interesting but RUBBISH!!! my sister owned one for about 6 months. it spent over 5 of those months with the dealer getting repaired so they offered her a deal on another car instead (Mercedes) which she has had no issues with as far as im aware!
@@petelattimer6808 That's atrocious! And here I was thinking the days of truly bad cars* were long gone... *ironically I would rather find a car from the 1969 model lineup than today's.
Bought a Red Carbon edition in August 22. Mint condition and purs like a kitten. Such a beautiful car and a real head turner. Buy one and enjoy the experience
Yes I owned a TT which just felt dull & let's face it are so common nobody gives them a second look, also after a long journey all i wanted to do was park it up and walk away. The RCZ always interested me and I seen a lovely black one in a local dealership had a look but then was told it was a diesel so turned my nose up & didn't test drive it. Then i seen a video with Anthony Davidson you know the F1 driver & WEC World Sports Car Championship & he said he owned a Diesel RCZ and that it had lots of torque and was excellent. He did a timed lap and yeah it resparked my interest. So I went back test drove it and i bloody loved it so much I bought it then and THERE. I've now owned 2 diesel RCZ's and it's the best cars I've ever owned. Some interesting facts... at Magny Stear when the RCZ was in production it was built alongside the Aston Martin Rapide and Mercedes G Wagon also there are videos on line of Vicky Butler-Henderson demolishing the very last 4-wheel drive TT model (on a wet track) beating it by more than a couple of seconds in an RCZ-R also a video of a RCZ-R at a Dutch track that is timed against a new Porsche Boxster and is unbelievabley beaten by only a few tenths (less than a second) So the moral of this story is ignore the naysayers because you might be a little bit surprised & even today people still stop & look at this little French wonder.
That's Magna Steyr. You butchered it so much that I couldn't scroll past without commenting. As for the car, it looks so much exotic than a TT. With minor cosmetic mods, it can look so good!
ive owned loads of cars over the years and have a gt200 which has been modded a little and its honeslty one of the best cars to drive its great fun. brakes are nuts. has so much grip it bends space when you go through the bends. park it up and it even designed in 2007 and 13 years on it always gets looked at and people ask about it all the time. yes a low production car which has had a few issues under warranty but who cares its just awesome
My brother had a facelift RCZ 156 for a few years. It was relatively cheap, really well equipped, and generally a really lovely little pocket GT. I thought it was pretty good looking as well. In the best way it was a "Cheap TT", in the way an MX-5 is a cheap sportscar. It's a shame it didn't sell, and I suspect it's badge-snobbery. Put an Audi badge on it, and it would still be selling today. Put a Peugeot badge on a TT and that would've gone the same way as the RCZ.
Nice balanced review, enjoyed watching. There are circa 300 RCZR's in the UK, it is a totally different beast to the 156/200 as it has not only circa 270bhp but also chassis, bodywork, geo/handling, wheel/brake and engine enhancements etc.. The interior feels and looks more bespoke too. Get a drive of one if you can as some of the negatives you had with regards to the Z beinga 'sports' car on the lesser powered models have been addressed and engineered into the R's DNA as it is a focused, fast and fun car to drive.
I have a red RCZ HDi diesel with black roof rails & smokey grey alloys, it looks a million dollars (in my eyes) & pulls like a train. Easily out dragging the less powerful 1.6 petrol-engined cars. I drive it hard & still get around 40-45mpg. It's a fun car to own & the diesels have the best reputation for reliability. The only downside is the hard ride with 19-inch wheels & 35 profile tyres, but it corners like it's on rails.
The heavy diesel version Never out powered or out performed the 1.6 Thp models.at all ( You having a Laugh.😆) The old 20L diesel lump killed the handling Way to heavy & slow.. lets be honest puting a diesel motor In a Sports Coupe is a joke
I remember this being the first Peugeot I actually liked in some years when it cam out. A red one used to live near me and I actually really liked the way it looked, much different to most other cars on the road.
I love driving this car. Really good semi-sports car for beginners because it feels incredibly stable through turns while providing great feedback. Also ridiculously cheap for what it is.
Mass flashback to 1980s Top Gear, commentary, shots, weather, everything......and I'm fine with that! No irrelevant narrative, story, comments about co-hosts etc, etc, etc. Keep it up
A lot of new cars look great when they first appear but after a couple of years, they lose their impact on you. Not so for the RCZ for me. I thought they looked stunning when they first came out and they still do it for me after all this time. I finally bought one 3 yrs ago and still own and love it as much as when I first bought it. In fact, if I ever have to replace it for whatever reason, I'd definitely buy another. The best car I've ever owned or driven (and I've had quite a few in my time).
Comparing the rcz to a TT indeed is an insult to the rcz . The TT cant compete against the elegance of the rcz. And for the Same prices a normal TT costs youd be able to get a rcz r with 270 hp
The engine of the RCZ R edition, does it have the same engine as the Peugeot 308 Peugeot sport, right? Is it built-in LSD ? LSD as the machinable one or electric torque vectoring one ?
I first had to 200bhp version and it was a fantastic and reliable companion for 6 years. I then upgraded to an RCZ R last year. The R version is definetly not comparable with the standard versions. Many things have been manufactured more solid and the whole car feels much more racy. I love my R. I would let you drive it. But then you have to come to Germany. :-)
First time I hear about of it being quirky. It looks undeniably gorgeous, you say yourself, it's well put together. It wasn't too popular, well it's a Peugeot, people were not expecting it.
@Oscar Dominguez I have one too. It’s adequate but not great. It’s electronic so you can go through the 6 gears manually by pushing up/down if you want to, but it’s slow like an old-fashioned 90’s automatic. It’s not like a DSG box, sadly.
I worked for Peugeot for 30 years and the RCZ was a brilliant car, I had three as company cars. I do get annoyed when people put the brand down, always going on about reliability, yes we had a few issues but I've owned BMW's VW, Volvo's and many other cars and trust me they all have faults and don't get me started on Land Rover, the Range Rovers and Discovery's what a pile of crap but people put up with them because of the badges ? Anyway rant over. Oh by the way we had a huge amount of TT's traded in because their owners said compared to the RCZ they just looked boring.
