1.8S Automatic

Likeable and easy to maintain.

I miss mine. I kept this car from 2009 until 2020, taking it from 34k to 110k miles.

It was easy to live with, and maintenance costs were low. Common problems had easy DIY fixes. I'll come on to these.

This car replaced a 1996 Peugeot 406. Coming from that smooth-riding sedan, the P12 Primera felt jiggly - but not unacceptably so. Neither did it ride as well as the P10 Primera I'd once driven, and the steering wasn't as sharp or engaging - but, again, it was perfectly acceptable.

I liked the interior design, the space, the dashboard layout, the visibility, the comfort, the practicality and its general sense of ease. Driven moderately, it was a relaxing car to be in.

Issues and cheap fixes:

1/ Losing power when an indicator is on.
Take off the rear light cluster on the affected side (easy), clean the contacts and solder an extra wire to help it keep a better connection - the P12 forum has the details.


2/ LCD screen freezes. Unable to select heating settings etc..
Park; switch off engine; get out of car; lock car. Try to not look drunk in front of any onlookers. Count to five. Unlock; restart and all will be well for months.


3/ The locking barrel by the passenger door handle comes out with the key. Which is a bit of a bummer when trying to appear non-drunk in front of onlookers. Relax. Push it back in again. It'll be fine. Spend that £1.50 on a new battery for the keyfob.


4/ Misfire not connected to the rear indicator problem.
It'll be a coil. Cheap and easy to diagnose and replace as necessary via the elimination method. If it's not a coil, it'll be the wiring loom that feeds the coils. It's on top of the engine, and it gets hot. Mine had a dodgy connection. Again, a little bit of easy, accessible soldering - although I found just cleaning the bad connection with isopropyl alcohol worked.


One problem with this car today (2024) is the ridiculous punitive VED rate based on its above-average emission of the harmless plant food that is CO2. Even if one accepts the rationale of the CO2 scam, four hundred quid per year is not reasonable and proportionate for a durable and fuel-efficient 4-cylinder 1.8 petrol hatchback.

I figured that if I was going to have to pay hundreds in VED, I wanted something a bit more luxo for my money, and with more cylinders. Something to further upset/disgust/outrage the perpetually upset/disgusted/outraged climate cultists.

'Ooh, that's a bit of an upgrade,' someone said about my replacement Lexus. 'Bet you'll notice quite a difference.'

Ah, brand-perceptions versus boring old reality.

I miss a car that billed in tenners and that rattled less over potholes.

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