I've got a pony !

That's more like it!!

Does it come with a trap?

Let's ask someone who knows...

This thread has just improved 100%!

Following on from the "barbaric" thread... think peppercorn and red wine sauce...

Another Ford Maverick XLT driver here ... :-)
Had a silver 2002 Escape back in the states and loved it very much ...
Moved over here and got almost the same model again, only in black (that is what is called "customer loyalty", eh?). My wife likes it maybe even more then I do ... Probably due to the higher seating position as well.
Just to clarify - over here in Europe - if the vehicle is automatic (that is what we got), that means it is the bigger V6 / 3L engine. If it is a stick-shift, then it is the smaller (and more economical) 2.0 or 2.3 L engine. Unfortunately, they never imported the smaller engine combined with automatic. I would take that for sure ... Not even thinking of diesel, eh?
Too bad they never brought over the new 2008 model version. Not bad at all. The sibling vehicle sold in the states as well as in Europe is called Mazda Tribute Or Mercury Mariner (in the US only).

I have a VW Transporter (used for camping) but I am considering changing to a peugeot 207 cc (as I don't camp anymore and want something fun to drive).
I am thinking about getting the diesel version as I like diesel, I think it is more reliable than petrol and definately more economical... Thoughts anyone ? Anyone have good or bad experiences with the 207 cc ?
Regarding leasing, I am thinking about buying but with paying in large monthly installments (want to fully pay the car in a few months without touching my savings). I get 5% on my savings in Euroland so I think borrowing against a pretty low rate (also tax deductable) makes sense... though I am not a financial genius..?

Thanks for any advice

Jeep Wrangler, soon to be a Maserati

Well, diesel is definitely more economical - but you need to drive lots of kms to make up for the price difference (roughly some 20-30.000 / year). Also - as diesels are bigger (in displacement), bigger annual road tax applies.
As far as reliability - on a new car there is no difference - as there is some 2 years warranty anyhow ... It makes a difference after some 100.000 kms. And then - the diesels tends to be more in maintenance need then the petrol engines.
Overall - as Peugeot is a French car, I would try to search a bit more on the reliability issue. Check out the UK website "www.whatcar.co.uk" - might give you some useful hints as well.
In any case - good luck and enjoy the ride. :-)
Honza

Mine is the 2.3 16V so not a fuel eater

Me too! (cockney for 25 pounds).

I've been seeing a lot of Mazda Tributes lately - they're pretty much exactly the same vehicle. I guess they didn't import the 2008 model because Ford Europe introduced the Euro-developed "Kuga" which isn't half as popular as the Maverick (which is one of the most popular American-made cars in Europe) in 2008. That's probably because it was designed in Japan, I suppose :-)

Yes, the V6 / 3L version is a fuel-guzzler (well, on the highway I get about 9.1l / 100km out of it, which isn't THAT bad for a car that size) but that engine is a dream. It makes the automatic version extremely responsive. It's also rather quiet for an SUV engine.

Peter

yup, the 2.3l is pretty decent in terms of fuel-consumption.

Yeap, that is the case - no Maverick anymore, cuz Kuga is here now. I test-drove it not too long ago (2.0L Diesel + Manual tranny) and have to confess - not bad at all. Actually - for the same $$$ as the Maverick (when new), I would go for Kuga instead. However, I think the cargo space is not as spacious as Maverick's is.
Yes, the Maverick / Tribute siblings were actually designed by Mazda and their release in 2000 was a bit postponed due to Ford-ization of it ... Nevertheless, the vehicle is very well balanced and sits quite well on the road. I drove a Kia Sorento a few weeks ago as well - not as good as the Maverick (for the road holding).

9.1L/100 km - how did you get that? That is awesome. I get some 10.4L at the best (normally driving between 110 - 120 km/h on the highway), overall average for 2008 was some 11.8 L/100 km. So I guess your foot is a very light one, Peter. Congratulations. :-)
The engine - only have to confirm - very quet, very responsive (even with the automatic). The vehicle is, in my opinion, very good package. Nothing super special, just very well balanced.
I have not seen much of Mavericks in Europe, but many many of them here in CH. That is an interesting fact.

Well, I had the fuel consumption calculated after driving from Basel to the Lake of Constance area on a Saturday morning. Not much traffic - so I guess this wasn't under "real life conditions". What I did find surprising, though, is that the Maverick actually doesn't use more than Ford claims it uses. Which can't be said for some other cars (like our Smart: supposedly uses 4.1l /100km. In real life, it used 5.8 l when shifting manually and some 7l in automatic mode - which is horribly inefficient for such a small car and engine...)

Peter

I have been driving around in a modified Nissan S14 for the last few months but with my ride height I have buggered the bumper on underground parking lots. Furthermore with the draconian laws in this country there will be no chance to register it here.

So got something more practical, a V8 S4 Avant. Wanted an E39 M5 but could not find one with a folding rear seat. The M5 was a better drive but lets see how I get along with the S4. Will I end up selling it for something rear wheel drive or will the practicality and go anywhere ability win out. Will find out on Sat.

Hope to take it out for a spin on the Nür Ring to see how it does. My guess, understeer a plenty.

That's what I heared - the V8 is pretty heavy on the front axle. The new S4 is supposed to be more balanced, but it doesn't have the V8 sound anymore....

I test drove an S5 with the same V8 recently and liked it a lot - great engine! Just the consumption is a bit of a concern for me.

But you got to the page 4 to read it and make your comment raincookie :-). I think it is a great (superficial, I agree) thread! Perhaps just because it is refreshing after so many sad threads (with all due respect to them) about the financial crisis, unemployment, the end of the world, etc....

Just another reason not to have "blinged-up hub-caps":

Cheating husband caught on Google street view