Own 2 RCZ's but have had 3. First was a 156GT which was a lovely car, just not that quick, traded in 6 months later for one of the first R's in the country, love the car as not only is it quick, handles extremely well but is slso stupidly economical considering its 270ps output. The R also has a strengthened block, uprated cylinder head, Mahle forged pistons and rods plus polymer coated race bearings, but the Torsen limited slip differential and Alcon brakes (marked as Peugeot Sport). Its still not a perfect engine but its overall more reliable than the 156's earlier design. My other is a 2ltr HDi 163 (the 165 being a face lift car with 2ps and 20nm of torque more). Deemed by most to be the most reliable of the 4 engines available (its a pretty solid unit and if looked after will just keep on going), it is a good drive though not as rewarding as the R but a nicer place on a long motorway drive. Points to note, the 156thp has the smallest brakes in the range with the 302mm fronts, the 200thp and HDi both have 340mm fronts and the R has 380mm 2 piece (and very expensive) front brakes.
@Teamgeist 2 different sorts of cars, one is more of a long distance cruiser, the other a B road brawler 😁 both get used and plans for a long road trip coming up shortly 🙂
@@tonyb1223 I've been looking at the 200 horsepower version, is it any better than the diesel? And I plan to daily it aswell, is there anything to look out for? Thanks in advance
@@joaopinto5850 The engine is an improvement over the 156thp, but if you are doing a daily and depending on what sort of mileage you do, look at the HDi, the THP's work well if maintained by the book, not so well if they have just had oil changes.
Owned m RCZ for 16mths, it’s still a head turner, and very good fun to drive. Love this car! It’s has expensive appearances for budget monies. A real bargain..... a possible future classic and only car with stunning double bubble roofline.....
It may not seem like much now but I had a chance to try the THP 200 for 3 weeks back in 2011 when I was 20 years old. It started a passion that I didn't know existed, since then I've owned three hot hatches and put over 15k km's on the track.
No comparison to RZC R. I used to have a 208GTi and despite the "oldschool" interior of the RCZ R, the performance and fun you get when driving it just made me jump back in time to get an RCZ R. It's the kind of car you turn back to take a look, after having parked somewhere. Driving around our mountain passes in Switzerland with it is so much fun. It's agile, and has so much grip you feel like you're driving on rails. If I could I'd drive it 24/7/365.
It's really nice seeing someone who loves their car so much and is brought so much joy by it. That's what a car should do for a gearhead. I wish we had RCZ R in America. You all get all the good cars. Lol
I always loved that car. WOuld drive this over a TT or Porsche everyday. Fun Fact: Magna Steyr don't just build the Supra, they also build the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon there.
@@purplefabian well it's ok for my moped license I drove a new peugeot scooter though I prefer my 1972 peugeot moped even if it's slower and less reliable you like the look you like the feeling
Got mine pug six years ago gonna keep it for a long time to come .timeless design , almost no truble . Fast motor loves curvy roads .gonna be a collector car in the future meaning prices going up . Worth keeping and enjoying everyday driving .
I have the R version which is wonderful. Nicer interior, fixed spoiler and lower stance perfects the lines compared to other versions. Great cornering with the split diff and ludicrous mid range acceleration for the money
Had one of these for 2.5yrs , 2.0ltr diesel, got it remapped and it really opened it up. Was so torqy and would just go, no lag at all. I actually found the steering wheel to be oversized, it really bugged me. I now have an i30N performance 😎
I always loved these cars. And i just bought one! The 1/200 limited edition launch model. Perfect daily driver, cheap to run, but still exotic and nice
I used to own a White right Peugeot RCZ 156 GT with the hilariously named Feline Pack (mesh grille, side stripes and quad exhausts) The interior was the main reason I bought it, reminded me on an Aston Martin on a budget. The issues I had was it broke down in the 1st year due to it letting all of its oil out at once on the entrance to a town in Leicestershire, ended up being pushed into a council estate (got quite a bit of attention there), can’t remember exactly what caused it but it was something involving the timing chain or belt system coming loose and letting a ‘bit of oil’ (that was the Peugeot service technician line) after covering the car park and dual carriageway in oil And had to go to the dealership every 2-3 months as the exhaust didn’t fit the chassis (apparently my chassis was unique eventhough i bought it new). Aside from those issues was a lovely car, just had to be used to people thinking it’s a 6 cylinder etc thanks to it looking sporty. The story with the big boot from what I when I was active in the RCZ owners club was that they used the 308 CC (convertible) as the basis that resulted in the large boot. But if what was true they did to a prototype convertible version, but decided against as it defeats the point of the 308 CC. Those rear seats are hilariously bad, I had a college rugby player and a 6ft 4 farmer in my RCZ, the farmer ended up in the back with his legs being in the front passenger seat around the rugby player for an hour drive. Also unusually there is 2 steering wheels available on the RCZ there was really big for what the car was, and smaller wheel (that one had the smaller wheel)
It's based on the Mk. I 308 which explains the weight. This lineage is more evident in the pre-facelift model which, to some, looks prettier despite the apparent "boxer's gum shield" face. The THP 200 model has revised suspension over the THP 156 and HDi 163, and all three have the active spoiler that deploys at 53mph and increases angle again at 96mph but can be overridden using a button near the handbrake - the R has to make do with a fixed spoiler. There were even plans for a Hybrid4 model - HDi powering front, motor powering rear, 200bhp, essentially the same as with the Mk. I 3008, but like a lot of Peugeot's ideas (e.g. 407 Macarena, 208 Hybrid Air), they were shelved. The RCZ's death was no real surprise - Peugeot were culling their less profitable models including the 308 CC (another reason there was no convertible RCZ) and the RCZ, neither of which were moved over to the new EMP2 platform - an instant 140KG weight loss, a move to THP 165 and THP 208, Euro 6 compliance, bye-bye Eolys in favour of AdBlue, that sort of thing - so they were dinosaurs and not the sales revelations they'd hoped for. You mentioned that you had a 407. If you want something well put together, has lots of gadgets and offers supreme comfort, I'd check out the 407 Coupé. They were built on a half-speed assembly line for better quality control; there's actually a four-minute clip of this assembly line on UA-cam where the bodywork appears to get looked at and felt up quite a lot. The Sport HDi 240 (2009 - 2010) is the true halo model but Peugeot only brought about 60 to these shores. Even without the AMVAR suspension setup of the V6 models it's reportedly very comfortable for a big barge, and post-2009 versions go some way to tarting up the button-heavy dash that caused so many complaints. They were generally overlooked not only because people thought they were ugly and certainly no match for the 406 in that respect (which is subjective), but due to their sheer size and, excluding the 2 litre diesels, their running costs.
