Pug quality

[Turbobrick]

That you'll have to ask Guyver as it was done on his car.

[Valvetronic]

The kind of pricing actually depends on the volume of sales. The reason why Sunnies and Corollas can be sold so cheaply is because of the sheer numbers (in the thousands) which are sold. As for the Pug, sale probably are around the 100 mark (correct me if I'm wrong), so difficult to get "bulk discount". High price further impedes sales - kinda like chicken & egg situation. So even tho the car is actually a "cheap runabout", it tends to be priced higher than an equivalent Jap car.

[Mondeo]

That also depend the local agent's order from Pug, usually can pick and choose-plus and minus some features setup, good example is GTi and cc version-quality not cheap.

 

And I quite like the 607

And finally know where to got bigger rims for Mondy

Edited July 29, 2002 by Mondeo

[Madarmour]

About the insulation part, I see it as a 2 way approach. First, to minimise the vibration, I use a bitumen-like sheet to stick on bare metal. The brand I use is Accumat, which is self adhesive. You can get it for abt $35 for a 2' x 2' sheet from Auto Trends at Toa Payoh(look for Darren). Price sure beats the 1' x 1' (5 pcs) sold by Autobacs at $80. After applying the Accumat, results can be felt immedistely. Just tap the boot, the hollow sound becomes a solid thud!

 

Second, insulation foam helps to minimise unwanted noise. I use the air con insulation sheets for this purpose. It's a foam-like material available in various thickness. Brand is Aeroflex and I got it from Res-Air at Opal Crescent. Should be less than $20/sheet depending on thickness. Just cut it to shape and stick it to the boot, over the Accumat, with contact cement. You can also use Insuflex as recommended by Brick.

 

For the doors, Accumat will do nicely, but stick it at the outer metal rather than the inner frame. Remember, Accumat works by damping vibration so has to be in contact with metal surface.

 

My $0.02.

[Cosx]

Hi Doc,

 

strangly... my KIA came with boot insultation, engine cover, 3 way adjustable seats (turn knob type though), 2 cig lighters, solid build doors - cheap stuff but give a good feel...

 

but, engine horrible..............

[Madarmour]

The Koreans are learning fast!

[Magfocus]

Engine horrible??

 

Its ok right??

[Kianbeng]

2 types ah? Wouldn't that be quite thick?

 

kianbeng

[Cosx]

horrible lar...fuel consumption is real bad (low compression ratio??)

 

could be much better...

[Madarmour]

Accumat is actually abt 1.5mm thick. As for the foam insulation..........thickness depends on you.

[Kianbeng]

ok thanks. will check it out.

[Magfocus]

Dont drive it like a rally car and it should be alright

[Sparrow]

There is also a posting on car insulation in the ICE folder....more information on where to insulate and what to use...check with Cool too, he's the infamous in-house car rapist...took apart quite afew car makes!!!

 

I will be DIYing my soon...got material - "WATER & ICE SHIELD" Bitument sheet for the thin panel....Insulation foam (from Asiatic Refrigeration) for absorbing the road noise

 

Will show all when done.

[Guyver]

But is the results obvious? ie. after installation, engine quieter?

 

U can DIY sound proof... but alot of work... as for the bonnet one... engine is still the same lah.... just that it'll be slightly quieter... but if u do the whole car... sure very quiet.... i sat in a STC guy Corona BBS.... wah!! so quiet!! and he did sound proofing on the door as well... so when u close the door... it feels like u are closing conti's car door that kind of feel.....

[Frussurf]

Hitched a ride (yup, one of my long-standing hobbies) in a pre-facelift 406 2.0 today and realised that the build quality, while no where near a Mondeo, was still markedly better than the 206. Any idea why this is so ?

 

With all the hard, brittle-feel and sometimes, poorly-fitted rattly plastic parts, I must say I was utterly disaapointed with the baby Pug. Surely the 206 can't be THAT expensive to produce that they need to cut that many corners so that dealers can sell them at the prices they do, right ?

 

===============

Hi Renegade

 

I own a 206 1.4M.

 

Quality

=====

The front dash plastic is kind of shiny and the fit is not exactly VW/Audi quality.

