After the "blind" experiment, only pure emotions remain. About the Peugeot 4007, which I drove without looking at the instruments, I'll say directly: it feels very lively. When I returned to the editorial office and checked the specifications, it turned out that the diesel version with the 2.2 engine accelerates to 100 km/h in a full 11 seconds. It doesn't seem to smell of dynamics. But where does this liveliness on the road come from? The secret is simple: short gears in the manual and a hum as if you're driving without a rear window — that's the whole clue.
Why the dealership keeps the 4007 with a manual in its fleet is a mystery to me, but in traffic jams and on rough terrain with a manual transmission, it's a real torment. It's the manual gearbox that mainly spoiled the impression of the trip. I got stuck immediately as soon as we entered the quarry. The first to give out was the clutch — it smelled burnt. Then the traction control system admitted its helplessness and started "beating" the brake pads on the discs, as if in a no-holds-barred fight. The third to surrender was the rear axle coupling: it overheated and left me on front-wheel drive. I stopped, turned off the engine, sat and cooled down. And why then these 380 diesel newton-meters?
This heartbreaking story happened on a small elevation change that I easily overcame on other crossovers and SUVs. There's loose sandy soil, and you have to drive with a wheel hanging, but it never ended so badly before!
A couple more experiments at the bottom of a former sea — and our quarry is exactly that — and I found a saving option. The main thing is not to engage the coupling lock! In Lock mode, it will fail with a 100% probability. But AWD mode allows long spinning without overheating.
When I got used to the transmission's quirks, I decided to approach the hill that we often storm in different cars. The last ones here were the Hummer H2, Suzuki Jimny, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and one "Chinese" car, which after such a climb had an airbag fall off. The Peugeot 4007 honestly tried, but never took the summit — it lacked power. With a running start, it would have gone a bit further, but still wouldn't have made it.
Diesel enthusiasts are surely interested in fuel consumption. No surprises: I got 10 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle. Honestly, the appetite could have been more modest.
Looking back, I see how many drawbacks I found: noisy, voracious, with a weak transmission, and also ugly to look at... But I still like it. If you've taken a liking to it too — use the lock less often, and you'll go further.