Sat in a display 407 coupe at a summer fesitval in 2006 danson park, the electric seat switch came off in my fingers. Still got it to this day in a memory box in my room for some strange reason 😂
I love those things, more so the facelift version, the earlier one has the styling hurt by the giant, gaping Peugeot maw. I remember modding the hell out of one in Forza 4 and putting it against Veyrons with varying success.
My mum’s dream car is an Audi TT but since its quite pricey this car may be a good option for her and as a car enthusiast i wouldn’t mind her owning this. Pretty cool french car!
I owned an RCZ for about 2 years and did 100,000 bumpy miles in it. I loved tearing around the country roads of the Cotswold but on the motorway it never seemed to settle. I’ll never forget the 1st time I got in it and nearly knocked myself out as it was unexpectedly low! Also for the entire two years of ownership, the driver seat squeaked and despite numerous trips back to Peugeot the eventual fix they told me was to move my seat forward about 2 inches - very French! It’s definitely a looker tho and although I don’t miss it I’m glad I got to own one.
I'm not a fan of modern Peugeots but I would definitely consider an RCZ, they look great and are less likely to have been thrashed than a TT so on that basis would be a good buy.
I've got the black version of he HDi Magnetic (remapped facelift) and it's a great car. Mine is fun to drive and reliable - don't tar all Peugeots with the old unreliability brush ;)
i got this one beginning of the year, peugeot rcz gt 200. One thing i hate in any cars - lather seats! You using your car, its not for display - leather is onlu for display! The uncomfortable, they are cold (i know there is heating seats in rcz, but turning heat does not make seats instantly warm) in winter, they are hot as fuck in sumer...Its just good look, that's all! Apart that i have no complaints - drives ok. Have 19" wheels, so its feels like you drive on rims :D but i dont mind, i got use to it. RCZ is one of the all peugeot it's worth to buy!
I’ve had my RCZ R for 4 years now, haven’t had any major issues, where else can you find a car that performs so well and still looks absolutely fantastic!
Good timing, my neighbour's just bought one of these and it's a very pretty thing- i particularly like the double bubble roof. Not sure I'd trust Peugeot build quality but apparently they've improved in the last decade..
I remember renting one of these from avis many years ago on a trip back to the uk. I quite enjoyed it and made me sad that we don't get interesting cars like this in the USA
When looking around for interesting first cars, I did actually look into one of these, the problem is that they haven't depreciated hard enough for me to afford one :p
@@ristekostadinov2820 I can't imagine RHD UK models of that exist. Its also too big for what I am after really, but thanks for letting me know they exist, I have never heard of them before.
@@c3mmi4_h0lm4s I have found 2 websites saying they were never sold here, and I have only found LHD models for sale. I think the only ones in the country are imported LHD models. Having the steering wheel be on the wrong side of the car (for the country you are driving in) isn't a great idea for a daily driver at the best of times.
I had one... Diesel 'sport'. The most gorgeous looking car and got sooo many +ve comments. Great cruiser, very comfy, super reliable & a huge boot with useful cargo net. Only downside - a big one - was the horrible crashy slow speed ride
I've been tempted to get one, maybe I'll replace my 407 coupe with one of these eventually. Main reason why I prefer the 407 coupe is the fact that it has a V6 but both are really uncommon these days and turn some heads
The interior on the lads 208 Peugeot Sport is a lovely place to sit. The seats, though a pig to get out of at 50, hug you well and far more comfortable than my Lancer is. I like these a lot, had I not got to ferry grandkids about, and our Adam is useless for this also, I'd certainly consider one. Its nice to be quirky different what these are
Yes, I remember it, my uncle had one of the first cars with the 200hp engine. It was always broken, sometimes minor problems, sometimes big problems. It wasn‘t fast either, the 1.6 often seemed to be a bitted stressed. He sold it last year and the depreciation was just next level. I would always go with a TT.
Interior quality is probably down to the fact that PSA group are a controlling shareholder of Faurucia who make interiors for vw, merc, BMW amongst others.
Actually Peugeot has pretty decent interiors. New 3008 and stuff feels near premium if you ask me. They still have to fix reliability issues and get rid of that stupid front wheel drive layout though.
I remember at the Brussels auto show a Peugeot salesman where the RCZ was. My wife wanted one, they had just discontinued it. I remember saying to the poor man, before I even realised it...’oh, so Peugeot only makes boring cars anymore’. It came out so spontaneous it caught the salesman totally off guard. We ended up buying my wife an gen3 TT.
Why does everyone say things are going to eventually break, just because it is a Peugeot? Find me one car where stuff doesn’t go wrong? All pugs i have had have been excellent cars and have served me well. And were no different to own than any other car i have owned. Sorry just grinds my gears when people go to town on their build quality!
Nice review, had my eyes on one these few time but decided on a Boxster. Interesting I know these roads as only 5 miles from me and part my Sunday morning run.
