Peugeots and turbos

For some reason the French really hang on to their cars. The second hand market in France is much more expensive than in Australia and the UK.  It was quite a shock to see the price that was being charged for old battered and tired cars.

For an example we sold our old 2013 Mazda 2 privately in Perth and was quite pleased to get $8000 (€5000) for it.  It had 90000kms on the clock but was in very good condition and had every service meticulously logged. A similar car here would probably be around $12,000 €7300) mark.

Anyway, we look around for something in the €3000 and quickly realised there was very little if nothing that wasn't over 20 years old. Most had dents and various bits peeling or falling off.  We were going to have to pay more for something decent.  Dealers were very expensive so we decided to look on the Le Bon coin website.

After a week of searching a new car came up for sale  - 2012 Peugeot 308 station wagon.  We didn't really need a station wagon but the price was right even if the km were over 200,000.  I did a bit of research and apparently well maintained diesels can go past 300,000kms easily.

The car was in very good condition.  It had recently undergone a €1000 service where the timing belt was changed and injectors replaced.  Didn't know what that meant, but again google is your friend and it seems that once a car has reached 200,000 kms the timing belt should be changed.

We took if for a couple of test drives and it drove well.  The turbo gave a lovely little whistle as I accelerated. It reminded me of the Saab turbo my father used to own which did the same thing. Very cool I thought!  We said if the controle technique was ok we would buy it.   It went over the pits and passed with flying colours.  The following week I was holding the carte grise ownership papers in my hand and whizzing around the Ariege countryside.

All went well.  We went around the local area for a couple of weeks and had planned to visit Michelle's parents in Lodeve for  xmas.  I was looking forward to driving a larger more comfortable car on the motorway.  Stick on the cruise control at 130kph  and eat the road up!

We had the car all packed up for a week with Michelle's parents. Even the cat was coming.  Off we set joining the motorway péage in Bram.  Ok, Richard enough of the D roads its hammer time!

All was going well.  I had found out how to pair my phone to the stereo and had radio 2 xmas songs blaring out.  There is only so much radio Pyrenees I can take!   Look said Michelle as we passed the cité of Carcassonne, but I was busy making good time.

The first hint of a problem came soon after as the cruise control dropped out and the speed dropped considerably. Despite valiant efforts I couldn't re engage it.  The second hint was via the rear view mirror. It appeared like our car was on fire! Plumes of white smoke were trailing behind the car.  We were now limping along like a downed Spitfire.  Eventually we found a lay-by with a phone and were able to call up for breakdown assistance.

We fortunately had breakdown cover.  After about 30 mins the tow truck arrived. We were a bit worried as the car didn't have the warning triangle and the yellow vests.  All we needed was the local police to stop and fine us.  The tow truck driver had one look inside the engine and made a sign that the turbo unit was broken.

We were towed back to the breakdown yard and told the car would be taken to a garage that cold do turbo repairs the next day. Fortunately for us and the cat, they had a hire car but by this time we were getting sick of the expense of these things.

To cut a long story about changing garages and finding cheaper quotes elsewhere we ended up forking out over €1500 on a new turbo for our car, which no longer whistles as it accelerates.

All in all a very expensive trip to the in laws.