Defintely not the best money can buy.

But I am not sure I can say a wood trim Jap car or the plastic used in say Toyota Corolla is better than the 206. Honestly, I cringe at fake wood (reminds me of formica used old style built-in kitchen cabinets)

German Car quality are usually very good. But I suspect a lot of people appreciate the VW/Audi style. VW/Audi cars can be quite austere in design but nonetheless very classy.

For me the cheerful and well-designed of the 206 cabin make up for the average quality build quality.

 

 

Price

====

The price is slightly pricey but to pay an annual depreciation of $6 - $6.5 for this car is not really that expensive. 206 does not sell in great numbers, but you have to know that a 206 is not a everybody's car in a first place.

 

Most people will look for a

- Sedan (206 IS A HATCH)

- 1.5/1.6 litre (206 1.6A IS VERY EXPENSIVE)

- Sit five people comfortably (206, POSSIBLE BUT A LITTLE SQUEEZY)

- Cheap (or relatively cheap) (206 NOT REALLY VERY CHEAP)

- Fuel Consumption (MOST PEOPLE THINK CONTI SUCKS PETROL BIG TIME)

 

As you can see a 206 doesn't even satisfied a typical car buyer in the things that are important to him.

 

Since it is going to be a low volume seller there is no economy of scale to sell it at a low price.

 

Why buy then?

===========

Honestly => looks and "relatively cheap"

 

After owning it for about a year now I realised that this car has other good attribute

1. Consumption - 13 to 14km/l up to 17km/l(on NS)

2. Acceleration - can overtake most cars comfortably (even though specs says 13/14sec), better than some 1.6A

3. Ride - relatively firm

4. Handling - firm, precise just right (Japanese/Korean car are really too light e.g. Honda Jazz/Civic, Daewoo Lanos).

5. Maintenance free (haven't really need to do much to maintain it)

- free 3 years free service package

6. Headroom (front and rear), am surprised it is actually better than a lot of Sedan.

7. 3 years/60000km free service and warranty (includes free change of oil, spare parts)!

 

Footwell

======

The Salesman did told me about the small foot well during the test drive.

It is a bit cramp besides I have a big wide foot (size 10.5). It is easy to step on the brakes and acclerator together (mine's a manual, even more cramp compared to the 206 Auto version). Then again it is a matter of getting used to it. In fact it is kind of quick to brake and accerlate once you gotten used to it.

 

 

Minus

====

Sitting Position

===========

Not the greatest as there is no reach adjustment on the 206. Thus there is a need to bend my knees when I drive this car.

 

Cushion

======

Could have thicker seats.

 

Featureless

========

I also agreed that that there is not a lot of features in this car (e.g. manual mirror, manual rear windows). You can fixed it bit cost $$$$.

[Hitman]

Hello Puggie 206 Frussurf ....

 

I am Puggie 405 or also known as the Boobster. I think I have seen you before in the Devin-Glady forum or Delphi forums.

 

My word, thats one looonnggg description, but I must say you have most of it accurate.

 

Why dun you come down to one of our meets where we lack Pug quality. I am the only Puggie there with Tracey Tan (Black 406). Keep watching out for the next meet up .....

[Renegade]

Hi there, Frusstuf,

 

Thanks so much for your very comprehensive reply and showing me the error of my ways - after reading your write up (and taking a very good look at one last night, interestingly) I'm ashamed to admit my biased comments made the 206 appear worse that it in reality is, without highlighting the good things about it. Yes, it does look great (gets my vote for cutest hatch on the road, bar none and it does make the Ibiza look rather boring and uncreative) and the rear headroom's a lot better than expected. Which, for me, is a great plus.

 

And if anything, having gone thru your write-up, I realise there's lots more things on which I actually agree with you regarding the 206 that I ever thought of myself, esp the point of it being a low-volume seller, which answers my earlier posted point. I apologise if my statements put your car in any undeserved bad light.

[Renegade]

Okay, okay....I apologise again, MrBoobs - Pug build not as bad as I made it sound....please don't rub it in anymore.....

Edited August 28, 2002 by Renegade