I had one back in 2010 when they first appeared on British roads 👍 The first one I ever saw was on a motorway in Perthshire and I just thought it looked beautiful and somewhat Porsche looking, unfortunately it doesn't drive like one. The driving position is all wrong in my opinion but it is drop dead gorgeous especially from the inside. I had a rare model which had white stitched grey leather and with a pop up satnav which was cool because most RCZ's dont have a satnav at all. The boot was absolutely massive, a bit like Dr Who's tardus on wheels, it'll hold two large suitcases all day long but the rear seats are pretty unusable unless you've got very small kids. It's also not the fastest off the block as is pretty slow to take off from standstill but the mid range is pretty decent because 30 to 70 is pretty fast, I had the entry level156 BHP model but with gorgeous looking 19" wheels.
Never understood why there are so many VW scirocco on the road and not many of these, the VW is the usual bland box people seem to lap up, whilst this is well on the way to being as mad as a box of frogs. That twin bubble roof is stunning. I guess a lack of a truely hot version lets it down a bit.
Great looking car , went to test drive/buy one , second hand though , really wanted the car but being over 6ft I found it hard to get in and out of , but decent drive , didn't but it because I knew at 5:30am in the morning I would soon get sick of getting into it like a woman.
If Opel/Heuliez had put the VXR Corsa D 1.6 Turbo unit in the Tigra Twintop, that could have been a more interesting proposition... Instead, I'd happily go after the RCZ.
I like your review, it gives me a better idea of what to expect when driving one of these. I am thinking of replacing my old car. I really like the style, although I feel it is more for a man...but what the heck! if I like it, I can have it. Thanks very much for your video.
I'm a TT driver, so I'm not sure if I'm supposed to like this obvious stylistic rip-off, but I must admit I have always been fond of these cars when I see them on the road. Mind you, the car I had before the TT was a peugeot, so maybe this is the car I should have gone for!
I like these cars. I don’t drive but they’re good to look at. Someone that lives at my bit has a black one with black wheels. Someone further up the road has a white one but a young dude at the end of the next village has an orange McLaren. He wins 😂
I’m interested in speaking one of these see how they drive, I have some years back a early TT and I really was impressed, it felt heavy and stiff ,harsh clutch , maybe I had a bad one . I’ve owned quite a few French cars and yes I know the jokes , but yes they were a little boring but in all honesty they looked after me . If I wanted a V8 400bhp obvi wouldn’t be looking at this , but as a daily bit of fun and running around it may do what I need . The storage space is a plus something that’s missing in things like z4 mx5 etc but the people who buy those simply don’t care , so horses for courses as they say . That’s for the review and take on the car always helpful 👍👍👍
One of the nicest looking cars Peugeot have ever designed and rare enough to be a head-turner 👍
It's a rather interesting car. And we all like interesting cars, don't we?
Generally, yes.
i do but majority probably don't, everyone is about a suv nowdays unfortunately
@@MyJarrus
Don't get me started on them...
interesting but RUBBISH!!! my sister owned one for about 6 months. it spent over 5 of those months with the dealer getting repaired so they offered her a deal on another car instead (Mercedes) which she has had no issues with as far as im aware!
@@petelattimer6808
That's atrocious! And here I was thinking the days of truly bad cars* were long gone...
*ironically I would rather find a car from the 1969 model lineup than today's.
Bought a Red Carbon edition in August 22. Mint condition and purs like a kitten. Such a beautiful car and a real head turner. Buy one and enjoy the experience
Yes I owned a TT which just felt dull & let's face it are so common nobody gives them a second look, also after a long journey all i wanted to do was park it up and walk away. The RCZ always interested me and I seen a lovely black one in a local dealership had a look but then was told it was a diesel so turned my nose up & didn't test drive it. Then i seen a video with Anthony Davidson you know the F1 driver & WEC World Sports Car Championship & he said he owned a Diesel RCZ and that it had lots of torque and was excellent. He did a timed lap and yeah it resparked my interest. So I went back test drove it and i bloody loved it so much I bought it then and THERE. I've now owned 2 diesel RCZ's and it's the best cars I've ever owned. Some interesting facts... at Magny Stear when the RCZ was in production it was built alongside the Aston Martin Rapide and Mercedes G Wagon also there are videos on line of Vicky Butler-Henderson demolishing the very last 4-wheel drive TT model (on a wet track) beating it by more than a couple of seconds in an RCZ-R also a video of a RCZ-R at a Dutch track that is timed against a new Porsche Boxster and is unbelievabley beaten by only a few tenths (less than a second) So the moral of this story is ignore the naysayers because you might be a little bit surprised & even today people still stop & look at this little French wonder.
That's Magna Steyr. You butchered it so much that I couldn't scroll past without commenting. As for the car, it looks so much exotic than a TT. With minor cosmetic mods, it can look so good!
@MonsieurHiroshima yes go on the RCZ forums... it's a rock solid engine.
My Rcz 247 cv
ua-cam.com/video/xB_1iSnw4ds/v-deo.html
I think the first gen TTs are very interesting and exotic ( they're not common anymore in the U.S)
The Peugeot RC Z is one of the best French cars ever made
Nope
@MrXelium okay how about one of the best cars of Peugeot?
ive owned loads of cars over the years and have a gt200 which has been modded a little and its honeslty one of the best cars to drive its great fun. brakes are nuts. has so much grip it bends space when you go through the bends. park it up and it even designed in 2007 and 13 years on it always gets looked at and people ask about it all the time. yes a low production car which has had a few issues under warranty but who cares its just awesome
My Rcz 247 CV
Meu Rcz está com 247 cv.
ua-cam.com/video/xB_1iSnw4ds/v-deo.html
My brother had a facelift RCZ 156 for a few years. It was relatively cheap, really well equipped, and generally a really lovely little pocket GT. I thought it was pretty good looking as well. In the best way it was a "Cheap TT", in the way an MX-5 is a cheap sportscar. It's a shame it didn't sell, and I suspect it's badge-snobbery. Put an Audi badge on it, and it would still be selling today. Put a Peugeot badge on a TT and that would've gone the same way as the RCZ.
the tt isn’t selling neither
This is one of the prettiest modern cars in my opinion.
