Howard, that's a good question.
I can only speak for me, so here goes.
I could have bought a new BMW M3 or a used PEUGEOT Mi 16 a few years ago.
The '91 Mi 16 was about $10,500. A new M3 about $30,000 +. They are very much
alike, though the M3 is as fast as the Mi 16 only PRETENDS to be. Here in
Southern California there are still Peugeot dealers & parts, so service is no
problem.
(Only the expense, which wouls still be steep with a BMW). Also, I just
really prefer the glass moonroof on the Peugeot as opposed to the metal
sunroof on the BMW.
Economics does, as you say, some into this, since one can get a nice Peugeot
for the FRACTION of the cost of another European car. The Peugeot has already
taken the depreciation hit. It will not sink too far too fast if maintained.
I payed $3750 for my 405 DL maybe 4 years ago, it is not going to go down
$10,000 more in depreciation! Nor will my Mi 16.
There also a certain amount of fun in owning a nifty European sports sedan
that not everyone else is driving. A Peugeot IS a dang good car. It (505, 405
...older a matter of taste) has a great Pininfarina design, and comfort. I
think there's a certain ...what's the word...challenge, to seeing how long
one can keep these pets running as an example of a fine French car.
However.
I see the points you make, and a one-sided support of the marque will fade
with me, too. Eventually one will have to take the poor things off life
support, and I'll be going over to BMW for my European car. New, as the car
magazines wrote when Peugeot was still here, they are a great value compared
to BMW and others. About 1/2 or 1/3 the price, for the same (or nearly so)
amount of fun.
On a VERY personal note, I've also re-discovered the Jeep (Wrangler), which I
think I sould have bought rather than a second 405. Compare mountain bike and
racing bike. Better to have one of each. (Good ones). Turns as sharp as a
405, even easier to drive, and goes where a 405 cannot go (lava beds, deep
sand, bumpy trails down here in Southern California desert areas). Maybe I'll
get a new one of those next.
Now for someone else's opinion.
-Ray S.