On September 16, the Peugeot 504 was highlighted by Peugeot Nederland and the Peugeot Club Nederland. The Beukenrode Estate in Doorn was not only the base for a grand event for the 50 year-old 504. Peugeot Nederland also took the opportunity to present the new 508. We were among the first to ride Peugeot's newcomer in the Netherlands. The jubilating Peugeot 504 was used as a classic counterpart. The key question: do Peugeot's heritage and the new core values of the French brand go hand in hand? We will give you the answer in a diptych.
We kick off with the jubilee. Today the Berline captivates in many ways with its large and charming forecourt, the beautiful middle section and the striking rear. Peugeot adept Wim Noorman makes his 504 Peugeot 1973 Saloon available for press purposes. Wim gives us an instruction about the specific properties of his car. A Peugeot 504 is far from unknown to us, at the same time the long (European) career of this Wonder on Wheels is characterized by constant modifications. An example? Pieter Fokkema and I drove to Doorn with his beautifully preserved and steering-wheeled '72 -er Berline. Wim's press copy is a '73 - with floor shift, center console and a handbrake - in contrast to Pieter's Peugeot 504 - between the seats. This way of serving ensures a different interaction experience. The basis of both cars naturally shows many similarities. To keep it with the '73 -er Peugeot 504: this car is also the nickname everyone's friend with quirky traits completely fitting. Moreover, the Peugeot 504 is also suitable for daily use in the 2018.
Idiosyncratic ergonomics, pleasant patina
Wim's Peugeot 504 Sedan is equipped with pleasant patina, the wonderful sliding roof, charming Dunlop rims and a brand new MOT. He also received technical and preservative treatment. This work was completed just before the 50 year 504 event. "Only the carburetor adjustment can still be a little better," says the owner. "And the gearbox can be switched properly with the right feeling." We are on the road with the Peugeot 504. The tidy interior offers fine freedom of movement and the seat reinforces the travel car status of the Frenchman. Incidentally, it soon becomes apparent that Peugeot also had its own vision with regard to the placement of various operating instruments with this' 73-er Peugeot 504. Initially, the undersigned is sometimes mistaken. The light switch on the left is regularly regarded as a direction indicator. However, he sits on the right, a fact that requires habituation, but that eventually settles into the driver's system.
Comfortable pleasure
Speaking of automatisms: this Peugeot 504 is also very easy to control. A twist on the large steering wheel means that the Peugeot changes direction very easily and can be placed. That fine characteristic coincides with the solid handling. Suspension and damping divide the tasks between comfort and sturdiness perfectly and in harmony. The Peugeot 504 leans somewhat in the bend and that given works in that pleasant French experience of the past. Braking does not cost the Peugeot 504 any effort. They do their job very confidently. The smaller winding roads and dikes thus become a comfortable pleasure. Straight away shows the course stability of the Peugeot. It does not shrink and leaves a reassuring feeling of security. That fact leaves room for the Peugeot 504 to be able to switch on and off concentrated. Couple gently and operate the lever with a somewhat firm hand: that is the remedy to prevent grinding gears. The strokes of the gear lever are incidentally short, and that is a nice side effect.
Historical shine
In any case, the Peugeot 504 lends itself to a relaxed driving style. Nevertheless, the 1.971 cc engine (as we know from experience) basically shows more than enough potential to achieve acceptable speed accelerations. In Wim's Peugeot we do not put that test to the sum. Now we especially enjoy the touring properties of the Peugeot 504. The smile is hard to get. The Peugeot 504 is a modest gentleman, who receives genuine respect along the way. We are pleased to note that this car has not lost its historic luster at all. Actually, you don't want to get out of the Peugeot 504 at all. But we are very curious about Peugeot's new asset: the new 508. We are getting ready for the switch to Peugeot's cub, and in part 2 you can read whether the 508 is a Peus in the best tradition of the brand. Next Friday we will tell you all about this.
