Freezing-cold test drive

We were recently invited to go to Strasbourg, France to join an international media test drive of a new automobile model of French brand Peugeot that’s soon to be released globally. The invitation came from Mr. Felix Mabilog, president of Eurobrands Distributor, Inc. (EDI), the exclusive importers and distributors of Peugeot automobiles in the Philippines.

Having just gone from a hectic 2-week, 4-country European trip that spanned Greece, Turkey, Israel and Jordan, going on another 7-day trip barely two weeks after may not really make one ecstatic over the prospect. But with a personal invite coming from an icon of the local automotive industry, a veteran that has been through all the facets of running a successful automobile company, the idea of turning it down is far-fetched. Just to be in the company of this distinguished, well-respected gentleman makes you wish that all that experience that comes with his name would rub off on you. I had all the plausible reasons to beg off. Despite the fact that I just recently came from that grueling 16-day, 4-country, 4-day-a-country trip and that I have just been to France a little over 6 months ago in September of last year, with a 3-day stay in Strasbourg, where the test drive would be held, I just can’t say no to my good friend, “the” Mr. Felix Mabilog. Besides I have missed two of his previous invites only because I was abroad.

The forecast for French weather the other week when the test drive was scheduled was sunny with average temperatures from 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. And I was telling myself that it was going to be perfect for a test drive. Not so cold, which also meant I didn’t have to bring heavy clothing and thick jackets—no heavy luggage.

I was all packed with a light leather jacket but still decided to bring a medium light thermal shirt just in case the weather decides to be fickle—as they say travel light to void aching muscles from airport and hotel transfers while lugging heavy suitcases. And it was a relatively long Monday to Monday trip. And to top it all my muscles have not even recovered yet from the very recent grueling trip two weeks before.         

And then, Dong Magsajo, former motoring editor who jumped over the fence from a motoring journalist to being part of the motoring industry and is now currently the marketing director of Eurobrands Distributor, Inc. sent the “bad news” text saying that “contrary to previous forecasts, the temperature had gone down to 10 degrees with prospects of further dipping.” Being a seasoned traveler himself, he knew the implications of such a big change in weather forecasts and he didn’t want EDI’s invited journalists to test drive a new Peugeot model that they are considering very seriously bringing to the Philippine automobile market to be caught flat-footed.      

But my tandem of Rimowa suitcase and Samsonite overnight bag were all packed, and despite containing light clothing enough to endure the earlier-projected 20 degree Celsius or higher temperatures, they didn’t come up to be as light as I hoped them to be. And adding the heavy jacket and other heavy clothing that kept me warm in Switzerland’s cold autumn last year would really give me more agonizing pounds to carry.     

My wife Babes, who saw me put my weight-lifting “prowess” to an almost dismal failure during last year’s trip to Switzerland that also included Germany, Italy and France all by car where we transferred from one hotel to another, each time flexing our muscles to match the heavy weight of our heavy jacket-laden suitcases as we bring them in and out of hotels, suggested for me to just go “layering” with my clothing to fight the cold while not stuffing my suitcases with heavy jackets. Why not? But to make matters simpler, I took out clothing that would not help me any get warmer and just stuffed my suitcase with 2 sets of thermal long sleeves and long johns.  

When our small traveling group, composed of Mr. Felix Mabilog, his gracious wife Pritchie, Dong and fellow journalist and magazine publisher (Power Wheels and Motorcycle Magazine) Lester Dizon (Mikko David of Top Gear magazine who was suppose to be with us begged off due to the untimely demise of his father) finally got together at the Business Class lounge of Emirates Airline, one of the major topics was, considering the sudden change of forecast, what could the real weather in France be? Until we finally ended it up by agreeing that we would all only find out when we get there.

And indeed we did—it was cold. And for the kind of clothes I brought, thermal suits and all —it was very cold.

But then this is a test drive. It is a constant dream of a motoring journalist worthy of his chosen career. Cold weather, hot weather, rains or even floods, a test drive will always be one thing no matter what—eagerly anticipated to be ultimately exciting. Well, the test drive was indeed exciting beginning with the automobile for testing and doubly exciting because of the snaking roads we were asked to drive through, a real test of the car’s maneuverability and nimble gait and the freezing temperature whenever we decided to stop and take pictures…...brrr. 

The automobile for test drive, the Peugeot 2008 did not disappoint us, nor did the professional preparations related to the test drive that were done by the guys from Peugeot. Everything was done like clockwork. Like telling their guests, “This is how we do things in Peugeot. Always deliberate, precise, functional and very likeable.”

Typical of Peugeot, the Model 2008 came in different variants for the market to make a choice from a wide array of options. We were assigned two variants to test drive, the 1.6L VTi  (petrol) and the 1.6L e-HDi (diesel), which were both with manual transmission.

The first thing we noticed when we stepped in to our assigned vehicles is the roominess of this SUV’s cabin. It has remarkably comfortable elbow and legroom.

Then there was the smaller steering wheel. It was intriguing for us at first, not knowing what to expect driving with a smaller than usual steering wheel. But then when we were in the midst of the winding mountain roads, we experience the feeling of being in total intuitive driving control.

Then we continued to discovered the other endearing features of the Peugeot 2008 like very easy to read head-up instruments, large touch screen with exclusive Peugeot apps, LED mood cockpit lighting, to mention a few.

The 2008’s technical features of grip control and park assist were assigned a specific schedule on the morning after the test drive for individual demonstration.

We were shown how the Peugeot 2008 can sense a wide enough parking space along a long line of parked cars, like what’s normally found in a bustling city and how it can park itself with ease with the hands of the driver off the steering wheel and just step on the break or shift to reverse or forward upon sensor warning or voice prompt, its very precise park assist feature.

The there was also this muddy trail and a water pool on a large muddy dip on the ground dug up behind the hotel we stayed in, where the Peugeot 2008’s outstanding grip control feature was astonishingly demonstrated.

I asked Dong which Peugeot 2008 variant is EDI contemplating to bring to the country and it appears that it’s the e-HDI “microhybrid” diesel variant that would best suit the local market’s needs and preference. This is the variant with the system that shuts down the engine when the vehicle stops, for example, for a stoplight. The engine restarts in four-tenths of a second when you put it on gear or simply step on the accelerator pedal. With this proven system a tremendous amount of fuel is saved on everyday driving especially in traffic plagued cities like Metro Manila aside from the much lessen emissions of the variant—that’s hitting two birds with one stone—save fuel significantly and tremendously help in having clean air.    

If indeed Eurobrands Distributor Inc. decides to bring this remarkable SUV into the country, it would arguably be worth the wait if only to see it and test drive it yourself.

Happy Motoring!!!

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