Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Sir Tigger KC]

Despite the antipathy displayed here towards French cars (generally speaking) I don't think they're that bad and have had several good'uns over the years.  Notably my first car a Renualt 5 GTL and recently a Peugeot 406 estate.    I might be in need of a cheap workhorse estate soon and a Laguna or another 406 will be on the list. 

The French obviously like them as around 80% of the cars on the road in France are Renault's, Peugeot's and Citroen's.  Which suggests 3 things to me:

1) The French are patriotic and buy French products even if they're crap. 

2) Cars manufactured and sold in France are subsidised by the government and are much cheaper in the showroom than imported cars.  Surely illegal?     Gallic Shrug? 

3) French cars are good products, sold at a competitive price. 

But the thing is, back in the day were British Leyland's cars much worse than the French counterparts?  Or was the demise of the homegrown British car industry down to the lack of government support, whereas the French government continued to support it's car industry. 

Now I'm no fan of government intervention in business and industry, but driving around Brittany recently I can't help wondering why we're not driving around in Rover's, Austin's and Morris's like the French drive around in their homegrown products.   

[mka306]

I'm half way through training to be a driving instructor and my choice of franchise is either the AA or BSM, I'm looking at BSM as the rates and fees are that much better than the AA but the car you get is the Peugeot 208 5 door active 1.2 petrol. After reading reviews they are overall a pretty sound car so I won't let the car put me off the franchise, the car is changed for new every year but by all accounts it still needs to perform, but I feel more than happy to go with the French motor.

[Varche]

Patriotism.

My view is that from experience Europeans excluding Brits are very patriotic. i.e. they buy their own stuff. Here in Spain SEATs rule. They do of course have BMW's and Mercedes as they don't make those. The locals are quite incredulous when you say we in Britain make very fine cheese . If you do , how come it isn't for sale on our supermarket shelves they say? I know the Spanish have a buy Spanish campaign on at the moment for things like electrical goods.

Supporting home team or home driver. It goes without saying that a Spaniard wouldn't dream of not supporting Sainz or Alonso in F1. Yet many Brits support Vettel , Senna, Schumacher etc on talent and not nationality.

The French are the same.

I think mass tourism changed Britain. We went away to exotic places and came back and wanted to eat exotic food. Hence the supermarkets being full of foreign produce. I think we are the same when it comes to buying cars, fridges etc. We really don't care so long as the price is right.

[Gaffers]

just wait until something goes wrong

[STEMO]

Broken record mode on/ my wife's Megan's coupe has been faultless for five years.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Broken record mode on/ my wife's Megan's coupe has been faultless for five years.

Personally I would  prefer a French built car to a German car. They may be poorly screwed together and unreliable but at least they have 'soul'

The same goes for Italian cars. Give me Italian brio and zest for life over German thoroughness any day.

Think about this and then apply the analogy to cars.

Who makes the best lovers?

The French, the Italians, or  ze Germans?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Despite the antipathy displayed here towards French cars (generally speaking) I don't think they're that bad and have had several good'uns over the years.  Notably my first car a Renualt 5 GTL and recently a Peugeot 406 estate.    I might be in need of a cheap workhorse estate soon and a Laguna or another 406 will be on the list. 

The French obviously like them as around 80% of the cars on the road in France are Renault's, Peugeot's and Citroen's.  Which suggests 3 things to me:

1) The French are patriotic and buy French products even if they're crap. 

2) Cars manufactured and sold in France are subsidised by the government and are much cheaper in the showroom than imported cars.  Surely illegal?     Gallic Shrug? 

3) French cars are good products, sold at a competitive price. 

But the thing is, back in the day were British Leyland's cars much worse than the French counterparts?  Or was the demise of the homegrown British car industry down to the lack of government support, whereas the French government continued to support it's car industry. 

Now I'm no fan of government intervention in business and industry, but driving around Brittany recently I can't help wondering why we're not driving around in Rover's, Austin's and Morris's like the French drive around in their homegrown products. 

BL made some magnificent cars in the seventies. Automotive porn loving put together by a professional and focused workforce.

Even today the 'technically advanced' Marina and All-aggro could hold their own with many modern cars.

[05omegav6]

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

[STEMO]

Never owned a marina or allegro, but did own the exciting Austin 1100 and maxi 1500.

Jeez......

[Sir Tigger KC]

just wait until something goes wrong

Kinda my point though Guff, the ones I've had didn't go wrong. 

Apart from a Renault 19 diesel, where the cambelt went, but that was down to lack of operator intervention!   

[mka306]

Most cars will be reliable if people just do the simple things like a more regular service, cambelt changes a little earlier than recommended ect, this sees most cars what ever the make have a long and generally hassle free life, as with everything though there will always be a bad one in the batch that has all known faults which in turn makes everyone else think they are a load of rubbish, bit short sighted in my mind so I make my own mind up on any car I buy.

[STEMO]

Most cars will be reliable if people just do the simple things like a more regular service, cambelt changes a little earlier than recommended ect, this sees most cars what ever the make have a long and generally hassle free life, as with everything though there will always be a bad one in the batch that has all known faults which in turn makes everyone else think they are a load of rubbish, bit short sighted in my mind so I make my own mind up on any car I buy.

Spot on.

[Sir Tigger KC]

just wait until something goes wrong

A bit of investigation shows that the French government have a 19.73% holding in Renault, which in turn owns 44% of Nissan which makes your Milk Float practically French!   

Hope it dosn't go wrong!!   

[STEMO]

just wait until something goes wrong

A bit of investigation shows that the French government have a 19.73% holding in Renault, which in turn owns 44% of Nissan which makes your Milk Float practically French!   

Hope it dosn't go wrong!!   

What's to go wrong? It's only a giant radio controlled model car. Battery, electric motor, wheels.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Meanwhile, back in the real world...

The original XJ6/12 could have been a world beater with more love and attention.

Great car with piss poor attention to detail.