PEUGEOT 3008 1,6 THP ACTIVE AT

TURN the wheel. Creak. Apply opposite lock. Creak. Straighten. Creeeeaaaak.

For weeks, every time I drove the 3008, I was convinced I was going mad. Where I heard a noise every time I turned the diminutive steering wheel, CAR staffers denied detecting any sound. Was it all in my head?

Nevertheless, when a trim panel below the strip of controls on the facia came loose – two of the clips holding it in place had snapped before disappearing into the depths of the dashboard – I thought it an opportune time to drop off the 3008 at Peugeot Cape Town to have that piece of plastic set in place and ask the technicians to inspect the steering wheel for strange sounds.

A call later in the afternoon put my mind at ease. The panel once again sat ush with the elegant dashboard and they discovered the cause of the creak: a part inside the steering wheel had a small crack in it and that made it rub against another part when the wheel was turned. The dealership promised to order a replacement unit and give me a ring when it arrives.

Otherwise, the 3008 has been a real pleasure to drive. More members of the CAR team have had a go and they’ve all been impressed with the vehicle’s loping ride quality, re nement and comfort. It would appear they’ve enjoyed the 1,6 THP engine’s 121 kw, too, judging by a fuel consumption gure that’s somewhat higher than I’d like.

The 3008 also experienced its rst cross-country trip this month. Thanks to our national carrier cancelling a ight last minute, I hopped in the Peugeot for a swift drive from Cape Town to East London to attend a friend’s wedding. I was on a tight schedule, but the Peugeot turned the drive from chore to charming. My favourite part? All the looks the striking 3008 got in the country towns along the way.