Nice balanced review, enjoyed watching. There are circa 300 RCZR's in the UK, it is a totally different beast to the 156/200 as it has not only circa 270bhp but also chassis, bodywork, geo/handling, wheel/brake and engine enhancements etc.. The interior feels and looks more bespoke too. Get a drive of one if you can as some of the negatives you had with regards to the Z beinga 'sports' car on the lesser powered models have been addressed and engineered into the R's DNA as it is a focused, fast and fun car to drive.
Peugeot really needs to make another sports car like the RC Z since Renault now has the new Alpine sports car
Peugeot has a different history. Alpine was an own brand before. I think that's not that easy to create a sports car under a different brand history
My Rcz 247 cv
ua-cam.com/video/xB_1iSnw4ds/v-deo.html
I have a red RCZ HDi diesel with black roof rails & smokey grey alloys, it looks a million dollars (in my eyes) & pulls like a train. Easily out dragging the less powerful 1.6 petrol-engined cars. I drive it hard & still get around 40-45mpg. It's a fun car to own & the diesels have the best reputation for reliability. The only downside is the hard ride with 19-inch wheels & 35 profile tyres, but it corners like it's on rails.
I have similar one for 6 years and so far only fault has been plastic button at the back of the car (opens boot). New part costed 28 euros.
The heavy diesel version Never out powered or out performed the 1.6 Thp models.at all ( You having a Laugh.😆)
The old 20L diesel lump killed the handling
Way to heavy & slow.. lets be honest puting a diesel motor
In a Sports Coupe is a joke
I remember this being the first Peugeot I actually liked in some years when it cam out. A red one used to live near me and I actually really liked the way it looked, much different to most other cars on the road.
I love driving this car. Really good semi-sports car for beginners because it feels incredibly stable through turns while providing great feedback. Also ridiculously cheap for what it is.
Mass flashback to 1980s Top Gear, commentary, shots, weather, everything......and I'm fine with that! No irrelevant narrative, story, comments about co-hosts etc, etc, etc. Keep it up
That's what I am aiming for!
Design is really timeless, looks like a new car for me...
A lot of new cars look great when they first appear but after a couple of years, they lose their impact on you. Not so for the RCZ for me. I thought they looked stunning when they first came out and they still do it for me after all this time. I finally bought one 3 yrs ago and still own and love it as much as when I first bought it. In fact, if I ever have to replace it for whatever reason, I'd definitely buy another. The best car I've ever owned or driven (and I've had quite a few in my time).
I've always wondered about this car. Has an R8esque appearance.
More a straight out rip-off of the TT
Looks like it could have been mid engined...
@@raydavison2972 Comparing it to a TT is an insult 😆
Comparing the rcz to a TT indeed is an insult to the rcz .
The TT cant compete against the elegance of the rcz.
And for the Same prices a normal TT costs youd be able to get a rcz r with 270 hp
Take a look at the Audi Avus concept car for the real similarity.
Had mine for ten years now. No bad suprises just going on passing 70000 km now. Great motor!
i have the R model, tuned to 300hp, what a car. people look at it on a daily basis. it is truly beautiful
The engine of the RCZ R edition, does it have the same engine as the Peugeot 308 Peugeot sport, right?
Is it built-in LSD ?
LSD as the machinable one or electric torque vectoring one ?
@Ibiza FunLand yes it does, exact same engine and LSD. The RCZ is alot better looking though
I first had to 200bhp version and it was a fantastic and reliable companion for 6 years. I then upgraded to an RCZ R last year. The R version is definetly not comparable with the standard versions. Many things have been manufactured more solid and the whole car feels much more racy. I love my R. I would let you drive it. But then you have to come to Germany. :-)
First time I hear about of it being quirky. It looks undeniably gorgeous, you say yourself, it's well put together. It wasn't too popular, well it's a Peugeot, people were not expecting it.
I remember seeing this car next to the TT lol
The TT is a nice car but I like the RC Z more
Your pockets likes it more you mean. Its the poor man's audi TT 🤣🤣🤣
@@onpoint357 I think the new TT is nicer than the rcz, but the rcz is definitely more pretty than the old TTs i.m.o. :)
@@onpoint357 How stupid...Poor mans tt?It looks much better in and out and it's a lot more expensive than a tt used
@@pap_chr5063 Peugeot and audi? There's no comparison
Audi tt rip off
I’m lucky enough to have one of the “rare autos” - love her to bits!
I have one too ^^
How is the automatic??
Me too!!
My Rcz 247 CV
ua-cam.com/video/xB_1iSnw4ds/v-deo.html
@Oscar Dominguez I have one too. It’s adequate but not great. It’s electronic so you can go through the 6 gears manually by pushing up/down if you want to, but it’s slow like an old-fashioned 90’s automatic. It’s not like a DSG box, sadly.
I worked for Peugeot for 30 years and the RCZ was a brilliant car, I had three as company cars.
I do get annoyed when people put the brand down, always going on about reliability, yes we had a few issues but I've owned BMW's VW, Volvo's and many other cars and trust me they all have faults and don't get me started on Land Rover, the Range Rovers and Discovery's what a pile of crap but people put up with them because of the badges ?
Anyway rant over.
Oh by the way we had a huge amount of TT's traded in because their owners said compared to the RCZ they just looked boring.
I've just purchased a RCZ today Oct 24 purely based on your comment. I pick it up this Friday. Kindest regards, Richard U.K
Own 2 RCZ's but have had 3. First was a 156GT which was a lovely car, just not that quick, traded in 6 months later for one of the first R's in the country, love the car as not only is it quick, handles extremely well but is slso stupidly economical considering its 270ps output. The R also has a strengthened block, uprated cylinder head, Mahle forged pistons and rods plus polymer coated race bearings, but the Torsen limited slip differential and Alcon brakes (marked as Peugeot Sport). Its still not a perfect engine but its overall more reliable than the 156's earlier design. My other is a 2ltr HDi 163 (the 165 being a face lift car with 2ps and 20nm of torque more). Deemed by most to be the most reliable of the 4 engines available (its a pretty solid unit and if looked after will just keep on going), it is a good drive though not as rewarding as the R but a nicer place on a long motorway drive. Points to note, the 156thp has the smallest brakes in the range with the 302mm fronts, the 200thp and HDi both have 340mm fronts and the R has 380mm 2 piece (and very expensive) front brakes.
