Peugeot 404 wins the Coupe D'Europe
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A motor car is an expensive purchase, so it isn’t surprising that wise prospective buyers study carefully road-test reports, survey findings and the results of rallies and other competitions before making a choice.
In France an analysis of European cars of 1,300-1,700 c.c:, costing between 9,000 and 13,500 new francs, has been undertaken by L’Autojournal and the car coming out top, after an examination based on readers’ stated requirements and tests of speed, acceleration and petrol consumption at Montlhéry Track, is awarded their Coupe d’Europe.
For 1962 this has been awarded to the Peugeot 404. It was the only French car to be tested, out of a total of three German, four British and one Italian family car. It is interesting to find that on general classification the Peugeot 404 gained 496.3 points, against 481 by the Ford Taunus and 455.6 by the Fiat 1500. The overall placings in this French test and survey were :
1st: Peugeot 404
2nd: Ford Taunus
3rd: Fiat 1500
4th: Ford Consul Classic 315
5th: Austin A60
6th: Vauxhall Victor
7th: Opel Rekord
8th: VW 1500
9th: Hillman Super Minx
Taken under separate groupings, “Road Qualities” put the Peugeot first, the Ford Taunus second and the Fiat 1500 third as in the overall result, “General Comfort” saw the Ford Taunus first, the Peugeot second 5.3 points behind, and “Servicing and Operating Costs” had the Peugeot 404 leading from the two Fords. Under each of these headings the Hillman was last.
The result is not surprising, because we were talking recently to someone not unconnected with sprint motoring about his wife’s year-old Peugeot 404. He had to think hard for some time before recalling a few very minor defects and expressed great satisfaction with the car, which was purchased after trying many others in the same size and price class—W. B.