>From Steve in Vancouver area:
I think that once you put all sentiment aside and look at the real
situation, Chris Beckwith has hit the nail on the head. French cars have
never really made it big in N America for the very reasons he cites.
I read an ariticle in Road & Track many years ago (I think it was about the
2CV) and to paraphrase the author: "The fact that a French car design has a
wheel at each corner and somewhat resembles an automobile is purely
coincidental." The public did, and still does, perceive Fench cars as a
dark horse. However, the same can be said of Italian and British imports. I
think the reason that the 505 series did even as well as it did was because
it was a damned good looking car, and first you've gotta get people to take
a look.
There was a small half-hearted flurry of advertising activity in the late
80's offering the 505 as an alternative to BMW and SAAB but there weren't
many takers.
Also, back in about '81 the 505 turbo diesel was retailing here for about
$19,500 which was a hell of a lot of money. I'd be guessing (based on this)
that the 505 STI would be selling for about $30,000+ in 1986. So what would
an equivalent Peugeot sell for new today, $45-$55,000? This would put it in
direct competition with Lexus and Infiniti. Would you pay that much for a
car that you could maybe get $2,000 for 10 years later, IF you could find a
buyer?
My father-in-law had his own successful frozen meat business and he
purchased a Renault 4 panel van to do the light hauling. He told me that
that vehicle almost broke the company. This is how many people still think
of French cars. The other group of non-enthusiasts generally say to me,
"Peugeot, that's a German car isn't it?"
Steve