@Teamgeist yes, still do 😁
@Teamgeist 2 different sorts of cars, one is more of a long distance cruiser, the other a B road brawler 😁 both get used and plans for a long road trip coming up shortly 🙂
@@tonyb1223 I've been looking at the 200 horsepower version, is it any better than the diesel? And I plan to daily it aswell, is there anything to look out for? Thanks in advance
@@joaopinto5850 The engine is an improvement over the 156thp, but if you are doing a daily and depending on what sort of mileage you do, look at the HDi, the THP's work well if maintained by the book, not so well if they have just had oil changes.
@@tonyb1223 but I'm also looking for something sporty and I'm not sure if the diesel is as sporty as the 200thp
Owned m RCZ for 16mths, it’s still a head turner, and very good fun to drive. Love this car! It’s has expensive appearances for budget monies. A real bargain..... a possible future classic and only car with stunning double bubble roofline.....
That "funky rear arch", as you put it, is very reminiscent of VW's Karmann Ghia.
Well done JayEmm.
I think that every time I drive my wife's example. Lovely way to travel without breaking the bank.
It may not seem like much now but I had a chance to try the THP 200 for 3 weeks back in 2011 when I was 20 years old. It started a passion that I didn't know existed, since then I've owned three hot hatches and put over 15k km's on the track.
The RCZ-r has held value surprisingly well. Here in Belgium at least. No idea about the UK
No comparison to RZC R. I used to have a 208GTi and despite the "oldschool" interior of the RCZ R, the performance and fun you get when driving it just made me jump back in time to get an RCZ R. It's the kind of car you turn back to take a look, after having parked somewhere. Driving around our mountain passes in Switzerland with it is so much fun. It's agile, and has so much grip you feel like you're driving on rails. If I could I'd drive it 24/7/365.
Haha, I also have to look at her in the parking lot! Of course, far away from other cars to protect her paintwork. I am still in love after 5 + years.
It's really nice seeing someone who loves their car so much and is brought so much joy by it. That's what a car should do for a gearhead. I wish we had RCZ R in America. You all get all the good cars. Lol
These do look nice with the batman backside rear glass 😎. The R version is mad with the ~265hp 1.6 turbo I believe the most powerful 1.6 from factory.
You are right, its still the strongest 1.6 you can buy!
Dont know about strongest, it's a Mini JCW engine. They have there issues.
@@CharlieboySLONDON it'snt a prince motor like Mini, it's an another peugeot version, way more reliable in the RczR
@@coletrickIe why specifically
@@coletrickIe Its in the 308 GTi as well
I always loved that car. WOuld drive this over a TT or Porsche everyday.
Fun Fact: Magna Steyr don't just build the Supra, they also build the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon there.
Over a Porsche? Probably never driven one
And they build the Jag E Pace, Jag I Pace, and some BMW 5 series.
@@purplefabian well it's ok for my moped license I drove a new peugeot scooter though I prefer my 1972 peugeot moped even if it's slower and less reliable you like the look you like the feeling
Got mine pug six years ago gonna keep it for a long time to come .timeless design , almost no truble . Fast motor loves curvy roads .gonna be a collector car in the future meaning prices going up . Worth keeping and enjoying everyday driving .
Always thought that was a great looking car...
Lovely Jubbly, always been a French car nut myself and always will, not bothered what other people think.
I have the R version which is wonderful. Nicer interior, fixed spoiler and lower stance perfects the lines compared to other versions. Great cornering with the split diff and ludicrous mid range acceleration for the money
The only Peugeot I like since 2000. A great and interesting car
designed in 2007 released in 2010 discontinued 2015. best car i have ever owned love mine
Had one of these for 2.5yrs , 2.0ltr diesel, got it remapped and it really opened it up. Was so torqy and would just go, no lag at all. I actually found the steering wheel to be oversized, it really bugged me.
I now have an i30N performance 😎
I always loved these cars. And i just bought one! The 1/200 limited edition launch model.
Perfect daily driver, cheap to run, but still exotic and nice
I used to own a White right Peugeot RCZ 156 GT with the hilariously named Feline Pack (mesh grille, side stripes and quad exhausts)
The interior was the main reason I bought it, reminded me on an Aston Martin on a budget.
The issues I had was it broke down in the 1st year due to it letting all of its oil out at once on the entrance to a town in Leicestershire, ended up being pushed into a council estate (got quite a bit of attention there), can’t remember exactly what caused it but it was something involving the timing chain or belt system coming loose and letting a ‘bit of oil’ (that was the Peugeot service technician line) after covering the car park and dual carriageway in oil
And had to go to the dealership every 2-3 months as the exhaust didn’t fit the chassis (apparently my chassis was unique eventhough i bought it new).
Aside from those issues was a lovely car, just had to be used to people thinking it’s a 6 cylinder etc thanks to it looking sporty.
The story with the big boot from what I when I was active in the RCZ owners club was that they used the 308 CC (convertible) as the basis that resulted in the large boot.
But if what was true they did to a prototype convertible version, but decided against as it defeats the point of the 308 CC.
Those rear seats are hilariously bad, I had a college rugby player and a 6ft 4 farmer in my RCZ, the farmer ended up in the back with his legs being in the front passenger seat around the rugby player for an hour drive.
Also unusually there is 2 steering wheels available on the RCZ there was really big for what the car was, and smaller wheel (that one had the smaller wheel)
Love how you put time in good reading up about the cars your driving
I have one in dark grey best car I ever had 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I have one too, and I love it. Drives great and invariably turns heads. It is however, the most expensive car i've ever had in terms of maintenance.
Easily, my favourite Pug from the last 10 years.
I have always had the poor man's sport's cars this will be my next one spotted one today at traffic lights it's a real beauty.
