the Warthog fighter plane. Where the 206 had a feline stare, the 207 positively snarls at passing traffic. It's overkill and looks out of place on a supermini.
The magic of this coupé cabriolet, however, is that while it weighs in at 1,352kg - over 120kg heavier than its hatchback equivalent - using the magic engineering prowess that undoubtedly exists within the Peugeot ranks, it feels a lot more nimble and precise. We can only surmise that the chassis engineers have done their work on the convertible. The end result is a suspension that feels slightly softer than its hatchback equivalent, while the steering feels more natural than its over-electric power steering system in the rest of the range.
That should come as no surprise when you consider that Peugeot's World Rally Championship car was actually based on the 307cc rather than the regular hatchback version. Peugeot engineers have spent a lot of time getting its CC versions just right.
Similarly with the engine: the 1.6-litre engine in the hatchback seems quite anaemic but this 120bhp version is far more potent. It is a little high revving, with quite a lot of engine noise in the lower gears, but it settles well into its stride on the motorways in fifth gear.
Some have compared the 207cc to a traditional sports car in the vintage of the old MG days, and in some ways they have a point. It fulfils all the criteria for "wind in the hair" motoring, even if it doesn't come close to capturing the sports car appeal of the likes of the Mazda MX-5.
The folding metal roof on the 207 seems a lot more adept than the previous 206 version and hopes are that Peugeot has learnt its lessons from the original. The old version also suffered from scuttle shake, when the air dipped into the back-seat well and played havoc with the car's aerodynamics, which impacted on its handling. This model showed no sign of this problem.
Inside, the plastics are of a good quality, though we didn't like the seating position and it took a while to get used to the big steering wheel and high-set dash. Set the seat at a height where you properly look out over the dash and you'll find you have to duck low when entering or exiting.
Another issue with entry and exit is that the windscreen and a-pillars stretch well back into the car. That's a plus when the roof is down as it means the wind doesn't freeze the top of your head, but you have to be careful you don't impale yourself on the A-pillar getting in and out.
Boot space is adequate for shopping, and even golf clubs with the roof up, but when all that metal is folded there's only really room for a briefcase or two. Then again, there's always those "back seats" to store luggage.
The 207cc specification is average, and the lack of air-conditioning is a pity as the manual temperature controls on our test car seemed very imprecise and with the roof up the cabin can get a little claustrophobic.
That feeling wasn't helped by the all-black interior trim in the test car. It had "Sport 1" specification - that includes leather seats - and it's nicely laid out, but our advice would be to go for a lighter interior trim, such as the brown leather and dash that's also available. It makes the car look more prestigious.
In terms of safety, the fact that ESP stability control is also only an option is nothing more than Peugeot keeping in line with its competitors. Few, if any, cars in this class come with ESP as standard and that's a pity when you consider the number of lives saved by stability control.
So, to the all-important question? Is this the one to buy? It certainly seems more substantial than many of its rivals in the supermini convertible market and in that regard it seems like better value for money. We would opt for the Peugeot over the likes of the Nissan Micra or Mitsubishi Colt, but there is an outsider in the ranks that would still win our hearts: the Mini Cooper convertible.
TRUE, IT ONLY HAS A canvas roof and doesn't match the 207 in terms of size or luggage ability, but for us it remains more fun to drive and has a higher "street cred" rating than the Peugeot.
Some male motorists may still cower away from owning the 207cc because of its popularity with females, but that says more about their own sexual insecurities than any issues with the car.
Where the CC loses its appeal for us is that, while it offers the best of both worlds in terms of open-top motoring and hard-top coupé, for €4,000 less you could have the 150bhp GT version of the 207 and for the same price you could buy a Mazda MX-5.
Yet if the two-format option of folding metal makes more sense to you, then it shouldn't be left to females to have all the fun.
ENGINE: 1598cc 16V petrol engine with five-speed manual gearbox offering 120bhp @ 6,000rpm and 160Nm of torque @ 4,250rpm.
SPECIFICATION: ABS with brake force distribution; Emergency Brake Assist; driver, passenger, thorax and driver knee airbag; electric roof; electric windows; radio/CD; 16" alloys
Sport 1 pack adds: carpet mats; aluminium pedals; aluminium coloured front grille; leather upholstery; white instrument dials.
Sport 2 (only special order) adds: ESP stability control; alarm, rear parking sensors, electric folding door mirrors, dual zone air-conditioning, 17" alloys and an MP3 compatible radio
L/100km (MPG)
Urban: 8.8 (32.1)
Extra urban: 5.3 (53.3)
Combined: 6.5 (43.5)
CO2 emissions: 155 g/km
Annual road tax: €391
Price: €28,150 (€26,350 to €31,590)