Well, ok, it was actually a horse race track, and there was not a chance of this snazzy little number getting any kind of speedy action as I headed towards Chester Racecourse – and the inevitable traffic jam of cars in the city centre.
But when you have got an exclusive new model to parade around , you might as well head off to mingle with the hoi-polloi of Manchester and Cheshire.
As it happens, the demographic most likely to buy this new convertible were very much in evidence at the races – the young, professional and oh-so glamorous females wanting a bit of fun from their car.
It’s those car-buyers that, in part, made the 206CC Britain’s most popular convertible after its conception in 2001.
But now, like all good things, it’s come to an end. Peugeot, in its wisdom, will be replacing the 206CC with the 207CC.
The introduction of the new look model certainly irons out the odd design flaw of the original.
Clunking
For example, I recall a rather odd clunking noise from that folding roof mechanism when I test drove the 206CC a couple of years back. And I know many an owner who complained of continuing leakage problems with the roof of the car.
So the 207CC sets out to solve all these problems, and yet still appeal to that same market as the cute-as-a-button 206CC.
My problem, then, is this – it just ‘ain’t as cute-as-a-button as the 206CC.
As with many a new car, the 207 model has gone all big and bulbous at the front, although yes, it does mean there’s more space inside.
But I think that what made the 206CC such a winner, for us image-conscious ladies at least, was how adorable and dinky it looked – and it was quite unlike any of the other affordable convertibles that have flooded the market on the back of its success.
You can’t fault its quirky new design features, though.
Automatic
The roof is now fully automatic at the flick of a switch and it’s all done in about 20 seconds.
Lights flick on at the side of the car when you’re going round corners and the optional extras on the model I drove of a colour satellite navigation unit and even a fragrance diffuser (£2,070 for the package) were very much welcome.
I can’t help but wonder whether this new physique of the car is Peugeot’s attempt to appeal more to men though.
Certainly the interior has a more rugged, sporty look with the bare minimum of fussy details.
It was pretty pleasurable to drive as well, zipping from 0-60mph in 10.9 seconds, and feels a much more solid proposition than the 206CC.
I just can’t help feeling that with the 207CC there’s just a bit of that fun factor missing from the original.
Let’s just hope that this new souped-up, beefed-up 207CC doesn’t lose the ladies in its bid to woo the blokes.
What do you think? Have your say.
© Copyright 2008 Manchester Evening News. If you wish to use this article for commercial purposes please contact our syndication department.