It's based on the Mk. I 308 which explains the weight. This lineage is more evident in the pre-facelift model which, to some, looks prettier despite the apparent "boxer's gum shield" face. The THP 200 model has revised suspension over the THP 156 and HDi 163, and all three have the active spoiler that deploys at 53mph and increases angle again at 96mph but can be overridden using a button near the handbrake - the R has to make do with a fixed spoiler. There were even plans for a Hybrid4 model - HDi powering front, motor powering rear, 200bhp, essentially the same as with the Mk. I 3008, but like a lot of Peugeot's ideas (e.g. 407 Macarena, 208 Hybrid Air), they were shelved.
The RCZ's death was no real surprise - Peugeot were culling their less profitable models including the 308 CC (another reason there was no convertible RCZ) and the RCZ, neither of which were moved over to the new EMP2 platform - an instant 140KG weight loss, a move to THP 165 and THP 208, Euro 6 compliance, bye-bye Eolys in favour of AdBlue, that sort of thing - so they were dinosaurs and not the sales revelations they'd hoped for.
You mentioned that you had a 407. If you want something well put together, has lots of gadgets and offers supreme comfort, I'd check out the 407 Coupé. They were built on a half-speed assembly line for better quality control; there's actually a four-minute clip of this assembly line on UA-cam where the bodywork appears to get looked at and felt up quite a lot. The Sport HDi 240 (2009 - 2010) is the true halo model but Peugeot only brought about 60 to these shores. Even without the AMVAR suspension setup of the V6 models it's reportedly very comfortable for a big barge, and post-2009 versions go some way to tarting up the button-heavy dash that caused so many complaints. They were generally overlooked not only because people thought they were ugly and certainly no match for the 406 in that respect (which is subjective), but due to their sheer size and, excluding the 2 litre diesels, their running costs.
Sat in a display 407 coupe at a summer fesitval in 2006 danson park, the electric seat switch came off in my fingers. Still got it to this day in a memory box in my room for some strange reason 😂
@@bensmithkent22 That's... not good :D
I love those things, more so the facelift version, the earlier one has the styling hurt by the giant, gaping Peugeot maw. I remember modding the hell out of one in Forza 4 and putting it against Veyrons with varying success.
I love my rcz had it for over 4 years 20k miles a year. Only regular servicing no dramas at all.
My mum’s dream car is an Audi TT but since its quite pricey this car may be a good option for her and as a car enthusiast i wouldn’t mind her owning this. Pretty cool french car!
I've seen this parked somewhere i and instantly noticed its awesomeness
I owned an RCZ for about 2 years and did 100,000 bumpy miles in it. I loved tearing around the country roads of the Cotswold but on the motorway it never seemed to settle. I’ll never forget the 1st time I got in it and nearly knocked myself out as it was unexpectedly low! Also for the entire two years of ownership, the driver seat squeaked and despite numerous trips back to Peugeot the eventual fix they told me was to move my seat forward about 2 inches - very French! It’s definitely a looker tho and although I don’t miss it I’m glad I got to own one.
How come you don't miss it, mate?
You put 100k miles on the car in two years, did I read that right?!
You should try the RCZ R! Still got mine and plan to keep it for years to come.
Get together with Jay and do a review
I always thought this was a beautiful looking car.
Not a bad looking car for a Peugeot, i always admired them and obviously saw the resemblance to the Audi TT
the rcz first caught my eye in gran turismo 6 i believe. properly good looking car.
I'm not a fan of modern Peugeots but I would definitely consider an RCZ, they look great and are less likely to have been thrashed than a TT so on that basis would be a good buy.
I've got the black version of he HDi Magnetic (remapped facelift) and it's a great car. Mine is fun to drive and reliable - don't tar all Peugeots with the old unreliability brush ;)
i got this one beginning of the year, peugeot rcz gt 200. One thing i hate in any cars - lather seats! You using your car, its not for display - leather is onlu for display! The uncomfortable, they are cold (i know there is heating seats in rcz, but turning heat does not make seats instantly warm) in winter, they are hot as fuck in sumer...Its just good look, that's all! Apart that i have no complaints - drives ok. Have 19" wheels, so its feels like you drive on rims :D but i dont mind, i got use to it. RCZ is one of the all peugeot it's worth to buy!
I’ve had two RCZ’s so far the first a 156bhp GT The second is an RCZ R which is absolutely Lovely!!!...
I’ve had my RCZ R for 4 years now, haven’t had any major issues, where else can you find a car that performs so well and still looks absolutely fantastic!
Got an HTP 200. Love it.
Good timing, my neighbour's just bought one of these and it's a very pretty thing- i particularly like the double bubble roof. Not sure I'd trust Peugeot build quality but apparently they've improved in the last decade..
Always loved the look of these - big fan 👍🏻
I remember renting one of these from avis many years ago on a trip back to the uk. I quite enjoyed it and made me sad that we don't get interesting cars like this in the USA
When looking around for interesting first cars, I did actually look into one of these, the problem is that they haven't depreciated hard enough for me to afford one :p
Interesting first car, Lancia Thesis. You might find something for 4-5000euros and they are luxurious inside and the exterior is love/hate.
@@ristekostadinov2820 I can't imagine RHD UK models of that exist. Its also too big for what I am after really, but thanks for letting me know they exist, I have never heard of them before.
@@aljowen They do exist in the UK but rather rare.
@@c3mmi4_h0lm4s I have found 2 websites saying they were never sold here, and I have only found LHD models for sale. I think the only ones in the country are imported LHD models. Having the steering wheel be on the wrong side of the car (for the country you are driving in) isn't a great idea for a daily driver at the best of times.
aljowen another alternative is a C6 or 607 saloon (luxurious car)
The RCZ always reminds me of the Proxima prototype from the 1980s, which I liked a lot.
I own a Mk 2 RCZ THP200 in Australia. Very rare here and a great car to enjoy. Pug did it good on this one.
The 308cc was the predecessor of the RCZ, I won't mind a RCZ but won't part with my 308cc as I need the open roof on great sunny days 😁
3.6 roentgen, not great not terrible 😂.
Nicest Peugeot I remember from that era for sure!
