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[MiniMinorMk3]

[Remspoor]

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[Remspoor]

[martc]

Altogether now

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm a Frenchman in Noo Yoik

Broadway & Chambers, NYC, circa 1968.

[martc]

[martc]

[martc]

Kensington High Street, 1976.

[sheffcortinacentre]

45 minutes ago, martc said:

Altogether now

I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm a Frenchman in Noo Yoik

Broadway & Chambers, NYC, circa 1968.

Is that a poojoe exiting stage left?

[martc]

1 hour ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

Is that a poojoe exiting stage left?

Certainly is. Peugeots were sold in the US from the '50's to the '80's or '90's, I understand they had a bit of a following due to their exclusiveness (read expensive) and clean, sophisticated European lines.

[bigstraight6]

Colombo had the slightly tatty 403 convertible, went well with his rain coat.

[Richard_FM]

[Madman Of The People]

Hello.  Autoshite's token Yank and former Peugeot owner here to offer some insight into Peugeot's misadventures in the New World.

beginning in 1958, Peugeot exported cars to America until one fateful day in August of 1991 when a fax from Paris arrived at Peugeot Motors of America's New Jersey headquarters, announcing they were ending sales in the USA and Canada.

US sales peaked in 1984, with just over 20,000 cars sold that year.  These were mostly 505s plus a few run-out 604s which were dropped from Peugeot's American range that year.  By 1989, sales had fallen to just a few thousand units per year.  That same year, with sales of the aging 505 in freefall, Peugeot launched the 405 in America.  US car magazines loved the 405 , especially the Mi16, but Peugeot's sales continued to decline.  American Peugeot dealers were encouraged by promises the upcoming 605 (and the Citroen XM, which was to have relaunched Citroen in America) would arrive by mid-1992 to finally replace the stalwart 505.  However, this was not to be.

So why did Peugeot fail in America?  In short, Peugeot never took the American market seriously.  Failings included a severely limited model range, a lacklustre reputation for reliability, a tiny dealer network, and an overambitious marketing strategy that tried to convince potential buyers that Peugeot was a worthy alternative to premium European marques.  For example, when the 405 landed in America, it came with a BMW 3 Series-sized price tag.  In reality, it should have been priced against the likes of the Honda Accord.

American Peugeot dealers begged for a wider product portfolio.  They said they could sell the 205 GTI against the Golf GTI, Corolla FX-16, Escort GT, etc.  The 309 was the mid-sized model Peugeot USA so desperately needed but never got.  By the late 1980s, customers were demanding airbags and cupholders but the French stubbornly refused to provide them.  From 1987, the availability of the V6 engine in the 505 saloon was a welcome addition, but American shoppers wanted V6 power in their 505 estates, too.  Once again, the French said "Non."

By 1991, with sales having fallen to less than 2,300 units, Peugeot pulled the plug on it's US operations.  A handful of 1992-spec 405s and 505s made it over before the axe fell, but the 605 would never see American roads.  With a projected price of $40,000 in 1992 (nearly $89,000 in today's money!) for a V6 and automatic transmission equipped 605 (the only drivetrain we were going to get), is unlikely they would have sold many, anyway.  For comparison, a 1992 Lexus LS400 was $42,200.

A few years ago, Peugeot announced it's intention to return to America.  They even opened a new office in Atlanta, to spearhead a renewed French automotive invasion in the Land of the Free.  Then, the PSA Group bought Fiat-Chrysler and, soon afterwards, reversed their decision to return.  The newly-formed Stellantis said they would instead concentrate their efforts on Alfa Romeo.

So, no Peugeots for us in the foreseeable future.

 

[Asimo]

Last time I saw a 604 was mid-90s, Los Angeles, an immaculate turbo-Diesel. Just like this one.

[EyesWeldedShut]

 

[Austat]

 

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