Take it onto a track and you'll know that this is not just a 308 in a dress ;-)
I think this is a really cool looking car, thanks Jay🇺🇸
The 156bhp was the slows mobile version. The R version is the one to have.
I had one... Diesel 'sport'. The most gorgeous looking car and got sooo many +ve comments.
Great cruiser, very comfy, super reliable & a huge boot with useful cargo net.
Only downside - a big one - was the horrible crashy slow speed ride
I've been tempted to get one, maybe I'll replace my 407 coupe with one of these eventually. Main reason why I prefer the 407 coupe is the fact that it has a V6 but both are really uncommon these days and turn some heads
The interior on the lads 208 Peugeot Sport is a lovely place to sit. The seats, though a pig to get out of at 50, hug you well and far more comfortable than my Lancer is. I like these a lot, had I not got to ferry grandkids about, and our Adam is useless for this also, I'd certainly consider one. Its nice to be quirky different what these are
Yes, I remember it, my uncle had one of the first cars with the 200hp engine.
It was always broken, sometimes minor problems, sometimes big problems.
It wasn‘t fast either, the 1.6 often seemed to be a bitted stressed.
He sold it last year and the depreciation was just next level.
I would always go with a TT.
I think that I would prefer a 406 coupe
Lovely looking but very plasticy compared to the RCZ. Have a sit in one, I'll be surprised if you don't find it nice inside.
*406 coupe bumper cracks*
owned a 406 coupe v6 loved it but the rcz i own now is a completely different beast
Awesome car. Keep up the good work.
Interior quality is probably down to the fact that PSA group are a controlling shareholder of Faurucia who make interiors for vw, merc, BMW amongst others.
Actually Peugeot has pretty decent interiors. New 3008 and stuff feels near premium if you ask me. They still have to fix reliability issues and get rid of that stupid front wheel drive layout though.
Now is the turn of the Citroën C4 VTS!
Ah! A nice little Chernobyl reference there, Chief Engr Dyatlov! I see you're a man of culture as well 😉
I remember at the Brussels auto show a Peugeot salesman where the RCZ was. My wife wanted one, they had just discontinued it. I remember saying to the poor man, before I even realised it...’oh, so Peugeot only makes boring cars anymore’. It came out so spontaneous it caught the salesman totally off guard. We ended up buying my wife an gen3 TT.
I owned a Rcz beautiful styling .
Why does everyone say things are going to eventually break, just because it is a Peugeot? Find me one car where stuff doesn’t go wrong? All pugs i have had have been excellent cars and have served me well. And were no different to own than any other car i have owned. Sorry just grinds my gears when people go to town on their build quality!
The engines in these are notorious for failing - and not just in Peugeots
Nice review, had my eyes on one these few time but decided on a Boxster. Interesting I know these roads as only 5 miles from me and part my Sunday morning run.
They should have gone mid-engined with this one.
I had one back in 2010 when they first appeared on British roads 👍 The first one I ever saw was on a motorway in Perthshire and I just thought it looked beautiful and somewhat Porsche looking, unfortunately it doesn't drive like one. The driving position is all wrong in my opinion but it is drop dead gorgeous especially from the inside. I had a rare model which had white stitched grey leather and with a pop up satnav which was cool because most RCZ's dont have a satnav at all. The boot was absolutely massive, a bit like Dr Who's tardus on wheels, it'll hold two large suitcases all day long but the rear seats are pretty unusable unless you've got very small kids. It's also not the fastest off the block as is pretty slow to take off from standstill but the mid range is pretty decent because 30 to 70 is pretty fast, I had the entry level156 BHP model but with gorgeous looking 19" wheels.
Love this shape
Never understood why there are so many VW scirocco on the road and not many of these, the VW is the usual bland box people seem to lap up, whilst this is well on the way to being as mad as a box of frogs. That twin bubble roof is stunning. I guess a lack of a truely hot version lets it down a bit.
The 270bhp RCZ R was fairly hot
Got a 2lt Diesel in Red with black trim. It turns heads
Slap a remap on em and they are super!
Stunning design. I would pick it over the TT, but not for the performance. 2.5 TTRS...
I have fifteen gazillion of these on Gran Turismo Sport...
underated car
Great looking car , went to test drive/buy one , second hand though , really wanted the car but being over 6ft I found it hard to get in and out of , but decent drive , didn't but it because I knew at 5:30am in the morning I would soon get sick of getting into it like a woman.
If Opel/Heuliez had put the VXR Corsa D 1.6 Turbo unit in the Tigra Twintop, that could have been a more interesting proposition... Instead, I'd happily go after the RCZ.
I like your review, it gives me a better idea of what to expect when driving one of these. I am thinking of replacing my old car. I really like the style, although I feel it is more for a man...but what the heck! if I like it, I can have it. Thanks very much for your video.
I always love how these look
I'm a TT driver, so I'm not sure if I'm supposed to like this obvious stylistic rip-off, but I must admit I have always been fond of these cars when I see them on the road.
Mind you, the car I had before the TT was a peugeot, so maybe this is the car I should have gone for!
I have a Peugeot 207 1.4 Hdi s 2011. It runs great, iv had it remapped even better now really good mpg.
That's a great engine.
I like these cars. I don’t drive but they’re good to look at. Someone that lives at my bit has a black one with black wheels. Someone further up the road has a white one but a young dude at the end of the next village has an orange McLaren. He wins 😂
Jamie Paterson 😀
I have been thinking about one of those , i would choose the 2.0 HDi well because i am careful
I’m interested in speaking one of these see how they drive, I have some years back a early TT and I really was impressed, it felt heavy and stiff ,harsh clutch , maybe I had a bad one . I’ve owned quite a few French cars and yes I know the jokes , but yes they were a little boring but in all honesty they looked after me . If I wanted a V8 400bhp obvi wouldn’t be looking at this , but as a daily bit of fun and running around it may do what I need . The storage space is a plus something that’s missing in things like z4 mx5 etc but the people who buy those simply don’t care , so horses for courses as they say . That’s for the review and take on the car always helpful 👍👍👍